When You Are Tired of Life without God: The Great Mizpah Revival

In 1 Samuel Chapter 7 we have a wonderful account of “the Power of Return” – a REVIVAL. A revival is a return. A return to God – a drawing close, a re-establishing of a relationship. We return to Him and He returns to us.

Israel needed revival

They suffered poor leadership
Their relationship with God suffered
They were distant from Him.

As a result, Israel was struggling with the Philistines

They lost property
They lost their passion
Worst of all, Israel lost the manifest presence of the Lord - They went into battle against the Philistines, suffered defeat, and lost the Ark of the Covenant!

They didn’t understand how this could happen - how could God allow this?

They didn’t grasp the truth that the power of God only works for us when our relationship with Him is healthy.
The Philistines returned the Ark, but Israel didn’t know what to do with it.

They parked the Ark

They gave the presence of the Lord to someone else to take care of.

So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. —1 Samuel 7:1

Israel’s love for God had grown cold; they were living in sin, and idols proliferated. They were lamenting in an unsatisfying status-quo. They were not desperate for God–they were sad, but they did nothing to change the situation–for 20 years!

Samuel inspired God’s people with a vision of conquering the Philistines

Samuel challenged them with four commands. (1 Sam. 7:3)
1. Return to the Lord with all your heart. Half-hearted repentance never works!
2. Remove the foreign gods and Ashtaroth.
3. Direct your hearts to the Lord
4. Serve Him alone.\

They OBEYED!

• Obedience is desired and prized by God (1 Sam. 15:22)
• Obedience is a test of the genuine nature of our faith (parable of the 2 sons)
• Obedience is necessary for continued fellowship with God (1 John 1:6)
• Obedience is the means to effective prayer
• Obedience is the spring of effective witness (“Go into all the world”)
• Obedience shows genuine love for Christ (John 14:21)
• Obedience sets an example (Phil. 4:8-9)
• Obedience glorifies God (Matt. 5:14-16)
• Obedience is a key factor in getting the Holy Spirit.

We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. —Acts 5:32

The next command: “GATHER ALL ISRAEL TO MIZPAH.”

They gathered in unity (1 Sam. 7:5)
The gathering was at Mizpah (the watchtower, the place of intercession).
Ministering prayer happens there, “I will pray to the Lord for you there.” (Samuel)
a. Be reconciled to others in the body of Christ (Samuel “judged” them)
b. They confessed their sins.
c. Give your life to God again.
They fasted and poured out water; giving up their lives.

Be ready for opposition – all revivals experience opposition

Do not panic when the attack comes! (1 Sam. 7:7) - God wants a confrontation with the enemy
The Israelites were afraid because of previous failure

Pray and lift up the Lamb (1 Sam. 7:10)

Stay centered on Jesus and cry out to God for help. 1 Sam. 7:9
The prayer and sacrifice didn’t stop the attack, but it brought in a new dynamic!

God miraculously entered the battle

He thundered with a great thunder (not ordinary). The Philistines were thrown into confusion and routed.
Israel came out of Mizpah with power and pursued the Philistines as far as Beth-car, which means the “place of the Lamb”.
Israel gave God the glory and erected a memorial stone as a witness: Ebenezer – the “stone of help”.

They rejoiced in the restoration of inheritance (1 Sam. 7:14)

The Israelites had peace. 1 Sam. 7:14
The stolen cities were restored to Israel.

They learned the power of prayer (1 Sam. 7:13)

They had victory for as long as Samuel lived.
His annual circuit…Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, Ramah. 1 Sam. 7:16-17

They are going to get the ARK back too but that is another story…