HANGIN’ OUT WITH GOD

“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

(II Chronicles 7:14)

 

Last week I flew up to Seattle for a couple days to see my son.  No particular reason; I just wanted to see him.  While I was there, we got some needed repairs done on his car, worked in his yard a little, went out for dinner one night & lunch the next day, toured the machine shop where he works, and played a few games.  His girlfriend stomped both of us in monopoly.  Basically, we just kinda’ hung-out together for a couple days.  There is nothing I enjoy more in life than hangin’ out with family – my wife, my kids and their spouses, and my 2 grandchildren.

I think God would say the same thing.  He enjoys hangin’ out with His kids – you and me.  He loves it when we spend some time with Him.  In fact, that’s what “Sabbath” is all about.  It’s a special day every week designated to take a break from the mundane things of life and spend some time just hangin’ out with God.  It’s our “big date” every week with Jesus.  It’s a day for physical and spiritual renewal. 

One of the four prerequisites for revival and for God’s healing of our land is, “seeking God’s face.”  I believe when God’s children begin to seek His face again, we will see revival in at least three areas…

·         A renewal of prayer in America

·         A renewed hunger for God’s Word

·         A return to church on “Sabbath” (Sunday)

God looks forward to spending time with His kids; I trust you look forward to hangin’ out with Him, too!

 

Dear Father,

Forgive me for neglecting Sabbath in my life.  I need more “hang-time” with you!

“As the dear pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

(Psalm 42 & 84)

WHAT AMERICA NEEDS MOST (Part 2)

“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

(II Chronicles 7:14)

 

The first of the four prerequisites to revival & God’s healing of our land is humility!  Without it, my pride will prevent the next three:  prayer, seeking God, and repentance.  After all, a proud person doesn’t need to pray – he already has life all figured out.  A proud person doesn’t bother seeking God – he is self-made and self-sufficient.  And a proud person certainly doesn’t need to repent – he never does anything wrong. 

On the other hand, humility acknowledges our completely dependence on God.  Humility recognizes that everything we have is but a gift from the gracious hand of a loving God.  Humility realizes that we are spiritually bankrupt and desperately in need of God – every moment of every day.  And humility admits that we are imperfect and in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.

I like the following description of humility from an article entitled, “The Art of Being a Big Shot.”

It is my pride that makes me independent of God.  It’s appealing to me to feel that I am the master of my fate, that I run my own life, call my own shots, and go it alone.  But that feeling is my basic dishonesty.  I can’t go it alone.  I have to get help from other people, and I can’t ultimately rely on myself.  I’m dependent on God for my next breath.  It is dishonest of me to pretend that I’m anything but a man – small, weak, and limited.  So, living independent of God is self-delusion.  It is not just a matter of pride being an unfortunate little trait and humility being an attractive little virtue; it’s my inner psychological integrity that’s at stake.  When I am conceited, I am lying to myself about what I am.  I am pretending to be God, and not man.  My pride is the idolatrous worship of myself.  And that is the national religion of hell.

Revival will only come when we humble ourselves before God and admit that we desperately need Him.  If God is going to heal America, it must start with Americans humbling themselves before God.

 

“…God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble…

Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.”

(James 4 6-10).

WHAT AMERICA NEEDS MOST

“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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

(II Chronicles 7:14)

 

What do we need most in America?  More corporate bailouts?  Another economic stimulus package?  More credit?  Tax relief?  Health care reform?  Public education reform?  A complete overhaul of our leadership in Washington?  A new political party?  Are any of these really the answer to America’s greatest need?  I don’t think so!

I believe our greatest need isn’t economic or political or even moral by itself. Our greatest need in America is spiritual.  Although our country was founded on a Judeo-Christian value system, we have strayed far from our roots.  What we need most in America is genuine revival!

But, what is revival?  There are a lot of misconceptions about revival floating around today.  But, the word comes from the Latin, “viva,” which means “life.”  Revival is a resurgence or renewal of life.  By definition, then, revival presupposes a spark of life to begin with.  In other words, “revival” is about God’s people.  It’s about a renewal of spiritual life in Christians, rather than evangelizing the lost.  That’s exactly what II Chronicles 7:14 implies – “If my people who are called by my name…”

According to that same verse, the result of revival is God’s healing of our land.  Isn’t that exactly what we want and need in America?  Absolutely!  But, did you catch the four prerequisites to God’s healing?  Those four prerequisites sum up genuine revival…

·         Humility

·         Prayer

·         Seeking God

·         Repentance

Wow!  Is it even possible?  Could we ever see genuine revival in America again?  Remember, nothing is impossible with God.  May it begin in each of us, myself included.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We need revival in America.  May it begin with me.

I confess my own pride and selfishness, and my sin and disobedience.

Please plant within my heart a genuine desire for a deeper relationship with You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!”

(Luke 24:5-6)

 

No, it wasn’t the day Obama was elected President.  It wasn’t 9-11.  It wasn’t Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima.  It wasn’t the day the Wright Brothers flew for the first time or the day man landed on the moon.  And, it wasn’t the day the first computer was invented or the day the Internet was created.  All those significant days and events certainly impacted history as we know it.

But the day that changed the world not only changed the course of history; it impacted eternity, as well.  Our world was changed forever the day Jesus rose from the grave.  We refer to that day as “Easter.”  It is without question, the most significant day in all of history and eternity.  So, take a few moments this week and reflect on the tremendous impact of Easter.  Because of Jesus’ resurrection…

·         Satan has been defeated.    (I Corinthians 15)

·         Death has been conquered.   (I Corinthians 15:54)

·         Our sin is forgiven.   (Romans 4:25)

·         We have eternal life.   (Romans 6:4)

·         We have a future in heaven.   (I Corinthians 15:23)

·         We have a living hope.   (I Peter 1:3)

·         We have victory through Jesus Christ.   (I Corinthians 15:58)

Now, take a few moments to thank the Lord for all the blessings that are yours because of Easter.  Celebrate the day that changed the world forever!  He has risen!  He’s alive!!!

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Easter and the victorious resurrection of Jesus.

Thank you for forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the living hope and spiritual victory I have because of Easter.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THE REAL APRIL FOOLS

“But God said to him ‘You fool!

This very night your life will be demanded from you.

Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’”

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself

but is not rich toward God.”

(Luke 12:20-21)

 

Have you heard about the major infrastructure project being planned by our politicians in Washington D.C.?  They’re planning to build a trans-pacific bridge from Los Angeles to Honolulu.  Of course, there will have to be a few floating rest stops, gas stations, restaurants, and motels along the way; maybe even a floating city at the mid-point.  Now, that’s a major economic stimulus package!  It will keep a lot of people employed for long time.  April fools!

We love to play practical jokes on April Fool’s Day.  But, did you know the Bible actually identifies two real fools in the world.  The first is found in Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.”  So, the first fool is an atheist – anyone who claims there is no God. 

But, it’s the second fool, identified in Luke 12:13-21, that concerns me.  I refer to this fool as a practical atheist – one who may believe in God, but still lives their life as though God doesn’t exist.  The fool in this story built quite a financial portfolio for himself.  He had made his fortune in commodities, and he had tons of wealth set aside for an early retirement.  His philosophy in life was clear: “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (verse 19).  Unfortunately, he never got to enjoy his wealth.  He died! 

What concerns me is that there are so many Christians in America just like him – people who say they believe in God, but still live as though He doesn’t exist.  We have the same philosophy of “eat, drink, and be merry”.  We store up treasure on earth, rather than heaven.  We live for self, rather than for God.  We build our own kingdoms, rather than God’s kingdom.  We think only of this world, rather than eternity.

So, my encouragement to you on this April Fools Day is simple:  Don’t be a fool.  Granted, we’re not atheists.  We certainly believe in God.  But, let’s not be practical atheists, either.  Let’s keep our eyes focused on heaven, rather than earth.  Let’s live for the glory of God, rather than for ourselves.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I praise You for Your faithfulness.  Your mercies are new every day.

Forgive me for taking You for granted and for living so selfishly.

As I live each day on this earth,

may Your Holy Spirit keep my eyes focused on heaven,

my mind centered in You, and my heart in tune with eternity.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.