PLEADING FOR DIVINE VISITATION
Study Text: Isaiah 64: 1 - 5
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
- The Bible is full of several visitation or intervention of God at the request of man.. There are individual cases of divine visitation, such as the case of Hannah and Jabez, and there are also congregational visitation by God, such as when Jehoshaphat prayed with his people, and when Elijah prayed before the people.
- God is interested in visiting individual and congregation, both in small group and in large group.
- Usually, certain things are evident before God responds to the pleading of men. Some of these includes:
1. A biblical basis for the request:
-This can either be a promise from the Bible or a previous occurrence of its kind. Acts 4:23-31: And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
- The disciples prayed and were claiming the promises of God in the scriptures, and they experienced a divine visitation. Similarly today, any promise of God in the scriptures or any thing we have seen God did in the bible, can still happen again and can form our basis for pleading for a divine visitation. I declare into your life that every promise of God you are standing on shall be done in your life in Jesus name.
2. A sincere cry from a burdened heart.
-God responds to our heart and not our mouth. If we can cry to God with all sincerity and total trust in God with a readiness to return all the glory to God at the end. Ps 85:6-7: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
- Some years back to the glory of God, a young couple came to church and they had no child for five years. I was moved by the Holy Spirit and sensed that the hand of the devil was upon their lives. I prayed in the name of Jesus, the yoke of the devil was broken over their lives, and I made a declaration that the woman will became pregnant within three month. By the second month, the power of the Holy Ghost came upon her and she became pregnant, and nine months later she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. I also pray for you today, what so ever has been difficult in your life, the power of the Holy Ghost will visit you to perform it speedily to the glory of His name in Jesus name.
3. A life of absolute purity.
- Sin or disobedience to God and His word is a major obstacle to divine visitation. But where there is absolute purity and total obedience, God is attracted there. God rejected Saul due to his disobedience and told him He had sought for Himself a man after His own heart. David also sinned against God, but he had a prepared heart to humble himself unto repentance. Ps 24:3-6: Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.
- God could no longer fight for the Isrealites as He promised Joshua because of the sin of Achan. If we are looking unto God for a divine visitation we must be ready at all times to do away with sins and to live a life pleasing unto God.
4. An atmosphere of love and unity.
- Divine visitation among two or more people is not possible unless there is a flow of love and unity. Acts 2:1-4: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- One major reason for the divine visitation at the upper room was the fact that the people were united and of one mind. There is an atmosphere of love and the people were not keeping malice, no envy, no bitterness and no strife.
- The church today is no longer experiencing divine visitation because of absence of love. The members are rising against their leaders, and leaders are showing bitterness against their members, and even members are relating with suspicions, envy, bitterness and all kind of disharmony and disunity.
- If we are going to experience the power of God and His visitation like the days of the apostles, we need to open up ourselves for the love of God to flow in our hearts towards one another and to ensure that we keep the unity of the Spirit.
5. A desire to see people turned unto God.
- Whenever we are concerned about turning the heart of people from sin and wickedness, God will be willing to manifest Himself and demonstrate His power. God answered Elijah by fire, because he was willing that the heart of the people be turned to God. 1 Kings 18:36-40: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
- God is always interested in genuine repentance and would prefer it to destroying the wicked. And He will be willing to manifest His power in order to see that accomplished. Isa 55:6-7: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
6. A readiness to give all the glory to God.
- God wants to take glory for anything He does, and He is not willing that any one share in His glory. At anytime we desire a divine visitation; God will manifest Himself if we are prepared to return all the glory back to God. Isa 42:8: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
- God gave a total victory to David over Goliath because David was ready to return all the glory back to God. 1 Sam 17:45-50: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
- If you will see the manifestation of God’s power in your life and ministry, God must see the readiness in your heart to return all the glory back to Him.
7. A faith-filled expectation.
- Whatsoever is not of faith is not acceptable unto God, we need to demonstrate a faith-filled expectation before we can see the power of God in action.
- The unbelieving king was having faith that God can deliver Daniel form the lion’s den, and God did according to his expectation. Dan 6:19-23: Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
- God is ready to answer to a sincere pleading for divine visitation, but are we also ready to fulfill His conditions? He is a covenant keeping God, when we keep our own parts, He will keep His own.
