The Danger of Ichabod

The Importance of God’s Presence 

1. Adam was driven out of Eden where God’s presence had been with him (Genesis 3:8).
2. Cain went out from God’s presence after killing Abel and being rejected (Genesis 4:16).
3. In the days of Seth and Enos, men began to call upon the name of the LORD (Gen 4:26).
4. Enoch walked with God 300 years and God took him (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5).
5. Noah walked with God and saved his family from the Flood (Genesis 6:9; Heb 11:7).
6. Abraham walked with God and was called His friend (Genesis 15:1; 17:1; James 2:23).
7. Jacob’s stone and vision became – the house of God (Genesis 28:10-22; 32:24-32; etc.).
8. Moses did not want to go anywhere without God’s presence with him (Ex 33:12-23).
9. Joshua did not want to leave the tabernacle where God met with Moses (Exodus 33:11).
10. Asa led a national revival that sought God’s presence and got it (II Chr 15:2,4,12-15).
11. David loved the presence of God; David knew God was always with him (Ps 139:1-18).
12. David loved God’s presence in church (Ps 27:4-5; 31:20; 63:1-2; 84:1-4; 95:2; 100:2).
13. There is nothing better on earth than God with you (Ps 73:23-28; Habakkuk 3:17-19).
14. David and Solomon’s temple for God depended on His presence (I Kings 8:1-11; etc.).
15. The angel of the LORD represented God’s presence in love and pity (Isaiah 63:7-9).
16. Pentecost brought more of God’s presence (Acts 2:4,38; 4:8,31; 6:3; 8:17; 9:31; 13:52).
17. Paul stressed the Holy Ghost’s presence in Romans (Rom 5:5; 8:23-27; 14:17; 15:13).
18. Paul stressed the Spirit to Ephesus … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/holy-spirit-in-ephesians.pdf.
19. This included the local church being the habitation of the Spirit (Eph 2:22; I Cor 3:16).
20. We walk with God in the N.T. by walking in the Spirit (Romans 8:9-17; Gal 5:16-25).
21. We can have glorious fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus (I John 1:1-9).

The Danger of Losing God’s Presence 

1. God warned Moses that even His chosen priests could be cut off from Him (Le 22:1-3).
2. Achan cost Israel God’s powerful presence, though they did not know it (Joshua 7:1-5).
3. Israel lost God’s glorious presence when the Philistines took the Ark (see introduction).
4. Samson lost God’s presence (and power) by his sin and did not know it (Judges 16:20).
5. David saw the terrible judgment of God leaving Saul to an evil spirit (I Sam 16:13-15).
6. Therefore, when he sinned, he begged God not to desert him likewise (Psalm 51:11).
7. Hezekiah lost God’s presence, which quickly revealed his bad faults (II Chron 32:31).
8. God judged Israel first, though forgiving many times (II Kgs 13:23; Ezekiel 16 and 23).
9. God cast Judah out of His presence for their many sins (II Kings 24:20; Jer 23:39; 52:3).
10. This reversal of fortune was terrible: God turned from lover to enemy (Isaiah 63:7-10).
11.  Jesus warned God’s kingdom would be taken from the Jews (Matthew 21:41-43; 23:38).
12. God turned away from Jesus Christ, causing Him likely His greatest pain (Ps 22:1-6).
13. The great Pauline church at Ephesus would lose God’s Spirit (Rev 2:1-7); a candlestick is not a mystery after explained with a male pronoun (Rev 1:4,20; 2:5; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6).
14. Jesus warned the church at Pergamos that He would fight against them (Rev 2:14-16), which is exactly what He did against Judah, if they did not get hot for Him (Is 63:10).
15. Jesus warned the church at Thyatira that he would kill some members (Rev 2:20-23).
16. Jesus warned Sardis He would come like a thief on this imperfect church (Rev 3:1-3).
17. The great Pauline church at Laodicea was warned about God’s fellowship (Re 3:14-22).
18. God’s presence is not by Sunday religious stuff … it is not hearing, believing, saying, praying at meals, going to church, Bible reading, loving doctrine, public praise, etc.
19. Most (98%) churches do not have a candlestick, yet they fill every Sunday and even some other days with the Bible, prayer, singing, doctrine, fellowship, evangelism, etc.
20. They do not know they have no Spirit, for they never did, or they are too carnal to know.
21. For more about the seven Spirits of God (4:5) … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/god-in-glory.pdf.

The Rules to Gain/Regain God’s Presence 

1. Repentance can reconcile the offended Husband, and He will take back disloyal whoremongers far faster than we would do (Jer 3:12-15; Hos 5:14 – 6:3; Rev 3:19).
2. Never forget the power of the ‘R’ Factor … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/repentance-factor.pdf.
3. Ask for Him (Psalm 27:7-9; 63:1-2; 145:18; Isaiah 55:1-2; Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:13).
4. But ask very fervently (Ps 27:4; 63:8; Isaiah 55:6-9; Jeremiah 3:8-11; Hebrews 11:6).
5. But ask very boldly, like Jacob and Elisha asked (Genesis 32:24-32; II Kings 2:9-14).
6. Draw nigh to Him by His stated means and measures (James 4:4-10; Isaiah 58:9,6-14).
7. Seek Him diligently; lukewarm does not move Him (Heb 11:6; I Chr 28:9; Jer 29:13).
8. Because He is holy, you must be holy in all parts of life (Ps 4:3; I Thess 4:1; I Pet 1:17).
9. Wait for Him, for He is not bound to come rushing to you (Ps 27:13-14; Isaiah 45:19).

The Rules to Retain God’s Presence 

1. Jesus gave clear step-by-step instructions to Ephesus to salvage the church (Rev 2:4-5).
2. Ephesus needed to do first works; Laodicea needed to get humble and hot (Re 3:14-20).
3. C. Confession and forsaking of sins is obvious to regain favor (I Jn 1:8-10; Job 33:26-28).
4. D. Loving God and Jesus by affectionate obedience is key (John 14:15-18,21-23; 15:9-15).
5. David begged God not to take His Spirit away in fervent faith (Ps 51:11; Heb 11:5-6).
6. Follow Paul’s prayers for Ephesus … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/holy-spirit-in-ephesians.pdf.
7. As seven churches of Asia, we must be overcomers (Rev 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7).
8. We remember and do steps to higher ground … https://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/higher-ground.pdf.
9. We walk in the holy light as He is in the light (I Jn 1:1-10; I Pet 1:16-17; I Thes 4:1-8).
10. We do not slight, grieve, or quench the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29; Eph 4:30; I Thess 5:19).
11. We remember the seven promises for separation from compromise (II Cor 6:14 – 7:1).
12. We do not give up if He does not come rushing to us with great feelings (Ps 27:9; 101:2).
13. If you need more details, I fear you let technicalities quench simple passionate priorities.