Revival is necessary because when humans live their lives in circles. People chase God, turn away from God, and repeat. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites followed this pattern.
In 1 Samuel 4-6, the Israelites once again turned away from God, so God allowed the Philistines to seize the Ark of the Covenant. Samuel declared to the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:3). If we fully commit to God and give our whole hearts to Him, then we will have revival and deliverance.
Do you have idols in your life?
The Israelites were surrounded by the idolatry of neighbors, and they became involved with foreign gods and ways of life. We may not have literal statues of idols sitting in our homes, but we may be holding onto idols in our lives. When it comes to God, an idol is anything not-God that you have given power and allow to have power over you. An idol is something you have allowed to influence your emotions, thoughts, and decisions.
The Israelites were not outright pagans; they still knew God. They were mixed up and tried to have it both ways. Christians today can just as easily become confused and distracted and let their love of God and faith in Him be weakened by the presence of idols. The power of God is not working in your life because you have withdrawn yourself from Him and given your heart to something or someone else. When you have idols in your life, you have taken away God’s place at the center of your life.
The problem is… No idol has the power to save you or deliver you. Any thrill, happiness, or good feeling you might get from that “idol” is only shallow and temporary. Only God can and will keep you well, renewed, and full of life. Turn your whole heart to the Lord today!
2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
Questions:
Can you think of any objects or things in your life that have consumed too much of your life and crowded out God?
What will you do to clean out your life and make God the center?
