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"If My People..." Dave Shaner September 8, 2002

Introduction: The last year has been a very difficult one for the United States. When tragedy strikes, people often turn to spiritual interests.

Text: II Chronicles 7:13-14

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 

This passage is often used as a call to our nation to change so God will bless us. Who is really being called upon to change?

I. A ______________ of Blessing:

A. The focus of this text is upon the people of God.
B. God will use various means to administer discipline.
C. A lack of humility can bring the discipline of God.

II. The ______________ for Blessing:

A. Nations are often blessed because of the faith of one man.

1. Genesis 12:3

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

2. Genesis 39:5

From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

B. God wants to do the same today.
C. Acts 27:23-26,30-32

Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." .... In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

III. Becoming a Blessing begins with ______________.

A. As a Christian, I must be humble, prayerful, seeking, and repentant.
B. When God's blessings are upon me then those blessings will overflow onto others.
C. When God's people are not humble seekers of God then God's punishment will spill over onto those around us.
D. Psalm 119:67,71,75

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. ... It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. ... I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

E. God humbles us to bring about a change of heart.

Conclusion: How hard will God have to work to get us to be humble people of prayer who seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways? It needs to happen both for our own sake and for the sake of our country.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord. And He will lift you up." - James 4:10

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