7:14 IF MY PEOPLE WEEK 3 THE TURN FROM WICKED WAYS

7:14 IF MY PEOPLE WEEK 3 THE TURN FROM WICKED WAYS

II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:19-22 NIV 19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord , the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’ ”

1. Recommit To Repentance

Genesis 3:19 NKJV 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

Acts 3:19 NIV 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

2. Recognize Our Sin SIN – MISSING THE MARK.

Galatians 5:19-21 NIV 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 NIV 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

3. Remove The Paths

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Sermon Series: 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My People

7:14 If My People Pray & Seek His Face 2 Chronicles 7:13 NIV 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,

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.

Jesus said that we are to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Philippians 4:6 NKJV 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Colossians 4:2 NKJV 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

I Peter 4:7 NKJV 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Mark 14:36 NKJV 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ”

Acts 17:11 NKJV 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

1. They were fair-minded

2. They searched the scripture to see if the words Paul preached about Jesus were true (they investigated) Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Mark 9:40 NKJV 40 For he who is not against us is on our side.

God calls us to seek His face. II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The Hebrew word for face literally means His presence. Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I Chronicles 16:11 NKJV 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Hosea 10:12 NKJV 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord , Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

7:14 If My People Humble Themselves (Fasting)

7:14 If My People Humble Themselves (Fasting)

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.

As Christians, we have rights that come with His name, but then there are also rewards that are separately achieved. Some things in God, we have to CLAIM to – other things are CONDITIONAL. Some manifestations of God we are ENTITLED to, others are EARNED. God has determined that certain expressions of His power will only be exercised through fasting and prayer.

Absolute Fast: You take in nothing- no food, no water. Depending on your health, this fast should be attempted only with medical consultation and supervision.

Normal Fast: Typically go without food of any kind for a certain number of days. You drink plenty of water! Depending on the length of the normal fast you may also choose to take clear broth and juices in order to maintain strength.

Partial Fast: A partial fast usually involves giving up particular foods and drink for an extended period of time. (most common example is Daniel’s fast where he refused to eat choice meats and sweets from the King’s table, asking instead to only eat vegetables and water.) NO MEAT, NO BREAD, NO DESSERT

Matthew 6:16-18 NIV 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

1. Participation “When you fast…” (v. 16) What’s another aspect of fasting that seemed important to Jesus?

2. Motivation Matthew 6:16 NIV 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:18 NIV 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Why you do what you do is often times more important than what you do! What’s another aspect of fasting that seemed important to Jesus?

3. Expectation Matthew 6:18 NIV 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.