Audio Sermon: Ichabod, the Glory Departed — Bakht Singh

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This contains the message on Glory Departed from 1st Samuel, Chapter 4, Verse 22, by the lawless servant, Brother Bhagat Singh, during the special meetings held at Ebru in Hyderabad in 1960s. The Telugu translator is Brother G .T. Benjamin.

God's Promise to Do a New Thing

In Verse 19,.

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

Shall ye not know it? I'll even 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. Next on, again and again, we had the same verse brought to us at different times.

Again, we are in the world. 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 near 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 sermons 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 Switzerland recently when I had this congress on evangelism.

And they are longing for something new. It can meet God's need. And again, Lord brought to my attention the passages from the book of Samuel, the book of Chronicles. I will read you the first book of Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22.

The first book of Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22. The glory departed. The glory departed. The glory departed. The glory departed. Then the second book of Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1. Then God filled the house.

After 4 ,000 hours, glory departed. We read in the second Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1, the departed glory came down. Now we read how God used the four persons in that period to bring back the departed glory.

Eli's Sons and the Departure of God's Glory

There are the four great divine principles which are being fulfilled today in every part of the world. People are eager to see the departed glory coming down. And that is a very general feeling today.

In every part of the world, God's people, God may show forth the glory among His servants. What was the condition in those days among God's people is the same today among God's people. We see in the first Samuel and second chapter, there are a few conditions.

Must tell. First Samuel chapter. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Eli, they knew not the Lord. That was just 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, many priests, 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 custom with the people was, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest, servant came, while the flesh was in sealing, with a flesh hook of three teeth in the hand.

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

Many men said unto him, let them 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 offered at the altar, at the burnt sacrifice. And only then, the priest would take whatever they offered. Only after that, the son of Eli would take whatever he wanted. So, they were asking for raw flesh only.

Whether it was cooked or not, they did not want it, so they forced it. Anyone who came with a sacrificial flesh, they were asking for it. The priest wanted the best flesh for his own personal use. People would say, let them first offer the sacrifice, then let them take what they deserve.

But the servant would say, no way. Our master said, you take first. He would give us willingly, we will take by force. 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 of 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 servant, 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.

Spiritual Barrenness and the Loss of God's Word

Now chapter three. And Charles Samuel mentioned to the Lord, Eli, where the Lord was precious. God's word became precious. There is no pony man. Rather than giving God's message, God's word, they are giving their own message.

We have to give 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 see God's word with power of 30. But those days, we are told here, God's word became precious.

There is 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. People don't know the meaning of when they see God's Bible.

That will be barrenness, infancy, bankruptcy, and spiritual darkness. Then verse four. The Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. Now they both lie in the same place. Eli and Samuel. Samuel heard the voice of God in the small boy.

But Eli did not hear it. Verse five. Then Eli said, Here am I. But the doctor called me and said, I called you 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 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 like a ritual and ceremony. First Samuel chapter four. First Samuel chapter four. And verse three. And verse four. On the one hand they have despised the sacrifice made for God.

On the other hand they have not shown any respect for God's house. Now when the enemy came. When the enemy came against them. Now they bring the ark of God in the battlefield. Like many people. They won't think of God.

They have prosperity. Only when they are in trouble. They call upon God. But the same young men. Who were despising God's house. Taking away God's portion by force. Now they are coming along the ark of God battlefield.

First four. The people were sent to Shalom. And they bring ark of the covenant. Between the Cherubim. And two sons of Eli. Hebron and Phinehas. But they are with the ark of the covenant of God. Now the only God.

The only God. Without being God's word. They want to get victory. Over Philistines. So as a formality. They bring the ark of God. In the battlefield. Now they are coming along the ark of the covenant.

The result was. Ark of God was taken by the Philistines. And both. Aphrodite and Phinehas were killed. In the battlefield. All Israel was killed in the battlefield. Because only by name they call upon God.

For victory. And therefore 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 the name Lord Jesus Christ. The glory departed.

The glory departed. It's 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 we 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. 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. Forged divine principles. Then we find how forth.

Hannah's Prayer and Becoming God's Co-Workers

Hannah began to pray. First Samuel chapter one. From the verse ten. 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 repented tears. But her prayer was not answered. God is silent. He went on weeping even. Scripture says. In bitterness of soul she wept. Now why is God silent? Because her prayer was selfish.

Oh 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 needs. And that's why God is silent.

Now she discovers after much prayer. God also had God some need. That we also failed to understand. It is again mystery. God wants us you and me to be co-workers. Going by 1 Corinthians chapter three verse nine.

We are labored together with God. 2 Corinthians chapter six verse one. We are labored together with him. And no where in scripture we ever read. Angels being called co-worker with God. You can go through the whole Bible.

You won't find any reference anywhere. Where God called angels his co-workers. But we foolish human beings. We human beings. Full of defilement and corruption. Can become God's co-workers. Labored together with God.

Worked together with him. So after much bitterness of soul. We are labored together with God. Hannah learned a lesson. God also has got some need. Even though we don't see him in detail mentioned here.

But we can guess. When Hannah would be saying. Oh God why are you silent. It's a long time for so many years. I've been seeking thy face. Calling upon thee for my need. Why is it. Oh God you are silent.

Why do you want my prayer. I love thee. I want to serve thee. But last day to her. What about my need. You have question about your need. What about my need. I am asking very very patiently. I want you to be my co-worker.

And meet 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 our prayer was changed afterwards. In verse 11. In first sample. In verse 11.

Don't give me a man child. He will be lent back to thee. And God heard the prayer. Now God wanted. He could have easily sent an angel. To rebuke Eli. He sent an angel to feed Elijah. Didn't he. In first Kings chapter 19.

God. Angel. And also God sent an angel. To fill him. To go to Gaza. He sent an angel to know the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Also he sent an angel to know the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. He sent an angel to feed in the prison.

He has got many angels. God could have sent an angel. By sending that way. Also. If God could speak to Samuel directly. Why can't he speak to Samuel directly. Eli. He has heavenly plans. He wanted Hannah.

To be his partner at that time. Hannah never knew. But the honor of what 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 lie.

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. He was blessed. The whole nation was blessed. Now most of our couriers are very selfish. Some of us only pray our own family. God bless me. And my wife. And my children.

Amen. And you find them later on. You may have to pray for a few friends. A few neighbors. Or your street or city. Our prayer may be selfish. And God's new workers. Learn to travel. In agony. For the whole India.

Whole world. For the whole world. When my prayer was first given to us. In the year 1933. In India. In Karachi. I only began to pray for Karachi. Because that was a very big city. Very busy city. Then began to pray for Sindh.

The province of Sindh. Then began to pray for the whole north. Punjab and north. Then began to pray for India. Then for the whole world. But it took me more than 5 years. To learn the lesson. 5 years.

We had to pray for hours. And whole night. Only my God 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 19 nights of prayer. In Kedgaon in Pune at that time. Of the evening meeting. We divided into groups. People into groups. All for every province. Like Punjab and UP, Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Lajpat.

After that we began to pray for Asia. By name. China, Japan, Philippines. Then we prayed for Europe. And Africa. And America. Then God began to work. After our prayer circuit began to enlarge. And before that.

We had to pray earnestly. In tears. But we now see God working more deeply. We saw somebody saying no doubt. But not full blessing. 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 scope workers. And just because we want to learn. How to pray earnestly. How to pray without ceasing.

How to pray in prayer. Today we need. We have to understand the whole world. Because God may do a new work in the whole world. My revelation. Not only in Hyderabad or India. But the whole world. And with that burden we want to pray for each other.

Prayer for Revival in Australia and the Nations

Now we have begun to see something. Of the growing and the moving of God's spirit in many parts of the world. We require a prayer. But I first received invitation to go to Australia. In 1958. And that was the calling form.

I still remember the whole night prayer we had that day. I didn't know. I never thought of going at that time to Australia. So I mentioned the request to the calling form. To pray for the request we received from Australia.

In 1958. And that request was signed by three or four leading pastors. Of the Sydney city. And also Melbourne. I can still hear the agonies in prayer at that time that night. One by one. One by one. They all began to travel in prayer.

So that became the conviction. God has a purpose to be fulfilled in Australia. And that did help us wonderfully also. We had a meeting for about three months in Australia. Again because of lack of prayer.

Proper prayer. Again the enemy got in. The same leading pastors. Who testified so boldly. To receive the blessing. Began to go back afterwards. We began the Sunday worship gathering. In 1958. And many testified one by one.

How much they were blessed. By taking part in Sunday gathering. And for a few months they kept having it regularly. But again enemy re-positioned. Going by the system. They brought in by voting. On guard demand.

To vote against the worship meeting. But even though. They worked still for a while. Bhagavan 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. And much conflict. Now they have come to Australia. How devil resists. 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. The way he has read up. These three testimonies. In Australia. To God with the sins. By the need of prayer. The need of prayer. We know. How the enemy will sit down.

The group. That he must bear divine principles. For the coming down of God's glory. If he can't go to Australia. Or any other part of the world. Now he can prevail on their behalf. Upon our needs. Day and night.

At all these hours. Will always be a new thing. In Australia. The work will go on. Hasn't finished yet. To God's promise. He wants rivers of life. To flow over the whole country of Australia. And many parts of Asia.

And many parts of the world also. We found that also recently. In Switzerland. Same thing. It took me more than two months. To be sure. Of God's will. Before accepting him. To go to Switzerland. When the father wrote to me.

My first reaction was. I don't want to go. Kept on waiting and waiting. Every time I wanted to write. I can't come. God hindered me. More than two months. It took me to be sure of God's will. More than two months.

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. Only one person.

God will call the apostle. And the company. Philip I. One woman Lydia. They have a plan. God himself goes. One woman Samaria. John chapter four. 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. One hundred and forty five 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. Let me meet those people. So the big gathering. There were more than four thousand altogether. Who were there at that time. Two thousand seven hundred delegates.

And remaining visitors. And guests. About a hundred people. With so many motives. But my job was. Every day I met some people. With special needs. There were so many needs. So many places. And some people who had come to our meeting.

More than thirty five years ago. They were there. And I still remember. What God said at that time. And God reminded me. How our labours are now wasted. I have seen Isaiah fifty five. Book of Isaiah. And chapter fifty five.

Verse eleven. So shall my word be. That goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me wild. It shall come to me dead. It shall prosper nothing. Where to I set it. When we still began the work in Madhava.

In Madras city. In the year nineteen forty and forty one. 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 means in the God world.

But we have learnt 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 six seven years.

We had all that prayer every Saturday. And praying prayer also once a week. And we pray endlessly. For the whole world. Oh God send forth thy witnesses. From India to all part of the world. So they can go to earn money.

And for business and money part of the world. Why can't they go also from India. In the gospel. Now the very same message was repeated now in this year's congress. That will be for the rest of the world.

Revival and the Living Church

Unless people are revived. They can't be witnesses also. How can dead people go in that way. Who are living in sin and shame. They must be revived. Give a new life. Give a heavenly plan. Heavenly foundation.

Heavenly architecture. Only then they can see God's world going forth. Bringing forth much fruit. We found the same message being repeated today. From people of all classes. That will be common desire.

Among the leaders of all nations. God will do a new work. And a deep work. And a widening work. And a lasting work. In the whole world. To 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 honoured to share now. With many countries.

In a short time. And many told me. We will pray for you for many years. I have so humbled 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 do not know how they heard it. But they said to me again and again. We have heard much about it. We are praying for you.

Lord gave us the privilege. To share the message. With many of many countries. And we thank you for your prayer. You all have a share in it. So know eternally fully. What we have received through our prayer.

May God make us. Like Hannah today. Trembling. Agonising. As God's co-workers. As God's partners. As God's co-labourers. Knowing God's need. In every country. Not only India. Our burden is. God's message may go from here.

All part of India. And Asia. All part of the world. But labour as God's co-workers. Lord what is our need today? That I 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 by Moscow this time. They told us when we started. From Bombay. We are going by Moscow. Russia. Now we got there. In the morning about 11 o 'clock. On Sunday the 15th. The 14th.

It's a very large airport. There's so many nice things to see. With their manufacturing. So I said Lord. I'm not coming here to see these things. They can't help me very much. I don't buy it anyway. I don't buy anything.

I have to buy one corner. And pray. Lord I pray and lie in hatred over here. Even though I can't preach. I can pray my faith. Lord give us you in hatred in Russia. And a bundle of prayer for those in tribulation in Russia now.

And therefore we kept on claiming God in hatred in many countries. In Persia and Turkey and Middle East, Far East, Europe and America. Every country. We covered your prayers. God do a new work. In every part of the world.

Find out your share. You pray endlessly this evening. As you go home. Lord make me a vessel. Like you co-worker. With all my weakness and limitation. Teach me how to pray and pray endlessly. As a co-worker.

I may meet I need. In any country as I know it best. Anywhere I know it best. Either by my life. Or by my substance. Or by my prayers. Or anything. We have begun to see something new. There are going to be.

90 happening in the coming years. In the coming months. The very fact that we have so many shortage. These days. Shortage of rice. And the wheat. And the oil. And kerosene oil. And soap even. Anything.

When you go to shop. Not available. Shortage. That will be the beginning of trouble. God wants to be ready. Before the worst trouble comes. Please be ready. And the Kuryanis. May trust his co-workers.

Samuel, David, and Solomon as Instruments of Glory

Like Hannah. Then Samuel. Then David. Then Solomon. Then Hannah. Then Solomon. In Hannah we learn how to pray. Samuel God's mouthpiece. God's prophet. God's messenger. God's message. God's voice. We need to assemble.

Many country. Many part of the world. Do yourselves. By folding. He is your God. He is powerful. Only that can divide. The fire. In David. We know God's mind. God's plan. That's the first chronicle. In chapter 28.

And verse 19. God gave his writing. The pattern of all these things. In detail. To David. To David. And before God could give David the pattern. He brought David. On the testing floor. On two occasions.

First Chronicle. Chapter 13. First Chronicle. And second Samuel. Chapter 24. The testing floor is a place. Where you separate the grain and the chaff. But we call rhythm. God calls chaff. That's our struggle.

Wishing we have much rhythm. And God says. Look into my eyes. And then I see. I am a chaff. I may say. I am BA. And PhD. And ED. Very fine. God says. Moses 40 years. God kept him for 40 years in the wilderness.

To take away chaff. And 40 days in the mountain. Only then he gave pattern. To receive heavenly pattern. For heavenly church. We require divine rhythm. Heavenly rhythm. And that's why God will take us through many many refining fires.

Then the second Chronicle. The fire came down. That's Solomon. When the work was complete. First King. Chapter 6. Verse 7. First King. Chapter 6. And verse 7. First King 6 -7. And the house building. Was built on stone.

Before it was blocks there. They were in the hammer. And into the heard in the building. Solomon means peace. A man of 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 were on the building. Nobody heard any sound. Either axe or hammer or any tool. Even for a small hut you require hammer and nail.

Then in this building. No hammer. No axe.

No iron tool. And no sound heard. The workmen are so peacefully so quietly. What a building. That speaks of love. Cooperation. Oneness. And unity. As co-workers. Heavenly plan. And a heavenly architect.

Everybody doing his job. No jealousy. No suspicion. No contention. No starving. No greed. No covetousness. That 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. Jealousy. Covetousness. Greed. Suspicion. Glorious scandals. They call it together. That is their nature also. But to have true glory. We need all these four characters.

Seeking God's Glory Through Prayer and Unity

We live by faith. Lord, raise up. Messengers like Hannah. Who know how to pray as thy co-workers. Messengers like Samuel. Who will be thy mouthpiece. Who will give thy voice. And thy messengers. In thy message.

Giving very boldly. Messengers like David. Heavenly plan. Heavenly church. And Solomon. Through oneness. Unity. Among thy sins. Among thy people. Then we shall see true glory. Scream. For the whole world.

Not only for one place. We cover your prayer. Let me keep upon our knees and faces. And learn how to become Hannah. Knowing God's mind and God's need. God will reward you. You can pray at home. Early morning.

Or midday. Or midnight. Or among yourself. You can start a prayer group. In your neighborhood. Anytime. And then you see your God's true co-worker. Lord, I want to say thank thee for bringing us together.

Thank thee for reminding us of our share. To bring back by thy perfect glory. By doing new work. And a deep work. And a body work. In every part of the world. So that our share in that gets us. Because I am Hannah vessel.

And I am Samuel vessel. And David vessel. And Solomon vessel. Then we see thy glory coming down.

In many part of the world.

Oh God give us a swelling part of prayer. In many countries. We pray in the name of Lord Jesus. Amen.

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