Desiring A True Move Of God

04/08/2001

Desiring A True Move of God

2 Chr 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will 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.

 A direct word for the church in these times

 If we want to see a move of God, then there is a cost

 Many cry out for a move but will not pay the price

IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME

 This great promise from God begins with a condition

 God has made His move, now it is our turn (choice)

 We are His people, His children, His heirs

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Rom 8:16-17

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17 and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

I Jn 3:1-2

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 This condition (choice) is for us

 Do you want to move toward God?

WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES

 True revival begins in each of our hearts

 Humility is not the outward show, it begins in our heart

 It is a recognition that we are not our own

 It is the place where we realize that we need Jesus more than anything

 We simply become desperate for Him in our lives

James 4:6-10

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 The Pharisee and the Tax collector

AND PRAY

 “You can tell how popular a church is by how many attend of Sunday morning, You can tell how popular a Pastor is by how many attend on Wed night but you can tell how popular Jesus is by how many attend prayer meetings (or if you even have one!)” - Jim Cymbala

 Prayer is for serious people who mean business

 We need to be a church that is “prayer conditioned”

Isa 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Ps 3:4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

Ps 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 It starts by seeking Him in our prayer closets!

 He who dwells in the secret place of the most High…

Matt 7:7-8

7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

AND SEEK MY FACE

 What does it mean to seek the face of the Lord?

 Simply this, to understand His will & His Heart

 WWJD

 We need the counsel of God

Ps 27:7-8

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."

 This is the listening part of prayer

 Not just talking but waiting for Him to answer

 Seeking Him in prayer and in worship

AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS

 It is one thing to know the will of God but another to do it