“WARNING AND THE PROMISE”
12 Then Jehovah appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: I have heard thy prayer, and I have chosen for myself this place for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens that there be no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 and my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 CHRONICLES 7: 12-14 DARBY
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE FOUNDING OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THE EMACIPATION OF 1863 HAD MANY HARSH EFFECTS. ONE OCCURRED WHEN RICHARD ALLEN AND OTHERS WHERE NOT ALLOWED TO KNEEL AT THE CHANCEL RAIL AND PRAYER. IN FACT THEY WHERE PULLED FROM THEIR KNEES IN THE MIST OF GIVING GOD THE PRAISE AND GLORY. IN 1787 THEY LEFT ST. GEROGE METHODIST CHURCH AND BROUGHT A STABLE AT 6 AND LUMBAR STREET, IN PHIL.,AND STARTED, THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY LATER NAMED THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
THAT SAME SPIRIT EXISTED IN 1924 IN TAMPA, FL WHEN SIS. LOTTIE RILEY AND OTHERS LED BY THE REV. E.L. SIMMONS TOOK THIS COMMITTED BODY OF BELIVERS TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF 1924 AND BISHOP JOHN HURST NAMED THIS NEW CHURCH IN TAMPA, FL ST. LUKE AME CHURCH, BECAUSE IT WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME FOR SPIRITUAL HEALING.
TODAY AS WE LOOK AROUND WE SEE THAT WE HAVE COME A MIGHTY LONG WAY AND GOD IS STILL BLESSING US. HOWEVER, I DO NOT WANT US TO GET COMFORTABLE AND FORGET WHAT WE DO IS NOT ABOUT US IT IS ABOUT GOD. THUS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HIS “WARNINGS AND BLESSINGS”.
1ST THIS IS A PLACE WHERE GOD PROMISES TO MEET YOU: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEEDED SOME HELP AND EVERYBODY HAS PROMISED TO BE THERE WHEN YOU NEEDED THEM, BUT WHEN THE TIME CAME THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND. WE ALL HAVE SOME GOOD DAYS AND SOME BAD DAYS. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE TO ESCAPE THE PRESSURE SATAN PUTS ON US.
WE TRY EVERYTHING TO RELIEVE THE WE GO FRIENDS, WE GO THE CULBS, WE GO TO LOVE ONES AND THEY CAN DO US NO GOOD.
BUT THERE IS A PLACE, WHERE GOD HAS PROMISED TO MEET YOU. THERE IS PLACE WHERE HIS GLORY ALWAYS SHOWS UP. THERE IS A PLACE WHERE PEACE ABIDES. WHEN TIMES ARE HARD AND YOU SEE NO WAY OUT. GOD HAS GRANTEED THAT IS HIS HOUSE AND HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
2LY HE PROMISED TO ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE MADE IN THIS PLACE. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS LIFE. SOME WE HAVE CONTROL OVER AND OTHERS WE PUT IN THE HANDS OF GOD. THAT IS THE REASON PRAYER IS SO IMPORTANT ON THIS CHRISTIAN JOURNEY. GOD EXSPECTS FOR HIS PEOPLE TO CALL HIS NAME, IF THEY NEED HIM , EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE DONE WRONG AND MUST BE PUNISHED. THAT IS THE REASON HE GIVES US A WAY OUT.
IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME:
WHEN YOU PRAY YOU MUST HUMBLE YOURSELF INTO HIS HANDS. WHEN YOU PRAY YOU MUST ASK FOR REMOVAL OF HIS JUDGEMENT. WHEN YOU PRAY YOU MUST SEEK HIS FACE. WHEN YOU PRAY YOU MUST ASK GOD FOR HIS FAVOR. WHEN YOU PRAY YOU MUST PROMISE GOD TO TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS AND WILL RETURN TO HIM. THAT IS THE TIME TO GIVE ALL PRAISE
FINNALY, BLESSINGS ARE ON THE WAY; THE TEXT SAYS AFTER YOU HAVE TURNED FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS; GOD WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE YOUR SINS AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.
IN OTHER WORDS BLESSINGS ARE ON THE WAY. THIS WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE NEED SOME WORKING ON. MEN NEED TO COME FORTH GOD’S WAY. WOMEN NEED TO WORK FOR THE LORD WITH ALL THEIR HEART. YOUNG ADULTS NEED TO REALIZE THAT GOD IS REAL. CHILDREN NEED TO PULL UP THEIR PANTS.
WHEN WE SERVE HIM BLESSINGS ARE ON THE WAY. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. WHEN WE GIVE OUR LIVES COMPLETELY HE WORKS EVERYTHING OUT. OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. STRONGHOLDS ARE TORN DOWN. LIVES ARE CHANGED. BODIES ARE HEALED. FAMILIES ARE PUT BACK TOGETHER; ADDICTION ARE DEFEATED; SOULS ARE SAVED. THAT IS THE REASON GOD SENT HIS SON ECT
