SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1422
“Wholeness”
If my people who are called by my name 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. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
This is an often-quoted Scripture in the Christian community as a prayer for our nation. It outlines four conditions and three promises of God. How does it apply to us today?
If My People: Israel – The context of this Scripture was at the dedication of the temple built by Solomon. It was addressed to the people – the Nation of Israel.
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. – Deuteronomy 7:6
If My People: Gentile Christians – Through faith in Jesus, we become grafted in the vine of God’s people: Israel, and we share in His Spiritual blessings and covenant promises. Note the admonishment against antisemitism in Romans 11. There is no room for arrogance toward the people of Israel among the Christian Body of Christ.
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy; Even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” – 1 Peter 2:10; Romanas 9:24-25
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. – Romans 11:17-18
If Humble – To be humble before God means to surrender self-sufficiency, and pridefulness. In humility we recognize our total dependence upon God in every aspect of our life.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. – James 4:6
He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. – Acts 17:25
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
If Pray – All too often our prayers are transactional rather than relational. We approach God as we would an Emergency Care Center or an ATM machine. Making our requests known is indeed part of prayer but sincere, heart-felt worship, praise, and expressing our love for Him are necessary and foremost – ‘Our Father Who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name’ is the preamble to the prayer we are taught by Jesus.
Pray without ceasing; Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 13:15
If Seek – Seeking the face of God is seeking His presence as we worship and pray. This is not church traditions and rituals. It is not the mindless rote recitation of ‘canned prayers’. This is relational, real, and personal. It is being intimate with God as our Father, Jesus as Savior, and the Holy Spirit counselor.
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek” – Psalm 27:8
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! – Psalm 105:4
If Repent – To repent is to turn away from sin and the occasion of sin. This is a change of mind and heart to flee immorality, demolish strongholds, resist the temptations of the enemy, and to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and be reconciled to God.
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God; Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. – 2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts 3:19
I Will Hear – God promises to be attentive to the prayer of those who are righteous through faith in Jesus.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – Corinthians 5:21
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. – 1 Peter 3:12
I Will Forgive – What a glorious promise this is! All of us are sinners and deserving of eternal damnation. This promise gives us the assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life; And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – John 3:16; Acts 4:12
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. – John 6:37
I Will Heal – The context of this Scripture speaks to the nation of Israel. The spiritual principle of this Scripture however applies to us also as His people, grafted into the vine of His chosen people.
The word translated ‘heal’ is ‘rapha’. It means curing, healing, and making whole.
The word translated ‘land’ is ‘erets’. It means the Earth, land, ground, country, and territory.
The contextual application may not necessarily be for the healing of the United States or any other nation other than Israel, but this Word of Truth does apply to us as His people, Jew, and Gentile believers in Jesus alike, that He will heal, save and make us whole.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5
Midterm elections are upon us this week. As Christian, born-again believers in Jesus Christ, saved by grace:
Are we humble before God, acknowledging His sovereignty?
Are we prayerfully considering the ballot policies and values represented by each candidate in light of Biblical values?
Are we seeking a personal relationship with the Triune Godhead, being guided in voting by the Holy Spirit?
Are we repentant, not only for our sins but also corporately for the sins of our nation?
May you be salt and light to your nation by voting and not abstaining in foolish apathy.
May you vote for policies and values, not persons or personalities.
May you vote based on Judeo-Christian principles and values in obedience to the counsel of the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord make us and our nation whole.
