“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
The words from 2 Chronicles 7:14 are some of the most important words in the book of Chronicles, for they express and lay down God’s conditions for a nation to be blessed by Him, whether it be the nation under Solomon, Ezra’s or our own nation. When Solomon finished building the Temple of God, he called Israel's leaders to Jerusalem to formally bring the Ark of the Covenant (2 Chronicles 5:1-3). When the Ark was finally placed in the Most Holy Place, God’s glory filled the Temple. Solomon then spoke to the assembly, proclaiming God’s faithfulness for keeping the promises He had made to Israel (2 Chronicles 5:4-6:11). Solomon called on God in prayer in the presence of all the people (2 Chronicles 6:40-42), then fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. God accepted Solomon’s prayer and the sacrifices of His people. God was not through showing His approval, for He understood the weaknesses of His people. Even though they had made a great sacrifice to Him that day, God knew that they would fall into sin. He tried to make them aware of their wicked ways by stopping the rain, sending insects to devour the land, and sending pestilence (2 Chron. 7:13).
God did this because He loved them and wanted them to turn back to Him to restore their relationship or fellowship with Him. They could do that only by humbling themselves, praying, seeking His face, and repenting of their wicked ways. By doing this, they could rest assured that God would hear them, forgive them, and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). To be God’s chosen people, they must first cease from the practice of sin, turn from their lives of proud self-centeredness, pray to Him, and yield to Him alone and His will. It is in doing this that God will grant heaven-sent newness of life. No people in this world will experience newness of life by the leadership of a civil government. Only God’s divine intervention will bring a people back to the fear of God. Apart from Jesus and His principles of righteousness, men can do nothing (John 15:5).
Take, for instance, our beloved nation. We are descending into a hopeless mess, desperately needing God’s righteous guidance. Although our nation is still great and offers us great freedom and protection (and I am grateful to be part of it), it is sad to see how immoral it has become. It is becoming more like Sodom and Gomorrah, where our faith is continually mocked. Our people support every kind of abomination known to man: abortion, alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, adultery, divorce, child abuse, violent crime, pornography, even child pornography. Worse yet, through our lawless entertainment culture, sleazy movies, and TV programs, we have become morally polluted. In a few words, very lawless.
Take, for instance, our beloved nation. We are descending into a hopeless mess, desperately needing God’s righteous guidance. Although our nation is still great and offers us great freedom and protection (and I am grateful to be part of it), it is sad to see how immoral it has become. It is becoming more like Sodom and Gomorrah, where our faith is continually mocked. Our people support every kind of abomination known to man: abortion, alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling, adultery, divorce, child abuse, violent crime, pornography, even child pornography. Worse yet, through our lawless entertainment culture, sleazy movies, and TV programs, we have become morally polluted. In a few words, very lawless.
Our schools, with their humanistic agenda, have abolished anything moral and godly. Our teachers have been terrorized into believing that they will lose their jobs if they dare to mention God to their students. Even worse, they mandate the teaching of the religion called “Evolution” as science, prohibiting at all cost the Bible teaching of divine creation. Many schools encourage sodomy and are shamefully handing out contraceptives to our youth, supporting sexual immorality. Our people shamelessly support profanity and obscenity. Our political arena is in rebellion against God. Our bureaucracy is godless and proud of it. Our educational system has banned God. It is a terrible repudiation of God and corruption. Our people refuse to acknowledge that God has punished nations in the past for their immorality and lawlessness. Are we not aware that God punished nations, even Israel, for their lawlessness in the Old Testament?
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we read of the promise of healing for the people of God,
Indeed, this is the kind of prayer that we must pray for the healing of any nation. God came to Solomon in the night and said, I have heard your prayer. We must keep on praying until God hears. However, God does not hear a sinner’s prayer, for He cannot hear the pleas of a rebellious people. He can only hear those who are honestly seeking Him, for He loves those who come to Him in humility, sincerity of heart, and brokenness of heart. The healing of a people requires brokenness of heart. This promise contains four conditions for the people of God to fulfill and three responses from the Lord. Consider what God does to grant healing to His people.
I. IF MY PEOPLE SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES:
The very first thing that God wants before He can grant healing is humility, for He cannot heal anyone full of himself. One great example of personal healing in the Old Testament is King Manasseh. Few kings were more evil than Manasseh. God brought judgment on him just as He had promised. The captains of the army of Assyria came and put a hook in his nose and dragged him off to Babylon. In his distress, he sought the favor of God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed, God was moved by his prayer and listened to him. When God brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, Manasseh acknowledged that God was his LORD. You see, God has promised to hear and answer when we humble ourselves, and He never breaks His promises. I always marvel when I read in the Bible about men like Manasseh who humbled themselves before God, that God heard their pleas and restored them. God commands us to be humble with all of our hearts. God wants us to humble ourselves and seek His ways.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we read of the promise of healing for the people of God,
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Indeed, this is the kind of prayer that we must pray for the healing of any nation. God came to Solomon in the night and said, I have heard your prayer. We must keep on praying until God hears. However, God does not hear a sinner’s prayer, for He cannot hear the pleas of a rebellious people. He can only hear those who are honestly seeking Him, for He loves those who come to Him in humility, sincerity of heart, and brokenness of heart. The healing of a people requires brokenness of heart. This promise contains four conditions for the people of God to fulfill and three responses from the Lord. Consider what God does to grant healing to His people.
I. IF MY PEOPLE SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES:
The very first thing that God wants before He can grant healing is humility, for He cannot heal anyone full of himself. One great example of personal healing in the Old Testament is King Manasseh. Few kings were more evil than Manasseh. God brought judgment on him just as He had promised. The captains of the army of Assyria came and put a hook in his nose and dragged him off to Babylon. In his distress, he sought the favor of God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed, God was moved by his prayer and listened to him. When God brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, Manasseh acknowledged that God was his LORD. You see, God has promised to hear and answer when we humble ourselves, and He never breaks His promises. I always marvel when I read in the Bible about men like Manasseh who humbled themselves before God, that God heard their pleas and restored them. God commands us to be humble with all of our hearts. God wants us to humble ourselves and seek His ways.
Like so many other nations, our nation needs to seek God for healing and forgiveness to stop the wrath of a righteous God. So often, God will save a nation only because of those few who are righteous and who pour out their hearts to Him. In Isaiah 59, Israel was very far from God, and He was displeased that no one “took a stand in the gap,” for no one was praying, pleading, and feeling the heavy burden of so much lawlessness. We must mourn for the sins of others and for ours as well. God expects His godly minority to be the Light amid so much sinful darkness. We Christians must be the salt of the earth, for we must preserve our godly influence among those who are unrighteous. "If My People.” Who are His people? His covenant people, those called by His name. Notice that healing is dependent upon the people of God, those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, not the world. Our duty as Christians is to revive the dead because of sin into newness of life. Bring them back from death to being alive in Christ. So what are we called to do? To humble ourselves and stop being so full of ourselves.
God can only visit His people when they humble themselves, are broken and hopeless, and know that only God can save them. But mankind must surrender their pride, getting down on their knees, admitting that they need repentance and salvation. By doing this, God will come to them and give them life. When men humble themselves, they lower themselves and exalt God, their Creator. The same God that heals the brokenness of the humble in spirit is the God that removes the proud in heart.
Humility is vital because brokenness and humility are inseparable.
Humility is vital because brokenness and humility are inseparable.
In James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5, we read that God resists and opposes the proud. Satan is cunning and wily. He knows the damage that pride can cause in one's life. That is why it is so important to understand that through brokenness and humility, we will find freedom from the destructiveness of our sins. Pride destroys our souls. God can dwell with people only if they are lowly and humble, and only if they are contrite, broken in heart (Isaiah 57:15). Pride is repulsive to a Holy God who walked the earth as the meek and lowly Jesus. It is pride that stops men from repenting and surrendering their lives to Jesus in complete obedience. Our Lord Jesus will not come in mercy to the arrogant. Pride and self-will damn the unsaved to hell and renders Christians ineffective when it comes to God's purposes. Only the broken and the humble will know the Lord; they will diligently seek Him and know His healing power. When we finally grasp and understand the depth of our neediness, we will petition our God to pour out His mercy upon us.
II. PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE:
God is very clear about what He demands before He will return to His people, for He will not return until His people ask Him. God will not heal any land unless its people pray and seek His face. It is they who first left Him. God will abandon us when we forsake Him and His righteousness. We cannot ask Him to return to us until we return to Him. The Word of God urges us to pray without ceasing, for He does not want us to give up. He wants us to keep trying. God is waiting for all men to get down on their knees, humble themselves, seek His face, and come to Him for healing. So, how do we seek His Face? To seek His face is to desire communion with Him. Seeking His face comes out of a heart that is burning with a desire to know the Lord and His intimate fellowship with us. The heart is intensely hungering after the Lord and not just His blessings. David wrote,
II. PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE:
God is very clear about what He demands before He will return to His people, for He will not return until His people ask Him. God will not heal any land unless its people pray and seek His face. It is they who first left Him. God will abandon us when we forsake Him and His righteousness. We cannot ask Him to return to us until we return to Him. The Word of God urges us to pray without ceasing, for He does not want us to give up. He wants us to keep trying. God is waiting for all men to get down on their knees, humble themselves, seek His face, and come to Him for healing. So, how do we seek His Face? To seek His face is to desire communion with Him. Seeking His face comes out of a heart that is burning with a desire to know the Lord and His intimate fellowship with us. The heart is intensely hungering after the Lord and not just His blessings. David wrote,
"My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God" (Psalm 84:2).
Prayer is vital for survival and becoming more like Him. Those who diligently seek God's face, love our Lord and Savior more than they love themselves, their family, friends, or material riches. Their desire is to know Christ and imitate Him. They have tasted His glory and refuse to return to the mediocrity of nominal Christianity or the vanity of worldly pursuits. They have determined to crucify themselves every day of their lives and let Christ live in them. They are dead to sin but alive to Christ. Pride can never be found in true repentance. Humility should clothe the repentant man. Those who are redeemed understand the concept of speaking face to face with Jesus. They know that seeking God's face is an everlasting journey. This is what we were created for, to glorify God.
How do we turn to God? By turning from our wicked ways, that is repentance. No man will turn from his sin unless he has first humbled himself before the throne of God. A man will not humble himself before God unless he is broken and rejects his selfish life. One of the major problems that the scribes and Pharisees had was that they would not turn from their wicked ways because they would not surrender and humble themselves before God. They focused more on being righteous in the eyes of men than repenting before God. They would not repent, so they failed to take advantage of the reconciliation and fellowship that God offered them in Jesus.
The prayer of a broken man shows his desperate need for God to heal and forgive him. In Exodus 33, when the people understood that God had left them, they began to mourn, for they were broken. Likewise, in Nehemiah 9:1-2, the people of Israel confessed their sins because they were broken. God can dwell with men only when their hearts are broken. There can be no healing unless we humble ourselves and ask God for healing. Do you remember the two men that Jesus spoke of who went to the Temple to pray? One said, “God, I am glad I’m not like most people.” He was a proud man who thought he was more righteous than others. He listed all the good things he had done. The second man said with a humble voice that he was not worthy of God, for he was a sinner in need of God’s mercy. So whom did you suppose God heard? You see, healing is not for those who are unwilling to mourn because of sin.
Prayers that bring healing come from those who are mourning their sins and are pleading with God to intervene in their lives. God wants to hear these prayers. They are urgent prayers. Do you remember the king of Nineveh who said, “I want you to put on sackcloth, and I want you to call urgently on God?” Urgent prayers express the emergency of the petition. They are intense. Those who pray urgently pray long, hard, fervent, and unyielding prayers from the depths of their heart. God is looking for those who are seeking Him with all their hearts. Those who want healing from God are desperate, wholehearted, never-ending petitioners. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul urges us to pray without ceasing because our needs never end. Jesus wants us not to give up, but keep on praying! We need this kind of commitment to prayer!
Acceptable prayer is also characterized by holiness. The king of Nineveh urged his people saying,
Acceptable prayer is also characterized by holiness. The king of Nineveh urged his people saying,
“I want you to put on sackcloth, and I want you to pray urgently to God, and I want you to give up your evil way.”
Again, what did God urge His people to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14? To humble themselves and pray and seek His face. That is urgency. To turn from evil, wicked ways is holiness. In Isaiah 55:6-7, the prophet cries out,
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
God will not respond to the prayers of those who cherish sin (Psalm 66:18). God has promised to hear the prayers of the righteous. The prayers of the righteous are effective and powerful (1 Tim. 2:8). God forgives, hears, and heals when His holy and righteous children pray to Him. God will turn and hear our prayers when we turn to Him and obey Him. So the righteous and faithful must pray for the healing of our people so that they might return to God and be forgiven. So we must pray, pray, and pray! They may come to worship on Sundays, but many still have not repented of sins in their lives. Sins such as anger, jealousy, envy, malice, lust, covetousness, and many others such as these. God will not hear our prayers until we repent and pray in holiness. God can only have compassion on those who turn from their wicked ways. We must pray for healing and courage. Prayer is vital to the revival of our souls. Without it, there can be no awakening to flow out of our brokenness. Hearts that burn for their SAVIOR do not recite cold and formal prayers.
We cannot live in the flesh and pray to God fervently in spirit. Pride has no place in genuine prayers to God because God resists the prayers of the proud. Let us take this seriously! When we finally grasp and understand the depth of our neediness and of those around us, we will passionately petition our God to pour out His mercy upon us. It is only then that we will understand the Truth that the world, because of its darkness, is at war with our Creator. Christians (broken saints) will know they are not helpless because they have an Almighty God who will transform their lives through His eternal Word. There is power in the Word to accomplish wonders in the hearts of men! Broken saints know that great transformation is possible through devotion to prayer and the guidance of God’s Word.
Prayer is vital for a Christian's survival and maturity. But seeking God's face is the ultimate prize! Christians who have been broken of their selfish and self-centered lives become Christians who passionately desire to pursue this greatest of treasures. They are driven to know their Savior. This is far better than seeking to gain greater Bible knowledge, for it is a quest for God Himself and no one else: a quest that causes us to become more like Him.
III. TURN FROM WICKED WAYS:
A nation or individual who refuses to repent and turn back from their wicked ways to God for healing, refreshing, and forgiveness cannot survive and flourish. We can spend a lot of time complaining about our governing leaders and our moral decline, but it will not amount to anything! It will solve nothing unless we pray and ask God for His remedy to solve man’s problems. The Gospel is the power of God to save men that they may turn away from their evil ways to God for guidance. Our people have lost all spiritual equilibrium and have inverted our morals and principles. They have ridiculed the absolute Truth of God’s Word and have called it moral pluralism.
You see, people don’t get healed because they refuse to follow the doctor’s orders. Many nations are not healed for the same reason. They ignore that Jesus is the Great Physician among those who are sick because of sin. The issue at stake is not whether God can heal a land. The real issue is whether our people will follow the order prescribed by the Great Healer, Jesus Christ. The hardest part is that to be healed, one must turn from his wicked ways so that God can hear and commune with us. And until our people come to grips with sin and its terrible consequences, there won’t be any healing. God cannot turn back until we turn around! In Malachi 3:7, God said,
III. TURN FROM WICKED WAYS:
A nation or individual who refuses to repent and turn back from their wicked ways to God for healing, refreshing, and forgiveness cannot survive and flourish. We can spend a lot of time complaining about our governing leaders and our moral decline, but it will not amount to anything! It will solve nothing unless we pray and ask God for His remedy to solve man’s problems. The Gospel is the power of God to save men that they may turn away from their evil ways to God for guidance. Our people have lost all spiritual equilibrium and have inverted our morals and principles. They have ridiculed the absolute Truth of God’s Word and have called it moral pluralism.
- Our society has chosen to worship other gods, calling it multiculturalism.
- They have embraced all lawlessness and immorality, calling it an alternative lifestyle.
- They have exploited the poor calling poverty the result of life’s lottery.
- They have neglected the needy, calling it self-preservation.
- They have rewarded laziness calling it welfare.
- They have killed their unborn children calling it choice.
- They have neglected to discipline their children calling it building esteem.
- They have abused power calling it savvy, smart.
- They have coveted their neighbor’s possessions calling it ambition.
- They have polluted the air with profanity and pornography, calling it freedom of expression.
- They have ridiculed our morals and principles, calling it enlightenment.
You see, people don’t get healed because they refuse to follow the doctor’s orders. Many nations are not healed for the same reason. They ignore that Jesus is the Great Physician among those who are sick because of sin. The issue at stake is not whether God can heal a land. The real issue is whether our people will follow the order prescribed by the Great Healer, Jesus Christ. The hardest part is that to be healed, one must turn from his wicked ways so that God can hear and commune with us. And until our people come to grips with sin and its terrible consequences, there won’t be any healing. God cannot turn back until we turn around! In Malachi 3:7, God said,
“Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?”’
We cannot reverse that order. The word “return” in our context implies repentance from dead works that lead to death (Hebrews 6:1-2). The heart is the problem, and it needs to be cleansed (Hebrews 9:13-14). God will tune in when we turn around. Pride is what keeps men from turning to God. Healing can come only when men humble themselves before God to be forgiven for their sins. And though God wants to heal men, they must come to Him on His terms. His terms require complete and unconditional surrender. Refreshing and healing can only come when we throw ourselves at His feet in complete surrender with complete repentance. God is calling all people to turn away from their wicked ways! God demands that we walk away from sin so that He can come back to us.
In the book of Judges, God sent seventeen Judges in answer to Israel’s great need for deliverance, one after another, because they returned to their sins every time God saved them. In their sins, God turned His back, and their enemies afflicted them until they cried out in repentance. The judges helped them by judging their behavior first. When that was corrected, God restored them (Judges 17:6, 21:25). Here we see selfishness in its ugliest state. You see, when we rebel against God out of selfish desires, we are shaking our fist at God’s face and forfeiting the promises He has given to those who follow Him. We are telling Him that salvation means nothing to us! Healing and restoration is not going to a fast food place where we get to order things our way.
In the book of Judges, God sent seventeen Judges in answer to Israel’s great need for deliverance, one after another, because they returned to their sins every time God saved them. In their sins, God turned His back, and their enemies afflicted them until they cried out in repentance. The judges helped them by judging their behavior first. When that was corrected, God restored them (Judges 17:6, 21:25). Here we see selfishness in its ugliest state. You see, when we rebel against God out of selfish desires, we are shaking our fist at God’s face and forfeiting the promises He has given to those who follow Him. We are telling Him that salvation means nothing to us! Healing and restoration is not going to a fast food place where we get to order things our way.
Reconciliation with God demands that we abandon our selfish ways, the overflowing wickedness, and Satan’s seductions and traps. When we give in and remain under Satan’s influence, we remain in the wicked ways. Ultimately it will cost our souls for eternity! Thus all men are commanded to turn from their wicked ways and be transformed, for God will only heal and restore when we turn from our wicked ways, admit our own sinfulness, admit how broken we are, and abandon the works of Satan in our lives. We must choose to be pure in heart and turn from our wicked ways, for God is looking for those who want to be pure from the filthiness or defilement of sin. He seeks those who abandon all sinfulness in their life, seeking His face and pleading for His forgiveness and blessing.
IV. GOD WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN:
God is anxious to remove our sins and hear our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). When we refuse to carry out His plan and His will, we reject Him and follow our wicked ways. Wickedness is doing the opposite of what God demands that we do. If we, Christians, refuse to follow God’s ways, we cannot expect the lost to obey God. We need God’s help to get things going in the right direction. We need God to hear us, for if He does not hear our pleas, we are in deep trouble. God has promised that He will hear us if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Our rebellious and disobedient hearts block God’s blessings in our life.
IV. GOD WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN:
God is anxious to remove our sins and hear our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). When we refuse to carry out His plan and His will, we reject Him and follow our wicked ways. Wickedness is doing the opposite of what God demands that we do. If we, Christians, refuse to follow God’s ways, we cannot expect the lost to obey God. We need God’s help to get things going in the right direction. We need God to hear us, for if He does not hear our pleas, we are in deep trouble. God has promised that He will hear us if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Our rebellious and disobedient hearts block God’s blessings in our life.
Thus we need God to hear and forgive us, for forgiveness is vital to receiving God’s blessings. God does not hear a sinner’s prayer, for He does not hear the pleas of rebellious people. God can only hear those who earnestly seek Him and are aware of their sins and consequences. Only when we come to Him in humility, earnestness, and a penitent heart can He hear us, heed and act upon our plea (Isaiah 59:2; Micah 3:4; Psalm 10:17; Jeremiah 102:17; Zechariah 13:9).
VI. GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS:
We need God to forgive us. When we Christians sin against God, we are telling Him that His Son’s sacrifice was not enough. Forgiveness is essential to receiving God’s blessings. Both the unrighteous and the righteous need God to forgive them when they sin. The greatest barrier to repentance and forgiveness is pride, for it keeps us from wanting to admit our sins and change our behavior. There can be no restoration without a humble heart that wants to repent and turn to God. In Acts 3:19, we read that we must repent and turn to God so that our sins may be washed away and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Refreshing can only come after repentance. Godly sorrow produces repentance. Sadly many people are sorry when they get caught in sin, but refuse to repent. Their sins will find them out.
VII. GOD WILL HEAL THE LAND:
We need God to heal our land. What is broken can be fixed, for God can make all things new! He is anxious to heal our land. He has promised that He will heal the land. But men must be willing to know Him (Matt. 7:21), to know His Word that reconciles men to Him (Romans 5:10). So we must pray for revival and courage! The early church prayed, and things happened (Acts 2, 5). Life happened, and the church grew. God saves a land by the preaching of the Gospel of salvation to all men. This is how God saves men. It is the only WAY that Jesus will heal the sin-sick soul that is dying. It sets the heart ablaze with a new love: love for Him and His kingdom of righteousness. He heals broken men by transforming them. He heals nations through the power of His Gospel.
VI. GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS:
We need God to forgive us. When we Christians sin against God, we are telling Him that His Son’s sacrifice was not enough. Forgiveness is essential to receiving God’s blessings. Both the unrighteous and the righteous need God to forgive them when they sin. The greatest barrier to repentance and forgiveness is pride, for it keeps us from wanting to admit our sins and change our behavior. There can be no restoration without a humble heart that wants to repent and turn to God. In Acts 3:19, we read that we must repent and turn to God so that our sins may be washed away and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Refreshing can only come after repentance. Godly sorrow produces repentance. Sadly many people are sorry when they get caught in sin, but refuse to repent. Their sins will find them out.
VII. GOD WILL HEAL THE LAND:
We need God to heal our land. What is broken can be fixed, for God can make all things new! He is anxious to heal our land. He has promised that He will heal the land. But men must be willing to know Him (Matt. 7:21), to know His Word that reconciles men to Him (Romans 5:10). So we must pray for revival and courage! The early church prayed, and things happened (Acts 2, 5). Life happened, and the church grew. God saves a land by the preaching of the Gospel of salvation to all men. This is how God saves men. It is the only WAY that Jesus will heal the sin-sick soul that is dying. It sets the heart ablaze with a new love: love for Him and His kingdom of righteousness. He heals broken men by transforming them. He heals nations through the power of His Gospel.
The Gospel is the power of God to change men's hearts so that they can return to Him. The Gospel is given into our hands to teach all men that they might be saved from their sins. Every day people are dying unprepared for eternity! By the preaching of the Gospel, we are going to prepare these people and win souls for God. God has already provided all the means and the Message to save the souls of men, and we must bring the two together (John 3:16; Romans 1:16).
Can we expect to find favor before God with the blood of innocent men on our hands (Acts 20:26-27)? Is there any other way of hope for a dying world? What is the condition of the lost without Christ? Is there any other place where the lost can turn to? For that reason, we must carry God’s precious Message and guide the erring back to Him. Let us fill this world with His Gospel! Let this sink deeply into our hearts!
A land that has broken faith with God cannot be healed. We cannot change the world unless we use the power that there is in the Gospel, the Truth, the Word of God. Remember that Jesus is standing outside, knocking at our door, calling all men to return to Him wholeheartedly,
We must meet the conditions of refreshingl or healing, which are found in the plan of salvation for God to dwell in us and we in Him. The prize that we are yearning to win is our Lord Jesus and the revelation of His glory among all men. Nothing on earth can compare to the boundless riches of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ! (Acts 3:19). He cannot resist those who humbly and honestly seek Him and admit to desperately needing Him—seasons of refreshing flow from broken and surrendered lives. Repentance is an act of submission. Holiness is the result of Christians yielding to the sanctifying Word of God. Only those surrendered saints will rescue a lost and perishing world. May we all bring our broken lives to God that He may lift us up and save us.
CONCLUSION:
God is the only one who can heal our nation, bringing spiritual renewal, but He is clear about what He expects us to do before He will walk with our people. Healing or restoration is only possible when men are seeking God. Praying and seeking God’s face is vital to hearing, being forgiven, and healing. God can only come to us when we call on Him. God earnestly wants all humanity to seek His face. He wants us to seek Him and thirst for Him and His kingdom of righteousness. I must stress that prayer is not some mysterious exercise designed to overcome God’s reluctance to walk with us, as if we can just say the magic words, and God will do something. Prayer seeks God and His will. It seeks His Mercy and Grace and to be reconciled back to Him. God patiently waits for us to pray to Him and seek His will to lead us to eternal life. But those who seek His favor and renewal must be humble enough to get on their knees and see the brokenness caused by their own sin. Until we humble ourselves and seek Him, there won’t be any hope of life. How can brokenness bring life to a world lost in sin? In Matthew 3:2, we read,
John the Baptist prepared the WAY. Which WAY? The way of repentance. John knew he was not worthy to untie Jesus' shoes because he knew his own deficiencies and had entirely surrendered to God's will. He just humbly and boldly prepared the WAY for the coming of the Messiah. His own surrender to God enhanced his authority as a prophet. Apart from Jesus, we have no Savior and no God! John's message back then will accomplish the same thing today, if we will but heed it. The Gospel brings salvation and transformation. Our conviction and godly sorrow over our sins produce the broken and contrite heart in us. It is brokenness over sin that brings on repentance, which will yield the fruit of salvation. This is how God heals and brings life to individuals, families, and nations. Healing, refreshing, revival, or restoration can only come when there is brokenness. We must be humble if we genuinely seek God. We must humbly do His will as we pray. We must pray for the souls of men that they might seek Him and find healing for their sins.
A land that has broken faith with God cannot be healed. We cannot change the world unless we use the power that there is in the Gospel, the Truth, the Word of God. Remember that Jesus is standing outside, knocking at our door, calling all men to return to Him wholeheartedly,
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20)
We must meet the conditions of refreshingl or healing, which are found in the plan of salvation for God to dwell in us and we in Him. The prize that we are yearning to win is our Lord Jesus and the revelation of His glory among all men. Nothing on earth can compare to the boundless riches of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ! (Acts 3:19). He cannot resist those who humbly and honestly seek Him and admit to desperately needing Him—seasons of refreshing flow from broken and surrendered lives. Repentance is an act of submission. Holiness is the result of Christians yielding to the sanctifying Word of God. Only those surrendered saints will rescue a lost and perishing world. May we all bring our broken lives to God that He may lift us up and save us.
CONCLUSION:
God is the only one who can heal our nation, bringing spiritual renewal, but He is clear about what He expects us to do before He will walk with our people. Healing or restoration is only possible when men are seeking God. Praying and seeking God’s face is vital to hearing, being forgiven, and healing. God can only come to us when we call on Him. God earnestly wants all humanity to seek His face. He wants us to seek Him and thirst for Him and His kingdom of righteousness. I must stress that prayer is not some mysterious exercise designed to overcome God’s reluctance to walk with us, as if we can just say the magic words, and God will do something. Prayer seeks God and His will. It seeks His Mercy and Grace and to be reconciled back to Him. God patiently waits for us to pray to Him and seek His will to lead us to eternal life. But those who seek His favor and renewal must be humble enough to get on their knees and see the brokenness caused by their own sin. Until we humble ourselves and seek Him, there won’t be any hope of life. How can brokenness bring life to a world lost in sin? In Matthew 3:2, we read,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
John the Baptist prepared the WAY. Which WAY? The way of repentance. John knew he was not worthy to untie Jesus' shoes because he knew his own deficiencies and had entirely surrendered to God's will. He just humbly and boldly prepared the WAY for the coming of the Messiah. His own surrender to God enhanced his authority as a prophet. Apart from Jesus, we have no Savior and no God! John's message back then will accomplish the same thing today, if we will but heed it. The Gospel brings salvation and transformation. Our conviction and godly sorrow over our sins produce the broken and contrite heart in us. It is brokenness over sin that brings on repentance, which will yield the fruit of salvation. This is how God heals and brings life to individuals, families, and nations. Healing, refreshing, revival, or restoration can only come when there is brokenness. We must be humble if we genuinely seek God. We must humbly do His will as we pray. We must pray for the souls of men that they might seek Him and find healing for their sins.
As Christ’s soldiers, soldiers of the cross, we must stand up for Him and lift our royal banner so it might not suffer loss. From victory to victory, His army shall He lead, till every foe is vanquished, for Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey. We must pray for the healing of those who are sin-sick. God wants all men to repent and turn to Him for healing (Acts 3:19). Healing or refreshing can only come after godly sorrow or true repentance and a heartfelt conversion, for godly sorrow worketh repentance. Healing demands that we do things God’s way and not ours. There must be humility, prayer, hunger, and repentance.
John the Baptizer was the forerunner of Jesus. His message was a message of repentance (Matthew 3:1-12). God wants us to be renewed in our minds (Romans 12:2). He wants us to have a change of mind, heart, think like Christ, be godly, and be open-minded to what He commands us to do (Col. 3:8-10). Where God’s healing comes, there is rejoicing within the camp! There is rejoicing or joy because lost souls have genuinely moved back to God. Healing will bring repentance, conversion, restoration, renewal, and rejoicing. Thus we must pray for our souls and the souls of those lost in sin for a life-changing and soul-saving healing, revival, and refreshment.
Today , God is waiting for you to humble yourself and let Him heal you or raise you up from the death of sin and darkness into newness of life. Restoration begins with God’s people teaching men the Gospel, the Word of God. The Word of God is the foundation on which every nation must stand. But when that foundation is destroyed, chaos and lawlessness rule. God’s Word determines what is right and wrong. God is the Dictator who dictates what must be done, not Nazi Germany or Roe V. Wade. God’s people, yes, we Christians, must be the ones to fix all spiritual problems, for God’s people must do something! He will hold us responsible for the decline of our nation and our homes. We can blame everybody we want, but the bottom line is that God will hold His church accountable for keeping silent.
Today , God is waiting for you to humble yourself and let Him heal you or raise you up from the death of sin and darkness into newness of life. Restoration begins with God’s people teaching men the Gospel, the Word of God. The Word of God is the foundation on which every nation must stand. But when that foundation is destroyed, chaos and lawlessness rule. God’s Word determines what is right and wrong. God is the Dictator who dictates what must be done, not Nazi Germany or Roe V. Wade. God’s people, yes, we Christians, must be the ones to fix all spiritual problems, for God’s people must do something! He will hold us responsible for the decline of our nation and our homes. We can blame everybody we want, but the bottom line is that God will hold His church accountable for keeping silent.
For things to turn around in our nation, it must come from us, God’s people doing something. But doing what? By humbling ourselves and putting God where He belongs, in the rightful place in our lives. We must acknowledge God as the Supreme Ruler of all things. He is the Master of the universe. We must stop trying to do things our own way! We must get rid of our pride, for it causes us a lot of trouble! We must pray with a humble heart. How often do you pray for our rulers and nation (1 Tim. 2:1-2)? I’m afraid we spend too little time in prayer and forget that our God is the Giver and Creator of all.
We must seek His face and do what He wants us to do. So we must pray for men to seek God’s will in our nation. We must turn from our wicked ways, for wickedness is against God’s will. When we fail to carry out His plans and will, we are not living for Him but following our wicked ways. How can we expect others to follow God’s ways if we, ourselves, refuse to follow His ways (1 Peter 4:17)? Healing requires God’s help, for we need God to hear us. If we want things to go in the right direction, we definitely need God’s help. But it begins with us! Can we expect others to obey the Gospel if we are unwilling to obey God’s righteous ways?
We must seek His face and do what He wants us to do. So we must pray for men to seek God’s will in our nation. We must turn from our wicked ways, for wickedness is against God’s will. When we fail to carry out His plans and will, we are not living for Him but following our wicked ways. How can we expect others to follow God’s ways if we, ourselves, refuse to follow His ways (1 Peter 4:17)? Healing requires God’s help, for we need God to hear us. If we want things to go in the right direction, we definitely need God’s help. But it begins with us! Can we expect others to obey the Gospel if we are unwilling to obey God’s righteous ways?
Sadly, God will not hear our pleas because we refuse to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked way. Our disobedient heart blocks all of God’s blessings. We also need God to forgive us when we sin against Him. We need God to forgive our apathy. Forgiveness is essential to receiving God’s blessings. We need our God to heal the land, for He is the only One who can heal it. What is broken can be fixed. God can make all things new!
We must be part of the solution and not the problem. Instead of complaining and whining, let us make a difference by being the salt of the earth and shining our light brightly before all men. God wants all men to repent and avoid going to hell, but the Gospel must be preached to save them. So it is time we start doing God’s business so that refreshing may come!
May we all bring our broken lives to God that He might heal us. May we humble ourselves and accept His remedy. May we be the salt of the earth and the healing power for our nation and people.
May we all bring our broken lives to God that He might heal us. May we humble ourselves and accept His remedy. May we be the salt of the earth and the healing power for our nation and people.
Read with me the words of the song, "Bring Christ Your Broken Life."
Luci
Luci
Bring Christ your broken life,
So marred by sin.
He will create anew,
Make whole again.
Your empty wasted years
He will restore,
And your iniquities,
Remember no more
Bring Him your every care
if great or small
whatever troubles you
oh, bring it all
Bring him the haunting fears
the nameless dread
thy heart he will relieve
and lift up thy head
Bring Him your weariness
receive his rest
Weep out your blinding tears
upon his breast
His love is wonderful
his power is great
and none that trust in him shall be desolate
Blest Saviour of us all
Almighty friend!
His presence shall be ours
unto the end
without him, life would be
how dark, how drear
but with him morning breaks
and Heaven is near!
So marred by sin.
He will create anew,
Make whole again.
Your empty wasted years
He will restore,
And your iniquities,
Remember no more
Bring Him your every care
if great or small
whatever troubles you
oh, bring it all
Bring him the haunting fears
the nameless dread
thy heart he will relieve
and lift up thy head
Bring Him your weariness
receive his rest
Weep out your blinding tears
upon his breast
His love is wonderful
his power is great
and none that trust in him shall be desolate
Blest Saviour of us all
Almighty friend!
His presence shall be ours
unto the end
without him, life would be
how dark, how drear
but with him morning breaks
and Heaven is near!
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