How To Get Things Turned Around
Notes
Transcript
2 chronicles 7:13-14
2 chronicles 7:13-14
2 Chronicles 7:13–14 (ESV)
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 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.
Intro
Intro
His father would have been so proud. David’s son Solomon has done what his father couldn’t do. A temple for the Lord has been built. David set everything up and left everything in order before he died. The equipment, the workers and the finances were lined up ready to be used at Solomon’s command.
The house of the Lord is built, Solomon leads Israel in a prayer of dedication for the temple and God answers by fire and consumes the sacrifices offered on the altar. That night everyone goes home supposing God had stopped talking. However, that night God interrupts Solomon’s sleep and gives him some just in case instructions.
I know things are on the up & up now, prosperity runs rampart now, careers are blooming now, marriage is fruitful now, people are joyful & content now.
But just in case, heaven is shut up, rain refuses to fall, locust devour the land & sickness begins to erode the body, just in case you find yourself in a State of Emergency, I got some divine instructions for ya!
I thank God , that whatever He puts us in, He always gives us instructions on how to get through it.
I said whatever HE puts us in
V13 every calamity is preceded by an I. That means the one talking is the same 1 moving on ya!
God’s example of a just in case state of emergency is cast with Him being the instigator.
Why would God put His people in such predicaments? I mean why would God prevent rain, send locust & dispatch sickness on His own people?
My friends, in chapter 6:24-39 Solomon prays a just in case prayer. He asks God for future deliverance, just in case the people sinned against God.
V13 is God acknowledging the fact that He won’t put up with sin.
As N.T. believers we know that God has already dealt with our sin through Christ. Today God’s not a punisher, He’s a lover!
But we still do some foolish things and the enemy is still shooting his arrows. The combination of satanic arrows & foolish living, can put us all congregationally & individually in a State of Emergency!
Life has a way rather if it’s by foolish living or satanic arrows, of making you desperate for divine help.
2Chron 7:14 means nothing until you get desperate
Just another sermon, Just another day at the office & before bed prayer, but when you’re desperate for divine help and life has put you in a State of Emergency, 2Chron 7:14 can be you’re survival kit & life line!
In a State of Emergency it is critical that we understand that we’re still God’s people.
(If my people..)
This gives us faith that we will be taken care of. Your present situation doesn’t take away your eternal identification.
“I’ve done some foolish things, I’m being attacked by the enemies camp, but I’m still a child of God”
No matter what you are Peter 2:9…
1. Monitor Our Position
1. Monitor Our Position
Hence the phrase humble themselves. To humble means to be brought down, but the fact that it’s tagged with the word themselves means it’s a voluntary act. We’ve got to come down ourselves.
In context I believe God is saying if my people come down off of the high horse of self sufficiency.
You know Israel had hearts of stone, necks that were stiff, they were a people with a stubborn will. God says if you wanna get this turned around you got to come down!
I know you got thoughts….
I know you got ways….
After all it was your thoughts & ways that you in this mess in the 1st place.
Church we can’t win the battle on the high horse of self sufficiency
Can’t weather the storm –
We’ve got to come down, lay on the cross of humility and live life God’s way, if we want to turn things around!
2. Manage Our Pursuits
2. Manage Our Pursuits
When you’re trapped & in a State of ER, after you come down you’ve got to make a phone call! Got to call on somebody who can come see about ya.
Call on somebody who’s licensed to rescue you!
· When a dog is afflicted they call on the VET
· When a monkey has wondered off grounds they call on the zookeeper
· When a local resident is in danger they call the police department
· When a house is burning down they call for the firefighter
But when believers are in trouble, we call on & pursue Jesus!
God says Pray!
· We ought to always pray & not faint
· Pray without ceasing
· Pray everywhere with lifted hands
· Jesus said when you pray say our father…
Seek my face: keep calling him up, God said I aint got no problem with you calling me more than once!
Before you call poke call Jesus
Ray Ray, bank, Dec, Mo, Pastor
His line is never busy, Call him up & He always answers.
ICM CALL BACK!
Pray & seek my face!
It’s a violent pursuit with breakthrough intentions
It’s a desperate cry followed by a faithful reach
Well what does pray & seek my face look like in real time?
It look like Hanna-
It looks like Paul & Silas
No it looks like Jesus-
When you’re in a State of ER, after you come down, you got to call him up!
3. Modify Our Passions
3. Modify Our Passions
Wicked- disagreeable
Turning from those things that are disagreeable to God’s word. Your ways & God’s word ought to agree!
I’ve discovered that if you don’t turn from wicked ways, wicked ways will turn on you. I can prove it.
A. Jezhabell had wicked ways…
B. Herod had wicked ways
C. Judas
On the flipside, turning from wicked ways will attract the blessings of God in your life!
Jacob- Made him Israel
Paul had some wicked ways- Turned a Percecutor into a preacher
Zacheeus- Host for the Messiah
When your life is in a State of ER, you got to turn from wicked ways
Eliminate wicked attitudes
Throw away wicked dispositions
Tow away wicked mindsets
Drive away wicked people in your circle
Hide away the word in your heart
Find away to serve the Lord with all your might!
If my people….
Conclusion***
Conclusion***
The text clearly teaches that IF we make the transition, God WILL make the difference! The gamble is on our end, IF.
The guarantee is on his end, THEN WILL I.
He says when we come down, call him up & make the turn. I will do 3 essential things:
1. Hear from heaven- listen with an intent of obeying- Ask what you will
2. Forgive your sin- you don’t have to worry about your mistakes, I got you covered. He’s got NT believers covered in the blood of His Son.
3. Heal the land- I know the locust ate ya crops. Ima give you new crops. I know the enemy ate ya joy, peace, pwr.
In a State of ER, if you do your part, God will rescue you! 2,000 yrs ago…
