Revival through turning form wicked ways
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “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.”
Today we come to that phrase ”and turn from their wicked ways.” What does it mean to turn from their wicked ways?
Wicked ways mean bad, evil, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery.
Daniel 9:18-19 (NIV) “Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Psalm 50:16-17 (NKJV) “But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, 17 Seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?”
Our wicked ways according to this scripture are ignoring (casting God’s word of instruction behind us) God’s Words of instructions.
Turning from our wicked ways means turning to an obedience-producing love for God. Jesus saves us from our sin, not merely in our sin. The gospel doesn’t just save us so that we can remain comfortably in our sin with no change. Believing in Jesus Christ means receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to turn from sin and turn to God and that means obedience to God. We aren’t saved by obedience to God, but we are saved for obedience to God.
But something vitally important needs to come before our obedience to God – and that is a wholehearted love for God.
Deut. 11:13-17 (ESV). And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul (that’s the commandment), 14he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. 15And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. 16Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; 17then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.
John 14:15 (ESV)”If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
The Promise – “if My people who are called by My name
The Action – will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
The Reward – then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”