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Widespread Revelation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Sometimes we take great things in life for granted and don't even miss them until they are gone. Good health, loved ones, friends, a roof that doesn't leak, beautiful days, and the word of God. Those that have never experienced them may not even realize how precious and hard to recover they can be once lost. 

An interesting story in the book of Samuel takes place at Shiloh, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem. This happened before the temple of Solomon was built. Shiloh was Israel's central shrine/altar at the time, and the Ark of God was kept there. 

Eli was the judge and priest of the land, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas served with him at the temple. They were the priests who carried the ark of God and offered sacrifices for the people. There was also a young boy named Samuel who lived in Shiloh with them.

(1 Samuel 3:1 NKJV)  Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

Why had the word of the Lord become rare? Because of the sin of His priests. Oh, they still dressed like priests. They looked like priests. They were supposed to be holy men of God, but this last generation didn't even know Him or want to.

(1 Samuel 2:12 NASB)  Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD

The Bible describes the priests, Hophni and Phinehas, as "wicked, evil, vile" men of no worth, and who had no respect for God. Imagine that. They carried the golden Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines, but lost it because God wasn't with them. He won't be used as a tool. 

(1 Samuel 2:22–25 NASB)  Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. He said to them, "Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people? "No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD'S people circulating. "If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.

Their father, Eli, was in his 90s, and if he passed away, one of these worthless men would become the new high priest. So the Lord desired to put them to death, and He did. They both died the same day, along with their father, Eli.  

Young Samuel was cut from a different cloth and served the Lord wholeheartedly. Therefore, the word of the Lord came to Him. Samuel became the next judge and prophet of Israel, and the Lord let none of his words fall to the ground. If Samuel spoke it, it happened. 

There is a direct link between spiritual deafness and sinful behavior. The Lord loves to speak to His people. Jesus said: 

(John 10:27 NKJV)  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

(John 10:16 NKJV)  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The Lord spoke to people in the Bible in many ways. Sometimes through personal appearances, an audible voice, in visions and dreams, angels, a donkey, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by suddenly illuminating a passage of Scripture, or through a prophet or preacher. 

God will still guide us today if we open our hearts to Him and are willing to do what He says. Yet He doesn't waste time speaking to the spiritually deaf and hard-hearted. They will always find the word of the Lord to be rare or non-existent. The Lord declared a famine through the prophet Amos: 

(Amos 8:11–12 NKJV)  "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it."

Israel became a people plagued with corrupt priests, wicked practices, and a false sense of security. They felt they were right with the Lord because they descended from Abraham. He felt differently. 

(Malachi 1:10 NASB)  "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you."

Malachi was the last prophet in the Old Testament, and he brought a hard message of coming judgment. Then there was a span of silence from the Lord for four hundred years that lasted until the appearance of John the Baptist. 

There was a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Generations passed without knowing what it was like. Then Jesus of Nazareth appeared, and thousands gathered around Him to hear because the word of the Lord flowed once again. 

Jesus was full of love, mercy, and grace, but we should never take the Lord for granted or become spiritually entitled because we once said a prayer. It's an ongoing relationship. If we want to hear His voice, we must walk in the light. 

(Luke 6:46 NKJV)  "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"

(Revelation 3:17 NKJV)  Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

We live in a blessed time when the word of the Lord is becoming abundantly available. I remember when cassette tapes were becoming popular. You could join a ministry's "sermon of the month club" for a monthly donation and have a tape mailed to you. It was cutting edge. 

Now with an internet connection, you can have an anointed message from around the world anytime, day or night. You can gather with other Christians from wherever you are and join in online prayer sessions, even from a hospital bed. It hasn't always been this way.

We are a fortunate generation born for such a time as this. Let's not take it for granted. To whom much is given, much will be required. Not long ago, Bibles were all in Latin and chained to the pulpit. Now we have Bibles in every translation available online. We are the generation that can take the gospel to every corner of the Earth, or at least equip those coming behind us with an anointed word from the Lord. 

(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your word! Please make what is important to You important to me. Help me see the world through Your eyes and get in tune with what You are doing on Earth today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!