"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 (2Chr. 7:14 KJV)."
I've heard this Bible verse quoted many times over the last few weeks. The formula for genuine Christian revival is contained within its words. Three items are listed:
humility - if my people shall humble themselves
pray - if my people will make intercession in prayer
repentance - if my people will turn from their wicked ways
Humility is coming before the God broken in spirit. The broken spirit will lead us to see and acknowledge our shortcomings when we're in the holiness of God's presence.
Godly sorrow for our failures and rejections of God's leading will compel us into genuine repentance and intercession. As we become reconciled to the One whose name is Holy, we can't help but feel the pain and sorrow of those we know and love who need reconciled to God.
We consider revival to be when countless sinners come to the knowledge and acceptance of God's saving grace. Look closely at whom this verse is directed. "If my people, who are called by my name." This is a direct statement to the church, not to sinners.
True, lasting, genuine revival must start with the believer. It must start with the Church, the body of Christ. We can choose to humble ourselves or eventually the mighty hand of God will do it for us.
We can choose to come to repentance, turning from the wicked ways of our flesh, or we will one day stand before God and plead for mercy.
How can we lay claim to so great a salvation in Jesus Christ and not take the time to share it with at least one person we know? How can we be so justified in the presence of God when we know friends and loved ones who need reconciled to God?
The key ingredient to bringing mighty Christian revival lies in intercessory prayer. The burden for the lost will grow when we begin interceding for them, standing in the gap between mercy and wrath. God turned Job's suffering when he interceded for his friends (Job 42:10).
2Chronicles 7:14 says God will hear us in our brokenness. He will respond to our genuine repentance. He will answer our intercessory prayers. He will forgive the sins of all and heal the land.
My friends, Christian revival is about the forgiveness of sin for all humanity. It's about the healing and restoration of all things God originally created humanity for. Genuine Christian revival is about Jesus Christ. "For God so loved, he gave... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish."
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."
Let's humble ourselves before God, turn from our iniquity, and begin interceding for the lost souls of our families, our friends, our communities, and our world. Let's begin to proclaim the name of Jesus to a world which is so desperately trying to abolish it. God must respond with genuine Christian revival. He promised it in 2Chronicles 7:14. God bless...
Repentance is the outward action taken based on the inward decision to change. Simply put, repentance requires action based on a decision to change. Today, we will look at genuine repentance as the third requirement for Christian revival.
Let's look at 2Chronicles 7:14 again: "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 (KJV)."
Genuine Godly sorrow leads humanity to repentance. This sorrow usually comes as the result of severe personal trial. We tend to look to a higher source, either for help, or to place blame. When we bring this into the spiritual realm, we begin speaking of revival.
I am baffled when people talk of how great being in the presence of God is. I've heard descriptions ranging from being surrounded by warm goo to sheer terror. It would stand to reason when one stands in the presence of a holy God, lasting change will be the result. Allow me to explain...
One of the most vivid descriptions of being in God's presence is found in Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah is a prophet, a mighty man of God. Surely he was an upright man living in holiness. But listen to his reaction when he was in the presence of the One called Holy:
"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (Isa. 6:5 KJV)."
On our best day, a day where we are sinless (if that's even possible apart from the mercy of God), our righteousness is at best nothing more than filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Genuine repentance is required for revival because we must be willing to turn from our wicked ways (2Chr. 7:14). Turning from our wicked ways requires change.
We're saved. We're covered by the blood of Christ. We're not wicked. Why do we need to repent? If we're that good, then why do we want, or need, revival? We desire the blessing. We desire the holy anointing revival brings. After a few weeks, however, the emotion fizzles and we're still what we were before. This is why genuine Christian revival requires genuine repentance.
Humility, intercessory prayer, and repentance are the three requirements needed to bring genuine Christian revival. Next, we'll put them together into the context of 2Chronicles 7:14. Comments are welcome. God bless...
Is God really going to pour out his wrath on this world? How could a nice, loving, good God be so angry with humanity that he'd destroy it? Does God require repentance?
"Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abomination. (Eze. 7:3 KJV)."
If God didn't spare Israel and Judah, what makes us thing we're privileged to be spared the judgment of an angry God? Let's take this one step farther. If there's no judgment for iniquity, why do we preach salvation in Christ?
We read over and over again of God rendering judgment on humanity throughout the Old Testament. His judgment was swift and decisive. Except for Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives, God wiped out the entire human race because of its sin. What makes us think God won't do the same to us?
It must stand to reason if there's salvation, there must also be judgment. We read throughout the Old Testament of the mercy and longsuffering of God. We will find the first reference to God's longsuffering when Moses receives the second writing of the Ten Commandments from God.
"The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Ex. 34:6-7 KJV)."
This is why Jesus could say these words, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16 KJV)."
That's why Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Pe. 3:9 KJV)."
If there's no punishment for sin, there's no need for salvation. If there's no sin, there's no need for a Savior. Maybe the time has come for Christianity to face the fact sin is sin, and God requires repentance. It's eternity that hangs in the balance. Isaiah cried for weeping, mourning, baldness, and sackcloth (Isa. 22:12). Ezekiel preached to cast away all transgressions and make a new heart (Eze. 18:31). Hosea cried out for repentance (Ho. 14:2). Joel called for fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12).
John the Baptist preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt. 3:2). Jesus said except we repent we will perish (Lu. 13:3). He repeated himself two verses later. Peter called for repentance in Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19. Paul said God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)."
God is merciful. God is gracious. God is longsuffering. But one day, Christ will return. Humanity will be judged for its deeds, good or bad (Acts 17:31). I wonder, who is God waiting for? Who will be the last one to repent? God bless...
"And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers (Neh 9:2 KJV)."
The word separated literally means to divide or separate.The word confessed is what makes this verse interesting. We automatically think repentance when we read this verse. Repentance is applicable here. However, let's dig deeper...
The word confessed comes from the Hebrew root meaning to use the hand, to throw at or away, to revere or worship with extended hands, or to bemoan by wringing the hands. The definition then goes on to list these words:
cast (out)
(make) confess (-ion)
praise
shoot
(give) thank (-ful, -s, -'giving)
Is it possible for confession and repentance to be a form of worship? Today's verse states the "seed of Israel separated themselves." Should we Christians, the grafted seed of Israel, not take the time to separate ourselves from the affairs of this life? Should we not take the time to present ourselves to the living God, extending our hands in worship, confessing our iniquities? What greater form of worship could there be than to acknowledge God is the Savior when we extend ourselves to him in confession and repentance every day? We are acknowledging the sovereignty of God and his power to cleanse us from all sin when we confess our iniquities to Him.
I encourage all to take a moment of time today to separate themselves from the chaos of the day, from the people around you. Get alone with the Creator of everything. Extend your hands to him in surrender, confessing all faults and shortcomings. What greater worship is there than to give your life to the Lord? God bless...
