"Men's Retreat Preview"
“Why is This Revelation So Crucial?” As we have stated earlier, you can never know God apart from a revelation of who He is. When we talked about Job, Isaiah and Peter did you notice something? Did you notice that in each instance that we observed a revelation there was another “R” word that immediately came forth. That “R” word is ‘Repentance”. We don’t hear much about repentance today. I really don’t think we understand what that word means and how we should live a repentant lifestyle. Many think that you repent one time when you are first saved. Its not trendy to preach repentance nowadays. Its not politically correct in the church to mention this word from our pulpits. But when we look into the Bible we discover that this is one of the keys to living a Godly life. Listen to “Isa.57:15” For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, WITH HIM ALSO THAT IS OF A CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Wow, did you hear that? Who will God dwell with? With him that is a of a contrite and humble spirit…….A man with a contrite and humble spirit is a man who walks in repentance. The word ‘contrite’ here means bruised, broken as in a heart that is repentant. Now listen, you know what God is looking for tonight? He’s looking for a man he can dwell with, a man He can walk with, a man He can talk with, a man He can fellowship, a man He can empower, a man He can anoint, a man who can stand for Him, a man who can speak for Him, a man who can stand in the gap and make up the hedge…….He is looking for a few good men!! Right here in this verse we find the secret to God’s dwelling presence interacting with us in our daily lives. If we can walk with a contrite heart, a broken spirit, Then we will find God’s Presence hovering near. His Presence will draw near not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the humble, repentant and man who needs some help. He is looking for men with an empty cup! Listen to the Apostle Paul, “And I bretheren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you…….” Whoa…hold the show….What did Paul say…….not to know anything? Wow! Let me ask you a question. When you turn on your Christian TV today, do you hear any preacher saying I have determined not to know anything among you….” Not on your life. Everybody is an expert today. Everybody is so proud, haughty, arrogant and self-suffiecient all prancing around like proud peacocks making pronouncements in the Name of the Lord. Back to the Apostle Paul. When you listen to a man like Paul say I determined to know nothing among you, we are listening to a man with a revelation! Paul has seen something, Paul has perceived something, Paul has learned something which he is sharing with us in his epistles, if we can but hear him. Well, what was one the things Paul learned? He learned how to be a man with an empty cup! Listen to “2 Corr. 12:10” Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG.” Wow, did you catch that?