Ichabod: The Glory Departed — Bakht Singh

The New Thing Promised by God

This contains the message on Glory Departed from 1st Samuel, Chapter 4, Verse 22, by the Lord's Servant, Brother Bhagat Singh, during the special meeting held at Ebron, Hyderabad, in 1960s. The Telugu translator is Brother G .T. Benjamin.

In Verse 19,.

He heard, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and a river in the desert. He heard, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth.

Shall ye not know it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and a river in the desert. The same verse was given to us some years ago, again and again, for the ministry to be fulfilled in many parts of India.

The same verse was given to us some years ago, again and again, for the ministry to be fulfilled in many parts of India. In 1941, this verse was given to us in Madras. Later on, again and again, we had the same verse brought to us at different times.

Again, we read about the work. That's how also the work began in the city of Madras, in the year 1940, after the big campaign. For a full three months, we had a city-wide campaign, the city of Madras, in 1940.

In the last meeting we had in Madras, that year, in 1940, the same message came. Lord wanted to do a new thing, in our midst, in our country. We never knew how it will begin, and who are the rest through whom it will begin.

But no, unless we pray together, with a burden, we don't know God's mind. And that's how God is burning His saints and servants, to pray with perseverance and with great travail, in many parts of the world, for the very same new thing.

That was expressed by many in Sudalaya recently, when I had this Congress Honourable Jyotindra. New thing. And they are longing for something new. Which can meet God's need. And again, Lord brought to my attention, the epitaphs from the book of Samuel, the book of Chronicles, say purpose.

I will read you the first book of Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22. First Samuel 4, 22. The glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken. The glory is departed. Then, 2nd Chronicles, 7th chapter, 7th chapter, 7, verse 1.

Chapter 4 tells us, glory departed. We read in 2nd Chronicles, 7, verse 1, that the pottery glory came down. Now we read how God used four persons in that period, to bring back the pottery glory. There are the four great divine principles, which are being fulfilled today, in every part of the world, where people are eager to see that the pottery glory coming down.

And that is a very general feeling today, in every part of the world, among God's people, God may show forth the glory, among His saints. What was the condition, in those days, among God's people, is the same today, among God's people.

Eli's Sons and the Loss of Personal Knowledge of God

You see, in 1st Samuel and 2nd chapter, there are a few conditions. Most important. 1st Samuel, 2nd chapter, verse 12. Now, the sons of Eli, the new ones, or the Lord. Now, there is the first condition.

They were sons of the high priest, but they did not know the Lord. They had no personal experience of living God. And that can be said today also, among many God's servants, in many places, they do not know God by experience.

They know about Him, but do not know Him by experience. Then, secondly, verse 13. And the priest's custom with the people was, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest, servant came, while the flesh was in searing, with a flesh hook of three teeth in the hand.

Verse 15. Now, so before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed his flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sordid flesh of the mud-raw. Verse 16.

When the man said unto him, Let him not fail to burn the fat presently, then take as much as thou so desirest, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it to me, if not I will take by force.

Verse 17. That happened in the house of God. They were these servants of the sons of the Eli, going about with a flesh hook of three teeth. The people used to come from many far-off places to offer sacrifices in the house of God.

And the flesh had to be first offered at the altar of the burnt sacrifice. And only then, the priest would take whatever they offered. But they demanded raw flesh. They didn't want to be sordid or baked.

So anybody who came in with that flesh of sacrifice, they demanded that. The priest wanted the best flesh for his own personal use. But people would say, Let the first one offer the sacrifice, and then let him take what he deserves.

But the servants would say, No way. Our master said, You take first. He won't give us willingly. We will take by force. But the people would say, They were these servants of God, taking away God's portion, the house of God, by force, with the help of the hook of three teeth.

Today you find the same thing. In the house of God, men going about as God's servants, taking away God's portion by force. Because of greed, because of love for other things. Now we can describe these three teeth in the flesh, by their names.

First tooth, love for power. Second would be love for money. And thirdly, love for name or fame. Rather than serving God with all humility and sacrifice today, as God's servants, they want power for themselves, or authority, or name or fame.

And that's happening in God's house. In the name of God, they want authority, and they want money, and they want name and fame. That will be sin and barrenness. That's how sin came in the house of God.

The Scarcity of God's Word

Now chapter three. First Samuel. And Charles Samuel mentioned to the Lord, Eli, where the Lord was precious to him, and there was no punishment. God's word became precious. There was no punishment. Rather than giving God's message, God's word, they were giving their own message.

They were giving a lecture, and worldly philosophy to entertain people. When people go to the house of God, they go for the word of God. To hear God's voice. And to see God's word, with the power of authority.

But those days, we are told here, God's word became precious. There was no open vision. And you find exactly the same condition today, in all parts of the world. In a very few places, the voice of God and God's word is conveyed.

In a few places, the voice of God and God's word is conveyed here and there. To use God's word, even mortals do not know. What is the result of that? Fatness, infertility, the situation of the young girl, the situation of her falling.

Samuel Hears God's Voice

Chapter four. The Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. Now they are both lying in the same place. Eli and Samuel. Samuel heard the voice of God. He was a small boy. But Eli did not hear it.

Verse five. Then Eli said, Here am I. But the doctor called me and said, I call thee not. Lie down again. And he went and lay down. Eli became deaf spiritually. God was speaking. Samuel heard the voice.

But Eli, because of deafness, could hear it. God has not changed. We have changed. God does speak. By His Spirit, through His servants, in God's house, God does speak. But there are many who become deaf spiritually.

That you find pretty awesome. And that's why the glory departed. Everything became only like a ritual and ceremony. First Samuel chapter four. First Samuel chapter four. And verse three. And when the people were come to the camp, the others, as you said, we are four.

The Lord spoke to us today with fifteen. Let us pray the Ark of the Covenant out of Shalom unto us. And it cometh among us. He will save us from the hand of the enemies. On the one hand, they have to spoil the sacrifice meant for God.

They have not showed any respect for God's house. Now, when the enemy came, when the first enemy came against them, now they bring the Ark of God in the battlefield. Like many people, they won't think of God in the days of prosperity.

Only when they are in trouble or in difficulty, they call upon God. But the same young men who were despoiling God's house, taking away God's portion by force, now they are coming along the Ark of God battlefield.

Four. The people were sent to Shalom and they brought from Shalom the Ark of the Covenant between the Cherubim and two sons of Eli, Hephani and Phinehas, but they are with the Ark of the Covenant of God.

Without honouring God, without honouring God's word, without obeying God's word, they want to get victory over the Philistines. So as a formality, they bring the Ark of God in the battlefield. The result was, the Ark of God was taken by the Philistines.

And both Hephani and Phinehas were killed in the battlefield. All Israel was submitted in the battlefield. Because only by name they call upon God for victory. And today we sign defeat, failure, abandonment of God's people.

And that verdict you both can be seen written in many buildings today. We bear it in large style. The glory departed. It is a very solemn word. We as God's people and God's servants must take heed of these words in the Book of God.

We cannot change divine laws. Then we find how glory departed and they had to go through many years of hardship afterwards. And God used four persons, as you see in this book, to bring back the departed glory.

Hannah and Prayer as Partnership with God

First Hannah, second Samuel, third David and fourth Solomon. These four characters take a prominent part to bring back the departed glory. We also want to see God's glory coming to us fully in other places.

We have also been noticed forgetting divine principles. Then we find how Hannah began to pray. In first Samuel, from the verse 10, she was bitterness of soul and prayed on the Lord and absorbed. Because she was barren, she had no children for some time.

Even though she was very God-fearing, and she prayed earnestly, she prayed in tears, but her prayer was not answered. God is silent. She went on in weeping even. She kept the same and bitterness of soul, she wept.

Now why is God silent? Because her prayer was selfish. O God, take away my reproach. Make me happy. Take away my bitterness. Give me a child. Bless my home. Hear my prayer. See my tears. All these prayers were centered around herself, her own need.

And that's why God is silent. Now she discovers after much prayer, God also had got some need. That's what we also fail to understand. It's a great mystery. God wants you and me to be co-workers. Going by 1 Corinthians 3 .9, we are laborers together with God.

2 Corinthians 6 .1, we are workers together with Him. In no other scripture have we ever read angels being called co-workers with God. You can go through the whole Bible. You won't find any reference anywhere where God calls angels His co-workers.

But we foolish human beings, weak human beings, full of defilement profession can become God's co-workers. Work labor together with God. Work together with Him. So after much bitterness of soul, Hannah learned a lesson.

God also has got some need. Even though we don't see Him in detail or imaginable here, but we can guess. When Hannah would be saying, Oh God, why are You silent? For a long time, for so many years I have been seeking Thy face and calling upon Thee for my need.

Why is it, Oh God, You are silent? Why don't You answer my prayer? I love Thee, I want to serve Thee. But Lord said to her, What about my need? You are concerned about your need? What about my need? I am asking very very patiently.

I want You to be my co-worker and with my need. Then her eyes opened. God wants me to be her co-worker and a co-laborer and a partner. And that's why her prayer was changed afterward. In verse 11, in 1 Samuel, in verse 11, God will give me a man child He will be lent back to thee.

And God heard the prayer. Now if God wanted, He could have easily sent an angel to rebuke Eli. He sent an angel to feed Elijah, didn't He? In 1 Samuel, In 1 Samuel, God sent an angel to feed Elijah. And also God sent an angel to fill him to go to Gaza.

He sent an angel to know the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also He sent an angel to know the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He sent an angel to feed in the prison. He has got many angels. God could have sent angels.

But He did not do that way. Also, if God could speak to Samuel directly, why can't He speak to Eli directly? He has heavenly plans. Hannah, to be the partner at that time. Hannah never knew what honor we could put upon her in becoming God's partner.

Many of us only think of salvation, getting what we need from God. But don't I, God also, have got some need to be met to you and me. Even though we are mortal, foolish, weak, wretched human beings, here we have the honor to become God's worker and meet God's need.

When Hannah met God's need and willing to give back child to God, she was blessed the whole nation was blessed. Most of our prayers are very selfish. Some of us only pray our own family. God bless me and my wife and my children and me.

God bless me and my wife and my children and me. Amen. Later on, you may pray for a few friends or few neighbors. Or your street or city. Our prayer may be selfish. As gospel workers, learn to travel in agony for the whole India, for the whole world.

Enlarging the Burden of Prayer

When the burden of prayer was given to us in the year 1933 in India, in Karachi, I only began to pray for Karachi. Karachi was a very big city, very worldly city. I began to pray for Sindh, the province of Sindh.

Then I began to pray for the whole Punjab and Sindh also. Then I began to pray for whole India. Then for the whole world. But it took me more than five years to learn the lesson. Five years. We had to pray for hours and whole night.

But only when I got to work in a small area. Only in the year 1938, the month of June 1938, we began to pray for the whole world. We divided ourselves into small groups. Now we had nineteen nights of prayer in Kedgaon, near Pune at that time.

Of the evening meeting. We divided the people into different groups. First of all, for every province. Like Punjab and UP, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, like that way. After a while, we began to pray for Asia.

China, Japan, Philippines, Java, so on. Then we prayed for Europe. And Africa. And America. Then God began to work. After our prayer circuit began to enlarge. But before that, we had to pray earnestly.

We had prayed in tears. But we did not see God working more deeply. We saw some blessings, no doubt. But not full blessings. It's only when our vision was enlarged. Then we saw God working more deeply.

Now we see Him working today in many parts of the world. And we thank God for the honor we have to be His co-workers. And that's why we want you to learn how to pray earnestly. How to pray without ceasing.

How to pray in prayer to every need. We have to understand the whole world. Because we are doing new work in the whole world. My revelation. Naturally in Hyderabad or in India, or the whole world. And with that burden we want to pray for each other.

Now you have begun to see something of the growing and the moving of God's Spirit in many parts of the world. It requires a clearing prayer. But I first received invitation to go to Australia in 1958.

At that time I was in calling form. I still remember the whole night prayer we had that day. I did not thought of going at that time to Australia. So I mentioned the request to the other of the calling form to pray for the request we have received from Australia in 1958.

And that request was signed by three or four leading pastors of the Sydney city and also Melbourne. And I can still hear the agonies in prayer at that time that night. One by one, one by one, we all began to travail in prayer.

So that gave me conviction that God has a purpose to be fulfilled in Australia. And God did help us wonderfully also. We had a meeting for about three months in Australia. Again we got a lack of prayer, suffered prayer, again the enemy got in.

The same leading pastors who had testified so boldly by receiving the blessing began to go back afterwards. We began there Sunday worship gathering in 1958, for breaking of bread. And many testified one by one how much they were blessed by taking part in the gathering.

And for a few months they kept coming regularly. But again the enemy raised opposition. Going by the system they brought in by voting ungodly men to vote against the worship meeting. But even though they worked still for a while, the government was moving.

He was working. Then he sent his servant brother Nicholas from Colombo to Australia. After he retired from the service. After much struggle and much battle, much conflict, now they have come to worship together.

How devil resists and fights against two testimonies. He is not a Christian with ordinary meeting. So even when you obey fully, then devil comes in. Now he is saying obey these three testimonies in Australia to God with the saints.

By the need of prayer. We know how the enemy will slip down the throat. That is the first great divine principle for the coming down of God's glory. If we cannot go to Australia or other part of the world, we can prevail on their behalf upon our knees day and night Allah leads us.

Allah will do a new thing in Australia. The work will go on. It has not finished yet. God promised rivers of life to flow in the whole country of Australia. And many parts of Asia and many parts of the world also.

Following God's Leading in Mission

We found that also recently in Switzerland. It took me more than two months to be sure of God's will before accepting him to go to Switzerland. When he first wrote to me my first reaction was I don't want to go.

So I kept on waiting and waiting. Every time I wanted to write I cannot come. More than two months it took me to be sure of God's will. After I found all these seven evidences of God's perfect will I agreed to go.

And from that evening I started I began to see God in a special way. He went on giving wonderful context for God's message all along the way. Those who have a special need learn how to meet God's need.

He may use us for one person or more than up to him. Let every God send Philip to Ethiopia, one person. God will call the apostle and company to Philippi for one moment, Lydia. God Himself goes for one moment to Samaria in John chapter 4.

So God knows the need of His servants everywhere. And I came across people from all parts of the world in Switzerland people representing more than 145 countries. But my main burden was God show me Thy need now in this Congress.

Let me meet those people for whom God has sent me over here with Thy message. It was a big gathering with more than 4 ,000 altogether at that time. 2 ,700 delegates and remaining visitors and guests. About 100 people with so many motives.

But my job was every day I met some people with special need. It was so many need. So many places. And some people who had come to our meeting more than 35 years ago, they were there. And I still remember what God said at that time.

God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose

And God reminded me how our labor are now wasted. Book of Isaiah and chapter 55. Verse 11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me wild. It shall come with a plea.

It shall prosper nothing whereto I said it. When we still began the work in Madras city in the year 1941, many leading Christian men thought we are doing something against the word of God. And they began to oppose us basically.

They tried all possible in the God's word. One lesson. Not to take any notice of their opposition and their remarks and scandal stories. But go on praying for severely whole night or whole day. For more than 6 -7 years we had all that prayer every Saturday.

Also once a week. And we prayed earnestly for the whole world. Oh God send forth thy witness here from India to all part of the world. So they can go to earn money and for business and money for the world.

Why can't they do us from India with the gospel? Now the very same message we are repeating now in the Congress. Are we philosophers? Unless people are revived they can't be witnesses also. How can dead people go in message?

They are living in sin and shame. They must be revived. Give a new life. Abundant life. Heavenly plan. Heavenly foundation. Heavenly architecture. Only then they can see God's word going forth being a fruit.

We found the same message we are repeating today from people of all classes. That is the common desire among the leaders of all nations. So that we do a new work and a deep work and an abiding work and a lasting work in the whole world through a living church the true church.

Only then they can see God moving. And many have returned with a new message from the Lord as they heard the message in there. What we have learned after many years of struggle and battle we are very honored to share now with many countries in a short time.

And many told me Brother, we have been praying for you for many years. I was so humble before them. I have forgotten them. But they remembered. A few words spoken in prayer all the while and given them a prayer in many parts of Europe, many parts of Africa, many parts of the world, many parts of the country.

I don't know how they heard it. But they said to me again and again We have heard much about it. We are praying for you. The Lord gave us the privilege to share the message with many countries. And He thanked you for your prayer.

You all have a share in it. So know in eternity fully what we have received through our prayer. May God make us like Hannah today, prevailing, agonizing as God's co-workers, as God's partners, as God's co-laborers, knowing God's need in every country, not only India.

Our burden is, God's message may go from here, all parts of India and Asia, all parts of the world. But labor as God's co-workers. Lord, what is thy need today? Thy need in Australia, or America, or Africa, or China, or Japan, or Russia, any part of the world.

I never knew our plane will go via Moscow this time. They told us when we started from Bombay, we are going via Moscow, Russia. In the morning about 11 o 'clock, on Sunday the 15th, it is a very large airport.

It is a very nice thing to see with their manufacturing. So I said, Lord, I am not coming here to see these things. They can't help me very much. I don't buy anything anyway. I have to pass one corner and pray.

Lord, I pray on thy inheritance over here. Even though I can't preach, I can pray my faith. Lord, give us your inheritance in Russia. And a bundle of prayer for those in tribulation in Russia now. And that's why we kept on claiming God's inheritance in many countries.

In Persia, and Turkey, and Middle East, Far East, Europe, America, every country. We covered your prayers. God, do a new work in every part of the world. Find out your share. You pray earnestly this evening as you go home.

Lord, make me a henna vessel. Like your co-worker. Call my weakness and limitation. Teach me how to pray and pray earnestly as thy co-worker. I may meet thy need in any country as I know it best. Either by my life, or by my substance, or by my prayer, or anything.

Hannah, Samuel, David, and Solomon as Divine Principles

We have begun to see something new. There are going to be many things happening in the coming years, in the coming months. The very fact that we have so many shortages these days, shortage of rice, and the wheat, and the oil, and calcium oil, and soap even.

Anything. When you go to a shop, not available. Shortage. The very beginning of trouble. Lord wants to be ready before the worst trouble comes. Be ready. And Lord, make cross your co-workers like Hannah, then Samuel, then David, then Solomon.

In Hannah we learned how to pray. Assemble God's mouthpiece. God's prophet. God's messenger. God's message. God's voice. We need to assemble. Many countries. Many part of the world. Very boldly. Here is your gospel.

Word of God is powerful. Only that can divide the midst of fire. In David, we know God's mind, God's plan. That's the first chronicle. Acts 28, verse 19. God gave his writing, the pattern of all these things in detail.

And before God could give David the pattern, he brought David on the testing floor on two occasions. First chronicle, chapter 13. And second chapter, chapter 24. The testing floor is a place where you separate the grain and chaff.

What we call rhythm, God calls chaff. That's our trouble. We think we have much rhythm. And God says, Look into my eyes. And then I see. I am a chaff. I am S .A. I am B .A. I am B .A .D .D. I am B .A .D .D.

Moses 40 years. God kept him for 40 years in the wilderness. To take away chaff. And 40 days on the mountain. Only then he gave pattern. To receive heavenly pattern for the heavenly church, we require divine rhythm.

Heavenly rhythm. And that's why God will take us to many, many refining fires. Accordingly, God will take us to many, many refining fires. Two days later, the fire came down. That's Solomon. When the work was complete, first king, chapter 6, verse 7.

First king, chapter 6, verse 7. First king, chapter 6, verse 7. And the house, the building, was made out of stone. Before it was brought there, they were using a hammer, and into a herd in the building.

Solomon means peace. God used him to build the building. Before that building came down. And we are told, even though they used many large stones, when they brought the building, nobody heard any sound.

Either axe or hammer, any tool. Even for a small hut, you require a hammer and nail. In this building, no hammer, no axe, no iron tool, and no sound heard. The work went on so peacefully, so quietly. What a building!

That speaks of love, cooperation, oneness, unity, as co-workers, heavenly plan, and a heavenly architect. Everybody doing his job. No jealousy, no suspicion, no contention, no struggling, no greed, fire came down, the glory came down.

That's our need today. Oneness. You won't find today many places. Among believers, everywhere, contention, fights, parties, jealousies, greed, suspicion, gory scandals, they can't live together. That is their nature also.

Oneness and Unity for the Return of Glory

But to have true glory, we need all these four characters. We'll pay by faith. Lord, messengers like Hannah, who know how to pray as thy co-workers, messengers like Samuel, who'll be thy mouthpiece, who'll give thy voice, and thy messengers, in thy message, giving very boldly, persons like David, in heavenly plan, in heavenly church, and Solomon, to oneness and unity among thy saints, among thy people.

Then we shall see true glory. Scream. For the whole world. Not only for one place. We cover your prayer. Lord, may it keep upon our knees and faces and learn how to become Hannah. Knowing God, my God needs.

God will reward you. You can pray at home early morning or midday or midnight or among yourselves. If you start a prayer group in your neighborhood, anytime, and then you see your gospel co-worker. Then Lord, I want to say thank thee for bringing us together.

Thank thee for reminding us of our share, being backed by the pottery glory. By doing new work, and a deep work, and a body work, in every part of the world. Show us our share in that great task. Make all thy Hannah vessels, and thy Samuel vessels, and David vessels, and Solomon vessels.

Then we see thy glory coming down in many parts of the world. Oh God, give us a swelling pot of prayer for many countries. We pray in the name of Lord Savior. Amen.