“If my people who are called by my name 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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The following is an excerpt from Dr Charles Stanley’s sermon titled A CALL TO PRAYER on Sunday, November 14, 2011.
“We are living in one of the most dangerous periods in history. We see it every day.
All around the world, crime is on the rise, corruption goes unchecked, and hatred for the things of God swells. With each passing year, entertainment grows more disturbing while sexual immorality runs rampant. In many places, believers are persecuted and even face the possibility of death for their faith. The nation of Israel is opposed on all sides. And here at home, a battle rages for the soul of our country.
“Thankfully, God gives us this promise in His Word: “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, . . .and My eyes and heart will be there perpetually.” (2 Chron. 7:14, 16 NKJV).
Dr Stanley is absolutely correct. Some feel things will only get worse. Others feel the problem stems from the fact that law enforcement personnel are being vilified by certain politicians and various activist groups. Still others believe elected officials contribute to the situation with their negative persuasive language.
Since this seemingly unprecedented lawlessness and violence exhibited today across America show no sign of easing, what can Christians do. Is prayer the answer? It sure is. Nothing else will work. Today, as never before, there is a dire need for prayer. Let’s see what God is saying.
As we focus on our text from 2 Chronicles 7:14, we see a precondition for God to act. There are three things set forth for our prayers to be effective.
Firstly, “If my people . . . humble themselves.” God’s people are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and not the unsaved. God requires His people to be humble. There is no room for pride in a believer’s life. Jesus is our greatest example of humility. Scripture says “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:8).
God hates pride because pride is a sin. The Scripture says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Also, we have this exhortation: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). God warns about the destructive nature of pride. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Secondly, “pray and seek my face.” Prayer is communicating with God. It is a “Godly exercise.” There will always be the ongoing need for earnest prayer. God chose prayer as the means for His people to communicate with Him. Prayer has always worked with God and God will always work through prayer. Prayer is having a relationship with our heavenly Father; thereby discerning more of His will, ways, and purposes. The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Prayer is therefore powerful and very effective. Hence, Christians must pray without ceasing.
Since God created us. “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Therefore, He is fully aware of everything about us. God’s way is through prayer. He knows what, when, and why we need it. To this extent, before we call God will answer, and while we are speaking He is listening (Isaiah 65:24).
Our text says “Pray and seek my face.” This is God’s desire that His children seek His face. Obviously, we can’t see God with our natural eyes. Moses wanted to see God’s face, but God denied his request and said “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Exodus 33:20).
To seek God’s face means approaching His holy and divine presence exclusively in faith. It means as the Scripture says, “You will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). We must turn away from anything that will distract us and give Him our full attention.
David said to God: “You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek” (Psalm 27:8).
Thirdly, “turn from their wicked ways.” The need for repentance. Turning away from that which is dishonoring and displeasing to God and turning towards Him. And here’s God’s response: “then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Christians can rest in the full assurance that when we accept and believe God’s Word, our prayers will be answered. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things you have not known.”
God can be trusted to keep His promises. He cannot fail, because He has pledged HIs word. However, God will not do what He requires of us to do for ourselves.. For example, our responsibility is to “turn from your wicked ways.” God will not do so for us. It also means being obedient to our heavenly Father.
Let us follow how King David prayed. He said “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). David sought the Lord. The Lord did not seek David but He answered David’s prayer. In another of David’s prayers, he said to God; “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words” (Psalm 17:6).
When God’s people “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” Let us be obedient to God’s word. Our prayers will be answered.