RESTORING POWER TO THE CHURCH
Last night Gladys watched a college basketball game. I guess that means March madness is here. I heard this past week that these basketball playoff games are going to cost us big. According to analysts, American business will lose as much as $3 billion over this three-week period, both from lost productivity and drain on computer resources.
It’s amazing how costly it can be when people take their eyes off the ball at work. It’s even more costly when people take their eyes off the ball in life. When we allow ourselves to be distracted from God, from life’s ultimate goals; we lose valuable time and we lose victories we might have otherwise experienced.
Sadly, the Bible records many examples of that happening to God’s people. This morning I would like us to look together in the book of 1 Samuel, as we see together how to restore power to the church.
- 1 Samuel 4:10-22
Let me tell you, Israel suffered a terrible loss that day. Israel had 30,000 soldiers killed in one day. They had another 4000 killed the day before. 2 priests, the sons of the high priest, were killed in the battle, and the arc of God was captured by the Philistines.
When the news got back to the high priest, he fell over and died. His daughter-in-law went into premature labor, and with her dying breaths named her son “Ichabod” saying, “The glory has departed from Israel.” Did you hear that? “The glory has departed from Israel!” What haunting words.
My friend, Israel isn’t the only place that has seen the glory of God depart. Across this nation there are countless churches that have seen the power and the glory of God depart. Some of them know it, and others don’t. Some churches are living on memories of what used to be. Some Christians are as well.
***ASK “Let me ask you something. Do you believe Jesus healed the sick? … Do you believe opened eyes? … Do you believe Jesus changed lives? … Do you believe Jesus restored families? … Do you believe Jesus delivered people from bondage? … Then why don’t we see more of that happening in the church, in this church, today? Turn with me please to John 14:12.
- Read John 14:12-14
This is what Jesus promises, but we don’t see much of it in the church today. So all around us there are people in our community, in our country looking at the churches, looking at Christians and saying, “Where is the glory? Where is the power? You claim your Jesus can help me. You claim your God can change lives. You claim your God is powerful. Then where is the change? Where is the power? Where is the glory?”
In the first century, people complained that the Christians were “turning the world, upside down.” Now, most won’t even turn the other cheek. Where is the glory? Sadly, for many churches and even more Christians, the glory is gone. So the question facing us is, “How do we get that power back in our lives? How do we restore the power to the church? I believe there are several steps we must take if we want to see God work miraculously in our lives and in our church again.
I. TO SEE POWER AGAIN WE MUST LOOK FOR THE CAUSE
We must look for the cause. A number of years ago, a friend of mine was vacuuming at the seminary I attended in Memphis, when her vacuum suddenly shut off. She looked at it for a moment, and then started to follow the power cord around the corner to where it was plugged in. Before she reached the plug, the vacuum came back on and she started working. A minute later, it happened again. This time, before it started working again, she caught me peeking around the corner with the plug in my hand. I’m glad I was faster than she was.
My friends, if something is not working, if there is no power, there must be a reason. In Israel, there were several.
- 1 Samuel 2:12-17
1. Some Priests were out for themselves
They weren’t worried about serving God. They weren’t interested in helping the people. They were only concerned about what they could get. …
- 1 Samuel 2:22
2. Some People Faked Spirituality
They were having sex in the doorway of God’s house. They pretended to be doing God’s business. They pretended to be going to God’s house to worship, but they were engaged in immorality. They faked their spirituality. … They were pretending …
- 1 Samuel 2:29
3. Some put family before God
My friends, we just finished studying “A Biblical Portrait of Marriage.” I just finished preaching a series on the home and family. Your family is important. Your spouse, your children, parents, and grandchild need to be a priority in your life. But, they can never come before your personal relationship with God. Listen to what the Bible says:
> Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.
Listen, you need to spend time with your family. You need to work on your marriage and teach your children. You need to be involved in their activities, but what good does all of that accomplish if God is not working in your home? What good does that do if you don’t model for your children what a relationship with God is all about? Some put their family before God.
- 1 Samuel 4:20-21
4. Some thought like the world
Having a son, in those days, was very important. It was even more important than it is today. It was important to have someone to carry on the family name. It was important to have someone to care for you when you were old. These women thought she would be pleased to know that she was having a son; that the family name would continue.
Even today, there are those who believe that if they only have the right spouse, or the right job, of the right house, or car, or whatever, you fill in the blank, that they will be happy. They have bought into the hype they see on TV.
Let me tell you my friend, when you reach your death bed, you will find that all the things the world told you would make you happy, are only trinkets you have to leave behind for another. All the toys in the world will not make you happy, will not bring you joy if the power and glory of God is gone from you life.
If the power, if the glory, if the joy, is missing from your life today, look for the reason. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He also said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Let me ask you, “Are you doing that today? Is Jesus first in your life? Is there an area of compromise in your life?” If the power is gone, look for the cause.
II. TO SEE POWER AGAIN WE MUST QUIT PRETENDING
- 1 Samuel 7:2-3
The ark was returned and the people pretended that was enough. They continued to play church since the ark was back. They cried liked they missed God, like they were sorry for what they had done. …
There are people today who want to act like they are upset with the condition of the church in America. They cry and act like they want revival in America, but they haven’t changed. …
III. TO SEE POWER AGAIN WE MUST GET SERIOUS
- 1 Samuel 7:4
Finally, after all that time, after all of that crying and complaining and weeping; finally, they decided to get serious. They finally got rid of the idols and the sin in their lives.
If you and I want to see revival in this church, if we want to see real revival in our community, if we want to see the power of God in our homes, then we need to get serious.
If we want power, there must be prayer. We need to quit complaining and start confessing. If you want God’s help, there must be holiness. If you want His strength, there must be sacrifice. If you want God, there must be godliness.
You see: Tis not enough to say, I’m sorry and repent
And then go on from day to day, Just as I’ve always went.
Repentance is to leave, the sins we loved before
And show that we in earnest grieve, by doing them no more.
> 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, which are called by M name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.
- 1 Samuel 7:7-13
When God’s people got real with God, when they confessed their sins, got rid of the things they held in more esteem than God, God returned in a mighty way. He gave them a great victory.
Call to the front for prayer.
