“If”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Humble, Pray, Seek, Turn
Question
: Here we are Sunday…after the election. So much said, so much done! So much trouble, so much division, so much hurt.
Context
: The reign of Solomon is divided into two halves in 2 Chronicles (1:1-5:1; 5:2-9:31). Each half begins with the kings organizing a national assembly to worship at a sanctuary and his receiving a theophany in which one of his prayers is answered at night.
The second half was the construction and equipping of the Temple. Now the chronicler fills the building the Lords presence and with Israel’s worship and prayers. The Temple comes to life and becomes a dynamic element in maintaining the relationship between Israel and their God.
Interrogative
: So now what? Now that things have been decided and the house established, now what?
Propositional Statement
: What we need moving forward is an understanding of what will make not just or nation, but our church and our homes what they need to be….God and relationship to Him!
Keys from 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If
my
people, which are called by
my
name…”
We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice.
Transition
: After we have established our identity or alliance there must together with our alliance come humility.
“Shall humble themselves…”
Humility means coming under, being subject to, preferring other and placing other above one’s self.
Application
: This might be our greatest problem today in the American church! We no longer are subject to authority! We have become so ‘good’ by ourselves that we don’t listen to anyone else or anything else.
Application
: Book written in England about “Believing but not Belonging.”
Problem / Danger of Facebook
Some Social Media Guidelines: “As Christians,…”
Transition
: The third important element of pursuing God’s blessings through relationship with and to Him is the element,
“If my people, which are called by my name shall humbles themselves and pray
…”
Question
: Pray How? “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jesus didn’t teach us to pray according to our preferences…he told us to pray for what is His will.
Question
: How do we know what His will is? Maybe we need to start by knowing what the Bible teaches!
Not what the universities or the philosophers or the humanitarians or any other group teaches but what is written, what is it the
“Thus saith the Lord!”
Transition: This element of praying and what I just stated goes hand in hand with the next piece.
Question
: We need to seek the Lord. Who do we turn to when faced with issues, dilemmas, controversy?
Counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc…?
Application
: Popular culture and trends should not dictate what we pursue! IT’s the Lord.
Transition: This leads to the last piece….
“If my people which are called by my name (Identification/Alliance), shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.
Application
: Wicked does not only speak of that which is evil but also that which is crooked!
Matthew 7:13
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide
is
the gate and broad
is
the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (Mat 7:13 NKJ)
The proper, honest, the moral path of behavior, the way of virtuous and proper conduct.
Conclusion
: I don’t want to address individuals because all individuals have skeletons in their closets. I’m referring to us moving forward. What is our solution, our hope?
There is great promise with these conditions:
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