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. 2Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
In Part I & 2 of this series we looked at how God can and will at some point pull back His blessings upon a nation who turns their back on Him and refuses to acknowledge Him and follow His ways. We looked at how we as a nation here in the U.S.A. have been richly blessed since our inception following our strong foundational beliefs in God and His Word.
Slowly but surely we have began to slip from these outward professions of our faith and we have taken God from His rightful place of Lord. As a result of our freewill choices we have begin to fall into the grasp of Satan's temptations to seek the world and all that it has to offer. As a direct result of our turning from God we have encountered what I call, "A Spiritual Disaster." We have looked at the first three things that we must do to remedy the spiritual apathy that we are suffering as a Christian Nation--they are:
1. Break up the fallow ground
2. Mourn
3. Pray
The next thing we must do is:
4. Love God's Word
But if I say Ill never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. Its like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I cant do it! Jeremiah 20:9 (NLT)
Q: How should we feel about God's Word?
A: Just as the Prophet Jeremiah did!
Jeremiah said that Gods Word was like a fire in his bones, and that he was worn out trying to hold it in--he couldn't do it. As we read and study the Word of God, it should have the same effect upon us as we want to share it and use it to outline our lives.
5. Love others as Jesus loves them
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)
Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends." (See Jn 15:13) And He said, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment." And the second, like it, is this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (See Mark 12:30, 31). We need to love others as Christ loved us.
6. Share the Gospel
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
It is time for every one of us to take the Great Commission serious and start to introduce other people to Jesus Christ.
7. Rest in peace
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
If we have been faithful to do the things listed above, then we should have complete peace that we have been faithful to do the Will of God. It is tremendously important that we let God be God, and not feel as though it is our responsibility to change every one or every thing in our life. Keep your mind on God, and the things of God, and trust in Him and His sovereignty, and you will be given a perfect peace.
Hey Christian, let us humble ourselves. Let us seek the Lord earnestly in prayer. Let us turn from any and every wicked thing that we may be participating in our lives. God wants to heal us and our land--let's let Him.
STUDY QUESTION: What promise does God make us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and what must we do to ensure His promise to us?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to do these things?
APPLICATION: Take time to seek the Lords face today. Ask Him to show you anything that may be hindering your prayers to Him. Don't compromise your lifestyle based on what society says is acceptable.
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