“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.” ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
EMBRACING THE NEWNESS OF GOD
As we look forward with hope for the coming year and months of 2025, we do so with an expectation of healing, forgiveness, and prosperity. We have hope for the future because the promises of 2 Chronicles 7:14 are set forth by God. Therefore, the foundation of our hope is solid. Our hope is not built on shifting sand.
Hymn number 364 of the AME Hymnal, “My Hope Is Built,” was written by a Baptist pastor name Edward Mote in 1834, and the words are just as relevant now as they were when written in the 1800s. The lyrics of this great hymn offer encouragement for the time at hand and moving forward into the future. The first verse is quite clear where the hope of every Christian can rest and that hope is in the blood of Jesus and the name of Jesus. (“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness: I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”)
I encourage you to listen to this hymn. I am particularly fond of the rendition done by Theo Milford. The melody is beautiful to the ear and the foundation is solid because it is based on the Word of God. In the Bible, 1 John 1:7 ESV says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Then we find in Acts 3:6 AKJ, these words spoken to a lame man, “…Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
As we move forward in time, as we understand it in our minds, the Word of God and therefore the promises of God are ever present in recreating us and rejuvenating us in the newness of life. However, there is a requirement on the part of anyone who wants that newness. We must embrace the Word to receive the promises of God. It goes beyond merely having head knowledge of the Word of God. It goes to the point of wanting and accepting God’s will over our will and being willing to accept being governed by the Word of God. It is yielding both the body and the spirit person as dictated by the Scripture.
I submit to you, my brothers and sisters, that we cannot yield if we do not fully understand what the Word is saying to us. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body resists yielding at every turn. The promises of hope, healing forgiveness and prosperity are available to all who would take upon themselves the yolk of 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is not a magic portion. Therefore, we cannot disassociate ourselves from active involvement in the Word.
Let us see if this passage of Scripture offers any guidance to readers now. To whom is it addressed? The narrative is written to and about the people of God living in a land given to them by God. It was during the reign of King Solomon. The king had dedicated the temple to God, and God in a great display of acceptance sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice on the altar. It is with this historical perspective in mind that I ask, “Are we the people of God so that we can qualify for these blessings?” The answer is a resounding “yes!”
Let us go back to 2 Chronicles 6, where Solomon is praying to God and dedicating the temple. Solomon prayed that anyone, including the foreigners, who came into the temple would be heard. Isaiah 56:7 says “…For my house shall be called a house of prayer by all nations.” More to the point of God’s people, in Genesis God told Abraham that all the people of earth would be blessed through him. In Romans 11, Gentiles were grafted into Abraham’s family tree. The blessings belong to all nations!
Now that we know that we are indeed God’s people, there is a requirement on our part to receive the blessings promised by God. The requirements are clearly written: If my People, (1) Humble themselves; If my People, (2) Pray; If my People, (3) Seek my face; and If my People, (4) Turn from their wicked ways.
Each requirement lays out a clear path of devotional activities that will produce a seasoned Christian. A humble person does not look unto their own abilities as the source of success, but is mindful that Christ is the source of all gifts both great and small and prayer is an integral part of a believer’s life. When we pray, we are in communication with God. In prayer we affirm God’s authority and our dependence on God.
Frequent, humble prayer leads to an awakening of a spiritual appetite to seek the face of God. The more we commune with God, the stronger our testimony becomes.
Time spent with God brings about transformative changes. It brings us to a place of true repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, which leads to a change in how you live, that will bring about a change in attitude, and even a change in how you feel. Notice that repent was the fourth thing on the list. Individuals wanting to start attending church services are not required to “get clean” before they come to the church. It is not a DIY (do-it-yourself) project. If we take care of our part, then we can count on God to do three things:
1. God will hear from heaven. This is not passive listening. God will answer prayers. God will bring to pass in the earth the desires of our heart that line up with the will of God.
2. God will forgive sin. God will transform us into new creatures that model his character and not the character of the world or the condition of the world. A new person in Christ will walk in humility, kindness, honesty, love and mercy. We show up as a well-preached sermon.
3. God will bring prosperity through healing. In our humanity we are often reminded, by our flesh, that our bodies need healing, but there is a need for spiritual, emotional, financial and mental healing. God has promised to heal individually and to heal the nation. God can do it because He is omnipotent.
What stands between us and the blessings of God promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is our disobedience. God will not force his blessings upon on us, but God will freely give what he has promised, “if” we humble ourselves to a position of obedience to God’s Holy Word.
If we are not only hearers of the Word, but also doers of the Word, God will bless us in the newness of His grace and mercy every day. God does not lie.
St. James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy St. in Charleston. Worship service is held on the first and third Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. You may also join us on Zoom – pastorv.com. (Technical issues have been corrected with the Zoom platform.)
