Dear Friends,

2 Chronicles 7:14 which says:

“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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and heal their land”.

As an young Christian, I have memorized this verse and preached on this verse in church and prayer meetings. Again at the end of this year 2013, I feel in my spirit, the importance of prayer in individual life, family life, and corporate life. There are 4 requirements from the people of Israel to inherit the promised three spiritual blessings:

1. To humble themselves
2. Pray
3. Seek God’s face
4. Turn from their wicked ways.

Three blessings upon Israel through obedience:

1. I will hear from Heaven
2. I will forgive their sin
3. I will heal their land

Let us explore the treasures in this wonderful verse.

INTRODUCTION

“If My people, which are called by My name” says the LORD in His second appearance to King Solomon(7:12-16). The LORD says in 1 Peter 2:10 :

“ Which in time past were not a people, but are now THE PEOPLE OF GOD;
which Had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”.

This is the prophetical statement spoken by the Apostle, from Hosea 1:9-10;2:23. This is our new identity in Christ Jesus that have obtained mercy and tasted that the Lord is merciful. God says: “ you are My people”, just like a teacher says affectionately that he/she is my student ( disciple). We are called by His name. We are called Christians. If we want to inherit God’s blessings, we need to fulfill four requirements.

1. HUMBLE YOURSELF:

Kneeling down in God’s presence for at least one hour per day is really humbling ourselves before Him. In my early Christian life, we believers in the church use to kneel down on the mats on the cement floor and sit down on the mat for few hours to hear the word of God. After that prayerful religious Pentecostal experience , I really felt unordinary strength in my legs and in my body . The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:8

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto All things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is To come”.

Prayer is one such trait of godliness and it is really profitable for our Christian life. Prayer brings victory. Humility brings many blessings in our life. One of that is exaltation ( honor). Jesus said in Luke 18:14 :

“ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”.

Before praying to God, one should humble himself, that is you should remove thoughts of pride from your mind. Before praying to God, one should humble himself, that is you should remove thoughts of pride from your mind. You should not despise others. Repent and change your mind. Say it aloud: “ God, be merciful to me a sinner”. That prayer makes you right standing with God. Prophecy: “ You shall be exalted”. James 4:10 says:“Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up”. Kneel down in your house, humble yourself and pray. Promotion is coming to you. Jesus humbled himself, God the Father exalted Him. Let us follow the example of Jesus.

2. PRAY:

Prayer is speaking to God in order to give thanks or to get help. For example, they knelt down and prayed for peace. Prayer is the words we use when we talk to God. These 7 words changed the sinners life into a righteous person in the temple. Speaking humble words to God is prayer. Prayer is not a religious exercise or physical gymnasium like fighting on knees. Prayer is loving relationship with God. We can pray like O.T.. saints prayer, Jesus prayer, St. Paul’s prayer, or even our own prayer language based on the word of God. The LORD says:“ Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer That is made in this place”. ( 2 Chronicles 7:15).

God sees us when we pray. God’s ears are attentive to our prayer in our house, in our church, in our work place or any holy place. Praising God is prayer. Thanking God is prayer. Asking God is prayer. Interceding for others is prayer. Let us read the prayer of a wonderful person who received healing from Jesus.

“ And one of them , when he saw that he was healed, turned back,
And with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet,
giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan” ( St. Luke 17:15- 16).

When he saw that his skin color was positively changed for good, he said loudly, Thank you Jesus, Thank you LORD, thank you God”. He became very happy. Prayer of thanksgiving led him to receive the total miracle in his spirit, soul and body. Let us pray, let us thank God.

3. SEEK GOD’S FACE:

The third requirement is seek the LORD’s face. This is the Jacob generation, who seek the face of the LORD. JESUS said:” Blessed are the pure in heart; they shall see God” ( St. Matthew 5: 8). Psalm 27:4 says:“ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the LORD all the days of my life, and to inquire in his temple”.

Do you have a desire to see Jesus. Dwell in His house. Behold, Jesus Christ The LORD, you shall receive your salvation. Prayer is seeking God’s face. We should praise and thank HIM. He will open His hands, He will stretch out His Hands, He will bless us when we seek His face. God is not poor, He is very rich. God wants to shower His blessings on His children. God’s face is towards the righteous. Let us turn to His face and become radiant. Look upon JESUS: the suffering, death, resurrection and glorification. You shall be transformed.

4. TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS:

David says: “ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments” (Psalm 119:176). “ Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know thoughts; And lead me in the way everlasting” ( Psalm 139:23,24).

Here are the six requests of David:

1. Search me
2. Know my heart
3. Try me
4. Know my thoughts
5. See if there be any wicked way in me
6. Lead me in the way everlasting

God says: “turn from your wicked ways”. You know your ways, examine yourself. To turn means to turn round when you hear God’s voice or to point or aim something in a particular direction. In the book of Revelation JESUS Counsels His church members to repent and be converted, so that they may be healed. When you turn from your wicked ways, it is not only turning from sin, but also turning to the true and living God. The Apostle Paul wonderfully explains the foundational doctrine very firmly in Acts 14: 15, 16 and the blessings in Acts 14 :17:

“ And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that you should turn from these vanities unto the Living God , which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered, all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”.

Here are five main points of Paul’s Apostalic sermon in Acts of the Apostles 14:15-17:

1. Be converted- turn from idols,
2. Turn to the Living God,
3. God created all things,
4. God is long suffering to sinners,
5. Providence of God.

(I like this wonderful sermon by Apostle Paul. I have preached on this, using these sermon points. I shall explain this sermon in a different context at a different time.)

BLESSINGS FOR OBEDIENCE :

1. I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN:

The Lord says: “ I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN”. God’s ears are not deaf. Thank God for good ears. God listens to our prayer. He is a Prayer answering God. When we pray on earth, God hears from Heaven. For example, God says:“ “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee Great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”. (Jeremiah 33:3).

When I call unto God, He answers me. He shows me great and mighty things which I do not know. . VISIONS - Heavenly visions. The Lord is the LORD of hosts. He is mighty in war. The LORD is great and mighty. Angels are at His command. He answers our Prayer.

2. I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN :

Which is easier? To forgive sins or to say, take up your bed and walk. Jesus has authority on the earth to forgive your sins. Jesus forgives our sins.” I have forgiven you, I have loved you, says the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has compassion on you”. When your sins are forgiven, your body will be changed into good stature. Most of the diseases are related to mind. If your mind is right ( MIND HEALTH ), your body will have good health.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

3. I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND

The LORD will heal your heart, heal your mind, heal your body and thus heal your land. He is Jehovah Rapha – the LORD our healer. The BIBLE says in 3 John 2:“ Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and Be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”.

Here the Apostle John says, 3 kinds of blessings that are God’s will:

1. Material Prosperity
2. Bodily healing and health
3. Soul’s salvation

If any one of these blessings are not the will of God, would it be the wish of this most beloved Apostle? If such blessings are the will of God for one man, they are for all men alike, who will have faith for them, because in the gospel there is no respecter of persons. God is willing that you enjoy material prosperity, have bodily healing and health and your salvation of soul. Praise the LORD. Amen. Prayer brings Victory. Let us dedicate ourselves for such a wonderful PRAYER LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU.

Worshipping God through offering

The Gospel of God is free. This message and all my Bible teachings are my free gift to you. I am planting the seed of the Word of God in your life because of the love of God in Christ Jesus our LORD. I believe that you are blessed abundantly by this ministry of prayer and the word of God.. I welcome free will offerings from sincere believers who accept this message and believe in Jesus. Let us read 1 Timothy 6:17-19:

17 Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.

Our Mailing Address: Rev. C. Peter Chandran NO.46/61, First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai 600015 India.

Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com cell phone: +91 9445113726

Website: www.thelivinggodministries.org

OUR PROGRAMME FOR DECEMBER 2013 AND JANUARY 2014

THE LIVING GOD MINISTRIES

• Church Building Construction in Tirchirapalli, Villupuram and Chennai cities “ …5 church buildings construction in these months.
• Gospel Meetings in villages and towns of Tamilnadu and India
• Bible Teaching seminars and Confereces
• Helping widows, orphans and school and college students in their studies
• Christian Literature ( Gospel brochures, books, bible in different Indian languages) free distribution

Your gift offerings shall be faithfully used for the above good works. Thank you very much for partnering with us in the gospel of God. I am travelling to Tiruchirapalli city in TN INDIA for one week Gospel Work (12 to 18 th December 2013) Pray for me.