#1 “A Humble People”

Thursday, May 3rd is designated as National Day of Prayer. As SUMC we are going to get a ‘jump-start’ by adding our prayer foci this morning. The events at Virginia Tech and Houston have only heightened my deep concern for the well being of this nation and the moral and spiritual direction we are headed.

Our Biblical basis for worship this morning is 2 Chronicles 7:14, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NKJV). This verse speaks of our action and God’s response. Our action is 3 fold: humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways. God’s response and action is conditional on our action. If we do our part, God will do His part--He will listen and hear, He will forgive and He will heal our land.

Our first action as God’s people is to humble ourselves. The word ‘humble’ means “to be marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit, not arrogant or prideful.”

1. Humble people are an examined people. Psalm 139:23-24 describes such people, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The humble person desires for every thought, intent, desire, and worry of their heart be revealed and made righteous. An examined person despises any sin or wickedness found in them and wants it removed from their life.
2. Humble people are an exposed people. Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Humility leads us to understand that nothing in our lives is hidden from God, and that everything—every thought, word and deed—will be accounted for.
3. Humble people are an expectant people. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:5b-7) An expectant people embrace God’s purposes, His provision and His care. The expectant person claims the promise of God’s grace, laying aside all guilt and shame, knowing that they have been washed, sanctified and justified by Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

The Hebrew word for ‘humble’ means ‘to bend the knee.’ Does this definition of humility describe you? Are you willing to let God examine you and expose any pride, arrogance or sin in your life? Once exposed, are you ready to submit to God’s Word, His will, and His work in total humility? The Bible says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

#2 “A Praying People”

God desires a people who pray. What do praying people look like? How does prayer work itself out in God’s people?

1. Praying people need to be vigilant. Collosians 4:2, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” A vigilant pray-er is aware of his/her own need and the needs of others. In addition this vigilant pray-er is always alert and prays without ceasing.
2. Praying people are also righteous people. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16) A righteous person is concerned about holiness because sin separates us from God and hinders prayer. Righteousness or right living results in confidence because we know that our prayers are indeed effective. 1 Peter 3:12 says, “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers.”
3. Praying people are a thankful people. In Philippians 4:6-7 the Apostle Paul writes, ”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” The attitude of gratitude also leads to certainty because we have faith to know that God will answer our prayers whether that answer is yes, no or wait awhile. A thankful person strongly believes, ie knows, that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Are our prayers spiritually caffeinated? By that I mean are they fervent, having emotion, energetic? Does the thought of prayer excite you or exhaust you? Is your prayer time marked by great emotion, energy and zeal?

Let’s pray the following prayer together: “Lord, we know that You desire effective and fervent prayer from Your people. We pray for You to light a fire for prayer in our hearts. Make us vigilant! Make us righteous! Make us thankful for all that You’ve done, and expectantly thankful for all that you have yet to do. For its in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.

#3 “A Seeking People”

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

1. A seeking people are faith-filled people. Do you see that in this verse? “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” A faith-filled person is certain, and has no doubt that if they seek God they will find Him. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” A faith-filled person is also confident that his/her prayers are pleasing to God.
2. A seeking people are a believing people—“for he who comes to God must believe that He is.” A believing person accepts by faith that God is the great “I AM,” and that He is Who He has revealed Himself to be in the Bible. He is God Almighty (El Shaddai). He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. He is the Lord our Healer, Jehovah Rapha. He is the Lord our Peace, Jehovah-Shalom. He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness. A believing person also affirms that they believe God through their prayers and their earnest obedience.
3. Seeking people are a rewarded people, “and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” God blesses us and rewards us not because we deserve it, but because God has promised it and God keeps His promises. A rewarded person is always ready to be rewarded because they are resting on and trusting in His Word each and every day.

Are you seeking God? Are you more apt to run to God or run away from God? Do you believe by faith that “HE IS,” and that He is more than able to answer your prayers and reward your obedience?

#4 “A Repentant People”

Powerful prayer comes from God’s People who are humble, who are a praying people, and who seek God with all their hearts. The fourth mark of God’s people that leads to powerful prayer is being sincerely repentant. What does that look like?

1. Sincerely repentant people are saved people. Peter told the crowd, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) A saved, converted person understands that God hears, forgives and heals on behalf of His people, those that have received salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. A saved, converted person comprehends the vastness and greatness of God’s forgiveness and rejoices in God’s grace that refreshes.
2. Sincerely repentant people are forgiven people. John writes (1 John 1:8-10), “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” A forgiven person grasps his need for God’s forgiveness and cleansing from sin. A forgiven person also grapples with his flesh, the human nature, but continually confesses his sins knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive, not some, but all sin.
3. Sincerely repentant people are working people. The Apostle Paul said (Acts 26:20), “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” A repentant person responds with ‘good works’ not to gain forgiveness but out of a thankfulness for that forgiveness. A repentant person uses their time, talents, and treasurers seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and prays for God’s will to be done on earth and it is in heaven.

Repentance means ‘to feel such regret for past conduct as to change one’s mind regarding that conduct.’ Does this description of repentance describe our heart before God? Are you ready to repent and embrace God’s forgiveness and salvation?

Our prayer focus is in 2 areas: individuals and the church. Both need to repent. Individuals make up the Church, the Body of Christ and the Church, the Body of Christ, is made up of individuals. We need to repent individually and corporately.

For those who have never made that decision today is the day for you: to repent of your sin, your sins, and to give Jesus your heart and life beginning a brand new relationship with God than you have ever known.

For those of you who have given your heart and life to Jesus, there is sin that you need to repent of as well—bad attitudes, harboring animosity and resentment, being a hypocrite, i.e. saying one thing but doing another, selfishness, and a myriad of sins that only the Holy Spirit can convict you of.

This prayer focus will be focused at “the mourners’ bench,” the altar rail. Called the mourners’ bench because it is here, before a Holy God, that we mourn our sins that break the heart of our Heavenly Father. It is here that we as individuals and we as a church repent and get right with God. COME!

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.