God's Fullness For an Empty World - Part 2 of 2

Will should Mr. Bradley Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible. Our in and in a and in and in a and and he and and a and time should we have a special Hsinchu bar. Need we feel very empty and barren. Wonder how God, whatever you shush that it's encouraging to know that God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty we can trust in him for the fullness that we so desperately need. Today we bring you the second part of the message entitled God's fullness for an empty vessel. These are brought keenly aware of the point at this time that they need the Lord. Verse four says that the children of his white male minister off and serve the Lord only, and Samuel said, gather all Israel to miss me and I will pray for you under the Lord noticed the sequence of events year there's a call from the prophet to return return. Sometimes I talk to people say well I feel that I have strayed gone so far away. I don't Lord ever hear me again like it may just be a hopeless case but I love to see how many times the prophets of the Old Testament use that word return find it frequently in the writings of Jeremiah talking to a people who had forsaken the Lord, gone astray, gone down the path toward items return return return to me. If a person was gone astray is returning there doing what they're repenting. Repentance is a change of mind change of heart. Change of direction, not just a lot of idle words saying yes I've done wrong or if I've done anything wrong, forgive me know it's a matter saying I am wrong I have done wrong.

I have gone the wrong direction.

I'm acknowledging it saying with the psalmist that are justified when thou speakers in other words, I'm not going to complain against the corrective rot of the Lord. I'm not going to suggest that God is being unfair to me because of the consequences, and I'm suffering as a result of our own sin. I'm coming to him with true confession that I acknowledge my sin and repentance. I'm turning from it. There's a change. I'm not going to continue down the same path after the prophet calls upon them to return. There is a response in that the people do put their false gods away and serve the Lord and then the next thing comes prayer gathers the people together and he is praying for them on the Lord surely know that's an essential part of any time of great spiritual awakening. We gave several messages from the book of acts over the past weeks, over and over again. We pointed out how the book of acts.

There is a record of really what is called acts of the apostles is really a record of what the Holy Spirit of God was doing in the lives of the apostles and in the lives of those who were followers of Jesus Christ and how he was anointed to blessing the church in that day and that's the need of our day. Nothing else can take the place of the Holy Spirit of God.

We need his blessing upon us and when we see the pattern that is established even in Old Testament times. I understand that we are under grace not under law understand we don't don't go to the Old Testament to try to set the example and pattern for the practice of the New Testament church.

We got all that from the New Testament itself. But first, we think.

Chapter 10 tells us these things are written for time.

Prior learning and admonition. There's some tremendously important lessons to be learned from what God was doing with his people in olden times, and certainly in this lesson we can quickly see that if we hope to have God's rich blessings upon us. If we want to see him delivering us from our enemies or blessing us in a day when there is evil wrapping around us in this ungodly world and that the church have a great testimony like being shot out into the dark places we got to come in very much the same way they came closer recall. As we look at those lessons the book of acts that in acts chapter 1 before the spirit of God didn't descend upon them, and special measure of the day of Pentecost was the church doing that were praying were trying to come up with new plans and schemes that were praying and they met there and fire until the spirit of God visited them so here there is a call for return. There's a response on the part of the people and putting their false gods away and now there is prior in verse six it says and when they gathered together in misprint and drew water and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day and said there we have sinned against the Lord and Samuel judged the children of Israel in ministry but a few months ago we started on a couple of different Wednesday nights here the 58th chapter the book of Isaiah that talks about but the real significance of the fast is she there were times that the people were going through the routine of a fast when they miss the whole significance of fast was never designed as a method of gaining favor before God. The Pharisees approached in that light, they disfigure their faces to appear on demand to be fasting. They wanted to get some credit for it. They wanted somebody to look at me and say what of self-sacrificing individual that is said that's that's not what it's all about certain it was never designed to deprive the body of its proper nourishment. It was never designed as being a method by which might we manipulate God and obligate him to do something for us but when we learned there in Isaiah 58 to the people of that day while denying themselves for a period of time. Physical nourishment they missed the point as to what was really to go on inside you say.

He says there that instead of you really observing the fast that I have chosen, which means to undo the heavy burdens and to put away the fist of wickedness instead of you to propping yourself of your own sinful inclinations. You think because you have gone through the outward motions of the fast that all was well and he goes on to talk about it from a positive standpoint as to the things you want to be doing one of which was to bring the poor that are cast out to the house so we need always to look at the whole scope of Scripture and understand the intent and purpose behind such matters. So they came before the Lord acknowledging we have sin, the listing heard that the children of Israel were gathered together in misprint lords of the Philistines went up against Israel, and when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

The contrast in chapter 4.

Once they got to our present were praying they were shouting me fine today after recalling to the things of the past. Understanding how much they needed the Lord God's people are concerned and so verse eight says, and the children of Israel said to Samuel, cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. Yes with private who have to happen again. We appreciate the fact that the prophets already sought the Lord in prayer on our behalf, but when we hear the lovelies over there in the camp of the enemy, and we know what they're capable of doing. We know how much we need to Lord Wake Forest is not to pray for say that's the difference in a proud and boastful spirit and oneness truly humbled individually comes to the end of himself and say I know that I'm weak and I need God's strength. I know that I cannot successfully fight the battles of life. I must have his help. I must remember the battle is the Lord that individualist praying and asking others to pray for him or her pointed out a number of times how we pray frequently and I think it's an order that we do for those that are sick and have special physical needs, and I understand that many of the other types of problems of people face in life are not such that might be announced in detail the Sunday morning service, but I'm sure that there are multitudes of issues in people's lives even more burdensome and significant than physical problems that need prayer.

And we ought to be willing if not publicly, at least among some of our own trusted friends to be able to open up and share with them some of our burdens and request their prayers and be ready always to pray for one another, not just for physical blessing, but for the other heavy burdens that are born. These people were saying to the prophet don't cease to pray for us. Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt offering holy under the Lord and Samuel Crider the Lord for Israel and the Lord heard him. Interesting that he took the lamb by the SEs acknowledging Israel has no merit.

Israel has no righteousness, it is necessary that there be given a sacrifice. And, of course, from the very beginning from the sacrificial lamb that was offered by evil all the Old Testament Scripture to the offering of the Passover lamb itself.

All of that.

Pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ who is the Lamb of God. When John the Baptist finally comes on the scene, says the whole Lamb of God would take away the sin of the world.

Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world of the mind and purpose of God and ultimately died at Calvary, the Lamb dying for sinners.

What is that mean to look to the cross to look to Jesus Christ to view him as the sacrificial lamb were saying, but that I am a sinner. I have no righteousness to offer.

I'm praying that thy blessings will be bestowed upon me for Jesus sake Simon is saying here for the slaying of this lamb. Israel is not a bright, Israel is not righteous. Israel doesn't deserve my blessing, but by the blood sacrifice we are asking for mercy. The Lord hurting in a Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel but the Lord thundered with a grade thunder on that day and the Philistines were discomfited and they were smitten before Israel a day. I love these Old Testament stories to see how God works for the Lord and have to bring in a big army to defend them. He just sends enough funder to confuse them and frighten them and send them running have I heard some pretty fierce thunder Monday. I'm sure you have to back the way it had some just a few days ago that it just was right on the windows of our house and then been times when I've I've heard thunder that I mean it. It was just frightening to hear it. Well I don't know to what degree this was but it was a strong enough that these brave soldiers were confused, disturbed and not not able to stand in battle. Now aren't you glad to believe in a God like that you know you can plan and connivance scheme about how you're going to try to solve all your problems and you will win all your battles and many times all you do is muddy up the water make it worse. And then you pray Lord I have no merit. I have no righteousness plead the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ I please use merit. I pray that I will take charge and that I would work in this matter, and sometimes he no doubt works in ways that we never see but once in a while he lets us see what he's doing and we just stand in amazement so I could I couldn't of work that out. No matter how hard I tried. Underwood even thought of it, much less been able to work it out and look what the Lord is. Look how God has maneuvered this thing on my behalf would really be interesting some time to do a study of just some of the major events of history where significant differences have been made hinged on what seemed to be an insignificant event. Just some small turn in one direction or another. Make a difference as to who was going to be present. What army was going to win a battle just on and on.

The list could go on course to see it right here in God's word and believing of the sovereignty of God gives you such reassurance.

Such hope such a foundation to stand how wonderful to believe that the God that we worship has all power in the weather it's the Philistines whether it's a modern-day enemy, whether it's a group of terrorists. Whoever it might be. God is able to intervene. Yes, equality is what is new whatever time we don't know the mind of the Lord, but just know that he's able knowing that there's nothing out of his control gives us great assurance, the Lord thundered, and therefore the Philistines were discomfited and Israel smoked them and the men of Israel went out of Mr. and pursue the Philistines and smoke them until they came to Beth Carr.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of Ebenezer, saying he is there to The Lord helped us so the Philistines were subdued and they came no more and the coast of Israel and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of second when the pictures will there very quick to acknowledge where the blessing came from Sam takes a stone set it up as a memorial and says will call Ebenezer, saying Cuyler to half the Lord helped us see the contrast between their initial boastful shout back in chapter 4. All we gotta do is make a little adjustment here will just interject our plans would just sit are we to get this thing fixed here. They are written good shape. That sort of thing will be fun tell you it's dangerous for us as individuals to be dangerous for us as a church and the people to get to that kind of a place remember the letters to the seven churches of Asia, the church says we are rich, and increased in good thing. I find people who are very resistant to the idea that there could ever be a problem, need, even within a church or group of churches to acknowledge that we are weak we failed in some areas.

We went when we need to come before God in confession it's it's it's like if you write such a question. It's as though you have challenge the fundamentals of the fact that such is not the case, how can you read the New Testament and not come to grips with the reality churches at various times 18 I can you read the word of God, Old Testament and New Testament without saying that there was a constant call for returning for repainting where there was any wavering any stumbling along the way to return to the narrow path and article the Baptist witness a few months ago, giving a little further insight as to what that passage means the book of Jeremiah where he says, asking for the password is a good way walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. And when you study out the language fully and get the context is not just talking about the old pass he's talking about coming to that wave were that proper path can be identified as will be identified.

Not only did a fine just because it, well this this is an old pass.

Let must make it all right there a lot of ways in this world today that are ancient there also wrong of error has been around almost as long as truth back to the Garden of Eden. God spoke words of truth.

He says in the AED to this permitting from Satan came along error came right along on the heels of truth and blood of error has been the world for all these many generations.

But what is the standard when you're asking for little password is the good way, what is the signposts was the thing that makes the determination what the word of God says not a matter of personal comfort personal preference. This is what I think this is what somebody else and what does the word of God say, so there was a boastful shout in the beginning but then a humble cry as the people acknowledge we need help. And Samuel begins to pray on their behalf water as a symbol of their weakness. Here we are. Our enemy is at hand, we have these memories of those numbers of our soldiers that have died on the battlefields in days past Lord we need the where like water poured out where where we could water ever get to that place in life or just be like a test about the way I am. I don't feel like I've got the strength I haven't got the ability week is water well as it is to feel that way. It's it's a safer place than when you're feeling like you're strong and you can do with the world and you can handle it and you will just make it on your own. So we see that as the people confess their sins acknowledge their unworthiness. God enters the scene.

Paul asked the question in Romans chapter 8 of God before us, who can be against us with God on their side. It didn't matter how many Philistines that were it didn't matter how brave their soldiers worry. Didn't matter what kind of weapons of warfare they had at their disposal with God for Israel. Nobody could defeat them, just keep that in mind, if we are seeking the Lord and following him.

We can have hope, courage, not in ourselves but in him alone before was just a pretense.

The vein shout was something that was without foundation, without meaning is just a people trying to develop a good positive attitude and feel good about themselves, but it brought them to miserable defeat world today applauds the self-confidence to self-sufficient those who are reliant on their own ability and strength, but in the word of God. We see that the Lord is mindful of and ready to bless those with a humble spirit with a broken heart. Those who come before him in weakness. Acknowledging we have no strength when Israel took the low place than the thunder was heard. If we want to see God at work in our lives personally, if we want to see the Lord doing things in our own families. If we want to see the Lord doing great things in our church if we want to see the Lord doing great things wherever he is pleased to work today.

Let's remember the position we have to take we come before him in humility Lord where we're not boasting we have nothing to glory in in ourselves. What we glory only in the Lord. We don't want to become self-sufficient. We don't want to become boastful as though all is well with us because of our superior knowledge, or conduct or whatever else it might be that we would try to offer come before him was water poured Lord where week without strong, we need the and I was promised that when we call upon the that what here's appraises the reality of the experience that we see in these two chapters by way of vivid contrasts will be understood in our own minds and hearts and lived out in our lives individually and that we as a church can bear in mind that anytime we would elevate ourselves with a sense of sufficiency or superiority, even as Israel did in this first account, it can only bring us to destruction. But although Israel and send and there were great faults and failures to be properly attributed to them when they confess their sin and they looked to the sacrifice that was made symbolic of the mercy that's bestowed on the greatest sacrifice through the greatest sacrifice. Jesus Christ sought the Lord and God answered not in any way that they can ever imagine. I'm sure that it never will default to pray Lord, would you please when we get ready for the battle send send a big funder and and frighten the enemy that I'm sure that one in their minds and often the way that the Lord hears our prayers and answered is is is is not what we have expected and anticipated but may we earnestly seek him and pray Lord in thy time and in the highway sin.

Thy blessing may be done in a way that all will recognize it is God's work for God is magnified as he moves in a manner that becomes evident. This is not by human schemes and efforts, but by the power of the sovereign God in whom we trust that we trust all the more. Today we brought to the concluding part of the message God's fullness for an empty vessel. If you'd like to get this complete message on CD requested when writing a check Baptist Bible hour box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 two. We greet you next time. This is will share Bradley Junior bidding you goodbye and may God bless you and I will see you in all and all