Time to Pray

 

Scripture Text

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

Intro: This Thursday May 2^nd is National Day of Prayer. If there was ever a time to pray for our nation, it is now. I believe all Christians should benhristians have been lax in prayer for our nation. We have the most powerful force accessible to mankind in the form of prayer. It’s time to put this most powerful force of prayer to work by using our faith in God that He will bring revival to our nation when we pray. We prove our love and faith in God by the time we spend in prayer. Much prayer means much faith. Little prayer, little faith!

I. God’s judgment comes when a nation turns it's back on God. 2 Chronicles 7:13 (NLT) 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.

a. Judgment comes in different forms. We see God’s judgment beginning in our nation right now. The extreme weather conditions, riots, same sex marriage, abortion, division, transgender perversion, plagues, fake news, and political unrest.

b. Purpose of God’s judgments. To turn people back to Him. God promised Solomon that if His judgment came, they need only turn to the Lord in earnest humility and repentance and they would find forgiveness and restoration. So will we in America if we turn!

II. God’s promise is conditional. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

a. If My people who are called by My name. The stipulation for God’s promise is faith in action. If we who are God’s people do not call on Him, there will be no prayers for God to answer. It is time to pray. We have no one to blame but us. Just complaining and griping will change nothing. He commands us to pray!

III. The actions needed according to verse 14.

a. God’s people must humble themselves. Humble means to be respectful: not proud or arrogant. The source of all of our problems is pride. We think we know better than God what will make us happy. It’s that pride that causes us to be disconnected from God on a personal level, a church level, and a national level. We the people cannot save ourselves. Neither can any government or body of governments such as the U.N.

b. God’s people must pray with persistence. Prayer is spiritual communication with God. It is talking to Him. We must pray continually for revival. Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) Continue) earnestly in prayer, being vigilant (watchful) in it with thanksgiving; Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. God wants us to pray and refuse to give up. We sometimes give up too soon. That’s why we don’t see answers. That’s why America doesn’t see the widespread healing of the land the Bible talks about in this verse.                                      

c. Go        c. God's people are to seek His face. This means a serious setting of our mind and focus on Him. We don’t just seek God in your spare moments. We are not to be overly focused about the things of earth, but look to God & His word. God doesn’t want to be in second place. He wants to be our passion, an active part of our lives. If God is going to bring healing to our country, our churches have to be full of people truly putting God first in our lives and seeking his face in sincere prayer.

d. God’s people must turn from their wicked ways. Literally, turn from means to change your mind, to change how you think. To turn from the way you are going that God is not pleased with. Who here hasn’t found themselves straying far from God at some point in your life? God is not talking to sinners but His people. America is in deep trouble right now. If God is going to judge America, he’ll start with us. He’ll start with his people. National healing will also start with us. America will not be healed because we passed a certain law. Healing won’t happen because we elect the right people to government positions. When we repent, we change the way we think about ourselves and God. We change the way we think about our values, other people, our past, our present, and our future.

IV. God’s promise.

a. God will hear our prayers and petitions from Heaven. (v:14b) Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

b. God will forgive our sin. Sin is the problem in America today. When we meet the conditions that God has laid out for us, He will keep His promise to forgive us of our sins. God will heal our land. God can and will turn this nation around if we do what He says.

Conclusion: If we don’t like what is going on in America, then we must seek God in prayer. This Thursday May 2^nd is National Day of Prayer. Will you join me to pray for America? Will you put your faith to work and pledge to pray for our nation?

INVITATION: Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? If not now is the proper time to do that. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins against God and invite Him into your life to take charge of you and help you to live for Him! Ask Him to help you be faithful to pray!

The Love of Jesus

Intro: As we have just celebrated Easter, we thank Jesus for His love toward us. We must never forget what He has done for us so we will remain humble before Him.

I. Jesus' love for us compelled Him to leave heaven. John 1:1-3 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. This scripture tells us that Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, was with Him in the beginning of the world and that through Jesus everything was made and without Him nothing was made that was made. Jesus was there with the Father experiencing all the joys of heaven and worship of angels. Then God’s word says that Jesus, because of His love for us, left the glories of Heaven and came to this earth. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. God gave His law thru Moses, but God's grace and truth came thru Jesus Christ. Luke 19:10 tells us the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." We were eternally lost till Jesus came to save us. Oh, how Jesus loves you and me.

II. Jesus in His love for us removed the penalty for our sin. Phil. 2:7-8 tells us that Jesus took on the body of a human and humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He did that for one purpose, and that was to save mankind from the penalty of their sins and restore fallen man's relationship with God the Father. At the beginning of creation Adam sinned by disobeying God and all mankind came under God’s curse. Romans 5:12 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. This scripture tells us we are all guilty before God and deserve His punishment. Jesus knew He would have to come to our rescue or we would all be eternally lost! Romans 5:18-21 (NLT)¹⁸  Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.¹⁹  Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.²⁰  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.²¹  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus lived a righteous, perfect life and always obeyed God. In His love for us, Jesus died a sacrificial death for all mankind on the cross of Calvary, and by the shedding of His precious perfect blood, He redeemed mankind from the penalty of his sins. When someone in faith believes in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross, he is forgiven all his sins and saved for all eternity. May we never forget this act of love!

III. Jesus' in His love for us has brought us peace with God. Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) ¹  Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ²  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we have peace with God. We are no longer His enemies, but we are now His children. We stand in God’s grace, and the outcome of our lives is secure in his hands. We no longer need to be haunted by thoughts of God's judgment; now we can reflect upon and respond to his grace, looking forward to sharing in God's glory forever. Anticipating our future with God ought to bring us great joy. We remember Christ's love for us as we celebrate His victory for us over Satan, sin, hell and the flesh. We are no longer under God's condemnation, our future is secure, thanks to the love of Christ.

Invitation: If you have never received the free gift of grace that God offers through Jesus Christ, now is the perfect time. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ so no one can ever boast about their salvation. You simply confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life. That's how simple salvation is.