God's Glory — Bakht Singh

In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, our loving Savior, our very highly exalted Savior, we come at Thy feet once again humbling ourselves to acknowledge that our sufficiency is in Thee alone. We have not come here to see a man or hear a man.

We want to hear Thee and see Thee. Our time will be wasted if Thou rise art upon any man. We humbly pray Thou may make every eye to fix upon Thee. We thank Thee for Thy desire and heavenly plan to speak to us mortal, foolish, weak human beings from the heavenly throne through Thy word, by Thy Spirit, through Thy messengers.

We humbly request Thee whatsoever Thou hast planned and purposed and desired from eternity to accomplish among us in these few days of fellowship to the American Holy Convocation, be fully accomplished.

Thy heart be fully satisfied. Whatever Thou hast to say to us, be heard clearly. Whatever Thou hast to accomplish, be fully accomplished. Whatever Thou hast to do through us, be also done for Thy glory.

O Lord, we are needy people. Whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of life. We don't know what to say, but we commit and commend ourselves unto Thee. Thou knowest our heart. We long to hear Thee, long to be used of Thee, and long to see Thee moving and working in the whole world in the end days.

Do possess us completely and fill the whole building with Thyself and Thy glory and Thy presence. And do allow the evening to pass by till Thou hast done Thy full work by faithfully enthroned the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts, in our midst, as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

May His Lordship be fully acknowledged in all that we do or what we say. We hide ourselves in the cross and pray in Thee name, Lord Jesus Christ, our highly exalted Savior. 1 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22.

And she said, 1 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken. 2 Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1. 2 Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

The Need for Revival and God’s Glory

For a purpose, speak of God, I brought these words to your attention from the beginning of this year's holy convocation. And I do pray that whatsoever Lord has in His mind to speak to us, be heard by us clearly.

Let me give what to us here to hear. Even though I can't speak very clearly myself, I do pray the Lord may speak to me. Now some of you might wonder why I can't speak clearly. I was stutterer and stammerer.

Could hardly speak before my conversion, clearly. Very nervous and very shy and very backward. Word comes so far, up to my throat. It won't go beyond that way. So I have to pray, Lord touch my lips and touch my tongue and my throat.

I can't speak. Lord spoke to me in a very clear way to give my life for the service. As I mentioned, I was born again very clearly in the month of December 1939, roughly 50 years ago. That time I was totally blind spiritually.

No idea whatsoever what the Bible is, what God's purpose is. The Lord has spoken to me. After my conversion, one day I went to a Christian service in Winnipeg, Canada, month of January, 1930s. And one very tall gentleman by name Mr. Flynn, railway police officer, good believer.

He came and see me looking very lonely. He shook my hand. He had very firm strong hand. He can crack my bones. And said to me, brother, why don't you go to India and preach the gospel? Never going to do that.

I said, Mr. Flynn, I'm an engineer. I have spent so many years in studying engineering. And the main thing was I stutter, I stammer. I can't speak clearly. I can't sing a note. I have no qualification to be a public speaker.

That will damage my life. I was in school, I was a college student, very, very shy, very backward. I could hardly stand before 20 people. My knees start shaking. I see a crowd. I said, how can such a man be a public speaker?

He only smiled and went away. But for two years, this word came ringing in my ears. Why don't you, why don't you, why don't you, why don't you? And I would say, very truthfully, O Lord, I give Thee a very solemn promise.

I have given all my income in Thy service. I don't want even a single coin for my own personal needs. Please, I beg Thee, do not make me a preacher. I am quite happy to give You all my money. I know the desire for myself.

But I can't speak. I know my handicap. And Lord kept on saying to me, I do not want your money. I want You. I want You. It is very hard for me to believe, you understand. Why does He want me? So worthless and useless.

Lord knows better. My struggle, in 1932, in the month of April, 4th April, early morning, half-past two, I yielded in Vancouver, Canada. I was on way to India that time. I said, Lord, even though I cannot understand, how can I be a speaker?

I have no, the least qualification to be a speaker, but I am ready. I make no choice. I have no choice. You can send me anywhere. I will go. Keep me anywhere. I will stay. I will never say, Lord, take me to some other place, maybe India, any country, any place of any kind.

Very hard. Lord, You are my Lord. 4th April, 1932, early morning, half-past two, He said to me, Lord said to me, I accept you for my service on three conditions. Mind you, nobody ever spoke to me about these matters.

Nobody ever even suggested to me to give my life for God's service. He thought, wrong on my part. But that early morning, I heard these words. Withdraw your claim from your property in Punjab or Pakistan.

Now, we are six brothers in family. I am the eldest son. My father has property in Pakistan, some houses and factories. Lord said to me, You withdraw your claim from your share of the property. And secondly, Lord said to me, Do not whisper to any man, friend or relation, about your personal needs.

Tell me about it. Either by him or by suggestion. And thirdly, do not mix your own plan. Let me lead you day by day. I replied, Lord, I agree. So settled. I never knew how to pray. First time I had to speak in a Vancouver church building.

I was so nervous, holding Bible upside down. Just like this. My hand all shaking and couldn't understand what to hear. I was pushed into ministry. So I cried out, Oh Lord, have mercy upon me. Have mercy upon me.

I don't know what to say and how to say. Can't even stand properly. I just moved Bible, went on praying like this. Yes, Lord, speak to me. So kindly pray with me very patiently. I do my best to speak clearly and speak slowly.

You can't help it. Words won't come to me. Sometimes I eat them up. But I believe from my heart, Lord has something to say to us in these few days through this well-known story of Hannah and Samuel and David and Solomon.

I want you to write these words upon your heart. You may forget everything else. Just begin to pray. Oh Lord, make me a Hannah vessel. Make me a Samuel vessel. Make me a David vessel. And Solomon vessel to show forth thy glory.

Bring back thy departed glory. It is very common prayer these days among God's people everywhere, go to any part of India or any part of the world, you find among the believers, very common prayer, Lord send the revival.

We are conscious something has gone wrong, something is missing, something lacking, everywhere. We want something and we don't get the something. And that's how God gave me the message some time ago from these four books.

I mentioned in the beginning itself, I repeat, though this is my first time, in Hannah we learn how to pray to meet God's needs. This is one of the biggest need today in every part of the world, learning how to pray in the mind of God, how to pray as God's co-pastor.

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Prayer

Many people spend hours in other activities. They can sing beautifully. They can preach nicely. They can work many hard jobs, whatever they may be, but they cannot find time to pray sufficiently. They find it hard to pray long enough.

But I find that is very first thing we have learned as God's co-workers. Lord Jesus Christ did not begin this ministry by sermons. As you see, Gospel of Saint Luke and third chapter, verse 31. Good gospel.

Third chapter. Luke's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 21. Luke's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 21. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.

He knew that prayer and praying. Till that day, Lord Jesus Christ had not performed even a single miracle anywhere. As John the Baptist says in John's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 33. John's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 33.

John's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 33. And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Even John the Baptist did not know who he was till the day of his baptism. And Lord Jesus Christ, till that day, had not given a single message anywhere. That's all we know. Had not performed any miracle anywhere.

But he began by prayer. And he showed us in a simple way. He came in the Word and learned how to pray to see heaven opened. And three things happened when the Lord prayed. He did that also. Luke 3, verse 21.

Luke's Gospel, chapter 3, reading verse 21 again. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened. And verse 22. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son.

Indeed, I am well pleased. And he prayed, and that day three things happened. First of all, heaven opened. Secondly, the Holy Ghost came. Thirdly, the voice came. And that should be our daily experience.

And whatsoever has happened to our Lord, whatever he has done himself, it happened for our own edification. See, and no need to pray. You are to do a new work in our midst. And the whole world has learned how to pray.

Pray that the heavens are opened. Not mere repetition of name and praises and lectures in ceremony. Pray by faith. And see God's power coming like a flood upon us. And God's voice, the loving voice, the sweet small voice heard very clearly.

And then you find throughout lifetime, your life of Lord Jesus Christ was a life of prayer. You began by prayer. You saw that on Tuesday evening, all the verses. But now, you are reading about the Hannah.

Hannah’s Prayer and God’s Perfect Timing

She was very hard, unanswered woman. Very God-fearing woman. And for a purpose, God kept her waiting for the charge. God can never make a mistake. Whatsoever God does, he does it for a purpose. His ways are fast coming out.

His ways are higher in our ways. Isaiah 55 and verse 8. He is fast in our thoughts. Book of Isaiah chapter 55, verse 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my way, says the Lord.

At the same time, we also know, as for God, His way is perfect. Psalm 18, verse 30. Psalm 18, verse 30. Psalm 18, verse 30, please, you know. Psalm 18, verse 30. As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried.

He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. His way is perfect. And verse 32. Same Psalm. Psalm 18, verse 32. Psalm 18, verse 32. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.

Maketh my way perfect. Whatsoever happened to us in our lifetime by our loving Savior happens to bring us in His perfect way. It is for that purpose God has kept Hannah waiting for a child, to bring her in His perfect way as a servant and co-worker.

She saw the evening. She prayed earnestly. She prayed in tears. She prayed to get burden and to wail. O Lord, have mercy upon me. Take away my reproach. Take away my barrenness. Meet my need. Make me happy.

Answer my prayer, not my request. Help me in my reproach. God is silent. Not because He is punishing her. But I know to love, loving her into a partnership. He depends upon you and me as His co-workers.

As He said again and again and repeated again and again. Nowhere in the Bible we ever read angels being called God's co-workers. You can go through the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation. You won't come across a single verse.

And you segment the angels, the mighty angels. You see in Psalm 103 and verse 20. Psalm 103, verse 20. Psalm 103, verse 20. Verse 20. Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.

They are mighty angels. They hearken unto the voice of God. They are not rebellious, not stubborn, not obedient. Yet they are never called as God's co-workers. They remain our ministering spirits. Or do you have Hebrew, Chapter 1, and verse 13 and 14?

Hebrew, Chapter 1. Hebrew, Chapter 1, verses 13 and 14. But which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, and will I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits?

Send forth to minister for them. Who shall be heirs of salvation? So the angels are our ministering spirits, our servants, servers. Look after us. Take care of us. Be at our service. The mystery. So I believe God was bringing Hannah into a partnership with Himself.

Hannah thought in the beginning her own need was very great, and that is why she wept and prayed. God was saying, Hannah, how about my need? I also want something. Mighty God, the great God, who is way above fending out, He fending upon even me, foolish people.

The weak people, what is the need? Can we say, my life will be so lived, I am meeting God's need. God has got some need. God wanted a vessel. In those days, there was a great spiritual darkness in the country because of sin in the house of God.

God was being robbed. God's glory was being robbed by these men of high priest and their servants. We mentioned how many people came eagerly from many far-off places and brought their sacrifices. We offered in the house of God.

They were the servants of the sons of Eli, going about with a flesh hook on three teeth. We see that also, 1st Samuel, 2nd chapter, 1st Samuel, chapter 2, reading from verse 12. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Deliah, they knew not the Lord.

And the priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand, and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot.

All that the flesh hook brought up, brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, and to all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed, give flesh to roast for that priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee but raw.

And if any man said unto him, let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desires, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, and if not, I will take it by force, and I will take it by force.

It is happening in the house of God. The servants of the sons of the high priest saying these words, take it by force. The people, the devotion, and sacrifice, they come all the way, long distances, to offer these sacrifices.

All these sacrifices are a shadow of the sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ. And by force, by force, with the help of a flesh hook of three teeth, like this, they grabbed everything, took it away, robbing God of His portion, for His sins.

And same thing is happening today. Among God's servants, in God's house, among God's people, they are using this flesh hook of three teeth, to rob God. What are these three teeth? Love for money, love for power, love for fame and name.

The Three Flesh Hooks: Money, Power, and Fame

These are three great flesh hook teeth working today among God's people, among God's servants, doing much for money's sake. Never satisfied. Telling false stories to get more money. Telling tales to get more money.

Putting on torn shoes to have more money. Putting on torn clothes to have more money. Looking miserable to have more money. Never satisfied. And making many strong appeals, give liberally. I remember many years ago, I had a message from God's servant over radio.

He said, gentlemen, we are going to have a banquet for young people. And he said, we need ten thousand dollars for that banquet. Please give liberally. If you won't do so, we will be in a hole. Now, you could say, in America, you find somebody in a hole every day.

They are in a hole on Sunday, in a hole on Monday, in a hole on Tuesday, in a hole on Wednesday, in a hole on Sunday. What a shame. Making God a beggar. He's not a beggar. The living God, a mighty God, who says, open thy mouth wide, I will fill it.

Psalm 81, verse 10. Not before men, before God. Psalm 81, verse 10. I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. I will fill it. God says, I will fill it.

God can fill up. And God told me, in the beginning itself, I thank God for the message. Never whisper, never tell to any human being about your personal needs of any kind. A doubt came to me, only two questions.

When I began my ministry in Karate, in 1933, I had no proper meal, food for about twenty months. One day I felt very hungry. That was in 1933, more than forty-six years ago. A thought came to me. My friend take a lunch at one o 'clock, or quarter past one.

I'll go half past one. If she ought to say, have something to eat, I'll say, no, thank you, twice. And yes, thank you, third time. So I walked in, exactly half past one. Come in, come in, come in, come in.

Have something to eat. No, thank you. After a few minutes, why do you tell little? No, thank you. Third time, oh, have something. Thank you very much. I had a very good meal. Then after a few weeks, the same thought came.

I'll go half past one. And say, no, thank you, twice. And yes, thank you, third time. On the way, Lord put my ear. And said to me, there you are safe. I said, Lord, I never ask for food. They asked me.

I said, no, twice. But Lord said to me, very clearly, what was your motive in going over there? I put a shame. The only time in the past forty-seven years, I doubted him. Otherwise, I still got glory.

He has met every meal. There's no hint, many times. No letter, no camera. We have no camera. No camera, no photo, no tears, no torn shoes. He's a liar. Let him stay here. Why doubt him? The first truth is love for money.

Second truth, love for power, authority. One, one, one, one, be governor of the first law, not servant. And third truth is love for name, love for fame. And that's why we don't see today many who are worthy to be called God's servants.

They are money servants, not God's servants. But money say they do it. With more money, they'll go. Similarly, they glorify man too much. I failed America. They glorify man so much, say, hi, drop your crown, come here, so and so.

We cannot rob God and be useless. That's because you see people, men going out, they see who is, the glory departed. Glory departed. Same time, sin came in the house of God. And verse 22. First Ramana, second chapter, verse 22.

First Ramana, chapter 2, verse 22. Now, Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel. And how they lay with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Sin has entered in the house of God.

It happened today. Go to many Bible schools in America, Bible colleges, and how they behave there among themselves. I have seen them behaving shamefully in a public meeting even. No sense of shame. In India, we had to bang on our head with shame.

We saw the American women half naked. Don't tell me, please, is our culture. It's not a culture. It is sin. Responsible for the naked bodies, not culture. When people in Africa, women were naked, we would say, uncivilized Africans.

When American women were naked, new culture. American culture. Oh, what a spiritual barrenness we have come to. How low is our standard of Christianity. In the name of culture and custom and traditions.

God can never change. Lord can never change. God waited patiently. He is so long-suffering. He is so patient. He is so loving and kind. He is so peaceful. So gracious. He waits and He waits and He waits and He waits.

But we don't repent. We must punish. The time came, the glory departed. God's word became precious. What is God's condition of God's people. Today, in many places, one could see the word ekibod about to come.

Outside grand building. Beautiful building. Pastor has got many degrees, Ph .D. and M .B .D. Inside death rain. Singing with no joy. Sermon full of words, no message. People go empty and come empty. Then glory departed.

God’s Unchanging Purpose and Humanity’s Dominion

Now, for God's help purpose, it must come to pass. As you see in Malachi 3 .6. Malachi 3 .6. Book of Malachi 3 .6. Book of Malachi 3 .6. For I am the Lord, I change not. I am the Lord, I change not. We may change.

Our Lord can never change. But He has purpose must come to pass. He has desire to give us all that He has. That is heavenly plan. That's why He gave to the first man, Adam, dominion, power and authority over the whole creation.

As Genesis 1 .26. Book of Genesis 1 .26. And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So it is now for the first man, Adam, God gave him a birthday gift. He will become mature after many years. But Adam, he was born mature. God won't say so. God is saying, My son Adam, I have got for you very nice birthday gift.

Loving gift. Yes, yes. Adam was very anxious to know. Adam, now I give you dominion, power, authority over the whole creation. You command any bird, they come to you. Command any fish, they'll come to you.

Christ’s Authority Over Creation and the Recovery of Dominion

Just as Lord Jesus gave a command in John Gospel and Chapter 20. John Gospel, Chapter 20. John Gospel, Chapter 20. John Gospel and Chapter 20. Sorry, Chapter 21. John Gospel, Chapter 21. John Gospel, Chapter 21.

Reading from verse 3. Himan Peter said unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately, and the night, and that night they caught nothing.

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have you any meat? They answered him, No. And when he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.

They cast their fore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple, whom Jesus loved, said unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he got his fishes caught unto him, for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea.

And the other disciples came in a little ship, for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits, dragging the net with fishes. As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon and bred.

Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and a hundred and fifty and three. And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

A hundred and fifty three great fishes, and net none of great. Imagine early morning, by lake Tiberias, Lord Jesus standing there on the shore, and the disciples looking very tired, empty boat, empty stomach, and very miserable.

Lord said, Children, have ye any meat? Nothing, not even tiny fish. Lord said, Fishes, fishes, I am your creator, come to me. And they began to move straight away. Now the fishes lived together, large fishes, medium size, and small size, totally separately.

All together they find them. Second command, Fishes, I only want big fishes, small one, and medium, right about turn. They turned back. Lord said so. Third command, Fishes, come in a queue, make a line.

Because the big fishes, as they come together, they struggle one day, and it is a bigger net. So He says, and the net did not break. Why? Because the fishes came one by one, orderly way, the proper way.

No struggle, no fighting. But what it is, largest size has power, over the fishes, over the birds, over the animals. And the same power was given to Adam also. It is because of sin, because of sin, disobedience, Adam lost that privilege.

God gave, as a gift of love, dominion, power, authority, over the whole creation. He was the unique king, king over the birds, and the fishes, and the animals, and the creatures. But Adam lost, and the Lord recovered by giving him.

Oh, that's why the Lord came, to recover. And He wants you and me to be His co-workers with Him, the recovery. He could have done it himself, not me. But He has not given that privilege to the people.

And that's why I believe, God was waiting. So one day, Hannah began to think, why is this? God did not answer my prayer. I have fasted, and prayed, everything right. I have shed tears. I love Him. I follow Him.

I obey Him.