Ichabod! Where is God's Glory
1 Sam 2:11-17; 22-25; 35,36;

Intro: What is happening to our land? What are happening to our churches? What is happening to our people? Where is God? What has happened to him? Why is He not supporting us? Why does He allow all this to happen to us?
Sound familiar? We stay as far from God as we can and then wonder why He is not in our midst? We never think of Him, Never talk to Him, never share Him and yet we wonder why we cannot find His presence in our lives and churches?
 

What condition caused this to happen to them?

  1. Indifferent to sinful living
    1. Personally
    2. As a Church
    3. As a Nation
  1. Refusal to listen to God's correction
    1. Non-need of God
    2. Non-contrite heart
    3. Stubbornness - 3:13
  1. Perversion of God's service for their gain or benefit
We see at least three reason for perversion…
    1. Greed
    2. Lasciviousness
    3. Power - Many could honestly sing a new song - "Have Mine Own Way!"
  1. Overly occupied with secular duties and aspects in life
    1. Self satisfying ventures
    2. Gainful ventures
    3. Selfish ventures
  1.  Dependant on externality rituals to satisfy one's conscious toward God
    1. The ark was only a symbol of assurance
    2. The church can become our "ark"
    3. Tradition can be held up as the "Ark of OUR Covenant" - Tell Joke about change:


      4. How many church members does it take to change a light bulb?????????
      "CHANGE!????? WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT CHANGE??????"
       

    4. IF the building or symbol is all you revere you are in danger of ICHABOD
  1. Ongoing existence without contact with God
    1. There was no open vision - 3:1
    2. Eli no longer (or ever) heard from God - 2:27
    3. If their leader was in the dark then they were in the dark (actions show this)
    4. Are you on autopilot? Or are you talking to the Lord?
What effects did this have on their and our lives?
  1. God raised up a faithful servant - 2:35
  2. If we trust God He will change people's hearts - Chapters 5 & 6
  3. If we Trust God He will stay with us - 7:1,2 (TWENTY YEARS)
  4. If we turn to Him He will Deliver us - 1 Sam. 7:1-4
7:1 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.
 

Ask yourself these questions…

Am I wholly trusting God with my life?

Do I have a clear vision with God? If not why?

Do I fail to commune with Him, or only use Him when in trouble?

Do I allow God to guide me in my life, or do I allow Him to follow me around and do what I want to do or go where I want to go?

Which song are you singing?

"Have Thine Own Way!" or "Have Mine Own Way!"
 
 

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 040200am