Greetings,
"And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham." Genesis 17:22
"And the Lord went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place." Genesis 18:33
Back to back chapter in Genesis, God comes down and visits with Abraham; and in both cases at the end of this fellowship, we are left with this awful thought, 'God went away'. I don't know how best to phrase this, 'When God leaves. . . "; 'God went away. . . ". Let us consider these phrases and thoughts that are much on our hearts for God's Manifest Presence, Revival and Prevailing Prayer.
1. God's Manifest Presence - this is when God comes down; in the Hebrides revival, Duncan Campbell was able to speak to the moment, that the earth shook and he declared, 'God came down'. There is the realization of God's Divine Word and promises, that He is near us; and 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'. Yet, there are moments that it is quite apparent that God is more than just near us or with us, but that He fills the very molecules around us. Moses saw it in a burning bush, 'the ground you are on is holy ground'; Job's friend stated it, 'and the spirit passed and the hairs on my neck stood up'; David knew He was there when the wind blew in the mulberry trees; & Pentecost knew it for the wind of the Spirit blew in the upper room upon the 120 and the pillars of fire stood upon their heads. We know the reality of God's nature, He is omnipresent; but how much more when the very fibers of our being declare, 'surely the Presence of the Lord is in this place'. How much more for men and women of God; all those born again are the children of God, yet, how much more for the ones that God says, 'I have called you'; the anointing of the Lord is upon me; the glory of the Lord was upon him.
When God's Presence is in the place and upon and before the people the next focus happens. . .
2. Revival - revival mean the coming of the fullness of God upon His people to cause them respond to His Presence in multiple ways that it is evident that God is upon them.
--One, they see their sin like never before. Sin of confession, repentance and abhorrence grips the people of God. Isaiah cried out, 'Woe is me for I am undone; for I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips". They see sin in all of its awfulness and abhor it. They detest it like never before.
--Two, the knowledge of God and all His depths is sought after like never before. Nearness, holiness, faithful, pure love and abiding in Him become the Christian/churches prioirty.
--Three, They must share and speak of the Lord like never before; telling everyone and any one that they too must come to Jesus and serve.
3. Prevailing Prayer - is that which births within an individual or group; and they seek for the Manifest Presence with such urgency and fervency, to not be denied. For God is moving to bring forth Himself to His people in such a marvelous way of revival. And after God comes down, and revival is upon His church, they pray with such devotion that many other prayers are answered for they prevail in prayer in larger numbers. For the Spirit of God is Manifesting Himself to cause them to pray. Prevailing prayer brings forth God's Presence, for God is Sovereign and this is His will and plan. And as prevailing prayer was a seed that brought forth the revival, so the fruit of revival continues to bring forth prevailing prayer for God's Kingdom to be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
In each of these two passages God came down to Abraham. He spoke with him, communed with him and revealed to him His plans. Abraham interacted with God and was a part of this intimacy between God and man. But in the end, the phrase that this time is now over is solidified by 'God went away'. One of my great conversations with Ralph Sutera and Henry Blackaby was on this matter, after the Canadian Revival. I asked them, 'After such revelations and Presence of God, when it was over (when God went away) how did you exist or come to grips with it?" They both answered me, 'Because we always expected to experience again.' The appetite for the Presence of God, revival and prevailing prayer became that which this life was all about; revival is all about God.
And in conversation with Richard Owen Roberts about when 'God went away' and the revival ceased, we discussed when man puts forth their dirty paws on only what God can do and be. They corrupt that which is so splendid and marvelous for any human, for any Christian to experience, the Divine Manifest Presence. Ah, brethren, do be careful in touching the ark, for you know what happened to Uzza. these passages leave me with much joy in God coming down; but much horror and anguish with the phrase, 'God went away'.
Prayer Targets:
--it is very alarming to me that over the last 10 days all the prayer targets have happened, near and far; What is alarming to me about this is that, as some of have seen and said it, that we are now accustomed to these. Cops being shot & killed; murder-suicides; school shooting; adultery/divorce; sex traffic & teacher/sex cases; drugs with OD & death; natural disasters, mass shootings, etc. All these have happened over the last 10 days, and hardly even a ripple through the church to respond with "Pray for. . . " Remedial judgements of God are sent to stir the church to a right response; if the church has grown apathetic to God's warnings, then the next level of judgement will come. these will be 7X worse than the previous, Leviticus 26. Greater death and destruction are coming.
--war, economic crush, plague, greater earthquake (populated areas), etc. are 'that which shall be' because the other warnings did not go heeded;
--National Day of Prayer -- much interest for Thursday, greater emphasis with Ronnie Floyd as president now;
Update:
--finished bible reading, 48th time through; will wait to May 1 to start again;
--'The Activity of God" up through Genesis 20; this is the next time through although this will take years to complete;
--Sermonindex Conference in October is a major focus right now for prayer and getting partners to join us; please consider joining in daily prayer for this;
--24/7 prayer times; we have seen an increase in participation of which I'm so grateful -- herein is the battle fought and won or lost by the 'continual cry of His people'; https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090945a4aa2da75-broken/58736439
--A Word my devotional/commentary blog i'm up through Isaiah 52:7; I have 1/2 of these started and finished;
--sermons from Sundays message uploaded to youtube page;
Until,
dan
Started: April 28, 2018
Continued:
Finished:
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