Prayer Service - Heal our Land! - 2 Chron 7:14

Prayer Service - Heal our Land!

August 18, 2013

2 Chron 7:14

INTRODUCTION

• We were driving from Los Angeles one time, and were headed up the I-14
• Suddenly the power steering died
• I steered over to the slow lane, and took the next exit
• We found a car parts place, and asked if someone could have a look
• After he checked it out, he found the problem, and was able to repair it
• If this had happened later, it could have been really bad
• We could have been out in the middle of the Mojave Desert, with a broken down vehicle.
• God helped us get our car repaired, on a Sunday, before something more serious happened
• But I had to listen, I had to notice the signs I was being given, and then I had to respond
• It is good to be aware of signs that something is different from the norm

WATCH THE INDICATORS

• In our church, things have not been going as well as they normally do
• Our attendance is down
• They say that this is a normal thing during summer, because people travel
• Personally, though I may make a trip away from home, I try to never miss church
• This is not because I am the pastor, but I have always been this way
• I miss being with my spiritual family, when I am away.
• Our attendance has gone down by an average of 45%, since the end of May
• This is not just because people are traveling, or the comparatively few who have valid reasons
• A good number are just not being faithful in coming to church
• I know I am preaching to the converted, you are here!
• Another indicator is church income
• Church income has dropped
• This coincides with the drop in attendance
• Our income in June was $5,400, July was $2,500, and this month has started even lower.
• We are at a point where I am once again not drawing a salary, and the church is having to juggle its utility bills.
• As I said, these are indicators, but they are also, only indicators
• This is not a main street business, and the church is not run the same way
• This is because we have the T-factor – we trust God, and we follow his lead
• So many times, God has rescued his people
• The Old Testament is full of such examples
• Gideon with his 300, vanquish 12,000 Midianites
• Josiah sends his worship team out front against the enemy, and the enemy starts killing themselves off
• So God does intervene on our behalf, and he does the impossible
• However, when things aren't running well, we need to listen and respond

SO HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?

• My initial reaction was, that I could write a letter to the members, explaining the situation
• But I was not sure if that was what I should do
• Dianne and I were talking, and what came out of it was 2 Chron 7:14
• 2Chronicles 7:14 “If 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.”
• Trials are allowed to come, to teach us lessons, and to increase our faith and endurance
• But we need to be open to hearing what the lesson is God is teaching us
• Today, we are humbling ourselves and praying to God, to heal our land
• Our land extends beyond the confines of these four walls
• This whole city needs healing
• This church needs healing
• Our personal lives need healing

PRAYER TIME

• 1. PRAISE
• Praising God
• God as Creator
• Jesus as head of the church
• Holy Spirit as our guide and the one who empowers us
• (Corporate prayer)
• As a church, how has God blessed us?
• Membership
• This building
• Faithful people
• Income
• Witness to community
• (Testimonies, corporate prayer)
• As a city, how has God blessed us?
• Beautiful country
• Protection from wildfires
• Forests that provided jobs until the mill closed down
• Prisons that provide jobs for a large portion of our population
• People who are real
• (Corporate prayer)
• Individually, how has God blessed us?
• A body of believers who care about us
• God's healing in our lives
• Work
• Food and shelter
• Our daily bread
• A purpose in life
• (Prayer triplets)

 

• 2. REPENTANCE
• What do we need to repent of as a church?
• Not welcoming Holy Spirit gifts in ourselves
• Not going out into the harvest as we should
• Allowing criticism and gossip
• Not reaching out to new people as we should
• (Corporate prayer)
• What do we need to repent of as a city?
• Not turning to God
• Lack of raising our kids in God's ways
• Disobedience to God's commandments regarding marriage
• Immorality
• Seeking answers in substance abuse, instead of God
• (Corporate prayer)
• What do we need to repent of individually?
• (Private prayer)

• 3. PETITION
• On behalf of the church, we ask God for:
• A fire and anointing for seeking the lost
• A well of healing for the sick
• Boldness to carry the gospel
• (Corporate prayer)
• On behalf of the city, we ask God for:
• A spirit of repentance to fall
• Families that turn to Jesus
• Children that are fired up for the gospel
• Addicts to be supernaturally healed and turned to God
• (Corporate prayer)
• Individually, we ask God for:
• (Private prayer)

• 4. GRATITUDE
• (Corporate prayer)
• We thank God for hearing our prayer
• 2Chronicles 7:14 If 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.
• Thanks to God for healing our land

CONCLUSION

• We expect change
• We expect new faces in church
• We expect church finances to be abundant
• We expect global repentance in this city
• We expect whole families to become Christians
• We expect God's will to be done here, as it is in heaven
• We expect jobs to come
• We expect healing and recovery for addicts
• We expect marriages to be healed and reconciled
• We expect that God will heal our land!