02
Apr '20
PRAY * FAST * SEEK HIS FACE
02
Apr '20
*2 Chronicles 7: 13-14*
*2Chr. 7:13* At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.
*2Chr. 7:14* Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
*Isaiah 55:7-9*
*Is. 55:6* Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
*Is. 55:7* Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
*Is. 55:8* “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
*Is. 55:9* For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
*2Chr. 7:13* _At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you._
The first thing we need to understand from this passage of scripture is that God is the Sovereign One overall his creation. He does not act randomly or unjustly to his people. This verse teaches us that such acts in the material realm is directly connected to the actions of man.
- He shuts up the heavens so that no rain may fall.
- He commands grasshoppers to devour the crops
- He sends plagues among his people
It is incumbent on us to recognize that the Sovereign Lord has acted in this manner to produce good results. The purpose is to get our attention to recognize our error and quickly repent. Before He decrees these calamities God by His attribute of mercy has beforehand created a solution.
*2Chr. 7:14* _Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land._
*If my people …* God demonstrates ownership
*Called by my name …* His mark is upon our lives
*Humble themselves …* Get real, recognize how finite we are and how infinite our Great God is. There is a fixed principle, He cannot share fellowship with us because of our pride.
God *will* act favorably only if we meet these conditions.
*Humble ourselves* – We cannot pray if we aren’t humble, refuses to hear the proud.
*Pray* – God’s ears are open to the prayers of his people.
*Seek my face* – Be fully convinced in your heart that he is the answer, the way and seek him diligently.
*Turn* – Repent of our lawless actions that have become a lifestyle. Not just to be sorry but broken over our sins.
God promises that He will hear form heaven and forgive us of our sins and heal our lands.