"PATTERN FOR REVIVAL IN THE YEAR 2000"

MF BLUME
DECEMBER 26, 1999 pm

TEXT: Exodus 17:1-16

Israel had seen God defeat Egypt and all Pharaoh's power and left in awesome glory to God.

Water flowed and Israel was given drink. A river of water is representative of the moving of the Holy Ghost in the Bible.
John 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The Spirit is compared to a river of living water. When the river of the Spirit flows, the Church requires unity more than ever. Amalek came and fought with Israel when the river started to flow. Since Amalek was a descendant of Esau, we see that Amalek not only represents the enemy of our souls, the devil, but also the FLESH.
Gala 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Joshua was directed by Moses to go into the valley and fight the enemy. When Moses' hand was upheld, the battle went for the Israelites and they prevailed. This is very significant. The pattern for the revival for the church is to recognize that God set up people to be pastors in the church. And the church must UPHOLD the pastor's ministry. The OLD men in this verse speaks of elders or leaders. presbuteros {pres-boo'-ter-os}
comparative of presbus (elderly);
AV - elder 64, old man 1, eldest 1, elder woman 1; 67
1) elder, of age,
1a) the elder of two people
1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
1b1) forefathers
2) a term of rank or office
2a) among the Jews
2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in
early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were
selected from elderly men)
2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and
administered justice
2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies
(or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and
presbyters interchangeably
2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court
seated on thrones around the throne of God

This is where the term PRESBYTER comes from.

The old men dream dreams.

The young men are the ministers who work with the pastor, like Joshua worked with Moses.
Josh 1:1  Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
The vision that the young men have are fiery pieces of the dreams of the elders. You may not agree with your pastor's vision, and you may be correct. Imagine what would have happened if Aaron felt Joshua should do something other than what Moses felt he should do. Joshua actually received the spirit of Moses due to his commitment to work with and uphold Moses' vision and ministry.
Numb 27:18-19  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

Deut 34:9  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

A preacher called to work for God did not see the Lord open the door for his ministry fro quite sometime after God called him. I began seeing the same thing in our assembly here in Dartmouth. I work very closely with our senior pastor, and feel much like Joshua sent by Moses to fight the devil, since our senior pastor is not able to speak each service due to physical weakness. In Acts 6, the people of the church grew in number. Notice the enemy stirring up trouble in the revival of the Church. The preachers must hear from God and study the word, so the preacher requires "deacons" to do the hospital visitation and such other issues.

Let the preacher hear from God and study the Word.

The deacons needs the spirit of the Pastor. Let us unite! During services in which people received the Holy Ghost, and such liberty and moving of the Spirit of God, you would not believe what I had to deal with after that service. Praise God for revival!!


SERMONS