It Starts With Me

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Opening Story

How do I struggle with this?
Did you spring forward last night/this morning? I love any time that brings new beginnings. New Years, spring, Easter, new school year, Christmas.

Question

How do we all struggle with this?
We are going to take a look at a verse today that unfortunately is often taken out of context and just placed in whatever situation because it makes us feel good. Bad idea.
I love encouragment but I get so frustrated with pop culture, good feeling, politically correct, say something with no meaning but sounds good encouragement. Blah!
I want truth grounded in God’s Word encouragment and yes, sometimes, the truth hurts.

Text

What does the Bible say about this?
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This verse was not written for us today and must not be taken out of context but I believe it does have a formula that can be applied to our lives in this very hour.

The setting is at the dedication of David’s temple which Solomon had built. It is God’s Word to Solomon concerning that land in that day. At the dedication Solomon prayed this great prayer which we have seen. Now He remembers the prayers of His people, and He says to Solomon, “If my people, which are called by my name …” To whom is He talking? “My people, which are called by My name.” That is Israel. God is talking to Solomon about Israel.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
“if my people, who are called by my name”
another translation says “who bear my name”
Are you part of God’s family, a Christian, a little Christ?
“Christian” was given to those following “the way” after Christ was crucified and resurrected. It was meant to be derogatory. It will be used that way in our lives today.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
“humble themselves”
the Hebrew definition behind this word is “to submit”
a verb, an ongoing action, to submit to a way higher than our way - God’s Way.
We have an unbelieveable amount of pride in our world today. Our world is crumbling and in Proverbs 16:18 we are told that pride comes before the fall. Coincidence?
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I don’t believe at this time we will spend a lot of time of the word pray. Though, as you follow the verse you see this is instruction to pray repentence, it is not a “bless me” prayer.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
“seek my face”
discover, find, request, search for, call on
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
“turn from their wicked ways”
turn from sin and return to God

Application

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God Word tells us that He will hear our prayers and He will forgive our sin but we can’t continue in our ways and expect change or worse forgiveness from Him.
Repent!

Challenge

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
14 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Bear the name of Christ?
humble - submit
pray - repent
seek - know and listen
turn from wicked ways - stop living in sin
We opened with Amazing Grace now sing with me “How Great Thou Art”
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