by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2011 | 2 Chronicles, Daily-E-Votionals
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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Back in the 70’s, I was an associate pastor of a large church. One Sunday, just before the service an elderly lady collapsed in the aisle near the rear of the church. I was just entering and observed one of our members, a medical doctor, doing chest compressions on the little lady.
When he saw me, he immediately called me over and told me to take over while he checked her for vital signs. It was the first and only time I have ever felt my hands repeatedly crush down on a person’s chest to keep the heart pumping blood throughout the body. It is an awesome and fearful experience. (By-the-way, the lady survived this traumatic ordeal after a few days in the hospital.)
There are people around us who seem to be in spiritual cardiac arrest. We see them stagger and collapse. The question is how we are going to respond. Do we wring our hands and cluck of tongue, or do we dive in to give spiritual restoration? Today’s Scripture provides the steps to revival. Back in 1863, William P. Mackey wrote the words to this week’s hymn.
Revive Us Again
We praise Thee, O God! For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died, And is now gone above.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
We praise Thee, O God! For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior, And scattered our night.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
All glory and praise! To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins, And hath cleansed every stain.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
All glory and praise! To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us, And guided our ways.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
Revive us again; Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled, With fire from above.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
To access Revive Us Again, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Hymn Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/reviveusagain in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Feb 27, 2010 | 2 Chronicles
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This is a special issue of the Daily-E-Votional. I hope you are able to go to this website and view the powerful message. While it is directed at the US, it has equal value for those of you in other nations.
IN GOD WE TRUST
This is tremendous! Be sure to bring up the video. Wish that it could be presented to every Church congregation as soon as possible!
A very beautiful presentation of the truth!
When the screen fills up with words, then the words tumble to the bottom and new words start up again at the top of the screen. Very nice!
http://www.greatdanepro.com/Pray%20For%20America/index.htm
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 23, 2009 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
“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.”
In this passage we are given the requirements for God hearing and healing a wicked nation. It is not when the nation cleans up its act, but when the people of God clean up their act. We talk about revival, but today I want us to take some time and analyze what is involved in it. Revival is not turned on and off like a water faucet. There are requirements that must be met.
Back in 1863, William P. Mackey wrote the words to this week’s hymn, “Revive Us Again!” Listen with your heart.
“Revive Us Again“
We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
To access Revive Us Again, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/reviveusagain in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2009 | 2 Chronicles
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
If there was a way to survey the un-churched element in our society about their opinion of churches and the people who attend them, what do you suppose they would say? That applies regardless of what part of the world you are living.
Many who are actively involved in the church growth movement have seemingly tried to tailor the church to use entertainment to draw people. They seem to think that by this means they will appeal to those who have not previously attended.
I just received a wonderful quote that was forwarded to me by my beloved friend Kenny McClinton in Northern Ireland: “If the church were down on her face in prayer they would be more concerned with the fellow outside. The Church has degenerated into a third rate amusement joint, with religion left out!”
Wow! Those are strong words aren’t they? I guess the author of the quote has been inside many of our modern churches. As a matter of fact he hasn’t. The quote was made by none other than the evangelist Billy Sunday back in 1914. Can you imagine what he would say about what is going on in our churches today?!
I also received an e-mail from another friend in Missouri. In it he shared his testimony of how he came to be born again. He attended a church that simply preached Jesus as the only way to heaven. No entertainment!
After the service, as he walked alone, he realized that he was a lost sinner. He prayed a sinner’s prayer and asked the Lord to come into his heart. Immediately he felt the burden of sin lift off his shoulders. He knew beyond any shadow of doubt that his prayer was answered. That was real! No entertainment necessary!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 2, 2009 | 2 Chronicles
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The humorous story is told of two children, Johnny and his younger sister, Judy. The two had been outside playing when Judy rushed into the house crying. Judy told her mother that Johnny had hit her. Their mother asked Johnny why he had hit his sister. He replied: “I didn’t hit her—she just ran into my fist!”
It is always easier to blame someone else for our sins and transgressions than to confess them ourselves. This is especially true as we look at our sin-sick world. We cluck our tongues and pray for God to change our rotten society.
I certainly do not mean to imply that we are to accept what is going on in our world, but how does God expect us to respond? I think the answer is that we need to look into the mirror of God’s Word.
In today’s Scripture God is speaking to His people. That means those of us who are born-again believers. So what does this passage say to us? Humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways.
Before we can ever hope to change our world we have to examine ourselves and discover areas of sin and compromise that lurk deep within. We can never hope to see our world change until we are willing to experience a change in our own life. Are you willing to change?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 1, 2009 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 26:5, 16
“He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success… But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.”
I recall listening to a sermon tape of a message by Dr. Donald Barnhouse. He related that following a sermon on total commitment a man came up to him and in a simpering voice said; “Dr. Barnhouse, please pray that God will make me nothing.” In his booming voice, Dr. Barnhouse replied: “Take it by faith brother—you are nothing!”
It was not to put the man down, but rather to emphasize that we are never to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. The sin of pride is so prevalent in the human nature that we can never stop fighting against it.
Uzziah was one of righteous kings in Judah. In the early days of his reign he was God’s man. He was fervent for the Lord and led the people of Judah in honoring God.
The problem was that he became so enamored with his spiritual importance that he entered the temple and offered incense directly on the altar of incense. This was a task that only the priests who were consecrated were permitted to do.
God’s wrath was swift and His judgment severe. Leprosy broke out on Uzziah’s face and he was an outcast for the remainder of his life. We observe the same reaction on God’s part for those believers who ignore God’s Word and seem to feel that they are exempt because of their faithful service. How foolish we are!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
