“A Healing for the US!”
Opening Illustration: From Blue Fish TV – Our Christian Heritage – this reflective clip takes a historical look at the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the godly intent of the men who signed it.
Thesis: We need a healing in the United States spiritually. To receive this healing of the land we must follow the pattern laid out by the Word of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14. If the church does these steps then the Lord promises to forgive and to restore America.
Scripture Text:
2 Chronicles 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Introduction:
Does our nation need a healing? The Facts: Current Condition of the Country and the Church:
Peter Marshall noted in his Restoring America series how this nation is in a spiritual and moral free for all. He noted that this country is in a civil war and the battle is between morality and immorality, between following God’s Word or not following God’s Word, between good and evil.
Peter noted how the Lord is going to judge this nation for the American holocaust that is killing 4, 000 babies a day in our country. This nation will be held accountable for this horrendous act of murder because we were a country that was established with a national statement of faith which emphasized our right to independence and a commitment to build this nation on God given rights and values.
He sites other indicators which point to the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of Americans:
*There are two million Americans in prison the largest ever.
*There are forty five million with Genital Herpes in this country.
*There are 900,000 cases of HIV Aids in this country.
*In Americans 10 and older 30% are carrying a sexually transmitted disease.
*50% of the Christians in America do not believe in absolutes
David Barton’s statistics from Wall Builders:
• Since the law was passed of separation church and state in 1963
o Birth rates for unwed girls ages 15-19 has increased from 15 births to every 1,000 girls in 1964 to 34 births to every 1,000 girls by 1987.
o Pregnancies to Unwed Girls under 15 years of age in 1963 was 5,000 across the US by 1987 it had climbed to 26,000 yearly.
o Violent Crime in 1962 was 250,000 acts of violence by 1987 it had climber to 1.7 million acts of violence a year.
o Sexually transmitted diseases – Gonorrhea – age group 15-19 was in 1963 – there were 350, 000 cases across the country but by 1983 it had increased to 1.2 million cases across the country.
o Divorce rates have tripled since 1963.
o Sat scores have plummeted by 60 points since 1963
Statistic from book Myth of Separation of Church and State.
National Statistics reveals the following condition of the nation:
*United States leads the world in Divorce – David Barton Wallbuilders
*United States leads the world in teen pregnancy – David Barton
* Violent crime is at an all time High in America and is leading the Western World (Bureau of Justice Statistics).
# In 2005 there were 1,823,400 violent crimes in the United States - The serious violent crimes included are rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide.
George Barna’s statistics also verify the dangerous condition of America today – his reflect the condition of the church:
• George Barna reports that giving to churches dropped significantly last year. In 2000, 70% of Christians gave to the church, compared to 84% in 1999. Barna’s survey also showed that while 32% of Christian claimed to have tithed, a check of the household income showed that only 12% actually did.
• Yet they spend 2x more on entertainment than on God’s work.
• 23% of Christian interviewed in a pole said they bought a lottery ticket once a week.
• Doug Hagedorn stated, “I quote a number of Barna’s recent giving statistics, and giving to the church continues drop. The average American pays $1,000 a year in interest and only gives $754.00 a year to the church.”
• Check out the following statistics:
o The average Christian only gives 2.2% of their income to the Lord (2003 census).
Avg. giving per household is $754.00 a year
Yet they spend this much on other items in a year (2003 census of a household making a little less then $60,000 a year):
• Entertainment: $2,378.00
• Transportation: $9,090
• Food at home: $3,718
• Food away from home: $2,722
• Alcoholic Beverages: $412
• Housing: $14,662
• Tobacco Products: $403
• Interest payments: $1,000
• Household furnishings: $2,708
Among the born again population, which represents 38% of all adults, the average giving to churches was $1,411 – much higher than a year earlier ($1,220), but below previous year’s totals (2003 Barna).
The amount of gross income donated by born again adults to their church averaged 3.8% of their total gross income (2003 Barna research organization).
The problem I see in America today is reflected in the following statement: Quote from A.W. Tozer, “Within the human heart ‘things’ have taken over. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.”
• Christians Beliefs according to Barna:
o Social Issues
• One third of born again adults (33%) say that abortion is a morally acceptable behavior, compared with 45% of all adults, 4% of evangelicals, and 71% of atheists and agnostics. (2004)
• 30% of all adults consider having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex a morally acceptable behavior. (2004)
• 14% of Elders, 32% of Boomers, 41% of Busters and 40% of Mosaics consider having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex a morally acceptable behavior. (2004)
o Percentage of adults who view certain behavior as morally acceptable (2003)
• 61% of adults view gambling as a morally acceptable behavior.
• Enjoying sexual thoughts or fantasies about someone 59%
• Living with someone of the opposite sex without being married, sometimes called co-habitation 60%
• Having an abortion 45%
• Having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex to whom you are not married 42%
• Looking at pictures of nudity or explicit sexual behavior 38%
• Using profanity (36%)
• Getting drunk (35%)
• Having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex 30%
• Using drugs not prescribed by a medical doctor 17%
• Compared to 63% of all adults, 86% of born again Christians believe "the Bible is totally accurate in all of its teachings." (2005)
• 77% of born again Christians believe they "personally have a responsibility to tell other people their religious beliefs" compared to 51% of all adults. (2005)
• Nearly all born again Christians (98%) say their religious faith is very important in their life, compared to 52% of all adults. (2004)
• Half of born again Christians (46%) agree that Satan is "not a living being but is a symbol of evil." (2005)
• About one-third of born agains (33%) believe that if a person is good enough they can earn a place in Heaven. (2005)
• 28% of born agains agree that "while he lived on earth, Jesus committed sins, like other people," compared to 42% of all adults. (2005)
• Born again Christians are more likely than non-born again individuals to accept moral absolutes. Specifically, 32% of born agains said they believe in moral absolutes, compared to just half as many (15%) among non-born agains. (2002) (For more information, click on the Press Release titled "Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings" on the right-hand side of this page.
o From Peter Marshall – “50% of Born Again believers in America do not believe in Absolute truth or in absolute principles of right and wrong.”
We need to restore this nation back to a government of people, by the people and for the people. We need to renew the Covenant that our Founding Fathers made with the Lord Jesus Christ for any hope of restoration to this land. We must look to 2 Chronicles 7:14 for the answer to America’s downward spiral and a stop to it. This Scriptures states, “14if my people, who are called by my name, will 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.” The key word is the word “If.” In other words if we do the following actions in this nation then God will move and bring a restoration. The hope for America is for the church of Jesus Christ to put this verse into practice.
This verse talks about the three stages that need to happen for healing to occur in America:
1). We need the people (the Christians) to commit to be more deeply sold out to Jesus Christ.
2). We need to commit to create a deeper relationship with each other within the Body of Christ.
a). The Christian church must covenant together and do it together. We need each other to accomplish this task of healing for this nation.
3). We must become more deeply involved in the society around us.
The power of the Acts New Testament Church was that it had all three of these components functioning in it. They were committed to the Lord and to each other. They did not have a bunch of lone rangers out doing their own things instead they were intertwined together and this togetherness made difference in the society they live in. It was so powerful he eventually changed the religion of the Roman Empire to Christian.
The church of today must recover the power of New Testament Christianity. Marshall states, “That God cannot restore this nation we love unless we get back to the way this nation was originally birthed.”
Let’s look at God’s plan for restoring America according to 2 Chronicles 7:14:
A. Step #1: The people of God in this nation must call on God with a spirit of humility.
a. The first step is the church must get right with God and make the call to the Restorer of nations and the great healer.
i. George Washington: “Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, humbly implore his protection and favor…” (1st Proclamation of a national day of Thanksgiving, Oct. 3, 1789).
ii. Jeremiah 33:2-3: This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
iii. Romans 10:11-13: 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
1. Jim Cymbala stated in his book Breakthrough Prayer, “The God who delights to show mercy is near, waiting for us to call on his name” (page 54).
2. Jim also stated the following from his book:Today prayer for personal guidance is almost a lost art. Our tendency is to run around doing what we think best and then ask God to bless our activity. We can learn a lesson from the leaders of Israel who approached the prophet Jeremiah in the midst of a political and military crisis. Their request was simple: “Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do” (Jeremiah 42:3). God’s plan for our lives includes the “where” we should go and the “what” we should do (page 57).
b. They must come to His throne in humility not with arrogance and pride!
i. What not to do - The churches in Revelation 2-3:
1. Revelation 2:4-5: Ephesus
a. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
b. Revelation 3:1-3: Sardis
i. 1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
c. Revelation 3:14-18: Laodicea
i. 14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
c. Humility - The "No Pride" motto of Servant Leaders is rooted in humility.
i. Pride is the opposite of humility. We as Christian leaders, must continue to fight this battle. We must never think that we in our heavenly job, are superior to someone else.
1. Romans 12: 3-5: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
ii. Humility is the quality of one who is submitted to their Lord – their owner –their master!
1. We need to remember that we are in our position because of Christ.
a. II Cor. 3:5: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
b. Spurgeon makes this statement about pride: "… pride is a breach of consecration. As soon as I begin to get proud of what I do, or what I am, what am I proud of? Why there is that pride, the act of taking away from God, His glory . . . Mark this, Christian, God will never give thee (you) strength to glorify thyself (yourself)…" (247).
d. Christ the greatest leader of all demonstrated this Servant Leader quality.
i. Remember Luke 22: 24-30; and John 13: 1-17.
1. In verse 12 of John, Jesus after washing His disciples’ feet, asks them the question: "Do you understand what I have done for you?"
2. In verse 15, He tells them I have demonstrated how I want you guys to lead my church!
3. Also, remember Phil 2:8, "He humbled Himself."
a. Bill Hybel’s states, "Jesus’ perspective was shaped by a deep sense of humility. It was a humility where none was called for; Jesus, as God, clearly deserved His titles, position, and praise. But as we have seen, Jesus "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." He wanted instead, to relate with man on an equal level. Where religious leaders of His day relished the separation between themselves and "the common people", Jesus sought to break down the barriers, even those imposed by His divine rights. Humility was at the core of His philosophy. More times than not, He used His power for the powerless, showed love to the loveless, and served those who could not possibly return the favor. With characteristic consistency, He repeatedly rejected a Pecking Order based on conditional response." (121)
e. Let’s not allow ourselves to buy into the world’s motto, "Be Proud". But do what is pleasing to God.
i. I Peter 3: 3, 4: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
ii. Galatians 5: 19-25: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
f. We need to practice humility as prescribed by Christ in Matt. 5:11.
i. To the world, this statement by Christ is a contradiction. They view humility, meekness, gentleness, etc., as "Blessed are the weak for they shall become door mats!" not to inherit the earth. They honestly believe that a leader is one who dominates, controls, manipulates, etc., another person by power not humility and meekness.
ii. The beatitudes in my view, describe a servant leader who is humble.
1. Note: Matt. 23: 11-12: “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
g. Application: Servant leaders are those who repeatedly cry, "No Pride" every day. They are leaders who practice humility. They are ones who seize every opportunity to tear down pride in the church so that it will not destroy it. It’s a leader who uses servant characteristics to lead not worldly business practices. It’s one who continually reminds himself of Proverbs. 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” With humility being modeled in leadership each individual is treated with respect and dignity. It also gives permission to each person to contribute to the ministry without being intimidated or driven away.
B. Step #2: The people of God must pray to their Lord.
a. The church must get back to prayer.
i. The church people needs to PUSH through in prayer for the breakthrough for this nation. We need to Prayer Until Something Happens.
ii. Ben Franklin’s quote from the book America’s God and Country by Federer pages 247-248: Thursday, June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin, delivered a powerful speech to the Constitutional Convention, which was embroiled in a bitter debate over how each state was to be represented in the new government. The hostile feelings created by the smaller states being pitted against the larger states, was so bitter that some delegates actually left the Convention. Benjamin Franklin, being the president (Governor) of Pennsylvania, hosted the rest of the 55 delegates attending the Convention. Being the senior member of the convention at 81 years of age, he commanded the respect of all present, and, as recorded in James Madison’s detailed records, he rose to speak in this moment of crisis:
1. Mr. President: The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes and ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.—Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move—that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.
a. Ben Franklin a close friend of George Whitefield knew the power of prayer and the necessity of asking for Divine assistance in the forming of a nation.
b. We cannot bring healing to this nation without prayer and the help it will bring from Heaven.
iii. I Thess. 5:17: “Pray continually”
iv. Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
1. I don’t believe that God wants us to pray and expect quick fixes as many are in the habit of believing today. I honestly believe that prayer as described in the Bible is an act that takes effort. I believe prayer is like the pioneers of old who pushed their way across the Dakotas through raging blizzards and cold to get to sunny California or Oregon. I have read many of their stories. Their adventure was filled with determination, set back, and a fortitude that drove them through the storms to their desired location of sun and surf.
a. The Word of God exhorts us, charges us to pray through – to Pray, Until, Something, Happens. To pray through for the break out and breakthroughs.
b. Cymbala states, “Too many times when we are under stress or opposition, we hold strategy sessions, we ‘claim the promises’ in rote sort of way instead of praying them biblically. But God said we could ‘receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.’ Where? At ‘the throne of grace’ (Hebrews 4:16).
c. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”
i. This is the attitude we need to have in the church today to see a determination to PUSH through in prayer and see lives transformed.
1. This Illustration of Churches praying against Brewery reveals how we need to really believe that God will move through our prayers: A Church was publicly praying against a local Brewery and it caught fire and burned to the ground. The owner of the Brewery an atheist sued the Church. The judge said he was in a dilemma on one side the atheists who does not believe in God blames the churches for praying and having his brewery destroyed and on the other side the churches deny that it was their prayers that burned down the brewery. The Judge was confused over the whole case because each party involved went against what they publicly confessed.
v. A NATIONAL PRAYER OF REPENTANCE Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS. On January 23, 1996, He was asked to be the guest chaplain for the Kansas State House in Topeka. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January 24, 1996, his prayer stirred controversy, and one member of the legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer. The controversy didn’t end there. Later that year in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright’s prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest.
Paul Harvey got a hold of the prayer and read it on his program. He got more requests for copies of it than any other thing he had ever done. Here’s what he prayed:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it a choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the airwaves with profanity and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you, to govern this great state. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will... Amen
Contributed to sermoncentral.com by: Troy Borst
SOURCE: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/kansasprayer.htm
vi. Illustration: From Videos That Teach - Fields and James
1. The Movie: Shadowlands
This film depicts the love affair between the author C.S. “Jack’ Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) and an American fan, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). They grow to love each other after discovering they share many of the same passions and interests. Their happiness is shattered when Joy is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the two of them must learn to make every moment together count.
Clip: 1:35:00
Jack’s Oxford colleagues try to comfort him as he deals with the anguish of knowing that the dearest person in his life is dying of cancer. The discussion turns to the topic of prayer, and jack clarifies his reasons for praying: he is helpless, and prayer doesn’t change God-it changes him.
b. Jim Cymbala stated, “To prevail against the devices of Satan, it is vital that we understand one thing especially: God shows mercy in answer to prayer” (Breakthrough Prayer, page 52).
c. The promise if we pray is found in the next verse 2 Chronicles 7:15: “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”
i. The door for restoration opens up with calling on God and praying to Him for a healing.
C. Step #3: The church must be seeking the face of Jesus – not money – idols – power – self - or fame.
a. We must seek Him – Him only!
i. Jesus said, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6).
ii. George Washington knew the importance of dying to self and surrendering all to Jesus:
1. George Washington prayed “…grant that we may be enabled to show gratitude for thy goodness by our endeavours to fear and obey…Thy beloved Son; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”
2. He also served as the General of the Continental Army with no pay for a long period of time.
3. It was for King Jesus that he served. The battle cry in the Revolutionary War was, “No King but King Jesus!”
b. Today in America we have a crisis in the church – today we have a new religion which has emerged to the forefront, “I call it self-centered Christianity.”
i. Video Clip from Sermon Spice “It’s all About Me!” and “Me Church”
1. Clip shows the foolishness of worshipping ourselves.
ii. This so called Christian person is always drawing attention to what they want or desire in life.
iii. They have no desire to help out others or even have empathy for others.
iv. Life is about “Number One 1” which is themselves.
v. The shadow of self is large an illuminating over their life.
vi. Their conversation is filled with these words: I, me, mine, and myself.
vii. Their focus is: self-love, self-indulgence, self-worship, self-interest; egotism, egoism and the list could go on.
viii. Their desire is for comfort, convenience, and their enjoyment in life.
ix. They are selfish and they are loving it!
c. They do not pick up their cross and deny themselves they instead indulge themselves and have all the Christian lingo to go with it.
i. Jesus said in Mark 8:34-36: “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
d. John Bevere states in his book Driven by Eternity the following observation from his travels across the Us preaching in different churches:
i. He says that there are a lot of people claiming to be part of the “Born Again Club.”
1. A recent poll from Rev Magazine says that 53% of the United States claims to be Born Again Christian’s.
ii. Bevere states the following as he looks at 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
1. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
2. “… ‘Having a form of godliness but denying it’s power.’ So you can see what makes it difficult to be a Christian in our generation; there will be many (according to other references in the New Testament) who profess being Christian, born again, or saved who will not have allowed the Cross to slay their self life. They’ll not have made the decision to forsake all their own rights to follow Jesus. They’ll sincerely believe He is their Savior, but they’ll affiliate with Him for the mere fact of what can He do for them, rather than who He is. It’s no different that a woman marrying a man for his money. She may marry him for love, but for the wrong reasons. Out of this motive they’ll seek Him for the sake of salvation and success in this life and believe sincerely that He is their Savior, but they will have never relinquished control of their own lives” (86).
e. 1 Corinthians 13:5 states love is “Not self-seeking.”
i. Failure to show real concern for others discloses lack of love. There are some who do not care what happens to others and therefore it reveals their selfish hearts.
ii. A person who is self-centered will always ask, “What’s in it for me?” There life will center around meeting their own personal needs and wants!
iii. A person who is gripped with selfishness will always do what they want first – it will be their priority in life.
iv. Life will center a round meeting all their whims and wants and God will always take a back seat to their wants.
1. Philippians 2:21: “For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
v. God will not be a priority in person’s life because their god is themselves!
D. Step #4: We must turn from our wicked ways
a. The church must repent of sin and there own self-centered wicked ways.
i. Definition of the word “wicked” – Your Dictionary defines wicked as Evil by nature and in practice: "this wicked man Hitler, the repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred" (Winston S. Churchill).
1. That which is morally bad or objectionable: evil, iniquity, sin, wrong.
2. Degrading, immoral acts or habits: bestiality, corruption, depravity, immorality, perversion, vice, villainousness, villainy.
3. A wicked act or wicked behavior: crime, deviltry, diablerie, evil, evildoing, immorality, iniquity, misdeed, offense, sin, wrong, wrongdoing.
ii. Do you remember the phrase here in our text " If my people, who are called by my name…”
1. This verse is addressing the church of Jesus Christ friends – not the sinful world.
2. If we want a healing to take place in the United States it has to start with the Christians and ones who profess to be but are not living it.
3. The problem in America is not the unsaved the problem in America is the Church of Jesus Christ.
a. George Barna comes to same conclusion in his book Revolution:
i. “One of the greatest frustrations of my life has been the disconnection between what our research consistently shows about the churched Christians and what the Bible calls us to be. Granted, we are sinful creatures an will never achieve perfection on this planet; only when we are reunited with God in heaven will we experience a fully restored state. However, if the local church is comprised of people who have been transformed by the grace of God through their redemption in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, then their lives should be noticeably and compellingly different from the norm” (page 31).
ii. He states the following statistics from his research to prove his observation (pages 31-:
1. The biweekly attendance at worship services is, by believers own admission, generally the only time they worship God.
2. Half of all believers say they do not feel they have entered into the presence of God or experienced a genuine connection with Him during the past year.
3. The typical churched believer will die without leading a single person to a lifesaving knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Only 9 percent of all born-again adults have a biblical worldview-meaning that less than one out of every ten Chrisitans age eighteen or older believes that absolute moral truth exists, believes that such truth is contained in the Bible, and possesses a handful of core beliefs that reflects such truth. Those beliefs include a certainty that the Bible is accurate in its teachings; Jesus lived a sinless life on earth; Satan is real, not symbolic; all believers are responsible for sharing their faith in Christ with others; the only means of salvation is through God’s grace; and God is all knowing and all-powerful creator of the universe who still rules today…
5. When given the opportunity to state how they want to be known by others, fewer than one out of ten believers mentioned descriptions that reflect their relationship with God.
6. Churched Christians give away an average of about 3 percent of their income in atypical year-and feel pleased at their “sacrificial’ generosity.
7. Fewer tan one out of every ten church Christians donates at least 10 percent of their income to churches and other nonprofit organizations. (More than one-third claim to do so.)
a. They actually lie about it!
b. To turn means repent and go the right way – not the wrong way!
i. To repent means that your life is transformed and your spiritual DNA is changed to be like Christ.
ii. The Bible tells us that when a person surrenders their life to Jesus then they become a brand new creation in Christ.
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 verifies this fact and this nature change
iii. The result of our Born Again experience is that our old sinful nature is crucified with Christ and therefore the sin nature loses its power in our life. This DNA change in our being then set us free from sin and its bondage. This cleansing and empowering enables us to live according to the nature of Jesus Christ and by way of the Spirit.
1. Bevere states this about the problem he sees in many professing Christians today:
a. “It is complete ignorance for a Christian to disdain an individual who has not received Jesus as their Master for his or her lifestyle. This person’s spiritual DNA is to sin, and that is just what he does. What is freaky and completely unnatural is a ‘believer’ who habitually or willfully sins. The reason I put believer in quotes is a person who practices sin may declare Jesus as his Savior and Lord but in reality. He is not, for if he truly were, that person would manifest a godly nature in his life. Jesus made this clear …”(by his remarks in Matthew 7:17-20) (Driven by Eternity, page 78).
b. Matthew 7:17-20: 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
c. Bevere adds, “There are many who confess to being Christians yet produce fruit that clearly indicates otherwise” (79).
c. A genuine Christian is one who will turn from their wicked ways and go in the direction of the Lord Jesus.
i. They will choose to forsake their sins and choose to do works for the good.
ii. They will choose to say “No” to their sinful nature and choose to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
iii. Reality Check from the mouth of Jesus - Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
E. Step #5: God will respond to the cry of His children and He will hear their cry in Heaven because their hearts and attitudes are in the right position.
a. John Adams 1st President to live in White House stated, “I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May honest and wise men ever rule under this roof!”
i. George Washington stated, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible” (Maxims of Washington, Schroeder, 1942).
ii. Our fore father’s knew the importance of having a right relationship with God and making sure their hearts were in the right place.
iii. George Washington even demanded that his soldiers have their hearts in the right place with God especially his officers.
1. He actually gave orders to his troops:
a. “The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the Army which forbid profance cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessings of Heaven upon the means for our safety and defense.”
b. These orders where given on July 4, 1775 from his Headquarters at Cambridge (Feder 637-638).
b. In Revelation 5:8: It states, “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
i. Saints when we pray with the right heart and in the right position with the Lord through a spirit of humility our prayers ascend into the throne room of God. They are their in the majesty of Heaven at the throne and God listens to our cry and our cries touch his Father’s heart and he responds with power and might.
ii. I have heard many people in the church say, “There is no hope for our nation!” I say with God all things are possible and I am praying for a 3rd Great Awakening to burst forth across this nation.
1. I am crying out to God to save cities and counties and government leaders and Judges.
2. I am crying out to God to send the fire of Heaven in 07 all across the upper Mid-West.
3. I am crying for God to send a wave of His glory across this land.
4. I am crying for the Trumpet call of God to be blown for Sea to shining Sea.
5. I am crying out to the Lord Jesus to reveal himself to the lost and the down and out.
6. I am crying for a revival to sweep across the church of America today.
a. Reference what the Lord Jesus is doing in Montevideo – Mn.
7. I am crying out for this country that I love and that many paid the price for with their life.
a. Video Illustration from Blue Fish TV “Star Spangled Banner”
c. Friends my hope is in Jesus – it’s not in the local church – it’s not in the Christian community of today – my hope for revival is being placed in the Lord Jesus Christ and I know he has the power and the ability to bring it about in this nation.
i. Barna states it well in his book when he tells us were our hope should be for a spiritual revolution in this country:
1. “And despite its faults and flaws, a spiritual healthy local church will always have a valid and valuable role within God’s Kingdom on earth. The point here is simply to recognize that if we place all our hope in the local church, it is misplaced hope. Many well-intentioned pastors promote this perspective by proclaiming, “The local church is the hope of the world.” Like most advertising slogans, this notion is emotionally appealing. The trouble is, the sentient is not Biblical. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the hope of the world. The local church is one mechanism that can be instrumental in bringing us closer to Him and helping us to be more like Him. But, as the research data clearly show, churches are not doing the job. If the local church is the hope of the world, then the world has no hope” (36).
ii. The key in this point which I want you to grasp is that being in right relationship with God is what brings revival and restoration to a life.
1. This is what really matters the most for a healing to be birthed today in our nation and in this generation.
F. Step #6: God will hear and then send a wave of forgiveness over this land like a mighty rushing wind as long as we pass it on to others.
a. Abraham Lincoln on the war March 4, 1865, “…With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds…”
i. President Lincoln desire forgiveness for all and a healing to commence across the blood stained land. He desired the gift of forgiveness to be spread to all.
ii. He was assassinated 45 days later.
b. The gift of forgiveness is what the church needs and must receive to start the healing of our land.
i. In the church today we have to many people filled with the spirit of offense instead of the spirit of forgiveness.
ii. John Bevere’s book, “The Bait of Satan” addresses this issue and is very clear in pointing out that the church must repent and ask forgiveness from God so that He will then hear their cry and send this gift rushing over this nation from Sea to Sea.
1. John states, “Forgiveness you don’t give-you don’t get” (121) He also states, “A person who cannot forgive has forgotten how great a debt God has forgiven them” (120).
a. Jesus said in Mark 11:24-26: “24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
b. Friends this is not an optional exercise – this is a must if we want revival to come to America!
2. John also states the following and this thought ties in with our point earlier about coming to the Lord in a spirit of humility and not pride;
a. Pride causes you to view yourself as a victim. Your attitude becomes, “I was mistreated and misjudged; therefore. I am justified in my behavior.” Because you believe you are innocent and falsely accused, you hold back forgiveness. Though your true heart condition is hidden from you, it is not hidden from God. Just because you were mistreated, you do not have permission to hold on to an offense. Two wrongs do not make a right (8)!
c. The Lord will hear our cries only when our hearts are in the right position and this means having a heart filled with forgiveness for others.
i. Many Christians have come to accept the spirit of offense and the spirit of un-forgiveness as a normal way of life but according to the Word of God it is an abnormal for Christian to act like this.
d. The church and this land need to cry to God to unleash the power of forgiveness across this land.
e. We need to let Love and forgiveness flood across our nation today to facilitate a healing in the land.
i. Video Clip - This Video Clip reminds us how important it is for the Christian to reflect the nature of God in them which is love. Clip from Blue Fish TV “The Spirit of Thankfulness” – Set to “They will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” sung by Jars of Clay.
G. Step #7: When forgiveness is unleashed then healing will sweep over this land and wounds created by sin will he healed.
a. We have come to step 7 in our verse – this step is where the actual healing of the land and the heart takes place.
i. I want share a real life story for you today about a nation that was healed – Transformation Video Clip.
b. I showed this clip to encourage you that this could happen in our country if the Church follows the steps laid out in this video clip.
Conclusion:
Review the 7 steps to the Healing of the United States:
1). The Christian church must call on God with a spirit of humility for healing.
2). The People of God need to pray – PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens!
3). The Church must be continually seeking the face of Jesus – not idols!
4). The Church must turn from its wicked ways and repent!
5). The Church must have a right relationship with God to hear their prayers and when they do He will set things in motion.
6). The Church must be willing to forgive others to receive the wave of forgiveness God has unleashed on the land for healing.
7). The Church needs to believe in healing - expect healing to come and then receive it when it rolls our way by the wave of the Spirit.
Altar Call:
Friends today is the day to receive healing in your hearts and start the birth of the 3 rd Great Awakening across the United States. It starts here with you and I!
