Let’s read Zech 1:1-6. Click here to return to the Sermons page. Look at verses 10-11: While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. Perhaps God is calling us to do that as a church at some time. Besides that, think of the eternal consequences for those God intends for you to minister to. Share. "In February 1891, the Star of the East was whale hunting off the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. And yet when … Affliction … Blessed beyond imagination. Whenever you undertake a big project, it is always good to stop and mark your progress. If God speaks to you through a verse in the Bible, perhaps put a date next to that verse right in your Bible. They obviously don't research history often. Sometimes God will lead an entire church to come together to confess a particular sin or failing. He was an experienced sailor and navigator, but his cursing and blaspheming turned hardened sailors' ears red. * Indicated Required Field See our Privacy Policy. Sermon: Six Signs We Need to Return to God - Jonah 1 Sermon series: Returning to God. So what are some of the aspects of Christian growth we find in our passage this morning? The first act of the awakened is usually an act of prayer. But there was something different about their mourning now. This is the God who is sovereign over all the masses, whoever they may be. From a general view of God's readiness to heal us. Really, it is not a question of whether God has spoken, but whether we are listening. But it is worth it. For this reason God asked them to have an annual event to “remember the day they came out of Egypt!” They … That is why God has given us each other. A second aspect of Christian growth is that you will begin to see the changes in your life. Want to get in touch? Ash Wednesday - A. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. It is not always glamorous or even exciting to grow as a Christian. God delivered them from the Philistines with loud thunder from heaven. The prophet calls on those who … This outbreak is a biological fact, like so many that have plagued humanity over the ages. There is always something that we have allowed to come between us and God. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah. We don’t like admitting that we need help, and we don’t like admitting that we are wrong. The steps are simple to understand, but often hard to take because of the stubbornness and pride in our hearts. I ran to Bonham, Texas. And so he offered to pray for them. As John Newton, who wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace,” once said, “I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.” Now that’s an example of a believer who was marking his progress in the Christian life. If God answers a prayer for you, write it down somewhere. The second step is prayer. "When the stomach was cut open, Bartley was found unconscious. And it means that God will be there to help you with your difficulties. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And when the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered together at Mizpah, they went into attack mode. To ensure you receive the best experience on LifeWay.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. In this week’s Gospel lesson Jesus instructs us to return our whole lives to the One in whose image we have been made. Sermon series: The Returning to God. For the rest of his life he carried the scars of a bleached white face, neck and hands from the whale's gastric acid." But the issue is this - you must address its spiritual impact on your relationship with God. Welcome! When you have walked away from God, you are weak spiritually. The Philistines lived outside the borders of Israel. Walking In Truth - 2 John 1:1-13 - 10/18/2020. Comment. © Ray Fowler. Perhaps it is another person, perhaps it is some goal you are pursuing, perhaps it is money, anger, pride, or the use of your time. God told Jonah to "preach against" Nineveh. Samuel realized this. Can you truly escape to some "Tarshish from God?" That won’t fly with the wife, and it won’t fly with God. Every time Israel forgot what Egypt was REALLY like they got the itch to go back! Pastor Mike Burford. That is because God disciplines us when we walk away from him so that we will return to him. Joel 2:13 - And rend your heart and not your garments.”Now return to the Lord your God,For He is gracious and compassionate,Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindnessAnd relenting of evil. You are sorry for your sin because of the way it has affected your relationship with God. Look at the phrase "Go to Nineveh." Some in our enlightened day think that the story of a fish swallowing a man it simply too amazing to believe. Every once in a while a whimsical story makes the news. Scripture declares that all humanity has turned away from God, and must return to him. And then the third aspect of Christian growth is living it out in your daily routine. Year after year Samuel went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal and Mizpah, judging the people of Israel. This is exactly what we must do when we wander away from God and our trust in Him. That is the third aspect of prayer we find in these verses – trusting God to deliver you by his grace. The problem is not the virus—as potentially lethal as it might be. Soon the ship was caught in a horrible storm and was taking in water. And unless you are growing in that relationship, you are missing out on the best that God has for you. Return to God …the source of grace and mercy. To those who have deserted God. It's not simply a disobedient nation to which God is calling “return to me.” No, it's a nation that is actively robbing God. The love of God is available to the wicked and vile as well as the civil and self-righteous. The Return is an end-time movement with one purpose – the return to God – individually, corporately, nationally, globally – and the end-goal of world revival. September 30, 2018 | Rev. Here we have a corporate confession of sin, something we do not see as much of today. True repentance always involves sorrow for sin and a seeking after the Lord. Bible > Sermons > Jeremiah 3:1-5. You can run, but you cannot hide from God. Twenty years! A couple of years ago, the Associated Press carried a story about a woman in Olney, England, named Dawn Gallyot who defied snow and a biting wind to beat seven other women to the finish line in the annual … Introduction One of the great lessons of Jonah's failure and forgiveness is that God can continue to use those who return to Him. But now in chapter seven Samuel is back in the story. God entrusted evangelism to His people. [2] What has God given you a passion about? Sermon: Return to God in repentance. Come to God asking him to deliver you because of what Jesus has already done for you. Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord of hosts." The Blessedness of Returning to God. Please include the following statement on any distributed copies: It reminds us that God constantly tries to speak to the hearts of His people. If you testify, "I believe in God," but then qualify it with a "however," then you need to return to God. It crystalized on September 26, 2020, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and in gatherings and events throughout the nation and the world. God created us all, and in His own image, which is sufficient proof that God intends us to a blessed part of this creation. But after my first semester of college, I decided that the ministry was not for me. CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible (Hardcover). In fact, the book of Jonah is a great place to turn to critique our spiritual condition. But have you ever thought about what they were chosen to do? ", After four weeks of storms and constant brushes with death, the ship limped into an Irish port. We fall under God's covenant as believers. Jonah, the prophet of God, honestly reveals his personal failures. Freely confessing your sin against the Lord. John Newton, former "free thinker," former slave trader and atheist, declared his faith in Jesus. I have a hunch that if we were honest, that every one of us in this room has a deep longing for something right now. Look at verse 5: Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you.” (1 Samuel 7:5) We need the help of other believers. It’s time to come home. Samuel, acting as prophet, priest and judge, leads them through the proper steps. Tony Evans Sermons [October 14, 2020] | Revival, The Return of God to His People Subscribe Now: https://bit.ly/32X0AXs New Tony Evans Sermons here! Now please understand. When they returned to God, not only were they delivered from the power of the Philistines, but there was also peace with the Amorites. If you harbor a hidden sin, this indicates that you need to return to God. They would pull out the tongues of their captives and then skin them alive. When you return to God, you will experience the ripple effect too, as the various parts of your life begin to fall back into place. He puts the very words in our mouth. “Gird yourselves and lament, you priests; Wail, "Jonah got up to flee…from the Lord." For that matter, He chided them for understanding the weather better than the spiritual conditions of the day. The grass on these … R. J. Johnstone, M. A. Jeremiah 3:1-5 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return to her again?… 1. Posts about Sermons written by returntogod. Walking In Faith - 1 John 5:1-21 - 10/11/2020 . If we have drifted from God, His call is to return to Him. It is close at hand- 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Samuel didn’t want the Israelites to forget it, so he set up a stone as a marker saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” He named the stone Ebenezer, which literally means “Stone of Help.” There is a song we sometimes sing called, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” One of the verses says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by they help I’ve come,” that is “Thus far the Lord has helped me.” If you’ve ever wondered what that verse was all about, it is talking about this incident right here in 1 Samuel. John Newton, the author of "Amazing Grace," discovered grace and forgiveness through humility, honesty and confession. A very good and heartfelt sermon from Kent Hovind. Now there are many ways to fail. Adeney . (1 Samuel 7:12-13a). This does not mean that when you return to God all of your problems will just suddenly disappear. Have you drifted away from God? (1 Samuel 7:6). But God always let them turn back. … Alec … Part of returning to God involves asking for prayer from other believers. b. The Return is an end-time movement with one purpose – the return to God – individually, corporately, nationally, globally – and the end-goal of world revival. Jonah knew exactly what God required – "however." Returning to God. The problem is not the virus—as potentially lethal as it might be. Those that desire to see God move in the church must grasp this truth: We will never see the moving of God collectively until we experience it personally. Because whatever it is, before you can return to the Lord, you must identify your idols and put them aside. CONCLUSION: The Israelites waited twenty years from the time they got the ark back before they returned to the Lord. Unfortunately, some in the church are just as clueless about the book of Jonah. Love my family, love my neighbors, love my church. Perhaps we need to see more of that. This must have been a mountaintop experience for Samuel. The first one is such an important one to keep us going and keep us motivated, and that is marking your progress. Six Signs We Need to Return to God, Jonah 1, Confinement, Communion, and Confession, Jonah 2, Returning to God: Six Signs We Need to Return to God, Returning to God: images & PowerPoint slide. Online Sunday Worship: The 20th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24A); "Return to God" Date: October 18, 2020. We'd love to hear from you. It is one thing to serve God in the dramatic moments of life. There is a vertical dimension to your sorrow. "The crew mourned their loss, but also had a tremendous task of preparing this giant sea monster. That means that I can be there for you when you are weak and struggling, and you can be there for me when I am weak and struggling. It is fitting that this week we celebrate Mary Pratt’s new ministry among us with young people and their families. Coming back to God without putting aside your idols is like a man coming back to his wife after an affair and bringing the other woman with him. You can also check out the Top Posts page to get a feel for the site. Check out these helpful resources Biblical Commentary Sermons Children’s Sermons Hymn Lists.