A CALL TO PRAYER
2
Chronicles 7:11-16
Introduction:
If you were living in Key West, Florida and
heard the news that a Category 5 hurricane was heading your way how would you
respond? After weathering the hurricane
when you return to your home of three decades only to find out it is ruined,
what would you do? We all have watched
with shock some heart wrenching scenes of such devastation. These pictures
caught my attention as they seem to convey the mixed responses of people to
tragedy.
Peoples responses are generally based
on either fear, pragmatism, and or faith. Many have headed the warning and
moved into shelters, hotels, friends and relative’s homes. Others took pragmatic
approach, stored up food, water, gas etc. and were ready to brace the storm. Yet
others no matter what happens could not seem to get over their foolishness. I don’t know
what to make of headlines like this one, “Damage
heavy on Key West, but booze still flows.” Hurricane Irma took power, water
and cellphone service, but she couldn't take this tiny island's party spirit
— or the cold Coors Light.
Many concerned people both in
Florida and around the world took their position in prayer and interceded on behalf of Key West. At hope Church, we prayed that
God would decrease Irma’s intensity to a Category 1 or send it back to the
ocean. After praying I kept watching the news. I was relieved and praised God when
I heard that it was reduced to a Category 2 storm and then to a Category 1
tropical storm. As if that was not bad enough, can you imagine what would have
happened had it not changed its intensity and actually landed on Keys west as a
Category 5 Hurricane? How could anyone explain, why it has suddenly changed its
direction? As we speak millions are without electricity and running water. Food
supplies may be running out. Many are struggling to terms with the aftermath. Let’s
continue to pray for God’s mercy and his provision.
Let’s pray that many would turn to Christ during this
crisis.
When we
see these back to back biblical portions natural disasters, terrorist attacks
from within our own backyard, and a looming nuclear war threat, what goes
through your mind? Have we gone too far from God as a nation? Have you wondered
who sends these natural calamities? Maybe you are going through a personal
storm of some sorts. What should be our response when we encounter natural
disasters and life-threatening situations? Let’s see how a battered nation
dealt with these types of devastations. A
CALL TO PRAYER. 2 Chronicles 7:11-16
Let me
give you some context to this passage. 2 Chronicles covers the period from the
beginning of Solomon’s reign (970 BC) to the Babylonian exile (586 BC). During
this time, the
Israelites desperately needed a new look at the past. Their ancestors had also
been torn from home, beaten and dragged off in chains to serve as slaves in a
foreign country.
In
Babylon, a new generation grew up knowing little of the Israelite past: the
covenant with God, the promised line of kings, the magnificent temple in
Jerusalem.
When captive
Israelites were finally allowed to return home, they found a pile of rubble. The
book of 2 Chronicles was written to those refugees who returned. For that
dispirited group of people, the author recounted the glory days of Israel. He
wanted to restore the Israelites faith, courage, confidence and bring hope to
their future. Though this passage directly deals with the remnant Israel, but
the lessons are applicable for our times as well.
I. GOD ALLOWS NATURAL
CALAMITIES FOR A REASON.
Vs 13“When I shut up the heavens so
that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land or send
pestilence among my people.” Whenever there is a natural calamity the environmentalists’
quick to jump in saying the cause is Global warming or Climate change. While
some of these disasters can be attributed to absolute irresponsibility, some
are beyond our understanding, explanation and control. In insurance circles
these are called, “Acts of God.”
Therefore,
let’s look to God this morning for some answers. The scriptures tell us that
God has absolute power over nature. “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You,
Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the
surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.” Psalm 89:8-9. “The Lord
wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a
tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the
clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his
messengers, flames of fire his servants.” Psalm 104:2-4
In the
passage we read, God was saying to the Israelites that he had the power to shut
up the heavens so that it won’t rain, or send locusts to eat up the crops and
send plagues (like Ebola) that would kill thousands of people. If God is truly
in control, He must be able to control weather events and natural disasters.
The question then becomes if God is truly good, how could He allow so many
people to die as the result of something under His control? God is not necessarily
in the business of sending hurricanes, storms and earthquakes to torture
people. But at times he allows these natural calamities for a reason. In some
cases, he may use nature’s force to focus our attention on Him and the
greatness of His power. I am reminded of a familiar story in the Bible, Jonah
in the belly of a fish. But what landed him there in the first place, what
lessons did Jonah learn from that horrible experience and what would he tell us
about Gods greatness?
As we know
out of disobedience, prejudice and the stubbornness of heart Jonah started to
run away from God on a ship sailing to Tarshish. But God wouldn’t let him go
away very far. The Lord sent a mighty storm on the sea, the ship was threatened
to break up. The mariners were afraid and each began to pray to their god.
Jonah was fast asleep in the lower deck of the ship. They came to him and woke
him up and asked him where are you from and what do you do?
Listen to
Jonah’s response, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who
made the sea and the dry land.” The men were exceedingly afraid.” Upon his
suggestion, the mariners threw Jonah into the sea and God provided a Big fish
that swallowed Jonah and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared
the Lord exceedingly and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD.” After three
days and nights being in the belly of the fish Jonah repented and prayed, then
God commanded the fish to throw Jonah out on to the shore.
The key
lesson here is you cannot run away from God too far, he will catch you. This
story is a stark reminder to all of us to know who actually is in charge over
the wind and the nature? When God allows a natural disaster to come our way is
to draw our attention. He uses these calamities to show the world His power and
teach his children obedience and prayer.
Coming to
our context, the recent two back to back hurricanes, Harvey and Irma have left
millions devastated. Many have lost their properties, and several lost their
lives. Could it be that the Lord has allowed these two storms to bring our
nation back to its knees? Could it be possible as a nation we have gone too far
from worshipping the true and living God, and began to worship our own idols?
It would have been more profitable if our president tweeted during these
difficult times calling the nation to repent, pray to God and seek His mercy
and favor. It is the responsibility of the leaders to send out a call of prayer
during the natural calamities.
Can God
prevent natural calamities from happening at a certain time and place? Has he
done it in the past? The answer is a resounding yes! James 5:17-18 teaches,
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it
might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the
earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its
fruit." Recently, we have seen God, how God decreased the intensity of the
Hurricane Irma to a category one, otherwise it could have been much more of a
catastrophe. What can actually move the mighty hand of God and avert a
disaster? It is prayer! Not the kind of prayers we pray at our meal times. But
prayers that come from a heart that is desperate, humble and repentant. God
answers such prayers.
II. GOD ANSWERS THE HUMBLE
AND THE REPENTANT.
Vs 14, “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 I will hear from heaven, and I will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.” You may have seen this
verse or heard it quoted by pastors and preachers a like each time there is a
huge crisis or natural calamity. This verse has often drawn me to my knees in
repentance and prayer. This is a sure criterion, when it comes to seeing the
gracious hand of God moving towards may it be a whole nation or individual, and
experience His redemptive and healing power.
“It starts with my people, who are
called by my name” It is a narrow promise but can have wider implications. Then,
it was to the nation of Israel, but now it applies to all those who call
themselves Christians or followers of Christ. As the saying goes that, “there
are no atheists in the trenches” points to the fact that just about everybody
in trouble prays to whoever might be there to listen. They cry for help. And
sometimes, no doubt they are helped as they asked to be.
But Christians however have received
a special call to prayer, have seen the power of God at work as a result of
prayer. God is calling us to humble ourselves, repent of our sins and turn away
from our wicked ways and seek his face and pray to Him. Then he will hear from
heaven and forgive our sins and will heal our land. Do you think our country
needs healing? How about you, and your family do they need healing? Does your
marriage need healing?
During
the service, we have heard a powerful testimony of Mercy, how God has reached
out to her and healed her. We rejoice with her and give praise to God for her
healing.
Our God is not the respecter of
people. He can bring about a similar miracle in your life too. All you need to
do is to repent of your sins and cry out to God from your desperate situation.
God will hear your prayers and come to your rescue. There is a call of God
going out not only to a few intercessors, but to all of his people to pray.
Because the need is so great. My prayer is that we will hear his voice and
commit ourselves to become the people of prayer. Amen
