sf1000 - An Invitation To A God Encounter (2 Chronicles 26 1-5)
Introduction
What do you think is the church’s greatest need?
2 Chronicles 26:1-5; 16-21
Uzziah was a popular and powerful king in Judah. He reigned fifty-two years (792-740 BC). His downfall came when he rebelled against God, and in his pride, usurped the role of the priest.
Following Uzziah’s death, Isaiah realized the spiritual crisis that faced the people of God. Troubled by Israel’s sin, he went to temple to worship. We find his worship experience recorded in Isaiah 6:1-9.
In the temple, Isaiah experienced a fresh encounter with God! Notice what happened…
God revealed His holiness.
Isaiah became dreadfully aware of his sinfulness.
Isaiah confessed his sin in deep repentance.
God forgave Isaiah, removed his guilt, and cleansed him.
God announced that He had a mission for which He needed a messenger.
Isaiah, in his renewed state, quickly volunteered, “Here am I! Send me.”
God commissioned Isaiah to “Go, and tell this people…”
1A. God is at Work
Dark days and desperate times
Every mighty movement of God has been preceded by terrible conditions, a heart cry for revival, and a sweeping movement in united, concerted, extraordinary prayer.
Wickedness and perversions are multiplying.
The problem is not with the darkness but with the light. We face growing spiritual darkness because the light is not shining brightly. Jesus said that we were to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).
God has not forgotten His people.
Isaiah 49:14-16 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me." 15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. 16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
God’s people are praying.
Prayer groups - world-wide
God is moving His people to pray and seek Him and He has promised to hear.
Isaiah 49:8-9 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That You may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' "They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.
2A. God’s Purpose: His Glory
Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. (Westminster Shorter Catechism).
God created you to glorify Him!
Isaiah 43:6-7 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth -- 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
God is most glorified when we love and delight in Him.
Mark 12:29-30 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 'And 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.
We love God because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
We delight in God when He is our one source of joy and pleasure.
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God not only wants individuals to glorify Him, He wants churches to glorify Him.
Love for God will result in love for others.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
3A. Sin Brings Discipline
We tend to depart from God especially in good times.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
When we move out of fellowship with God, He will discipline us.
Hebrews 12:5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
God disciplines us because He loves us.
God’s discipline is an invitation for us to return to Him.
Many Christians and churches have grown so familiar with sin and with living apart from the intimacy with God that they do not realize how far away from Him they are living.
4A. God’s Plumb Line
Amos 7:7-8 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said: "Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.
God holds a plumb line beside His people, so we can see how far we have departed.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa - poor foundation
Our foundation is our love relationship with God - Love equals Obedience.
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
5A. God’s Invitation: Return to Your First Love
Revelation 2:4-7 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
The primary reason we need revival is that we have left our first love - God!
Failure to repent is fatal.
The extent we fail to return, we will miss out on the abundant life God intends for us.
Application
How many of you sense a hunger or need for a fresh encounter with God?
Romans 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do not start this study unless you mean business with God.
God judges much more severely those who sin with knowledge and truth.
1. What are some examples of the evidence you see that our nation is ina moral and spiritual crisis?
2. How close do you sense our nation is to experiencing greater judgment from God for our wickedness?
3. Why is the healing of our nation waiting on the repentance of God’s people?
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin, pride, or impurity in your life, and seek forgiveness and cleansing for all He reveals.
5. Ask the Lord to help you see the condition of our nation, cities, and churches from His perspective. Ask Him to help you feel the grief that He feels.
6. Focus your attention on Jesus with outstretched hands, and thank Him for not forgetting you. Thank Him for saving you.
7. Tell the Lord about your burden for personal and corporate (church) revival. Ask Him to bring you to a fresh encounter with Him this week.