Spiritual Drought

2nd Chronicles 7:12-22

            The Ark of the Covenant had enjoyed no permanent home from the time of its creation.  First there was the Tabernacle that Moses had the people build before entering Canaan.  In the times of the Judges, the Ark was taken into battle against the Philistines and captured.  It was later returned to the Israelites when the Philistine’s god kept falling down before it.  During the reign of Saul, the Ark was kept in the barn of Abinadab.  David had it brought to Jerusalem and kept in a new tabernacle until a more permanent place could be built for it.

            Because of his sin, God did not allow David to build the Temple; instead, that honor fell to David’s son, Solomon.  After the dedication of the Temple, God spoke to Solomon and told him that He was pleased with the building.  Though Israel became a great nation under Solomon’s leadership, it was still primarily an agricultural society.  God told the king that should the people sin; He would withhold the rains or send locusts to devour the crops. 

            Having grown up on a farm and been pastor of a congregation whose major employment was farming; I have done my share of praying for rain.  As we are not presently experiencing an extreme shortage of rainfall, I would like to use this passage to draw an analogy.  Just as sinfulness may cause God to withhold the rain in its season, sin may also prevent God pouring out His blessing on the Church.

I.                    What It Means To Have the Means and Not the Grace

A.    Ministers allowed to preach but without power

B.     The Word read and taught but without application

C.    Formality in prayer but no pleading with God

II.                 Results of A Lack of Grace

A.    No conversions – these are by the Spirit

B.     No restoration of backsliders – no humility or repentance

C.    No spiritual growth – number shuffling

III.               Signs of Spiritual Drought

A.    People tired of Christian service

B.     Lack of attendance to fellowship and ministry

IV.              Prevention and Correction

A.    Confess our sins

B.     Acknowledge our dependence upon God for every blessing

C.    Incessant prayer

Learning from this experience