It was early this morning that I woke from a dream and heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart. The summary of what he said was: Do not get too comfortable hearing the word of the Lord.
During the night and the following morning the Lord brought several scriptures to my mind:
The first scripture the Lord brought to my mind is found in Amos Chapter 8:11-12….Lets turn and read it together
Amos 8:11-12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
***When you look at this chapter in context of the prophecy it becoming very clear that this withdraw of God’s word comes because of his judgment on his people:
So what does the Prophecy say are the things that are occurring in order for the Lord to be so upset with his people that he is going to withdraw his word?
Verse #4 says it is the mistreatment of the poor and the needy.
Verse #5 says it is that attitude of the merchants and people to despise God’s restrictions of working on the holidays and Sabbaths. They are saying they cannot wait for these to be over so they can sell their grain but not justly, with false weights and balances.
Verse 6 tells use specifically they target the poor in their business transactions.
Verse 7 & 8 explains that God made a covenant with the children of Israel to care for the poor, the widows, the fatherless of the land. As part of this covenant the Lord will bring judgement on his people for despising the poor and for treating them unjustly.
Verses #9-10 explains God’s judgements on his people:
- Physical darkness of the sun
- Feast and Holidays that should be full of Joy will be full of mourning and sadness.
- Baldness on every head
- Sadness like mourning of an only son. (depression) that ends like a very bitter or bad day.
Then we arrive and verse 11-12 of Amos 8:11-12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
***it is important to understand God does not just withhold his word for no reason at all.
***Point #1 of the Message today: Your attitude and response toward God’s word can affect if God continues to be speak to you.
The Book of Amos in the Bible was written between 760–750 BC. This makes it one of the earliest books in the Bible and the first book of prophecy
It was only about 100 years later, Samuel is a little boy serving the priest Eli in the Tabernacle of the Lord. Turn of 1st Samuel Chapter 3:1-4
1 Samuel 3
King James Version
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
***You see Israel as a nation had gone through a period of time of 400 years of being lead by Judges and prophets of God. But God was getting ready to introduce a new leadership structure to his people a structure that would bring into place a King, but not just any king. God was going to bring a king David to the throne, in 1 Samuel 13:14 the prophet describes David as “A man after God’s own heart.
***This structural change in leadership of God’s people was all part of God’s plan to bring his Son, Jesus Christ into the world to be our savior, redeemer, brother and friend, and to sit on the throne of David as King of King and Lord of Lords.
This is my observation: God withdrew his word and communication with current leadership structure of Judges as he began to lead his people to the new structure of King. That could be one reason in Samuel Chapter 3:1 it stays the word of the Lord was precious or rare in those days.
***Point #1 of the Message today: Your attitude and response toward God’s word can affect if God continues to be speak to you.
***Point #2 of the Message today: A change in the frequency of Gods speaking in the world can signal a coming change in spiritual leadership structure.
**In the business world we have a term Economic Disruptors: Economic disruptors are companies or people that change the way an industry operates, often by introducing new technologies or more efficient ways of doing business. Disruptors can transform existing markets or create new ones
I want to talk about a Spiritual Disruptor we see that took place at the birth of John the Baptist and the Jesus Christ.
The period between the Old and New Testaments is often called the "silent years" because, according to Jewish tradition, no new prophets spoke or received direct revelation from God during this time, meaning there were no new scriptures written to record God's voice, effectively creating a period of silence in the biblical narrative.
***But keep in mind during this time of spiritual silence where God’s word is once again rare and precious God is working to prepare the world for his Son to come. Pastor Doug shared this so clearly several weeks ago. All the things on the world stage that were happening: The Roman Government expansion that brought roads, infrastructure, civil peace, the common language (Greek). The Jewish people building synagogues in all these remote areas through civilization. The global tax structure that would bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
***Point #1 of the Message today: Your attitude and response toward God’s word can affect if God continues to be speak to you.
***Point #2 of the Message today: A change in the frequency of Gods speaking in the world can signal a coming change in spiritual leadership structure.
***Point #3 of the Message today: God may not always be speaking to you, but he is always working for you.
Romans 8:28
King James Version
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Philippians 1:6
King James Version
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
In Closing I want to circle back to where we started: When God spoke to me not to become too comfortable with hearing the word of the Lord. This is more about not taking the word of the Lord for granted.
I want you to hear the cry of David in Psalms 51. You will see the heart of someone who values and hold precious the word of the Lord:
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
***I want you to compare and contrast this statement with the words of Samson in Judges 16
You see Samson was anointed by God and called to be a Judge and bring deliverance to God’s people from the Philistines. But Samson was very comfortable in his calling and anointing. He did not walk in holiness and keep the vow of the Nazarite. He had unholy relationships but time after time God’s spirit would come upon him and give him strength until one day his unholy relationship brought him to have his head on the lap of the enemy and he tells her all that is in his heart. Delilah may have shaved his head but Samson had already gave away his heart and God will not share you with anyone.
Isaiah 42:8
King James Version
8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Judges 16:20
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
***The 4th and closing point of the Message today: Be confident in your relationship with the Lord but not comfortable in your gift and calling.
1 Peter 4:11-19
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
***Point #1 of the Message today: Your attitude and response toward God’s word can affect if God continues to be speak to you.
***Point #2 of the Message today: A change in the frequency of Gods speaking in the world can signal a coming change in spiritual leadership structure.
***Point #3 of the Message today: God may not always be speaking to you, but he is always working for you.
***The 4th and closing point of the Message today: Be confident in your relationship with the Lord but not comfortable in your gift and calling.