What IF?  A Good Question???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #266

I am among those who are earnestly praying for revival, and I know only God can send it.  Yet God set out some parameters for restoration, forgiveness and healing.  And I’d like to share a few brief thoughts on this very thing from a verse that many know, and hopefully I can shed some light on it that we may consider the truth of where we really are and what we need to do!

IF: a supposition; uncertain possibility… a condition, requirement, or stipulation…

Keep this in mind as we consider God’s promise to Solomon.

“Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD,

and the king’s house:

and all that came into Solomon’s heart

to make in the house of the LORD,

and in his own house,

he prosperously effected.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

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.”  2 Chronicles 7:11-14

I want to simply make a few comments on things that we so often miss in this passage, and may we draw near to God, willing to do the things that will lead us to real revival from God.

First and foremost is that great big “if”!  This is a term of condition—God is saying that there are some things that are expected from “my people”, those who are “called by my name”!  God isn’t talking to the world, but to those who claim His name and are truly His children.  As I so often remind us, Jesus told us in Matthew 7 that in the day of judgment there will be those who “say Lord, Lord”, yet He will tell them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  So, it seems to me that God is talking about those who have truly been born again, by responding to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—your sin and mine!

God goes on to tell us what it is that His people need to do.

Humble themselves—

to bow before God to ask Him as thePsalmist prayed, “search me O God…know my heart…. try me…see if there be any wicked way in me…lead me..”  Recognize that God is right, and I need to adjust to His way, not the other way around.

       Pray—

to truly pursue intimate, concerted, conversation with God.  Not just a check-off list, but truly an earnest and open communion with God The Father, and Jesus The Son, seeking His will for me, my family, and the culture in which I live.

       Seek MY Face—

to keep our eyes on Jesus, and desire toknow Him better through His Word—the love letter that God has written that we might be “approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth…”!  The Word of God is to be our daily bread, that as Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:12

As we take these things into our heart and mind, may we will be able, ready and willing to complete this quartet from God’s Word.

Turn from their wicked ways—

even we who are God’s Own, often fail and fall for the lies of the devil.  We live in a culture that not only fails to keep God’s commands and His Word, but is blatantly guilty of doing as Isaiah said,

“Woe unto them that call evil

good,

and good

evil;

that put darkness

for light,

 and light

for darkness;

that put bitter

for sweet,

and sweet

for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

Only when we understand and are willing to hear God’s truth and yield to His demands, will we have any hope of seeing revival.  May we truly humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our own sin!  Oh, Father, hear our prayer and bring us to repentance that we might see you revive and heal our land.

Amen and Amen!!!