Ichabod or Renewal?
I have explained how I occasionally scan the TV channels to see what the “famous” preachers are saying. What’s amazing is how so many of them keep saying, “God is doing a new thing in his church!” This “new thing” they keep promising is sometimes called a revival, an special outpouring, or a visitation, or a miraculous move of God.
I don’t mean to sound skeptical, but I have been hearing that for bunches of years . . . I heard about times of renewal happening in Tulsa; Dallas; Lakeland; Toronto; and several other cities and countries. The thing is, these “new things,” eventually die out. And once they have faded, another “new thing,” has to take its place. After another couple of years, another visitation sparks some interest. Sadly, I know of some believers who need to jump from one event to another, just to get a renewed “Fire.”
Yes, I realize that I occasionally like to “stir the pot,” a little. Yes, I believe our Father is capable of doing something new in his church. But you won’t find this mighty work of the Spirit in just one location. I mean, you can drive to Florida or Texas or wherever you think it might be happening, or . . . you can stay where you are, because the visitation, if you will, is happening in every state and around the world, even as you are reading this message.
The thing is, the Spirit of God won’t begin a new thing in the Church until He does away with the old. This is a biblical principle that has been proven throughout centuries of Church history, and is found in both Testaments and governs any true move of God. The way Jesus described it, he won’t put new wine into old wineskins (see Mark 2:22).
This principle of doing away with the old and raising up the new, was first introduced in the Old Testament at Shiloh. During the time of the Judges, God established a holy work in that city (see Judges 18:31). Shiloh was where the Wilderness Tabernacle (called generically the house of God) was erected and semi-permanently located when Israel entered the Promised Land. This is where the official Priesthood operated, which was the center of all religious activity in Israel.
The name Shiloh itself means “that which is the Lord’s.” This is referring to everything that represents Yahweh and reveal His nature and character. The Lord spoke to his people at Shiloh and where Samuel first heard Yahweh’s voice and where the Lord revealed his will to him (see I Samuel 1).
So if you follow the history of Isra’el, the Lord quit leading and guiding them because His laws had become perverted, and the people had become lazy, and sensual, and Shiloh had become corrupt. God told Samuel, “Shiloh has become so defiled, it no longer represents who I am. This house is no longer mine. I’m finished with it.” So the Lord lifted his presence from the sanctuary and wrote “Ichabod” above the door, which means, “The glory of the Lord has departed.”
That my friends is the most dreadful thought we can ever imagine. Yes, it is a frightening thought, but the Lord has completely done away with the old and once again, raised up something new. Thousands of years after Shiloh was abandoned by the Lord, the temple in Jerusalem became known as “the Lord’s house” and God spoke to his people there.
Then, something even greater happened! We are told that “if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether—the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new!” (II Corinthians 5:17). That’s right! Once you discover Jesus as your Savior, you will never need to fear the Lord abandoning you, but even greater news it that you don’t have to waste the time and gas traveling to those “outpourings,” and “new things,” He has already given you a new thing – your life has been made new and you can have an outpouring of His Spirit every day of the week! Go ahead and shout, my friend, because TODAY is your day of renewal!!!
Nickolas
I don’t mean to sound skeptical, but I have been hearing that for bunches of years . . . I heard about times of renewal happening in Tulsa; Dallas; Lakeland; Toronto; and several other cities and countries. The thing is, these “new things,” eventually die out. And once they have faded, another “new thing,” has to take its place. After another couple of years, another visitation sparks some interest. Sadly, I know of some believers who need to jump from one event to another, just to get a renewed “Fire.”
Yes, I realize that I occasionally like to “stir the pot,” a little. Yes, I believe our Father is capable of doing something new in his church. But you won’t find this mighty work of the Spirit in just one location. I mean, you can drive to Florida or Texas or wherever you think it might be happening, or . . . you can stay where you are, because the visitation, if you will, is happening in every state and around the world, even as you are reading this message.
The thing is, the Spirit of God won’t begin a new thing in the Church until He does away with the old. This is a biblical principle that has been proven throughout centuries of Church history, and is found in both Testaments and governs any true move of God. The way Jesus described it, he won’t put new wine into old wineskins (see Mark 2:22).
This principle of doing away with the old and raising up the new, was first introduced in the Old Testament at Shiloh. During the time of the Judges, God established a holy work in that city (see Judges 18:31). Shiloh was where the Wilderness Tabernacle (called generically the house of God) was erected and semi-permanently located when Israel entered the Promised Land. This is where the official Priesthood operated, which was the center of all religious activity in Israel.
The name Shiloh itself means “that which is the Lord’s.” This is referring to everything that represents Yahweh and reveal His nature and character. The Lord spoke to his people at Shiloh and where Samuel first heard Yahweh’s voice and where the Lord revealed his will to him (see I Samuel 1).
So if you follow the history of Isra’el, the Lord quit leading and guiding them because His laws had become perverted, and the people had become lazy, and sensual, and Shiloh had become corrupt. God told Samuel, “Shiloh has become so defiled, it no longer represents who I am. This house is no longer mine. I’m finished with it.” So the Lord lifted his presence from the sanctuary and wrote “Ichabod” above the door, which means, “The glory of the Lord has departed.”
That my friends is the most dreadful thought we can ever imagine. Yes, it is a frightening thought, but the Lord has completely done away with the old and once again, raised up something new. Thousands of years after Shiloh was abandoned by the Lord, the temple in Jerusalem became known as “the Lord’s house” and God spoke to his people there.
Then, something even greater happened! We are told that “if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether—the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new!” (II Corinthians 5:17). That’s right! Once you discover Jesus as your Savior, you will never need to fear the Lord abandoning you, but even greater news it that you don’t have to waste the time and gas traveling to those “outpourings,” and “new things,” He has already given you a new thing – your life has been made new and you can have an outpouring of His Spirit every day of the week! Go ahead and shout, my friend, because TODAY is your day of renewal!!!
Nickolas
With these Morning Messages, I take you on guided tours to, as Bunyan described, the Celestial City. At times we linger at corners familiar and unseen. And explore the depths of our faith along the way.
The trail is long, but there’s no hurry. Though we do need to stock up on supplies for the way, and that’s where I need your help. If you enjoy these messages, please consider becoming a contributing member of this tour group. It will be very much appreciated.
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