EBENEZER

1 Sam. 7:1-13

When you hear the name Ebenezer, what do you think of? Ebenezer Scrooge, of course, the greedy, mean, miserly villain of Charles Dicken's Christmas Carol.
The name Ebenezar is also part of a lyric in the second stanza of the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount”
Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’ve come;
And I trust by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.

Some modern hymnbooks omit that verse from the song because too many Christians are clueless to what “Ebenezer” is a reference to.

In the Bible, Ebenezer is not a person but a place; not a miser but a marker; not a verse but a victory; not a song but a stone—a stone that marked victory and revival. 1 Sam. 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

It was a traumatic time in Hebrew history. In 1 Samuel 4, Israel was beaten—beaten badly by the Philistines. Thousands of Israelites lay dead on the battlefield at “Ebenezer” (4:1-2). The Philistines stole the most sacred object that the Israelites possessed, the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark finally wound up in Kiriath-Jearim where it remained for 20 years (7:2).

During that 20 years the people began to examine themselves. Defeat should lead to self-examination. This marked the first step in revival. God stands ready to help when we meet His conditions.

1. Contrition—“…Israel lamented after the LORD” (v. 2).

2. Confession—“We have sinned against the LORD” (v. 6).

3. Conversion—“Return unto the LORD...put away the strange gods…” (v. 3) Samuel insisted they needed to do more than have good intentions.

4. Consecration—“Prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only…” (v. 3)

5. Compliance—“Then the children of Israel DID put away Baalim…”

Samuel called them all together at Mizpah (v. 6): They drew water and poured it out. It was an expression of pouring out their hearts to God in prayer (v. 6; Job 3:24; Ps. 42:4; 62:8; Isa. 26:16; Lam. 2:19).

THE THREE B's.

I. Bag.

Job 14:17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

When reading this verse there came into mind a practice at sea-side towns of putting dogs and cats that have been condemned, into a bag, with weights, tied, and then cast into the river or sea. This the Lord does, in figure, with sins.

II. Book.

Psalms 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

What a great privilege to have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.


III. Bottle.

Psalms 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

It was an Egyptian custom at funerals, for mourners to have handed to them a sponge or cloth to wipe their tears, which were wrung out into a tear bottle, and this was placed in the tomb. God takes notice of all our tears.

How to Have a Quiet Time

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

First of all, there is no "right way" to have a "quiet time." Personally, I am not even partial to the name "quite time" as it suggests something that isn't really necessary. Here's the thing, though - you are in a relationship with Christ and unless you spend time with Him, that relationship will suffer. As you can see in the above Scripture, apart from Him (Jesus), you can do NOTHING. It is imperative that you spend time with God through Jesus, daily.

A great way to have a simple and fruitful time with the Lord is this simple acronymn, S.O.A.P. Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. These 4 elements will insure that you're in God's Word, that you're talking and listening to Him, and that you're also applying what you learn to your life. Let's break it down;

S - Scripture. It all starts here...read God's word. Read a passage multiple times. Read it in it's fuller context...and always, let Scripture interpret Scripture.

O - Observation. What did you just read? Who was it written to? Why? What is going on in the story or passage? Is there a principle in this passage that you can learn from?

A - Application. Now it gets personal; what is God saying to YOU through this passage of Scripture? Is there something in your life that you need to change after reading this?

P - Prayer. Put simply, prayer is talking to God. A simple "form" of praying is A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication).

Is that it? Maybe - a great tool for having effective "quiet time" is to journal. Not all of us are "journalers," but all of us can at least write down one or two sentences on what God is speaking to you at that moment.

Remember that the key to any relationship is commiting to spend time with that person and investing in the relationship. Have you had your quiet time today?

Persecution Caused:

Act 4:24-35

1. The persecution caused prayerfulness – vs. 24 “lifted up their voice to God”

2. The persecution caused unity – vs. 24, 32 “one accord”

3. The persecution caused worship – vs. 24 “Lord, thou art God”

4. The persecution caused a shaking – vs. 31 “the place was shaken”

5. The persecution caused an assembling – vs. 31 “where they were assembled together”

6. The persecution caused a filling of the Spirit – vs. 31 “all filled with the Holy Ghost"

7. The persecution caused a bold witness – vs. 31 “they spake the word of God with boldness.”

8. The persecution caused powerful preaching – vs. 33 “with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus”

9. The persecution caused great grace to be manifested – vs. 33 “great grace” (not just grace)

10. The persecution produced love – vs. 34-35 “distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER.

Romans 8.


1. Liberates The Soul. Vs. 2.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2. Indwells The Body. Vs. 9.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

3. Quickens The Believer. Vs. 11.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

4. Leads The Believer. Vs. 14.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

5. Witnesses With Our Spirit. Vs. 16.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

6. Helps Us In Prayer. Vs. 26.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.


7. Intercedes With The Father. Vs. 27.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.