Is The Spirit In The Camp? (title is link to sermon)
This morning I am sipping coffee while sitting here with Jesus in the motorhome at our home away from home for the next week. I can feel and am comforted by HIS presence. The spirit is here in the camp!
I cannot help but dwell on last night's events at the church! The spirit of God was moving, and many people left changed.
The spirit of God is awesome indeed! I pray that you are feeling the spirit of God guiding you today as you read this.
Do you feel the spirit of God in your “camp?”
I Samuel 4:4-11 (4) So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (5) And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. (6) And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. (7) And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore (8) Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. (9) Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. (10) And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. (11) And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain
I ask you again, Is the spirit in your camp?
I am not asking if there are symbols of Christianity at your home.
I am not asking if there is a “I love Jesus” bumper sticker on your car.
I am not asking if you wear T-shirts that have scripture printed on them.
I am asking if the spirit of God is in your camp, in your home, in your car, in you.
You see, Israel was out of sync with God. The people had forgotten the Lord and had become Baal worshippers.
I am sure you are not worshipping Baal but what is the first thing you think about when you get up? What is the last thing you are thinking about when you lay down for the night? That could be your idol! Amen? If you spend enough time NOT seeking the Lord, NOT reading HIS word, NOT praying to him, you may NOT have the spirit in your camp.
You see, the Israelites had neglected the spiritual side of things, so as a result the Lord gave them over to their enemies. Instead of seeking to become right with God, these Israelites thought that, if they could get the ark of the covenant, which had been the symbol of Jehovah's presence, and bring it from the tent of Shiloh into the midst of their camp, they would then be certain of victory.
They thought wrong, didn’t they? They sent and fetched the ark; and when it came into the camp, they were enthusiastic as if their banners already waved over a victorious battle; they lifted up their voices so loudly, that the earth rang again with their shouts, while the Philistines, hearing their exulting shout, and finding out the reason, were greatly afraid. With fearful hearts, and trembling lips, already counting that all was lost, their enemies turned to one another, and said, "God has come into the camp. Woe unto us! For there hath not been such a thing heretofore."
THE GREAT MISTAKE, which the Israelites made, was that instead of going to God himself, they instead went to Shiloh to fetch the ark of the covenant.
The point I am trying to make today is that you can have a 10 pound cross hanging around your neck, your car covered with Christian bumper stickers, a Bible in every room of your house but the spirit of God could still be missing!
I pray this finds you feeling the presence of Gaod with you!
If not, the spirit of God is not in the camp.
All you have to do is repent of those idols and ask HIM to join you!
THEN the spirit will be in your camp.
Have a spirit filled and blessed day!
Comments
Amen