Topic: Unsurrendered
Title: What Is Going On?
2nd Chronicles chapter 7 and verse 14 (from the New International Version)
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.
The bible has many examples of the punishments God dealt with his people due to moral decline. Losing faith (spiritual concern for self and others) in the scriptures had dire consequences. Many of these included continuous droughts, plagues or pandemics, low trade causing the fall of kingdoms, and God withholding his blessings from his people.
Even in all of the trouble, he passes us through, he still promises to listen, offer advice, or intervene! The solution is available to all those who are humble before His presence, prayerful, seek the Lord and shun from sinful activities/behavior.
To bring about change, spiritual growth, and restoration, better focus and purpose and get back God’s blessings, as a believer, you have to:
Be Humble before His Presence
Becoming humble in the presence of God means accepting that we are spiritually poor. It means that we acknowledge the undying need for the Lord’s Love and Mercy upon our lives. To do so, God’s people need to see their failures and grieve over sinful natures. At the same time, we must commit to the Lord’s plan, purpose, and His desires.
Prayerful
Nothing works without prayer. Calling upon the Lord should be a desperate practice. Place complete trust upon him and wait on Him for Mercy. Let Him help. Talk to him through prayer and cleanse your heart of all troubles. Keep calling on Him as he says and He will respond.
Seek the Lord
Seek the Lord’s presence with a passion. Everyone must turn back towards the Lord. Avoid impersonal reasons like wanting blessings or avoiding disasters whenever you seek the Lord. Seek Him as a way to let His will upon you.
Shun from Sin
Leaving sinful habits and make a complete turnaround. Ask for forgiveness for not following God’s will and resisting his purpose in our lives. Forgiveness requires complete confession, leaving behind your sinful nature and making God your priority. Forsake everything that has become first other than God.
Shunning from sin also translates to depending on the Lord and upon His Mercy. Believing in His forgiveness and upon spiritual cleansing always. People who believe in the Lord no matter the situation including spiritual rebellion throughout the nation should always pray for strength and spiritual revival for people all over that nation. Through the few that are faithful, all others will follow suit in Jesus Name
Then I will 1) Heal, 2) Forgive, 3) Heal
After meeting all of the conditions set, then God will reveal his promise and it will be fulfilled.
God’s anger will fade away. In its stead, He will lend an ear to His people and hear their cries (prayers). This is evident through the simple answers to your prayers, compassion, and responses His followers receive.
Second, God will spiritually cleanse and forgive those that are His. To them, he will re-establish his presence and they will earn His favor. Power, truthfulness, and peace will reign amongst them.
Lastly, God will ensure spiritual healing. To those without knowledge of His existence, He will bring down the Holy Spirit to convey their awakening and spiritual salvation. Their lands will gain his blessing and rain will pour (physical blessings).
Unsurrendered
Chapter 8
Discussions about Solomon
Marriage is sacred and Solomon’s marriage to pharaoh’s daughter was not since it was against the will of God. Solomon was committed to accomplishing all of God’s commands and obeying without question. However, the marriage shows that his commitment was partial, and not everything God Commanded Solomon did.
Solomon failed and his life was lost through a simple temptation he could have resisted. A small but very important area in Solomon’s life became weak and prone to temptations from the devil. As you can see, Satan needs a small weak area such as unresolved issues to take hold in the life of a believer and cause him to fall from the grace of God.