THE R-WORD

Text: 1 Samuel 7:1-14

1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

• What is repentance? Repent simply means to
  Reveal Answer
  one’s mind.
• Remorse leads us to come to God because of what our sin has done to us.

• Repentance leads us to come to God because of what our sin has done to God.

• James MacDonald: “Repentance is the funnel through which all personal revival flows.”

1. Re-centering God (vv. 1-3)

1) The drift from God (vv. 1-2)

• The Ark symbolizes God’s presence, and He is not
  Reveal Answer
  .

• Before the Ark ever left the Tabernacle, Israel began to center their lives, focus, attention, priorities, etc., on something other than God.

• Question: Where are you? Where is God? That is a question of focus, attention, priority, worship, service, obedience, and faith.

• Where are you in reference to God? Where is God in your life? Is He central? Is He on the periphery?

• When God is not where He is supposed to be, then the enemy is not where they are (he is) supposed to be.

• Note here in the time period of our text, the enemy is in the

  Reveal Answer
  . The Philistines are in charge. The Jews are being oppressed.

• The Jews drifted from God and ultimately they even drifted from their

  Reveal Answer
  .

2) The remedy to re-center God (v. 3)

• v. 2 – Twenty years have passed and the people are lamenting after God. They recognize there is a problem.

  • What is it that Samuel prescribed as the remedy to the problem?

    1]

    Reveal Answer
    your idols
    2]
    Reveal Answer
    your heart to God
    3]
    Reveal Answer
    God only

  • The remedy is repentance. Change your mind, your heart’s affection, you will’s actions.

3) The refreshment of revival from God (v. 3)

• If you do these things, God will deliver you.
• If you do these things, then you will re-center God, return to God, find renewed fellowship and worship and service. And God will give you the victory.

2. Returning To And Reviving From God (vv.4-14)

1) The action of the Jews (vv. 4-9)

• Samuel prescribed the remedy. The Jews
  Reveal Answer
  the remedy.
• They did those things that would lead to return and revival, i.e. they repented in mind, heart, and action.

2) The reaction of the enemy

• When God stirs you, the enemy stirs too.
• Satan is always ready to counter react
  Reveal Answer
  .

3) The reviving work of God (vv. 10-14)

• When revival comes and fills your soul, your enemies suffer
  Reveal Answer
  . But, it is God that does it.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

Bottom line: The R-word (

Reveal Answer

) is the first step toward the re-centering of, returning to, and revival from God.