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.”
Pastor Herk continued that revival can be expected when the wickedness of the wicked grieves, humbles and distresses Christians to turn from wicked ways. Wicked is defined as: “Evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to everything that is contrary to the moral law, and both to persons and actions. We say, a wicked man, wicked deed, wicked ways, wicked lives, a wicked heart, wicked designs, wicked works.”
Another requirement for spiritual revival to come is having a spirit of prayer for revival, pleading with God to bring revival. The shepherds of the church’s flock in the body of Christ need to preach and proclaim the need for revival to the faithful congregants. God knows when revival is needed and revival comes when needed, and may be in affect right now, maybe overdue to come. God is bringing a spirit of revival upon the people of this nation and the world in a spiritual awakening.
The Holy Spirit responds to need, not judgment. God begins His revival message of 1 Chronicles 7:14 with “if My people”, so God is not waiting on the lost people of the nation to do something. God is waiting on the church to do something. God’s people means Christ’s church. “If my people who are called by My name humble themselves.” Humble is defined as: “Lowly; modest; meek; submissive; opposed to proud, haughty, arrogant, vain or assuming. In an evangelical sense, having a low opinion of one's self, and a deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of God.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride is defined as: “Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. Compared to infinite God Almighty, finite fallen man, in every way, is like an ant standing at the foot of Mount Everest. So, we have to realize that pride has no place in us. Humble yourself in spirit.
1 Peter 5:5-6 “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “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.”
How do we humble ourselves? There are many ways. In Romans 12:3 the Apostle Paul says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” In Mark 9:35, the Lord Jesus says, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” And in Luke 14:8, 10-11, “When you are invited by anyone, do not sit down in the best place, but when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Fasting is another biblical way to humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Fasting (abstaining from food for a period of time) enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance and a transformed life. Putting God’s will ahead of yours and reverencing God by our posture in His presence during prayer, acknowledging His Lordship and Master authority is humbling yourself before the Lord. Find humility and get ready for revival.
Let's conclude Pastor Herk's message in the next post. In Christ, Brian
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