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II Chronicles 7: 14 “If my people, who are
called by name, will 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.” (NIV)
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He could have chosen to evangelize the world and demonstrate His power through many means. But instead He chose to do most of His work when and only when His people pray.* |
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Contrary to popular belief, this verse is not an anthem for the restoration of America’s greatness. The Israelites, not Americans, were God’s chosen people. It is a promise to them at a particular time in history; however, as with other specific promises in scripture, we can mine this one for some nuggets of gold for those who are called by God’s name today.
Notice that God’s promise is conditional. If we are going to claim it, we have certain responsibilities:
1. Humble ourselves
2. Pray
3. Seek his face
4. Repent
There are no shortcuts. Someone has described this list as “four facets of one attitude.”* If you leave out one step, you void the whole contract.
So how do we know that God’s part of the bargain can also apply to us?
1. I John 5: 14, 15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
2. Acts 13: 38 “‘Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.’”
3. I Peter 2: 24 “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”
No, this is not a promise that God will restore our land to its former greatness, but who knows what can be accomplished when God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek his face and repent?
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How can we save our nation? By bringing salvation to its people.* |
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