And the answer is.......revival. Yes it is. We can politic, parade, boycott, petition, lobby, legislate, walk-out, blackball, blacklist, broadcast, post, and tweet until the cows come home. The truth is, things will continue to get worse. There is only ONE answer for the United States of America. Spiritual revival. America needs a spiritual awakening, beginning FIRST with those who call themselves Christians!
"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place." (2 Chronicles 7: 13 - 15)
Yes, this passage has been quoted, preached, broadcast, and plastered all over the media for years...so much that it has become a cliche! It seems to be the pat answer to the troubles of America. But the problem is, we're not doing what it says! Many may be familiar with this passage but many more are not adhering to it.
First of all, why would God Himself ever "shut up the heavens" so that there is no more spiritual rain falling on America? Or why would God ever command spiritual locust and spiritual pestilence to devour our land? For the same reason He did the same for Israel...we've pushed Him away! The difference between then and now is the covenant we live under. Under the Old Covenant God told His people "Do this or else?" The consequences were very severe. Now, under the New Covenant God gives us the choice. If we pursue Him, we get Him, and His blessings. If we choose to distance ourselves from Him...we're on our own, and we become open season for the enemy. This is where America is today. The enemy has been given free reign in our land. He is devouring us from the inside out!
This Scripture passage addresses "My people" twice, and those called by "My name" once. We're under a New Covenant now. This means that if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, you are being directly addressed by the Spirit of God.
His instructions are: 1.) Humble yourself to prayer. A lack of fervent prayer is pure pride. When you don't pray, your heart is saying, "I don't really need God. My life is not uncomfortable enough for me to cry out to God." This is pride. A humble heart not only acknowledges the need for Jesus, it pursues Jesus constantly. Our most fervent prayer should be "Jesus, change my heart, melt my heart, and turn my heart of stone into a heart of flesh again." We can pray for America, but America will not change until you and I are changed by Him.
2.) We must seek His face. We're pretty good at seeking His hand, especially when we have a need. But to seek His face is to seek Him simply to be changed by Him. This process may sound simple, but it must be done with intense hunger. The result is life-changing. Think about this. When you desperately pursue the Creator of the universe, you find Him. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4: 8) I love the order of the above verse. We first draw near to Him, and He draws near to us. Only then (in His incredible presence) will He cleanse us and purify our hearts! A person is double-minded to think we must clean up and purify our hearts before we can draw near to Him.
3.) We must turn from our wickedness. I don't know about you, but the fact that I regard wickedness in my heart prompts me to run to Him, where I find grace and mercy. The most effective way to turn from wickedness is to run to Him...whether we feel like it or not. There is always healing, deliverance, and forgiveness in His presence. This is how we are changed. This is revival.
The result is that He hears from heaven. Of course He does, because He has placed heaven in us. The place to appropriate the forgiveness Jesus already provided for you through the cross is in His very presence, as you draw near to Him and seek His face. This is revival. This is what changes us. But only when you and I are changed, will America change.
And now the best part, as far as I am concerned. I believe things will eventually get better; at least in the near future. Why? Because God is raising up people who understand the need for revival. They understand the times they live in. They have spiritual perception and are sensitive to God's timeline. They also understand the power of repentance. They will be pliable in the hands of Holy Spirit. They are thirsty to see God's Word declared...with signs, wonders, and miracles following. They will be of all ages...old and young. They are not engrossed in the American dream. But they do dream of the greatest last days revival in the land of America. They are preparing their children (and their grandchildren) to be managers of this greatest outpouring of His Spirit before Jesus returns.
Are you one of them? If so, your heart is stirring and your spirit is leaping! You've already been praying. You already know the answer for America is not government; it is the desperate need for spiritual awaking in our land. Some of you are being stirred (right now) to pray. Some of you have already been praying. Let me encourage you. It's coming! It's starting with God's people first. Your commitment to pray has already changed your heart. You will be instrumental in changing other's lives as you pray and experience revival in your own life!
And finally, this greatest outpouring of God's Spirit on the human race will produce the greatest end time harvest of all times. I certainly want to be a part of this. I know you do too!
This post has been a bit longer than normal. But I pray it has also been encouraging to those who have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to perceive what God is doing right now.
"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place." (2 Chronicles 7: 13 - 15)
Yes, this passage has been quoted, preached, broadcast, and plastered all over the media for years...so much that it has become a cliche! It seems to be the pat answer to the troubles of America. But the problem is, we're not doing what it says! Many may be familiar with this passage but many more are not adhering to it.
First of all, why would God Himself ever "shut up the heavens" so that there is no more spiritual rain falling on America? Or why would God ever command spiritual locust and spiritual pestilence to devour our land? For the same reason He did the same for Israel...we've pushed Him away! The difference between then and now is the covenant we live under. Under the Old Covenant God told His people "Do this or else?" The consequences were very severe. Now, under the New Covenant God gives us the choice. If we pursue Him, we get Him, and His blessings. If we choose to distance ourselves from Him...we're on our own, and we become open season for the enemy. This is where America is today. The enemy has been given free reign in our land. He is devouring us from the inside out!
This Scripture passage addresses "My people" twice, and those called by "My name" once. We're under a New Covenant now. This means that if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, you are being directly addressed by the Spirit of God.
His instructions are: 1.) Humble yourself to prayer. A lack of fervent prayer is pure pride. When you don't pray, your heart is saying, "I don't really need God. My life is not uncomfortable enough for me to cry out to God." This is pride. A humble heart not only acknowledges the need for Jesus, it pursues Jesus constantly. Our most fervent prayer should be "Jesus, change my heart, melt my heart, and turn my heart of stone into a heart of flesh again." We can pray for America, but America will not change until you and I are changed by Him.
2.) We must seek His face. We're pretty good at seeking His hand, especially when we have a need. But to seek His face is to seek Him simply to be changed by Him. This process may sound simple, but it must be done with intense hunger. The result is life-changing. Think about this. When you desperately pursue the Creator of the universe, you find Him. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4: 8) I love the order of the above verse. We first draw near to Him, and He draws near to us. Only then (in His incredible presence) will He cleanse us and purify our hearts! A person is double-minded to think we must clean up and purify our hearts before we can draw near to Him.
3.) We must turn from our wickedness. I don't know about you, but the fact that I regard wickedness in my heart prompts me to run to Him, where I find grace and mercy. The most effective way to turn from wickedness is to run to Him...whether we feel like it or not. There is always healing, deliverance, and forgiveness in His presence. This is how we are changed. This is revival.
The result is that He hears from heaven. Of course He does, because He has placed heaven in us. The place to appropriate the forgiveness Jesus already provided for you through the cross is in His very presence, as you draw near to Him and seek His face. This is revival. This is what changes us. But only when you and I are changed, will America change.
And now the best part, as far as I am concerned. I believe things will eventually get better; at least in the near future. Why? Because God is raising up people who understand the need for revival. They understand the times they live in. They have spiritual perception and are sensitive to God's timeline. They also understand the power of repentance. They will be pliable in the hands of Holy Spirit. They are thirsty to see God's Word declared...with signs, wonders, and miracles following. They will be of all ages...old and young. They are not engrossed in the American dream. But they do dream of the greatest last days revival in the land of America. They are preparing their children (and their grandchildren) to be managers of this greatest outpouring of His Spirit before Jesus returns.
Are you one of them? If so, your heart is stirring and your spirit is leaping! You've already been praying. You already know the answer for America is not government; it is the desperate need for spiritual awaking in our land. Some of you are being stirred (right now) to pray. Some of you have already been praying. Let me encourage you. It's coming! It's starting with God's people first. Your commitment to pray has already changed your heart. You will be instrumental in changing other's lives as you pray and experience revival in your own life!
And finally, this greatest outpouring of God's Spirit on the human race will produce the greatest end time harvest of all times. I certainly want to be a part of this. I know you do too!
This post has been a bit longer than normal. But I pray it has also been encouraging to those who have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to perceive what God is doing right now.
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