Idols II

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."  Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

"If revival is being withheld from us it is because some idol remains still enthroned; because we still insist in placing our reliance in human schemes; because we still refuse to face the unchangeable truth that, 'It is not by might, but by My Spirit."  These words were spoken by Canadian missionary, Jonathan Goforth who, in the early 1900's, brought a great revival to northern China. They could not be more true today. Our idol can be our own self-reliance, our confidence that we can make things happen.

Why is it we would rather do almost anything than pray? Let us organize a meeting, write a "how to" manual, preach a fiery sermon--anything but pray! Prayer is humbling--we come to God acknowledging that He has the power, not us. It means relying on the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work, rather than our own capabilities. We usually have to wait for results and we DO NOT like to wait. In our culture, waiting is synonymous with doing nothing, yet God teaches us in times of waiting. In the spiritual realm, it's prayer that moves the hand of God.

Idols

 "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the LORD will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.' Therefore say to the people of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!"  Ezekiel 14:4-6 (NIV)

What does it mean to have idols in your heart? It means that there are things in your life that you love more than you love God. Many of us are not even aware of them--what or who could we possibly love more than God? They have become such a part of our life that we don't see they are in direct competition with God for our time and affections. Sports, shopping, children, grandchildren--all seem like good things until you have to choose between them or God. If God has asked you to do something and you repeatedly put Him off to do other things, chances are you are an idol worshipper. If we worship something or someone other than God, we will obey that call rather than the call of God.
As we pray for revival, God wants us to be totally set apart for His purposes--this leaves no room for idols. Ask God to show you the things that compete with His call on your life. Make a list. Add to that list as The Lord shows you. If we will allow Him, God will help us to turn from our idols and turn back to Him.
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."  James 4:17 (NIV)

Whitewashed

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."  Matthew 23:27 (NIV)

Hypocrites! Jesus exposed the very people that should have been set apart for God. They looked good on the outside, they knew how to act the part. But the one who searches the hearts of men could see right through them and it wasn't pretty.  Could he be talking about us? Are we guilty of trying to appear better than we really are? Do we spend most of our time trying to make ourselves look good to others when the part of us that really matters, our heart, is "full of hypocrisy and wickedness"?  How can we expect God to answer our prayers for revival under such conditions? 1Samuel 16:7 says," man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." He is one person we can't fool!

God's Perspective on World Affairs

"The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.  Psalm 33:10-22 (NIV)

Understanding the Times

Wisdom from Vance Havner:
"The children of Issachar had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do (I Chronicles 12:32). With all the news media of today there is plenty of knowledge of the times, but little understanding. Such understanding will not be gained from news analysts and political experts. It must be based on God’s Word and it produces a practical knowledge of what “Israel,” God’s people, ought to do. We must know the times, we must understand them, and we must know what to do."

Pray Like Daniel

"I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land."
"Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame...O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you."
"But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets."
"O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name." Daniel 9:4-10,19 (NLT)

Wrath and Mercy

"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."  Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)

Throughout the Bible, we read of the mighty works of God on behalf of His people. He didn't stop there, however. More recently, the great revivals of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries have been well documented. God still lives and moves among His people. He tells us in the Book of James that "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." As in the day of Habakkuk, God's people today deserve wrath. But we can also pray like Habakkuk, that in His wrath, He will remember mercy.