2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part VI

What…Me Wicked?

“If My people…will turn from their wicked ways…”

The trouble with wickedness is nobody likes to think…let alone admit they are wicked. Yet God says He will only hear from heaven, forgive sin, and heal the land when HIS PEOPLE turn from THEIR WICKED WAYS. What then does God consider wickedness? The following are lists from the Old and New Testaments. Notice how the wickedness described in each list wouldn’t even make the six o’ clock news today.

Old Testament

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.

New Testament

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…

Revival quenching wickedness is the ‘big’ sins that make the hair on the back of our necks stand up; it is the things believers do, or don’t do in disobedience to the Lord. However, God promises revival will come when God’s people turn from their sin, and renew a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

aj

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part V

Seeking His Face

What does it mean to seek God’s face? In Strong’s Concordance the word seek is defined as searching out by any method, specifically in worship or prayer. The word face is used 2,100 times and most often obviously refers to a person’s face. However, when referring to God the word is not talking about God’s physical face, but is instead describing the presence of God. In fact, in 2 Chronicles 4:19 the showbread in the Temple is called the ‘Bread of the Presence’, and is the place where the Spirit of God dwells. It is interesting the word face in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and presence in 2 Chronicles 4:19 are the exact same word in Hebrew.

So then, if we want to see revival we do not have to seek a new program, a fancier building, or a bigger budget. We simply need to seek God’s face. How can we seek God’s presence? According to the above definition it is through humble, repentant worship and prayer. So what is the game plan?

1.) Don’t attend church next Sunday. (Huh?) Come be a worshipper of God!
2.) Prepare Saturday to worship on Sunday. (Get your clothes laid out, and go to bed early.)
3.) Tune out distractions when you get here. (Leave the cell in the car.)
4.) Treat actively participating in worship as a privilege, not a boring, mundane, chore.

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

See Ya Sunday - Bro. Andy

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part IV

Part IV – Making Prayer a Priority

“If My people…pray…”

“I would rather teach one man to pray, than to teach ten men to preach.”
C.H. Spurgeon

During Ramadan devout Muslims pray eight times a day. Orthodox Jews devote three times every day to prayer, and a committed Buddhist will spend hours in meditative prayer and chanting. Christians pray when they are ten miles out side of town and about out of gas.

Every great revival throughout history has been preceded by corporate, fervent, extraordinary prayer. Corporate prayer is people praying together. Fervent prayer is praying with a sense of urgency, and extraordinary prayer is praying at times that do not fall into your regular routine of prayer, such as praying before meals and at bedtime.

Suggestions to help you make prayer a priority in your life:

* Make time for prayer.

* Set aside specific times to give to God in prayer.
* Eliminate distractions.
* Keep a prayer journal.
* Pray through scripture.
* Pray for the right things.

It is a good thing to pray for those who are sick, and those who might have other physical needs, but it is not always the best thing. Make an effort to pray for the spiritual, not just the temporal. Pray for people to be saved, pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and repentance among God's people, and pray for Christians to be bold and genuine in their walk with the Lord.

God says, “If My people…pray…” Let’s be those people.

aj

Basic Evangelism

I saw this video clip on another blog, and had to post it. I'll figure out how to put the youtube picture on my blog, but until then watch this clip from E.R., and think about how the Church does evangelism today.

In my mind this clip shows the urgent need of evangelism, and how Christians often try to soften the blow of sin and its results, when in truth lost people when faced with their own mortality want to hear about a real God, and forgiveness, so they can avoid a real hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNuSBGa1mLM

aj

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part III

Part III – Humbling Ourselves

“If my people…will humble themselves…”

When our boys are rebellious sooner or later they usually come into subjection under their parents (usually). However sometimes it is not until we put into practice the “this is going to hurt me worse than it’s going to hurt you” principle. I will assure you, as a father I gain no joy or pleasure when I have to force my sons to respect and obey me. On the contrary though, it is hard for me to put into words the pride, joy, and love I experience when I ask them to do something, and they say, “Yes sir”, and hop to it.

The word humility is only used four times in the Old Testament, and is a synonym for meekness. To be humble on the other hand is used thirty-eight times, and means to be brought low before someone. The best way to understand the word humble is that it is the opposite of pride. Proverbs 29:23 “A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” If you can picture someone bowing before a king you understand the Old Testament use of ‘being humbled’.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we are not talking about a vanquished foe, but instead the author is describing a nation who has turned away from their God, is suffering the consequences of rebellion, and is now returning on bended knee seeking forgiveness. The key is not simply that they have been humbled, but THEY HUMBLED THEMSELVES.

What kind of relationship do you have with your heavenly Father? Do you honor, respect, and obey God simply because you love Him, or do you only HUMBLE yourself before the Lord when you are forced to by difficult situations in life?

aj

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part II

What’s Your Name?

“…who are called by My name…”

In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was specifically known as God’s people. The phrase “who are called by my name” is literally rendered “upon whom My name is called”, and is used to signify ownership. (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge) The New English Translation has it like this: “If My people who belong to me…” So then, revival comes when the people who belong to God repent and come into a right relationship with Him.

Believers today need to understand and apply the same truth to their lives as well. If you are saved, you do not belong to yourself anymore. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “Do you not know…you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price…”

In fact, we are still “called by His name”. The name Christian is only used three times in the New Testament, but by the middle of the first century it was commonly used in Rome, and soon throughout the entire empire as a derogatory term for followers of Jesus. “I am a Christian” became the triumphant confession of many second century martyrs who joyfully proclaimed their loyalty to Jesus as they died for their faith.

We casually say we are Christians, but we need to remember the name means we are ‘followers of Christ’ - WE BELONG TO HIM. Being called a Christian may no longer qualify someone to be a martyr, but it should not be a religious brand name we wear like a designer shirt either. The name reminds us of the one we follow…the one who died for us…the one to whom we belong.

aj

2 Chronicles 7:14 - Part I

Who Needs Revival?

“If My people…”

Quite often those of us in the church think revival is kept at arms length because of all the lost sinners out there running wild. For many church goers it appears that if the world would just be more Godly everything would be set right. God would hear our prayers, forgive our sin, and heal our land…a nation wide revival. Come on lost world – get with the program. (Sarcasm)

However, the Bible tells a different story. The promise of God to grant national healing, and forgiveness of sins in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is not a result of the heathen being converted. It is instead the result of God’s people humbly repenting, turning from their wickedness, and seeking God’s face.

Over the last few years the catch phrase in the church has been, “It’s not about me.” Well this time it is about me, and it is about you. We are the one’s who must repent and seek God. Revival will never come if WE, the church, do not change our ways, and begin to hunger and thirst for God and his righteousness.

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent …”
Revelation 2:4-5

aj