In this sermon, the preacher addresses the common prayer among believers for revival and the sense that something is missing in their spiritual lives. He emphasizes the need to learn how to pray according to God's purpose and to prioritize prayer over other activities. The preacher identifies three major obstacles to experiencing revival: the love of money, the love of power, and the love of fame. He also highlights the danger of idolizing and glorifying men instead of giving glory to God. The sermon references the story of Hannah in the Bible as an example of praying to meet God's needs. The preacher concludes by urging believers to commit themselves to God and to seek His glory above all else.

Loving Heavenly Father, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, our loving Saviour, our very highly exalted Saviour, we come at Thy feet once again, humbling ourselves to acknowledge that our sufficiency is in Thee alone. We haven't come here to see a man or hear a man. We want to hear Thee and see Thee. Our time would be wasted if our eyes are upon any man. We humbly pray Thou may make every eye to fix upon Thee. We thank Thee for Thy desire and Heavenly plan to speak to us mortal, foolish, weak human beings from the Heavenly throne through Thy word, by Thy Spirit, through Thy messengers. We humbly request Thee, whatsoever Thou hast planned and purposed and desired from eternity to accomplish among us in these few days of fellowship to the American Holy Convocation, be fully accomplished. Thy heart be fully satisfied. Whatever Thou hast to say to us, be heard clearly. Whatever Thou hast to accomplish, be fully accomplished. Whatever Thou hast to do through us, be also done for Thy glory. O Lord, we are needy people. Whom shall we go? Thou art the word of life. We don't know what to say, but we commit and commend ourselves unto Thee. Thou knowest our heart. We long to hear Thee, long to be used of Thee, and long to see Thee moving and working in the whole world in the end days. Do possess us completely and fill the whole building with Thyself and Thy glory and Thy presence. And do allow the evening to pass by till Thou hast done Thy full work. By faith we enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts, in our midst, as the King of kings and Lord of lords. May His Lordship be fully acknowledged in all what we do or what we say. We hide ourselves in the cross and pray in Thee name, Lord Jesus Christ, our highly exalted Savior. First Book of Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22. And she said, First Book of Samuel, chapter 4. First Samuel, chapter 4, verse 22. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken. 2nd Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1. 2nd Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 1. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. For a purpose, the Spirit of God had brought these words to our attention from the beginning of this year's Holy Convocation. And I do pray that whatsoever Lord has in His mind to speak to us, be heard by us clearly. Let me give unto you what we have to hear. Even though I can't speak very clearly myself, I do pray the Lord will speak to me. Now some of you might wonder why I can't speak clearly. I was stutterer and stammerer. Could hardly speak before my conversion, clearly. Very nervous and very shy and very backward. Word comes so far, up to my throat. It won't go beyond that way. So I have to pray, Lord touch my lips and touch my tongue and my throat. I can't speak. The Lord spoke to me in a very clear way to give my life for His service. As I mentioned, I was born again very clearly in the month of December, 1929. Roughly 50 years ago. That time I was totally blind spiritually. I had no idea whatsoever what the Bible is, what God's purpose is. The Lord has spoken to me. After my conversion, one day I went to a Christian service in Winnipeg, Canada. Month of January, 1930. And one very tall gentleman, by name Mr. Flynn, railway police officer, good believer. He came and see me looking very lonely. He shook my hand. He had very firm, strong hand. He can crack my bones. And said to me, Brother, why don't you go to India and preach the gospel? Never gone to the world. I said, Mr. Flynn, I'm an engineer. I have spent so many years in studying engineering. And to make things worse, I stutter. I stammer. I can't speak clearly. I can't sing a note. I have no qualification to be a public speaker. Never done it in my life. Either in school or in college days. Very, very shy, very backward. I could hardly stand before 20 people. My knees started shaking. I see a crowd. I said, how can such a man be a public speaker? He only smiled and went away. But for two years, these words came ringing in my ears. Why don't you? Why don't you? Why don't you? Why don't you? And I would say, very truthfully, O Lord, I give Thee a very solemn promise. I'll give all my income in Thy service. I don't want even a single pie for my own personal needs. Please, I beg Thee, do not make me a preacher. I am quite happy to give You all my money. I know the desire for myself. But I can't speak. I know my handicap. And Lord kept on saying to me, I do not want your money. I want you. I want you. It's very hard for me to believe, you understand. Why does He want me? So worthless and useless. Lord knows better. My struggle, in 1932, in the month of April, 4th April, early morning, half-past two, I yielded. In Vancouver, Canada. I was on the way many other times. I said, Lord, even though I cannot understand how can I be a speaker, I have no, the least qualification to be a speaker, but I'm ready. I make no choice. I have no choice. You can send me anywhere, I'll go. Keep me anywhere, I'll stay. I'll never say, Lord, take me to some other place. Maybe India, any country. Any place of any kind. Very hard. Lord, You are my Lord. 4th April, 1932. Early morning, half-past two, we settled. Lord said to me, I accept you for my service on three conditions. Mind you, nobody ever spoke to me about this matter. Nobody ever even suggested to me to give my life for God's service. He thought, wrong on my part. But that early morning, I heard these words. We draw your claim from your property in Punjab or Pakistan. Now, we are six brothers in family. I'm the eldest son. My father has property in Pakistan. Some houses and factories. Lord said to me, you will draw your claim from your share of the property. And secondly, Lord said to me, do not whisper to any man, friend or listener, about your personal needs. Tell me about it. Either by him or by suggestion. And thirdly, do not make your own plan. Let me lead you day by day. I replied, Lord, I agree. So settled. I never knew how to pray. First time I had to speak in a Vancouver church building. I was so nervous, holding Bible upside down. Just like this. My hand all shaking and couldn't understand what to hear. I was pushed into the ministry. So I cried out, O Lord, have mercy upon me. Have mercy upon me. I don't know what to say and how to say. Can't even stand properly. I just, hold Bible, went on praying like this. Yes, O Lord, speak to me. So kindly pray with me, very patiently. I do my best to speak clearly. I speak slowly. I can't help it. Words won't come to me. Sometimes I eat them up. But I believe from my heart, Lord has something to say to us in these few days through this well-known story of Hannah and Samuel and David and Solomon. I want you to write these words upon your heart. You may forget everything else. Just begin to pray. O Lord, make me a Hannah vessel. Make me a Samuel vessel. Make me a David vessel. And Solomon vessel to show forth Thy glory. Bring back Thy departed glory. It is very common prayer these days among God's people everywhere. Go to any part of India or any part of the world. You'll find among the believers very common prayer. Lord, send the revival. We are conscious something has gone wrong. Something is missing. Something lacking. Everywhere. We want something and we don't get the something. And that's how God gave me the message some time ago from these four books. I mentioned in the beginning itself. I'll repeat. Though it's my first time. In Hannah we learn how to pray to meet God's needs. This is one of the biggest need today in every part of the world. Learning how to pray in the mind of God. How to pray as God's co-worker. Many people spend hours in other activities they can sing beautifully they can preach nicely they can work many hard jobs whatever they may be. But they cannot find time to pray sufficiently. They find hard to pray long enough. Word won't come. Thoughts won't come. Thoughts are wandering. But I find that is very first thing we have learned as God's co-workers. Lord Jesus Christ did not begin this ministry by sermons. As you see Gospel of Saint Luke and third chapter verse thirty-one. Good gospel. Third chapter. Luke's gospel chapter three verse twenty-one. Luke's gospel chapter three verse twenty-one. Now when all the people were baptized it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened. He knew that phrase and prayed. Till that day Lord Jesus Christ had not performed even a single miracle anywhere. As John the Baptist says in John's gospel chapter one verse thirty-three. John's gospel chapter one verse thirty-three. John's gospel chapter one verse thirty-three. And I knew Him not but He that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Even John the Baptist did not know who he was till the day of his baptism. And Lord Jesus Christ till that day had not given a single message anywhere. That's all we know. Had not performed any miracle anywhere. But He began by prayer. And He showed us in a simple way. He came in the world and learned how to pray to see heaven opened. And three things happened when the Lord prayed. We read that also. Luke three verse twenty-one. Luke's gospel chapter three reading verse twenty-one again. Now when all the people were baptized it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened. And verse twenty-two. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him and a voice came from heaven which said Thou art my beloved Son in Thee I am well pleased. When He prayed and that day three things happened. First of all heaven opened. Secondly the Holy Ghost came. Thirdly the voice came. And that should be our daily experience. And whatsoever has happened to our Lord whatever He has done Himself it happened for our own edification. We have no need to pray. We have to do a new work in our midst. And the whole world let us learn how to pray. Praise till heaven is opened. Not mere repetition of name and praises and lectures in sermon. Say by say. And see God's power coming like a flood upon us. God's voice, the loving voice the sweet small voice heard very clearly. And then we find through lifetime the life of Lord Jesus Christ the life of prayer. He began by prayer. He saw that until the evening, all the verses. And now we are reading about the Hannah. She was very hard, unanswered woman. Very God-fearing woman. And for a purpose God kept her waiting for a charge. God can never make a mistake. Whatsoever God does He does it for a purpose. His ways are fast spawning out. His ways are higher in our ways. Isaiah 55, verse 8. He is fast in our thoughts. Book of Isaiah, chapter 55 verse 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways says the Lord. At the same time, we have to know, as for God His ways are perfect. Psalm 18, verse 30. Psalm 18, verse 30. Psalm 18, verse 30. Psalm 18, verse 30. As for God, His ways are perfect. The word of the Lord is right. He is a backer to all those that trust in Him. His ways are perfect. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect. Maketh my way perfect. What would happen to us in our lifetime by our loving Savior happens to bring us in His perfect way. It is for that purpose God has kept Hannah waiting for a child. To bring her in His perfect way as a servant co-worker. She saw the evening. She prayed earnestly. She prayed in tears. She prayed to get burden and travail. O Lord, have mercy upon me. Take away my reproach. Take away my barrenness. Meet my need. Make me happy. Answer my prayer. Not my request. Help me in my reproach. God is silent. Not because He is punishing her. But I know the Lord bringing her into a partnership. He depends upon you and me as His co-workers. I repeat it again and again. I repeat it again and again. Nowhere in the Bible we ever read angels being called God's co-workers. You can go through the whole Bible. From Genesis to Revelation. You won't come across a single verse. Or a segment. The mighty angels. You see Psalm 103. Verse 20. Psalm 103. Verse 20. Psalm 103. Verse 20. Verse 20. Bless the Lord, ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word. They are mighty angels. They hearken unto the voice of God. They are not rebellious. Not stubborn. Not disobedient. Yet they are never called as God's co-workers. They remain our ministering spirits. Or we have Hebrews chapter 1, verses 13 and 14. Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 1, verses 13 and 14. But which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand and will I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits? Send forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. The angels are our ministering spirits. Our servants. Servers. Look after us. Take care of us. Be at our service. The mystery. So I believe God was bringing Hannah into a partnership with Himself. Hannah thought in the beginning her own need was very great. And that's why she wept and prayed. God was saying, Hannah, how about My need? I also want something. Mighty God, the great God, who will raise up all standing out, depending upon human being, foolish people, weak people, for His need. Can we say my life will be so lived, I am meeting God's need. God has got some need. God wanted a vessel. In those days, there was a great spiritual darkness in the country because of sin in the house of God. God was being robbed. God's glory was being robbed by these men of high priest and their servants. We mentioned how many people came eagerly from many far off places and brought their sacrifices. We offered the house of God. They were the servants of the sons of Eli, going about with a flesh hook on three teeth. Please read also 1st Samuel 2nd chapter 2nd chapter 2 reading from verse 12. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Deliah. They knew not the Lord. And the priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the flesh was in seething with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand and he struck it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came hither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for that priest, for he will not have certain flesh of thee but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth, then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, and if not, I will take it by force. The happening house of God, the servant of the sons of the high priest saying these words, take it by force. The people, the devotion, sacrifice, they come all the way long distances to offer these sacrifices. All these sacrifices are a shadow of these sacrifices of Lord Jesus Christ. And by force, by force, with the help of a flesh hook of three teeth, like this, they grabbed everything, took it away. Robbing God of His portion, for His sin. And same thing is happening today. Among God's servants, in God's house, among God's people, they are using these flesh hook of three teeth to rob God. What are these three teeth? Love for money, love for power, love for fame and name. These are three great flesh hook teeth, working today among God's people, among God's servants, giving much money saved. Never satisfied. Telling false stories, get more money. Telling fear, get more money. Putting on torn shoes, to have more money. Putting on torn clothes, to have more money. Looking miserable, to have more money. Never satisfied. And making many very strong appeals, give liberally. I remember many years ago, I had a message from God's servant over radio. He said, Gentlemen, we are going to have a banquet for young people. And he said, we need $10,000 for that banquet. Please give liberally. If you won't do so, we will be in a hole. Now you could say, in America, you find somebody in a hole everyday. They are in a hole on Sunday, in a hole on Monday, in a hole on Tuesday, in a hole on Wednesday, in a hole on next Sunday. What a shame. Making God a beggar. He is not a beggar. A living God, a mighty God, who says, open thy mouth wide, I will fill it. Psalm 81, verse 10. Not before men, before God. Psalm 81, verse 10. I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. I will fill it. God says, I will fill it. God can fill us. And God told me, in the beginning itself, I thank God for the message, never whisper, never tell to any human being about your personal needs, of any kind. A doubt came to me, only two questions. When I began my ministry in Karate, in 1933, I had no proper meal, food, for about two or three months. One day I felt very hungry. That was in 1933. More than 46 years ago. A thought came to me. My friend take a lunch at one o'clock, at quarter past one. I go at half past one. They show to say, have something to eat. I will say, no, thank you, twice. And yes, thank you, third time. So I walked in. Exactly at half past one. Come in, come in, come in, come in. Have something to eat. No, thank you. After a few minutes. No, thank you. Third time, oh, have something. Thank you very much. Had a very good meal. Again after a few weeks, the same thought came. I go at half past one. And say, no, thank you, twice. And yes, thank you, third time. On the way, Lord put my ear. And said to me, there you are safe. I said, Lord, I never asked for food. They offered me. I said, no, twice. But Lord said to me, very clearly, what was your motive in going over there? I put a shame. The only time in the past 47 years, I doubted. Otherwise, I still God's glory. He has met every meal. There is no hint of any kind. No letter, no camera, we have no camera. No camera, no photo, no tears, no torn shoes. He's a guy. Living still here. Why doubt him? First truth is, love for money. Second truth, love for power, authority. One would be governor of the first class, not servant. And third truth is, love for name, love for fame. And that's why we don't see today many who are worthy to be called God's servant. They are money servant, not God's servant. But money, still they do it. More money, they'll go. Similarly, they glorify man too much. I failed America. They glorify man so much. Say, hi, drop your crown. Come here, so and so. You cannot rob God and beget less. That's because you see people, men going out, they see the glory departed. Glory departed. Same time, sin came in the house of God. And verse twenty-two, First Samuel, second chapter, verse twenty-two. First Samuel, chapter two, verse twenty-two. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel. And how they lay with women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Sin has entered in the house of God. In many certain ways. It's happening today. Go to many Bible schools in America. Bible colleges. How they behave there among themselves. I have seen them behaving shamefully in a public meeting even. No sense of shame. In India, we had to bang on our head with shame and saw the American women half naked. Don't tell me, please, is our culture is not a culture. It is sin. Responsible for the naked bodies. Not culture. When people in Africa, women were naked, we would say uncivilized Africans. When American women were naked, new culture. American culture. Oh, what a spiritual barrenness we are coming to. How low is our standard of Christianity. In the name of culture and custom and traditions. God work can never change. And Lord can never change. God waited patiently. He is so long-suffering. He is so patient. He is so loving and kind. He is so careful. So gracious. He waits. And He waits. And He waits. And He waits. But we don't depend. We must punish. The time came, the glory departed. God's world became precious. What a sad condition of God's people. Today, in many places, one could see the word ekibod about to come. Outside grand building. Beautiful building. Pastor has got many degrees. PhD and M.D. Inside death rain. Singing with no joy. Sermon full of words. No message. People go empty and come empty. Glory departed. Now, for God's health purpose, it must come to pass. As you see in Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. Book of Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. Book of Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. For I am the Lord, I change not. I am the Lord, I change not. We may change, our Lord can never change. What He has purpose must come to pass. He has desire to give us all what He has. That's heavenly plan. That's why He gave the first man, Adam, dominion, power and authority over the whole creation. As Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. Because Genesis chapter 1 verse 26. Book of Genesis chapter 1 verse 26. And God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. To show His love for the first man, Adam, God gave him a birthday gift. He became mature after many years. But Adam, he was born mature. God won't say so. God is saying, My son Adam, I have got for you very nice birthday gift. Loving gift. Gift, yes. Adam was very anxious to know. Adam, now I give you dominion, power, authority over the whole creation. You command any bird, they come to you. Command any fish, they'll come to you. Just as Lord Jesus Christ gave a command in John gospel and chapter 20. John gospel chapter 20. John gospel chapter 20. John gospel and chapter 20. Sorry. Chapter 21. John gospel chapter 21. John gospel chapter 21. Reading from verse 3. Simeon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately. And that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have you any meat? They answered him, no. And when he said unto them, cast cast the net on the right side of the ship and he shall find. They cast their four and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciples whom Jesus loved said unto Peter, it is the Lord. Now when Simeon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he got his fishes caught unto him for he was naked and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship, for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits, dragging the net with fishes. As soon they as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread. Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes and hundred and fifty and three. And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Hundred and fifty three great fishes and net not a break. Imagine early morning by Lake Tiberias large is standing there on the shore. And the disciples looking the entire empty boat, empty stomach it was very miserable. The Lord says, Children! Have ye any meat? Nothing. Not even tiny fish. The Lord says, Fishes, fishes! Fishes, I am your creator. Come to me. And they began to move straight away. Now the fishes kept together. Large fishes, medium size and small size, totally separately. All together they find them. Second command, Fishes! I only want big fishes. Small one and medium. Right about turn. They turned back. And Lord said so. Third command, Fishes! Come in a queue. Make a line. Because the big fishes as they come together they struggle about there. And it is a bigger net. So He says, and the net did not break. Why? Because the fishes came one by one, orderly way. Proper way. No struggle, no struggling. Much more to the hill. Now, largest size has power. Over the fishes, over the birds, over the animals. And the same power was given to Adam also. It is because of sin. Because of sin. Disobedience. Adam lost that privilege. God gave the gift of love, dominion, power, authority over the whole creation. He was the unique king. King over the birds and the fishes and the animals and the creatures. But Adam lost. Our Lord recovers by obedience. Oh, that's why our Lord came to recover. And He wants you and me to be His co-workers with Him. He could have done it Himself. But He has not given that privilege to the angels. Even me. And that's why I believe God was waiting. One day, Hannah began to think. Why is this? God did not answer my prayer. I have fasted and prayed. Is everything right? I have shed tears. I love Him. I follow Him. I obey Him.