Sermon Title: Heal The Land Wednesday August 10, 2022 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 “Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 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. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 NLT Humble - THEMSELVES - God’s people must recognize their failures, manifest sorrow for their sin (unbelief), and renew their commitment to do God’s will. Ps.103:1-3- Bless the LORD, O my souls: and all that Is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases Pray- God’s people must cry out to Him in desperation for mercury and must completely depend upon Him and trust Him for His intervention. The prayer must be sincere and sustained until God answers from heaven (Jas.5:17-18) Seek- (my face) - God’s people must diligently turn to God with the whole heart and long for His presence - and not just try to escape from adversity Turn- (from their wicked ways) - God’s people must genuinely repent by turning from specific sins and all forms of idolatry, renounce conformity to the world, and draw near to God for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. The sin we all can share in is unbelief…..at one point there is unbelief found….doubt, fear, etc. Heb.4:6(TPT) - Those who first heard the good news of deliverance failed to enter into that realm of faith’s rest because of their unbelieving hearts. Yet the fact remains that we still have the opportunity to enter into the faith-rest life and experience the fulfillment of the promise! Repentance or returning has a specific meaning in Scripture and is clearly outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people, who are bear my name, Will humble themselves, Pray, seek my face and to Turn from their evil ways I will hear from heaven, Forgive their sin and Heal their land, The people were to show humility And respect before HaShem (the Name) To go after him and turn from evil ways. The act of repentance requires not only humility in prayer, but an actual change of behavior The Jewish perspective, to “repent” means to return to following the Torah in humility and respect AS A RESULT - GOD WILL HEAR - attentive to our prayer and answer FORGIVE - cleanse his people from their sins, and restore His favor, presence, peace, truth, righteousness, and power among them 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 HEAL - God will heal His people and their land by pouring out physical favor and blessing and the Holy Spirit ( there will be a spiritual awakening among the covenant people and among the spiritually lost. Ps.51:12-13 (TPT) Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say. Then I can show other guilty ones how loving and merciful you are. They will find their way back home to you, knowing that you will forgive them.
