This is an excerpt from one of my messages:
Our text is from 2Chron.7:14– 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.
This verse is one of the verses in scripture that is full of mercy, hope, change and revival and could be of a great benefit to individuals, group of people, communities, cities, nations and even the world around us in general. In the earlier chapter, King Solomon whom had just became a king, at the dedication of the newly built temple, he made a long prayer to God in 2Chron.6:12-42, asking God not to abandon His people . And in response to his prayers God appeared the second-time to him and gave him this ‘secret’ wonderful promise that is not just applicable to Isreal only but also for all God’s people and races throughout the ages.
The verse starts with the word ‘if ‘, which is a conditional word-meaning except something is done, a particular condition or result will not manifest. That’s to say God expect us to fulfill certain conditions if we want to experience change and revival in our lives. What are the conditions?Just three(3) simple conditions are stated and when we fulfill this condition God will also fulfill His three(3)functions which therefore results in revival.
Who are to pay the prize? You and I, the people of God. 1Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. ”If My people”says God,God is not expecting those who are not is people to fulfill this conditions but His people.The revival of our cities and Nations lies in the people of God, we are to be blamed for the decay prevalent in our society today.We have refused to rise up to the challenge of the hour to meet the conditions necessary for revival to occur and see huge numbers of people brought into the Kingdom of our God (one resultant effect of revival).
Looking around us,we shall see the urgent need of revival in our time,indeed we are living in the last days, with most people losing focus on God, with sin and ungodliness increasing, sinners everywhere heading to hell, lukewarmness, prayerlessness and laziness in the church, believers sleeping and slumbling spiritually.
why is it that 2Chron.7:14 mentioned ‘humble themselves’ as first criteria for revival?And I guess it’s because God has nothing to do with the proud but rather to resist them.Peter says that God ‘resisted the proud but giveth more grace to the humble’ (1pet.5:5b).It takes a humble man/woman to admit his/her faults before God and ask for His pardon through prayer.
If we really need revival,we must do away with pride in all ramification,be it as a pastor puts it,”’pride of family,pride of finance and accomplishment,pride of material possessions,pride of nationality,pride of employment and position,pride of religion affiliation,pride of knowledge and education” then we can be on the first ladder to revival.
Let me use this opportunity to sound this word the LORD gave me sometime ago,He said ”warn My people of pride,for many have allowed that cancerous thing into their hearts,I’m not pleased with them”. The Lord sees pride as a cancer and the Bible is full of stories,of how God dealt with proud people.If humility is the highest virtue then pride should be the greatest sin.The devil was cast out of heaven because of pride,how do you think God will now accommodate anyone who’s proud.
To be Continue
travail2prevail 