Tag: Pray

The Fall of Christianity in America

THE BIG “IF”

II Chronicles 7:11-16 – Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Just recently a group of students from a catholic school were kicked out of the Smithsonian air and space museum in Washington DC.  Their crime – they all had hats that said pro-life on them. “ They were told they could not wear them in the museum. I applaud them for standing firm and refusing, even in the face of being kicked out, they refuse to compromise on the issue.  My friends, America is in trouble. In Nebraska, a state senator is introducing a bill that would “BAN” kids under 19 from attending Sunday School and Vacation Bible school – The reason, it indoctrinates children and leads to child abuse. 

  1. Note: This command was to be carried out in the HOUSE OF GOD.
  2. His house is to be a place of sacrifice, not a place of comfort.
  3. NOTE; God sends the pestilence – It is often to rebuke the sinfulness of His people
  4. The solution begins with IF.
    a. Humble– to be subdued, be brought down, be low, be under, be brought into subjection
    b. Pray – Not to just ask, but here to intercede
    c. Seek – to seek, require, desire, exact, request
    d. My face – Desire His presence
    e. Turn – To return, to turn back.
    f. Wicked ways – Evil, displeasing.
    g. Then –
  • I will hear – to hear with the intent to give attention too.
  • I will forgive – pardon.
  • I will heal – to make healthy.

II Corinthians 5:17-21 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Our standing in Christ

  1. We are made new.
    a. That means the old ways are to be forsaken.
    b. That means our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and love change.
  2. All things now are of God – we now live Godly in Christ

II Timothy 3:10-17 –  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We have been given THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION – the restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ
Ephesians 6:19-20 - And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Acts 1:16-18 –   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

He hath been made SIN FOR US.

  • He knew no sin.
  • He took my sin on Himself.
  • The Father looked a Jesus as if He were me.
  • The Father looked at me as if I were Jesus.
  • We have been given His righteousness

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 8:1-4 –   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 10:3-4 3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Are you and I willing to do the “IF” part? -If my people!!!!!

WHAT ARE WE TO DO DURING THIS TROUBLING TIME?

II Chronicles 7:13-15  

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;   If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

I believe we should be doing something that can change America and bring back God’s blessings upon America again.  I do not think we should be focused on “Make America Great again, but instead our focus should be on God Bless America Again.  God, I believe is removing His hand of blessing off this country and I believe it is the fault of the church, not the government.  Let us look at these verses today and do some examination of the heartbeat of the church in America today.

First consider what is happening in the world today:

  1. Wildfires in Australia and no rain to help put them out
  2. Locust in Africa eating all their crops and they are now in a second go round and they say it is 20 times larger than the first.
  3. Covid-19, a worldwide pandemic that has many “Christians” scared to go out.
  4. Widespread unemployment and people losing their businesses and their jobs
  5. A projected food shortage even here in America
  6. Politician threatening the Jewish and Christian communities to comply or go to jail
  7. A record high number of earthquakes
  8. Politicians who are mocking Christians and saying they hope we get the virus and die
And the list goes on.

Let us take a hard look at this now

  1. God said he would shut-up the rain
  2. God said he would send the locust
  3. God said he would send pestilence
  4. God gives a formula for the healing of the land

If my people who are called by my name – We are the people of God if we are born again

John 1:11-14

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

If my people will humble themselves –

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

If my people will pray –

Isaiah 56:7 

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Jeremiah 7:11

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

If my people will seek His face

Isaiah 55:6-7

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:   Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Psalm 93:3-7

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  The sea is his, and  he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.  For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

If my people will turn away from wickedness

  • What culture has the church adopted?
  • Are churches still preaching and teaching the word of God?
  • Do people seek out churches because of the social and entertaining value, or because of the teaching and preaching on “thus saith the Lord”?

If my people will repent

  1. To repent means first, to admit we have strayed away from His word.
  2. To repent means to return to what we know to be right.
  3. To repent means we need to return to our first love.
Revelation 2:2-4

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:   And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love

Then He will hear

I John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him

Then He will answer

He is bound by his word –

It is impossible for Him to lie

Hebrews 6:18 

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Then He will forgive  

Forgiveness means total restoration
Forgiveness means all our sin has been removed –
Forgiveness means all our sins are forgotten
Hebrews 8: 12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Then He will heal –

Psalms 103:1-3

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

he healeth all, but we have seen His requirement

NOTE verse 15-16: NOW –

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.