“If” is a small word with very large implications.
How many times in life have we said “If only I had…”? I have many times wondered what would have happened “if” I had made a different decision, “if” I had only jumped at this or that opportunity. “If” I could do, “if” I would change, “if” I had done…
What will ensure that our young people serve God? Will our church be a light to our community? Do people see Jesus in us? What will it take for God to move in ways we have always desired?
“If” is the difference in wishing and doing. I am ready for the doing to overtake the wishing in my life. God has shown what he will do “if” we will follow His word and “if” we seek for His will to be done in our lives.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ( KJV )
14If 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. “
IF” my people will:
Humble themselves
Pride says, “I do not need God, I can make my own way. I know best. I call the shots in my life.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 ( KJV )
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, …..
Every bit of pride needs to be rooted out of our life.
• Resistance to God is because of pride.
• Pride will keep us from prayer.
• Pride will keep us from worshipping.
• Pride will keep us from engaging in all of the things we need to do to touch God.
• Pride will lift us up above God in our heart. Satan fell because of pride.
• Pride is why are there false teachers embracing wickedness. They justify their sin because of pride.
Every sin has its root in pride.
1 John 2:16 ( KJV )
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
I recently watched a video online of a pastor that “came out” to his congregation. In order to justify his position he told the people that the scriptures relating to this issue were not valid and the Apostle Paul just didn’t get it. Pride says “I know better than God’s word.” What arrogance to discount God’s word so we can live in our sin. I also counted at least three swear words during this discourse. It was heartbreaking that the congregation clapped, cheered, and gave standing ovations during his “confession”. We now live in a society that celebrates sin and claims it as God’s will. Where is humility and reverence for God today? Pride is a destroyer.
2 Timothy 3:13 ( KJV )
13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
How can you tell if you have a pride problem?
• Pride doesn’t want to listen.
• Pride wants to talk about itself.
• Pride wants to do it itself.
• Pride has an intense desire to be noticed.
• Pride believes that it deserves everything it gets.
• Pride is not thankful.
• Pride cannot be corrected.
• Pride does not like to follow instructions.
• Pride brags.
• Pride criticizes, and likes to put others down.
• Pride doesn’t want to worship.
• Pride doesn’t want to pray.
We need to approach God and respond to His word with humility. Humility means I will worship God and give him the reverence He is due. I will elevate Him to the proper position in my life. When I raise my hands in worship, when tears stream down my face, and I fall on my knees before the Lord I am saying “God, You are higher than I am, I surrender to your will for my life”. Humility will give us a desire for God’s presence. It will give us an excitement for what God is doing in our lives and in our church. Pride hardens our heart and closes us off from God. I want to always have a tender heart and a willingness to worship. The heavens will open up to worshippers that cry out to God with hungry hearts. When our church becomes hungry for God’s presence and we humble ourselves before Him, I believe we will see things we have never seen before.
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IF” my people will:
Pray
There is no hope for this world if God’s people fail to pray. There is no hope for our families and friends if we don’t pray. Wickedness will overtake us if we don’t pray. Our loved ones will be consumed by this world if we don’t pray.
Prayerlessness is the first cousin to pride.
Prayerlessness says, “I do not need to call on the Lord, I can make it just fine without Him.” Prayerlessness says, “He isn’t all I need”; but “I am all I need.”
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The church is dying on its feet because it is not living on its knees!”
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IF” my people will:
Seek my face
What does God mean by “seek my face”? I believe it means that we need an increasing revelation of who God is, and wants to be, in our lives. We need a relationship that gives us God’s heart, his wisdom, and his compassion. We need to have a constant desire to learn and grow in grace.
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IF” my people will:
Turn from their wicked ways
We live in a wicked world. It is all around us and permeates our society. Sexual sin is commonplace and the Bible’s call to purity is largely disregarded. Divorce is as rampant among “church” people as it is in the population at large. Ministers are “coming out of the closet” and staying in the pulpit. Folks, we will not live wicked lives and make it to heaven. God will not hear us in our wickedness. Self justification is a deception that grips many. We need to turn away from our sin make permanent changes.
But IF we humble ourselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from our wicked ways:
Then God will hear, forgive, and heal.Just think of all of the things God could do in this our lives, in our church, and in our city.
