When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 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 7:14 is a direct call for revival
In the middle of the night, God spoke to Solomon after
the temple was completed. God gave five requirements for Israel to do if
there was a drought; if there was a natural disaster; if there was a sickness.
Solomon had prayed to God, asking for God to make the
temple a place where every prayer would be heard, every sin would be forgiven,
and every person, where an Israelite or foreigner could be repentant and be
restored.
If you read 2 Chronicles 6:12-14, that’s exactly what
Solomon prayed. And then, God answered the king’s prayer with five requirements
and three promised responses.
Revival cannot be orchestrated, it is up to God. But it
also is not accidental. We cannot cause it but we can stop it from happening.
In God’s answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14, I want us to see
God’s answer to the prayer of 2 Chron. 6.
1. His People Must Go By His Name
We must know who we are. We belong to Him. We bear His
identity. We represent His reputation. Revival is not getting the lost saved.
It is a call for us to come alive again in the name of Jesus. For us to be born
again. We MUST GO by His name. Are you ready to go by His name? To
awaken to begin again. To put Him first and be identified by His name.
2. Humility Must Go By His Glory
2nd humility: “…will humble themselves…”
Humility is not weakness, nor insecurity. It’s not taking yourself too
seriously or too lightly. It is in fact Seeing yourself with God’s eyes in the light
of His glory.
It’s looking at an ant at edge of the Grand Canyon.
It’s being in a spaceship on the far side of the moon and losing contact with
everything that we’ve ever known in the entire existence of humanity.
His holiness / His greatness / His glory.
The second
passageway to revival is when you stop defending your sin, your selfishness,
your self in any way. Confess PRIDE. Revival never comes to the proud, it come from the bowed in prayer.
3. Pray Must Go Before His Throne
3rd: is prayer: “…and pray…” Some of
you are just understanding what Prayer is and what it’s not. Prayer is moving; not
a ritual. Let me ask you, have you ever prayed “lead guide and direct” or
“bless the hands” or even the Lord’s prayer without thinking what your saying. Prayer
is not a formality. Prayer is not a box we check.
Prayer is not talking about prayer. It’s putting to
voice our faith. It’s speaking, “God, we cannot fix this. We cannot heal this.
We cannot revive this. But You can.” We must
go before His throne.
4. Seeking His Face Means Go Before Him Personally
4th “…and seek My face…” Are you
seeking His presence, or his blessings? His essence or His answers. Can you
empty yourself of all that is you and be filled with all that is him.
It’s longing to see someone you miss. Have you ever
been away from someone you love through death? Through divorce? Through
Separation? Seeking His face is relational. It is personal. It is intimate.
Do you want God more than what God can do? Is
Worship just singing? Is your devotional what you read in the morning and
forget in the day. It’s a thirst. When God says seek my face, do you say Your
face is all is seek? Psalm 27:8 It’s being pure in heart to see God
5. Turning Means Go Away From Our Ways and To His Ways
The fifth requirement is repentance: “…and turn
from their wicked ways…” Turning means movement... away from our ways and
toward His ways. It is not stopping sin, but rather it is choosing righteousness. It is not saying "I’m
sorry" but "change me." It is not merely feeling sorry; it is walking differently.
It’s burning the ships of going back to the past. It’s
drawing a line in the sand of the Alamo and crossing over it to die.
The Three Responses of God
When God’s people meet these five requirements, God
gives three guaranteed responses:
1. He will hear from heaven. Our prayers are no longer blocked by pride or sin. He
hears with favor, with attention, with mercy.
2. He will forgive their sin. The barrier between us and Him is removed. Forgiveness
is the foundation of revival... it clears the ground for God to work.
3. He will heal their land. This is the visible result of invisible repentance.
Healing in families. Healing in churches. Healing in communities. Healing in
nations.
Revival is not accidental. Revival is not
unpredictable. Revival is the promised result of God’s people aligning
themselves with God’s requirements.
So, the question is not, “Will God send revival?”
The question is, “Will God’s people go where He calls them to go?”
Go by His name.
Go by His glory.
Go before His throne.
Go before Him personally.
Go away from your ways and toward His ways.
Israel did not capture the call to revival because:
They trusted the temple more than God. They loved
rituals more than relationship. They were numbed by prosperity. Their leaders
drifted spiritually. They wanted blessing without repentance. They confused
God’s presence with God’s approval. They forgot the warning in the glow of the
glory. Revival was available. Revival was promised. Revival was clear. Revival
was conditional.
They wanted the promise — but not the process.
