Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2nd Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 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.
The first thing in this passage speaks about humility, and when you possess this quality you will be very lowly, meek and unpretentious. This is a quality that must be displayed by a Christian wife towards her husband in everything.
1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Humility is to possess a mild and submissive attitude towards those who have authority over you. Sometimes as a dad in our own home, we tend not to listen to certain things or requests from family members when they refuse to submit to your authority. It upsets us, just like it does the Heavenly Father. A child might ask to go do something fun on the weekend, but his behavior and attitude does not warrant granting them permission to do so. Our God is the same way, because He is not going to listen to the prayers of the rebellious. When we desire answered prayer, we need to humbly obey and submit to His will. Moses was filled with this quality, and found great favor in the sight of God. Humility is displayed within a home as children submit to their dad, or a wife to her own husband, and in order for the Lord to hear one’s prayers, the bride of Christ must first humble themselves in His presence.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
In this passage, the Pharisee was so filled up with religious pride that he was completely oblivious to his own faults, and Jesus reproved them for this very thing.
John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Many people are walking through this world in a state of unforgiveness with God, simply because they are blinded by their own pride and unwillingness to confess and admit their faults to God and others in the church that they have wronged. Without contrition and repentance, they will inherit eternal punishment and everlasting shame.
Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
The Apostles warned the church numerous times about the dangers of pride.
1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Because of pride, many people will not admit their own faults, and because of this, each day they are continually storing up God’s wrath.
Romans 2:5-11 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.
God listens to the prayers of the humble.
Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
The next part of our study verse talks about turning away from sin. This is a requirement to obtain eternal life because we must turn away from darkness and walk in the light. We must bring forth fruits that are meet for repentance. This is a message that has been preached for thousands of years. Stop doing wickedly, and start living righteously!
Acts 26:19-20 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Zacchaeus was a publican, who collected taxes for the Romans, but he repented of the things that he had done.
Luke 19:8-10 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
To find forgiveness with God one must turn from their sins, because only when you do this will He open up His ears to your requests.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Some people are destined to roam this Earth in a state of unforgiveness with God, resulting from their own pride and refusal to submit to the will of God. God hates rebellion, and it doesn’t matter how much somebody prays, He will simply turn away from their requests. To be healed and forgiven by God requires seeking His face, turning from sin, and submitting to His wishes, because He will open His ears to the faithful, reward those who love Him and answer the prayer of those who seek Him with….
………A Humble Heart
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
tlkjbc.com
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 