The Omaha guide., 1946-03-23

voice. and | will be your God. and y
shall be my people: and walk We in a
/ the ways that I have commanded you
7 that it may be well unto you.-Jeremia
1928.
i The most powerful movement TO
national prosperity is a revival o
/ spiritual Christian living.
Israel had come to the place
where the people recognized tina
they were on the brink Of nationa
; disaster.
One Of the scriptures on reviva
is II Chronicles TIA: If my PEG
pie. which are called by my name
shall humble themselves. and pray
and seek my face. and turn from
their wicked ways; then viii | heal
from heaven. and will forgive theil
sin, and will heal their land"
This is the way of revival anc
prosperity for America. too.
Revival will come when God:
people will
1. Seek Gods Face (vv. l. p.
The ark had been out of its proper
place for a long time. The ungodly
Philistines had it. but they were
glad to return it.
The calamities which befell them
speak of distress in the heart Of ar
unbeliever when the presence d
God is evident.
For a time the ark was in the
house Of Abinadab, but even there
it was not in its rightful place. Sam
uel moved among the people, point.
ing them back to God.
This was his first act of public
ministry. but behind that public
act is the history of a cody life.
Such a man can consistently urge
others to turn to God.
The response of the people was
w~holehearted. They were thorough
ly sick of their sin and separation
from God. The earnest of their sin
cerity was their obedience to the
admonition Of Samuel that they
III. Turn From Their Wicked Ways
wv. 8. A..
Israel had learned from their
heather neighbors to worship their
false gods. These they must Put
away if God was to bless them.
The same prerequisite to spiritual
revival exists today. But some may
say. We do not worship heather
gods. One is astonished at the sim
ilarity between the ritual of some
cults and orders and the ancient
religions of heathendom.
The fact is that We have set up
many new gods-money. fashion, so
cial position. The command needs
to 60 out again through Gods mes
sengers, Put away the foreign
gods"
Now the time had come for Gods
servant to call the people to
Ill. Humble Themselves and Pray
wv. $50.
Spiritual life thrives on the gath
ering together Of Gods people. The
crisis in Israel was met by a great
convocation of the people. We
need to revive the great soul-sir-
ring religious gatherings of a gen
Grafton ago.
We a get plenty of people to-
gether for q football game. but
where r the people who should be
in churches?
81 will pray" said Samuel He
was a great intercessor (see l Sam.
15:11; Ps. 99:6; Jer. 15:D. Revival
never comes without faithful inter
cession on the part Of those whose
hearts are really burdened.
Ask yourself, How much have
prayed for revival? If l should be-
gin to pray in earnest, would no:
God hear me and answer?
~. God viii Hear and Forgive
wv. 1870.
Because his people had sought
him in humility and repentance,
God forgave and gave them victory.
Behold, the Lords hand is no;
shortened, that it cannot save; nei.
Their his ear heavy, that it cannot
hear" Qsa. 59:1. q. God saved Is
rael out of the hands Of their enc.
mics. The Philistines, seeing tf,em
gathered together to pray, assumed
that they were preparing to fight,
and they attacked. In the previous
battle at that very spot q Sam.
4:1-1O). Israel had fought with
weapons of men and been disgrace
fully defeated. Now they fought
with the weapon of prayer and faith
in God, and great was the victory.
America is valiantly battling
against the social and economic
problems of these distressing post.
war days, but one fears that all toe
often the weapons are those of the
arm of flesh which will fail US. lie:
US look up instead of to n another.
God will save US" ". 81.
There is an inspiring wore
here for every troubled soul.
You may. like Israel, have fallen
into sin Your life may be defeated.
You may be utterly discouraged
Return to the Lord, put away sin,
gather with Gods people, pray, and
God will give you victory. even Al
the very point Of former defeat.