Sunday, August 18, 2013

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!

No comments:

Post a Comment