1 The Call to Pray for our Nation July 1, 2018 2 Chron 7:13-15 13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place NIV Last week we started a new series on the Parables this week we are going to hit the pause button on the series. As we approach Independence Day I want you to consider with me now dependent up God we are as a nation and how desperately we need to call on him today. The founding fathers and framers of this nation understood this 3 years later after the declaration of Independence while attempting to write establish the constitution the delegates reach and impasse and many where threating to leave the meeting. After remaining silent and listen Benjamin Franklin rose and the following are some of the words he spoke that day: I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truththat God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service. Now let s consider our text this morning if this nation (or any other) is to survive and thrive it will be because the Lord builds the house and his hand rests upon it. We like Israel of Solomon s day need to following God s direction and Call on Him. Notice First that God says for a nation to be turned around
2 I. My people who are called by my name (2 Chron. 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name Notice the person and the qualifications of the persons, it is. a. Not political parties, or the media or entertainment industries We are mistaken when we think that the answer for the critical problems the insurmountable issues of peoples and nation faces have their solutions apart from God! The answer for America is neither democratic or republican, it is neither Fox, NBC, CBS, or ABC News It will only be found in the Good News of this book God s Word. Isa 31:1,3 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord. 3 But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. Trusting in and relying on men instead of God is idolatrous to God Someone said, economists trust market and economic forces, militarialists trust their weapons and machines of war, and the leader of Jerusalem trusted in the might of Egypt. How much better to have the heart of the Psalmist in Psalm 20:7: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. It is absurd to think the people who are not transformed by the power of the Spirit and God s grace will call on Him so it follows that b. We the people The Church whose called by his name It s high time for God s people, the Church to recognize their high and holy calling. God says 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. NIV
3 What is it that the Priests did? The Priest s offered the sacrifices and made intercession for the people! So, it is clear that we the people It is US who God is waiting to hear from. "If My people" -- the Church; we can't wait for the political establishment or educational leaders or the entertainment industry to lead the effort. We, who are believers in Jesus Christ, must take responsibility to change the society in which we live into one that honors God and is, therefore, worthy of His blessing. Once the "who" is established the "what" becomes the focus (Tony Perkins) The text says then for a nation to be turned around II. My people must Humble themselves (2 Chron. 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves a. Hebrew- kana means to bow the knee The great preacher Dr. Harry Ironside was once convicted about his lack of humility. A friend recommended as a remedy, that he march through the streets of Chicago wearing a sandwich board, shouting the scripture verses on the board for all to hear. Dr. Ironside agreed to this venture and when he returned to his study and removed the board, he said "I ll bet there s not another man in town who would do that. (Daniel, Decoder of Dreams, Donald Campbell, p. 22.) None are as empty as those who are full of themselves. - Benjamin Whichcote So, what is humility, and what makes humble people different? Humility is the absence of self in all we think, do or say. When someone appears before a king they bow the knee is an outward sign that some is in the presence of someone greater who holds great power. When I visited Israel in the early 70 s one of the places we visited was the Bethlehem and the cave thought to be the site of the Saviors birth. As with many places in the Holy Land a church has been built over the cave. What s fascinating is the entrance to this Church has a door that people must pass through single file and is so low that one must stoop to enter. This was to prevent medieval raiders from riding their horses into the church to disrupt the service. The door is called, "The Humility Gate." In reminds us that the way into God s presence is only through the Humility Gate. The truth of this is seen when God s people humble themselves b. Before God and Men
4 Do you remember the story Jesus told in Luke 19:9-14 of the Pharisee and the tax collector? (He told it because people had become confident in their own righteousness.) All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. However, too few of us have a routine practice of rigorous self-honesty examination. (Prayer & Fasting!!!) We must Weekly, even daily, review of our hearts and behaviors, coupled with confession to God, is an essential practice of humility. The third what of the text for a nation to be turned around is for III. My People Must Seek My Face (2 Chron. 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face a. In Relationship Have you ever considered the difference in seeking God s face and his hand? One seeks God for what he can do and the other seeks God for who he is! Clearly here in our text God is speaking of seeking him for who he is, that is a relationship with him and for what he can do for me. I m reminded of Peter s revelation of Simon the Sorcerers heart in Acts chapter 8. The scripture reveals that Simon was following Jesus and seeking God s hand and not his face. He was only interested in power and not a true relationship. with Acts 8:18-23 (NLT) 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 "Let me have this power, too," he exclaimed, "so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!" 20 But Peter replied, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin." b. In Intercession Remember we just minutes ago we were reminded that we have a calling as priesthood of believers to be intercessors
5 Ever heard of the Cane Ridge Revival? This was 1801. The United States was barely 25 years old, and Kentucky had just joined the Union less than 10 years earlier. The new nation was quickly growing as more and more people continued to venture West. The days of Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening had already begun to fade as the U.S. expanded. Once again the moral foundations America once knew were slowly eroding. Churches were few and far in this vast land. As people moved farther and farther away from their churches, they began to forsake the Lord. This was the wild frontier, where the only rule of law was a gun or a rope. It was a time when wickedness abounded and very few people professed real faith. It was a spiritually dark time for America. Yet in dark times, the light of the gospel shines brightest. The fire that fell in Cane Ridge sparked a movement. Revival spread across the American frontier like wild fire driven by a stiff wind through the dry brush. In the years following, there was an exponential explosion of church planting. Similar camp meetings were organized in several states. Though none ever matched the attendance of the original meeting at Cane Ridge, the effect was undeniable. America was once again awakened! I'm certain there are many who wonder if it is possible for God to move again in such a powerful way. They have concluded that America is too far gone to experience another great awakening. Cane Ridge shows otherwise. This revival that took place 215 years ago offers us great hope today. Look back at what God did and let it bring you to the revelation that He can and will do it again! https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/from-the-frontlines/58270-why-the-cane-ridge-revival-holds-prophetic-hopefor-america-s-third-great-awakening Play Video An Independence Day Prayer for America Finally, the text reveals for a nation to be turned around... IV. My People Must Turn from Wicked Ways (2 Chron. 7:14) 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. a. Recognize the sinfulness of sin Not our neighbors but ours No excuses but a woe is me Isa. A spade is a spade quit calling it by a different name! b. Realize the entanglements of sin It inhibits it constrains holds captive Conclusion: Call 2 Fall before him urge everyone to come to the altar
6