Like to take a break from the flow of 1 Kings to pause and pray for our nation, as we celebrate our National Day this WED.
• We read a couple of weeks ago how Solomon dedicated the Temple of God, asking God to listen to the cries of the people and bless his people.
• Listen to what the Lord says to him – 2 Chron 7:11-16.
The Lord says (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.”
The healing of the land comes when the people of God turns to Him and seek Him.
• He says if my people HUMBLE themselves, PRAY AND SEEK His face, and TURN FROM their wicked ways.
• Who is the Lord referring to? MY PEOPLE. He says, “If MY PEOPLE, those who are CALLED BY MY NAME…”
Referring to the Israelites then, and to us today, the ONES who are called by His Name, the ones who knows Him and seek Him in the Temple of God.
• We have a part to play for the healing of the land. The nation is blessed because the PEOPLE of God humble themselves, pray and seek Him, and turn from their wicked ways.
• Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
This is quite straight-forward. If we HIS PEOPLE, placed in this land, are not going to SEEK HIM, who will? Who are we expecting to pray that God’s will be done?
• The Lord speaks specifically to His PEOPLE. We have the ones with the responsibility to SEEK Him AND PRAY, for the good of the nation.
• If God is going to bless this land, it will come through His PEOPLE, who are humble enough to seek God.
The Lord says, “IF my people…” meaning, it is not always the case. We don’t always understand the need for this.
• We are not humble enough to recognise our sinful ways and our need of God.
• But IF MY PEOPLE do understand and turn to me, THEN “will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Let’s pray that the PEOPLE OF GOD in this nation will do this:
(1) HUMBLE THEMSELVES
• James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
(2) ACKNOWLEDGE GOD Pray and seek His face.
• Ps 33:16-19 16No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
He makes the difference.
Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth
In the Shakespearean play Henry the Fifth, King Henry came under great odds in the battlefield. In one scene, hundreds of bowmen in the backline send a downpour of arrows arching over their front lines and landing upon the advancing enemy army.
These arrows are launched with no particular target in mind. They can land on the ground or in the throat of an enemy soldier. The slightest wind will change the course of the flying arrows. So the arrows are sent with a string and a prayer.
The army sings the song, “Non nobis domine, Gloria” meaning, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy Name give the glory.” (Psalm 115:1a).
Prayer makes the difference!
(3) SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS Turn from our wicked ways. Repent.
• The land will be blessed because of this TURNING.
• When God’s people follow God’s ways, they will see God’s blessings.
• The Lord says, IF… THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It starts with us! It has to start with us, people who KNOWS GOD AND HONOURS HIM.
One more thought before we pray. Look at 2 Chron 7:13.
• God said, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people…if my people who are called by my name…”
• God sends wake-up calls to His people. He says when He SHUT UP the heavens (the drought), or COMMAND the locusts, and SEND a plague…
Clearly God does this, not because He doesn’t care. He does it because He cares.
• Through these sufferings, God gets the attention of His people.
• “Come back to ME. Pray and seek Me. Turn from your sinful ways. I want to forgive your sin and heal your land.” That’s His message!
If we look at our nation and find growing problems, these are wake-up calls. God is calling us to return to Him.
• These problems should drive us to repent and return to God, to seek Him and pray.
Let’s pray and remember National Day. Pray that God’s Name be glorified in our land.
-------------------------------------
Sing: HEAR US FROM HEAVEN
LORD, FORGIVE US… Personal/Church/Nation
• Materialism – Love of money, possessions…
• Carnality – Homosexuality, drugs, gambling…
• Worldliness – Neglect of God’s Word, His will, His ways…
• Racism – No love for others…
• Arrogance – Pride, self-glory…
• Others…
Heavenly Father, we come before You acknowledging You as our God and our Lord. We are utterly dependent upon You. Thank you for Your promise to bless us if we trust and obey you completely. We pray and ask that You help us humble ourselves, not only today, but every day. Hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chron 7:14)!
We have been proud and arrogant, as individuals, churches and as a nation. You alone have blessed us, but we have taken Your blessing for granted. We felt we have achieved it. We have become the “me generation.” Absorbed with our own lives, material possessions and comfort.
Forgive us. Help us see where we truly stand before You. You alone are worthy of our love and devotion. Help us submit to You.
Many have ignored You and neglected Your Word. We have not worshipped You as the Almighty God, nor have we served and obeyed You as we ought. Few are walking in pure devotion to You, worshipping You wholeheartedly, praying earnestly for Your will to be done, and daily feeding upon Your Word. Few have given ourselves to do Your will and laboured diligently to finish Your work. Many have been complacent, disobedient, and unfaithful to Your call. Forgive us.
Help us turn back to You, Lord, the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Help us not fail you, as the LIGHT of our world and SALT of the earth. Help us be like Christ.
Sing: SPIRIT TOUCH YOUR CHURCH
LORD, REVIVE US… Personal/Church/Nation
Paul urges the church to pray for the leaders of the nation. 1 Tim 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
• Spiritual Needs
• Government
• Marriages and Families
• Harmony/Peace
• Body of Christ – witness, conduct
Father in heaven, You rule over all the nations, You raise up leaders and You set them down. We acknowledge Your authority over Singapore. Thank you for Your blessings.
Keep our leaders clear of corruption and help them lead with integrity and compassion for the people. Let no wicked ways take root in this land. Let righteousness, justice and truth rules.
Intervene Lord and bring revival to the church. Awaken Your people and draw us back to You. Help us to seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chr 7:14). Lord, forgive us and heal our Land. Revive Your people. Set our hearts aflame with the desires for righteousness and a deep love for people, especially the poor, weak, the marginalised in our society. Protect our marriages and our families.
Help us honour and live by the truth of Your Word. Make us good light and seasoned salt. Raise up godly leaders in our churches and in our country. May Your Name be lifted up in this land. Help us return wholly to You. Exalt Your Name in this land, Lord. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done of earth as it is in heaven. This we pray, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
