God’s Prescription for Revival II Chron. 7:14
"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."
I. God’s Redeemed "my people, which are called by my name"
One must be a believer to be revived.
II. God’s Requirements:
1. A Call to Preparation "shall humble themselves"
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
2. A Call to Prayer "and pray"
3. A Call to Passion "and seek my face"
This is a missing characteristic in many believers and churches today. We must seek God and make all adjustments until we hunger after Him more than anything or anyone else.
4. A Call to Purity "and turn from their wicked ways"
III. God’s Response:
1. He will Regard our Words "hear from heaven"
Psalm 66:18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
The word "regard" means to approve. It carries the idea of joyfully looking on something.
Every person sins and we know that. But there is a great difference between sinning while seeking not to do so and approving of sin, regarding a sin. God knows how we feel about our sins. He gives to us according to our hearts=affections, desires, hungers. What do you hunger after? A believer should never hunger after, or give affection to sins.
Sometimes a believer will come to me and share how he or she is in bondage to a particular sin. I listen for statements like, I hate the fact that I repeated find myself either doing the sin or desiring it.
Those who love good and hate evil will be delivered. But, those who condone sin, either in their own lives or the lives of others will not have their prayers heard and their land healed.
The believer is to attempt to live as cleanly as humanly possible. We should not allow known sins to go on in our lives or the Lord’s church.
2. He will Restore our Worlds "heal their land"
God’s promise does include our economy, but it is much broader than that. The struggles in our daily lives as a nation, are without doubt because of the sins of this nation.
In many areas, this nation has departed from God. We have band His name from many places which made this country great. Our families are reaping the results of a nation filled with sin.
First, our "worlds" consist of the things most dear to us.
In the following verses, (vs. 16-22), God tells Solomon how He will preserve his offspring and their offspring, if only they will walk in His ways by following Him only as God.
The following quote was provided by Love Worth Finding Ministries, the author’s name is unknown. This quote is reported to have been found in the home of an African preacher.
"I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m fininshed and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stopes me, and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear."
I wander how serious are we about righteousness and holy living? I did not come to be your pastor for us to remain the same. I pray we will all come to the place to boldly take a stand like the brother from Africa.
