Focus On God: May 2019

Friday, May 3, 2019

IF MY PEOPLE WILL … Part 2

BARBARA E. PERKINS

IF MY PEOPLE WILL …

Part 2

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) the word of God declares, in this familiar Scripture, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” As we examine the principles of this Scripture, in careful introspection, are we cooperating with God? Or, are we a hindrance to the move of God in our lives? Hebrews 4:2-3 says it this way, “2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; BUT THE WORD WHICH THEY HEARD DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THOSE WHO HEARD IT. 3 FOR WE WHO HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER THAT REST…” God said, when we meet the four conditions/principles of 2 Chronicles 7:14 (BEING HUMBLE, PRAYING, SEEKING GOD and TURNING FROM SIN), He would follow through on His terms in the following 3 provisions: HEAR OUR PRAYERS, FORGIVE US and HEAL OUR LAND. Our land desperately needs to be healed. We are waiting on God to do something. IS GOD WAITING ON US? CAN GOD SEE OUR HUMILITY? CAN GOD SEE US PRAYING? Are we praying for the leaders of our nation, the Body of Christ, our citizens, world leaders and immigrants? ARE WE PRAYING FOR OUR OWN FAMILIES EVERYDAY? OR, ARE WE LEAVING THEM TO CHANCE? Remember 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” ARE WE SEEKING GOD’S FACE—HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS? ARE WE CHOOSING TO TURN FROM SIN? God’s word says, confess our sins to Him, He forgives (1 John 1:9-10). We have constant assurance that God can be trusted. In Numbers 23:19, God’s word says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Hebrews 6:18 also confirms God’s faithfulness declaring He cannot lie. We can count on God, but can He count on us? When God says, If my people will… As in 2 Chronicles 7:14, He is expecting us to obey His word and He has wonderful plans for our lives. Praise the LORD for His loving kindness! Now, will we be HUMBLE, PRAY, SEEK GOD, and TURN FROM SIN; so that He will heal our nation with all of its issues and yours as well?

Would you like to be saved and develop a relationship with God as your Heavenly Father? If you would really like to know God, invite His Son, Jesus Christ, into your heart. Please pray this prayer: Dear God, please forgive me of my sins. I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died on the cross, shed His blood, and rose from the grave for my salvation. I confess Jesus right now as my Savior and Lord. God fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can live a life that pleases You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen! If you prayed this prayer and meant it, based on Roman 10:9-10, you are saved. Welcome into God’s Family!

IF MY PEOPLE WILL … Part 1

BARBARA E. PERKINS

IF MY PEOPLE WILL …

Part 1

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) the word of God, in this very familiar Scripture, declares emphatically, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Almighty God, with all of His power and authority gave us assurance of what He could do and would do for us to take care of us. He is the One Who said in the beginning (Genesis 1:5), “Let there be light,” and it appeared. Then God said, “Let there be a firmament,” and it appeared. “Then God said (Genesis 1:11), “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.” One of the crowning events of Almighty God’s power and authority is demonstrated in in Genesis 1:26-28, “26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” THESE FEW SCRIPTURES VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATE THE AWESOME POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND WHAT HE SAID, HE WILL DO. God said, “IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL…

1. HUMBLE THEMSELVES

2. PRAY

3. SEEK MY FACE

4. TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS

GOD DECLARES, THEN I WILL…

5. HEAR FROM HEAVEN

6. WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN

7. HEAL THEIR LAND.

Our land desperately needs the healing power of God. Almighty God says He will heal our land IF... SO, WHICH OF THESE FOUR (#1-4) PRINCIPLES ARE WE FORGETTING TO DO?