So often 2 Chronicles 7:14 gets drastically abused (I’ve done it) as it’s pulled way out of context. It’s so lovely to focus on the blessing side of things isn’t it?
But the hard truth is there really is a requirement on our part to receive the blessing. We don’t get to forsake the Lord, embrace other gods, and and worship and serve them…AND…receive the blessings of the Lord that include forgiveness, healing, and his listening ear to our prayers.
I know, I hear it too, “The Lord loves you were you’re at…even if you don’t want to change, he loves you where you’re at, you can stay the same and never change and it’s all good.”
Friends, that’s not the heart of the Father, to leave you where you’re at. No, the Father’s love, it calls you out, and forth, it calls you higher!
If you think you’re encountering God but nothing inside of you is changing, then you’re not encountering the One true God. Encounter with this God will radically transform you. It either causes you to run away because the darkness that you cling to can’t remain in His presence; or, it will cause you to fall prostrate to your face, in reverent, humble submission to a mighty God who is worthy of our everything. His lovingkindness will lead you to repentance, to a brand new heart.
There is no forgiveness, blessing, and attentive ear to those who don’t humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and TURN from their wicked ways.
Repentance doesn’t exist without turning from your wicked ways. If you confess your wicked ways but remain in them, as Israel did, that’s not repentance. That’s wickedness.
The Lord gives us very clear direction—“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.”
“***BUT***IF…YOU TURN AWAY and FORSAKE My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and SERVE OTHER gods, and WORSHIP them…***THEN***I will UPROOT them from My land which I have given them; and THIS HOUSE which I have sanctified for My name I will CAST out of My sight and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”
This last sentence should cause us to tremble. If the last two years hasn’t shown us this then we are walking around in dead, dry bones…”clankety clank clank.”
Dry bones…wake-up! It’s time to walk out of our tombs and step out of our grave clothes into a new robe! It’s time to PRAY in such a way that we aren’t the same person walking out of that prayer meeting. It’s time to pray in such a way that our sacrifice on the altar is burned up by our God’s glory and presence.
It’s time that as we SEEK His face in the “house of sacrifice” the powerful presence of a mighty God forces our bodies to smash our face to the ground and weep in repentance! It’s time for us to grow nauseated at the stench of wickedness and give it up, watch it burn up on up on the altar as we cry out, “ABBA!!!”
Do you want to be heard from heaven? Do you want forgiveness? Do you want healing?
IF…THEN!
HUMBLE
PRAY
SEEK
TURN
TURN and BURN!
TURN from your wicked ways and watch them BURN on the altar of sacrifice.
God’s love and presence have the power to do that! He’s not a cheap, fake, created god who can be bought with empty words and promises. He’s not a pimp hiring out pleasure. He’s not a genie in a bottle granting wishes.
He’s a just and mighty God who inhabits the Throne of all creation. He’s not only loving, but His very existence and presence is love! He wants the very best for you! He’s not interested in wining and dining you. He’s interested in inhabiting your heart forever! Every crease, and every crevice of your heart He desires to inhabit. He’s knocking, will you let Him in? All the way in?
FLING WIDE YOUR HEART to the One whom your soul longs for! He’s waiting!
