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Good morning. I want to echo what Berger just said. Thank you so much for being here this morning.
If you are a guest, I just want to invite you back here to our table at the end of the service.
Pastor Bo's wife, Erin, will be back there as well as I will, and so we'd love to meet you and have a
conversation. If you want to know more about the church, just simply come back there and we'd love
to talk to you. We're continuing in our series on the misused verses of scripture today. We're in the
seventh week, which is hard to believe. Anybody in this room who is 18 years and younger, you don't
yet realize the speed of life. I wish I was your age. Remember those days of being six, seven, eight
years old, and it's just like, man, this day's going forever. This is great. I turned 59 a few weeks ago,
and now it's like, okay, why am I in July? This was just January, just a few weeks ago, and uh, but we
are. We're in the seventh week. We're going to be looking at 2nd Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14, so if you want
to go ahead and turn there, 2nd Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14, we're going to be looking at that verse
together. I do want to ask you to be in prayer, uh, this week for, uh, Pastor Joel and Pastor Bo. Uh, Joel is
leading the senior high students as well as some of the adults, uh, to go back up to Black Mountain. Uh, we have our
partnership there, uh, at the, uh, the orphanage, and so they're going to be doing a lot of work this week
there, so please be in prayer for them. They also gather together for Bible study, uh, just an incredible
week that our students have been able to experience over all these years, and, uh, Pastor Bo and, and
Josh are already up there getting some things set and organized. Pastor Bo will be cooking for them
this week, so again, just cover them this week in prayer. Anytime that comes to your mind this week,
just, just pause in that moment to pray for them. At the end of the service, we're going to be
experiencing communion together. We do that on the first Sunday of each month, uh, just so that we
realize what God has done for you and I and the sacrifice that Jesus has made. So if you're a follower
of Christ, you've given your life to Christ, the Savior, Lord, uh, I want to encourage you to join
with us as we have communion at the end. Uh, we've got the elements at the back table back there, so feel
free to go back there right now as well, uh, to get those elements as we will do that at the conclusion
of our service together. So in 2nd Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14, we read these words,
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.
We'll be taking a look at how this verse of scripture is misused. Before we dive into that
gather, please join me in prayer. Father, we just thank you so much for your word.
Father, within your scriptures, uh, you make alive to us who you are.
Through your scriptures, Lord, you show us, uh, all about the life in which we live here on this earth.
But also you show us the expectation of what heaven will be like as well.
So Lord, I pray as we walk through these verses together this morning, that you would just, uh,
give us understanding of your word as only you can.
Lord, we love you and we thank you. And we ask this prayer in your name. Amen.
As we've been walking through this series together over the last several weeks, there's just
one word that has just kept coming to my mind, just kind of banging around in my head.
And that's the word context. Context. Think about that for a moment.
You probably have all kinds of ideas when you hear that word context.
Have you ever had that experience where you're having a conversation with a, with a person,
whether it be a family member, a friend, maybe it's a coworker at work.
And you've been involved in about a 20 minute conversation and a person walks by and they hear
20 seconds of that conversation. And you're thinking that's the worst 20 seconds that they
could walk by and hear what we're saying. Because out of context, they don't really know the in-depth
conversation that you're having. Well, that's the same for you and I, when we approach scripture,
you and I are to be student of God's word. That means you and I are to constantly
be in and engage in God's word and in scripture. But sometimes we will take a verse and not quite
use it the way God would intend for you and I to use it. So I wanted to do something kind of
interesting. I was like, you know, there's all kinds of sayings about the word context, right?
And so I want to see if any of these are familiar to you. Every story has two sides. It's not just
what was said. It's when, how, and why it was said. Words mean something, but they don't mean
anything without context. Don't quote me out of context. You can make the Bible say anything if you
ignore the context. And then my favorite that I just happened to discover during this search is from
theologian D.A. Carson. And he says, a text without a context is a pretext for proof text. Now that's
something you would probably hear in a seminary classroom or in a classroom period. But it just has
that ring to it. A text without a context is a pretext for proof text. Another word of saying it would be
this, when we use a verse of scripture in solitude by itself, we run the risk of saying what is not
intended to be said of that verse. So context can be reading the verse before and reading the verse
after. Context can be reading the verse within its paragraph form, like you see in your scripture,
depending on what translation you use. Context can also mean reading several chapters to get the scope
of what it is that you're studying and what you're reading. The example of that is basically what you
and I are going to look at this morning. When we look at a greater context of this conversation that
King Solomon is having with God, we really need to kind of go back a few chapters. And if you didn't
know this, what is interesting about Chronicles, 1 and 2 Chronicles, books before that, 1 and 2 Kings,
you see repeats. If you've never come across that in your study. So it's just interesting when you
kind of read those. If you ever read a Bible in a chronological order, you will see how 1 and 2 Kings,
2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles sometimes have the exact same words.
But we're seeing a conversation that King Solomon and God are having together. Again, here's that focal
verse for you and I. 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. So here's the back story of all this. It goes back to King David who is Solomon's
father. Okay. And King David had this idea that he was going to build a house for the Lord. He was going
to build the temple for the Lord. He had it all planned out. There's a part in there that even says that even
though David had it in his heart, God said it's not going to happen with David. And so we see in this
one instance there in the scriptures where David is handing off the plans to Solomon because God has
chosen Solomon to be the next king. And it's the understanding that Solomon was probably in his late
teens. So think about that for a moment. You've got a teenager in their late teens who's about to become king
of the children of Israel, king of the children of God. And we're not talking about just a couple of thousand
people. We're talking millions, thousands and thousands and thousands of people that Solomon is going to be
king over. Now the interesting thing about this, again, if you kind of go back and read a little
further, when God comes to Solomon and he says, Solomon, what is it that you want me to give you?
Solomon asked for wisdom. And if you read beyond this chapter that we're looking at today, if you look
beyond that, you see in the scriptures where kings come to Solomon because they want to hear and know
of his wisdom because they had already heard about it. So God grants
Solomon the wisdom that he needs to lead and govern
the children of Israel. And not only that, but God
blesses Solomon for all that he does.
And you and I have the privilege to look at passages
in Psalms and Proverbs of Solomon
and his experience with the Lord.
So the story picks up in 2 Chronicles chapter 2.
And in chapter 5 of 2 Chronicles, Solomon has finished the temple, the house of the Lord.
He begins to gather the people together and he makes preparations to bring up the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, which is where the commandments have been placed and place it in the house of the
Lord. And in chapter 5, verses 7, 13, and 14, we read these words.
The priest brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the symbol of the Lord's presence, to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
However, the house, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the priest could not stand to minister, because the cloud, for the glory of the Lord, filled the house of God.
It's the first place that God makes his presence known in this temple, in this house that Solomon has made.
Now, can you imagine that?
You're one of those guys who's bringing the ark of the covenant into the holy of holies, and all of a sudden you can't get there, because the presence of God has ascended in that place.
Now, if you recall in the Old Testament readings, nobody experienced the presence of God, right?
Moses did on the mountain, but for anybody else, it didn't happen.
So, God is making his mark on the house that he intended for it to be built.
Then in 2 Chronicles chapter 6, Solomon blesses all the assembly of Israel.
So, everybody has gathered around the completion of the temple.
And he wraps the blessing up by saying, in chapter 6, verses 10 through 11,
Even within those verses we read, Solomon is recognizing who God is, what God has done, and what God is going to do.
And then as we continue to read in this chapter, the next thing that we see is that Solomon does a prayer of dedication for the house of the Lord.
It's complete, and now all the people are gathered still, and he is going to do a prayer of dedication.
And in this prayer that you and I can read together, you and I can see,
he prays about the relationship of the people's confession of sin and the Lord's response.
A prayer of forgiveness.
This is what Solomon prays first before giving the Lord examples.
You've got to go back and read this prayer in its entirety.
Because it's amazing what is said between Solomon and God in this,
but in chapter 6, verse 21, we read these words.
Again, Solomon is talking to God.
And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people, Israel, when they pray toward this place.
And listen from heaven, your dwelling place.
And when you hear, forgive.
And in this prayer, as he talks about the actions of the people and the Lord's response,
he uses the words if and then several times.
If you were to go through and highlight or underline, you would see the word if and then many, many times.
In your reading of the relationship between Solomon and the Lord,
you'll also discover that Solomon and the Lord have this if and then relationship.
It's like, God, if you do this, then I'll do this, or then the people will do this.
But then God comes back and says, Solomon, if you do this, and if your people do this, then I will do this.
When I started seeing that word, often and often again, I was like, man, this word is bigger than we really expect it to be.
That one little word of if.
For instance, in chapter 6, and I'm just going to hit them briefly.
In verses 22 through 23, it says,
If a man sins against his neighbor, then hear from heaven and act.
Now, I'm kind of chopping it up, but I want you to get the feeling of this.
Verses 24 and 25,
If your people Israel are defeated because they have sinned against you, then hear from heaven and forgive.
26 and 27.
If they, speaking of God's people, pray towards this place, then hear in heaven and forgive.
28 and 29.
If there is famine in the land.
If there is pestilence.
If there is enemies.
Now, remember that phrase right there.
Because it's going to come back to us when we get to chapter 7.
Then hear from heaven and forgive.
Verses 34 and 35.
If your people go out to battle their enemies, then hear from heaven their prayer.
And then 26 and 39 through 39.
If they sin against you, for there is no one who does not sin.
Those are the words of Solomon.
There is no one who does not sin.
If they repent with all their heart, then hear and forgive.
Over and over you see that in chapter 6.
Incredible what he prays.
I encourage you to go back and see the entirety of that prayer that Solomon prays in 2 Chronicles 6.
And then he concludes his prayer.
And watch what happens in chapter 7.
We thought it was a big deal when the priest entered with the Ark of the Covenant.
Right?
And God shows up in that moment.
But now listen to what happens.
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings,
and the sacrifices and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
The second time the Lord appears.
And the priest could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house.
Again, can you imagine?
You're there.
Solomon is right there.
Solomon is seeing all this unfold.
That's why we have it.
That's why we can read it and know it.
Verse 3.
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down in the glory of the Lord on the temple,
listen to their response.
They bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshipped
and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,
For he is good.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
I'm a part of one of our men's Bible study groups, the Tuesday morning group,
and we've been walking through the book of Psalms for quite some time,
and quite often you see the word steadfast in the Psalms.
I'm like, what is this word?
I don't use this word on a normal basis.
What in the world is steadfast?
And one of the definitions that you see about the word steadfast is loyal.
The word loyal.
That the Lord's love is loyal for you and I.
When there's loyalty, it never goes back on it.
All this is at taking place.
You know, when we read this, or the thought that crossed my mind,
it was this, the phrase,
Revival is breaking out.
When you look at the response of the people,
and you see what Solomon is doing
for their time of gathering together and praising God,
it sounds like there, really, the revival and renewal is breaking out.
Because remember,
I don't know how many years ago it was now,
but Pastor Bo took us through the study of judges.
Do you remember that?
And that cycle that the people of Israel,
the children of God, went through on a regular basis.
They would obey God, they would follow God,
then they would sin, God would send a judge,
and the relationship of God's people and Him would be restored.
And then that would start all over again.
You kind of see that even here as we read that as well.
But the revival in this point is breaking out.
Because now Solomon and the people offered sacrifices for the Lord.
You see that in 2 Chronicles 7, verse 4.
And the amazing thing is,
when you read that part of 2 Chronicles 7,
is for two weeks,
two weeks they celebrated and praised God
for all that they experienced and all that they saw.
in that moment.
Two weeks.
Y'all know a joke's coming.
It gets about 11, 15,
we're busting from those doors.
But for two weeks,
they gathered together
to worship and to praise God
because they were in the midst
of His presence.
So that's the back story
that sets up for you and I today
this verse of Scripture
that you and I see.
But before we get to that,
because the whole series
is talking about how you and I
and anybody can misuse
the Word of God
or misuse Scripture.
There's just one verse
for multiple years
has kind of been a rally cry
for politics and campaign
as well.
It's been a rally cry
for nations
and it's kind of like,
how in the world
do you go to one single verse
in all of Scripture
to do that?
Be it if you've
watched TV sometimes
or you're watching politics
and you ever come across
that verse of Scripture,
2 Chronicles 7, 14,
you hear folks quote
that Scripture.
They quote that Scripture
as if our nation
or any nation
is going to be blessed
by God
or if God is going
to do something special.
And we don't see that
in this verse.
This verse is talking about
the children of Israel.
It's talking about
the children of God
and what God wants to do
in them in that moment.
For you and I,
it's about nowadays,
it's for you and I,
it's about the Big C Church.
It's the church
all over this world.
It's those who are gathering
in China
to worship God
in secret.
It's those who are gathering
in India
to worship God.
It's those who are gathering
in New York
and Salt Lake City
to worship God.
It's those who are gathering
in the Philippines
to worship God.
That is the Big C Church.
That is the people of God
that you and I
are a part of today.
And so when the Big C Church,
the people of God today,
pray,
it is all of us
praying together.
You and I are encouraged
in God's Word
to pray for our nation
and we need to do that.
It is in God's Word
that we pray for our world
and you and I
need to do that.
But it's so easy
for us sometimes
to take Scripture
and not say
what it is intended
to be said.
The writer of the book
that we've kind of been
pulling some of these verses
from
says this
about this verse.
This is significant
because the promise
that the Lord gives
is specifically
to this King
and these people
in this time
and this place.
It is not to be
a general promise
that is given
to any other nation
on the face of the earth
nor other nation
could even
ever claim
to be
God's people.
No other nation
today has a temple
where the living God
dwells.
You and I
can easily be tempted
by taking a verse
of Scripture
and using it
for our agenda
or for our cause.
It's funny
if you kind of
sit around
and listen
and observe
whether it's TV
or something
that you read
or a conversation
that you hear
it has kind of
amazed me
over the last few years
of how many things
I hear
that somebody says
that I know
is not a follower
of Christ
but points back
to the Scriptures.
Or if I hear
something in a movie
or a TV show
that points back
to the Scriptures.
You see
God laid a foundation
and like the Scriptures
tell us
some people
just want to build
something different
on that foundation.
But God says
to you and I
know
build on my
foundation
that I've
laid for you
the things
that I desire
from my word.
You see
we need to guard
against using
Scripture
to our advantage.
Instead
as Scripture
states
use it for
teaching
reproof
correction
and training
in righteousness.
But here's
the main context
of this verse.
Here's how
it's all pulled
together in this
conversation
that Solomon
and God
are having together.
We pick it up
in 2 Chronicles
chapter 7
starting at
verse 11.
Thus Solomon
finished the
house of the
Lord
and the
king's
house
all that
Solomon
had planned
to do
in the
house
of the
Lord
and in
his own
house
he
successively
accomplished.
So Solomon
was building
the temple
for the
Lord
but
God
allowed
him
to also
build
his
house
as well.
And then
the Lord
appeared to
Solomon
in the
night
and said
to him
this is
now
the
second
time
that
the
Lord
has
appeared
to
Solomon.
Lord
says
to him
I
have
heard
your
prayer.
If
there's
ever a
doubt
in your
life
about
whether
or not
God
hears
his
followers
prayers
there's
proof
for you
right
there.
God
hears
the
prayers
of his
people.
God
hears
those
who
follow
him
as
Lord
and
Savior.
He
goes
on to
say
and
have
chosen
this
place
for
myself
as
a
house
of
sacrifice.
When
I
shut
up
the
heavens
so
that
there
is
no
rain
that's
what
I
was
referring
to
earlier
or
command
the
locusts
to
devour
the
land
or
send
pestilence
among
my
people
that's
God's
judgment
when you
see that
in the
scripture
we see
that
in
Old
Testament
where
the
children
of
God
have
disobeyed
God
sends
his
judgment
then
in
14
if
you're
writing
your
Bible
you might
want to
underline
that
you might
want to
circle
it
you might
want to
highlight
it
because
God
says
to
Solomon
if
my
people
who
are
called
by
my
name
my
people
who
are
called
by
my
name
that's
important
for you
and I
to hear
that
God
doesn't
place
right
here
if
this
nation
calls
me
he
says
if
my
people
who
are
called
by
my
name
and
then
he
gives
the way
my
mind
works
I
love
this
kind
of
thing
man
I'm
a
detailed
type
of
person
I'm
an
outline
type
of
person
and
when
I
read
a
verse
of
scripture
like
this
it
excites
me
because
it
gives
me
steps
it
gives
me
things
to
think
about
humble
themselves
and
pray
and
seek
my
face
and
turn
from
their
wicked
ways
then
God
says
then
I
will
hear
from
heaven
and
will
forgive
their
sin
and
heal
their
land
says
then
I'm
going
to
listen
and
when
he
says
here
that
he's
going
to
heal
their
land
he's
talking
about
when
he
sends
judgment
now
he's
going
to
restore
when
he
sends
discipline
now
he's
going
to
restore
and
reconcile
the
relationship
and
then
in
verse
15
God
says
now
my
eyes
will
be
open
and
my
ears
attentive
God
hears
your
details
of
your
prayer
doesn't
get
the
cliff
notes
or
whatever
students
might
read
today
in
school
that's
dating
me
I'm
sure
the
yellow
book
yelling
black
it
says
that
God
is
attentive
to
the
prayer
that
is
made
in
this
place
for
now
I
have
chosen
and
consecrated
this
house
that
my
name
may
be
there
forever
my
eyes
and
my
heart
will
be
there
for
all
time
one
of the
things
that I
read
is
this
is
probably
only
one
of
two
places
in
scripture
that
ever
talks
about
the
heart
of
God
as
far
as
God
being
in
a
place
my
eyes
and
my
heart
will
be
there
for
all
time
verse
17
and
it's
for
you
so
here
it
comes
now
the
flip
side
now
it's
God
doing
the
if
and
then
and
for
you
if
you
Solomon
if
you
will
walk
before
me
as
David
your
father
walked
doing
according
to
all
that
I
have
commanded
you
and
keeping
my
statues
and my
rules
those
words
are
quite
used
quite
often
especially
in
Psalms
119
command
statutes
rules
God
says
then
I
will
establish
your
royal
throne
as
I
coveted
with
David
your
father
saying
you
shall
not
lack
a
man
to
rule
Israel
but
then
God
throws
a
but
in
there
a
but
if
Solomon
if
you
turn
aside
and
forsake
my
statutes
and
my
commandments
that
I
have
set
before
you
and
go
and
serve
other
gods
and
worship
them
then
I
will
pluck
you
up
from
my
land
that
I
have
given
you
and
this
house
that
I
have
consecrated
for
my
name
I
will
cast
out
of
my
sight
and
I
will
make
it
a
proverb
and
a
byword
among
all
peoples
and
at
this
house
which
was
exalted
everyone
passing
by
will
be
astonished
and
say
why
has
the
Lord
done
this
to
this
land
and
to
this
house
then
they
will
say
because
they
abandoned
the
Lord
the
God
of
their
fathers
who
brought
them
out
of
the
land
of
Egypt
and
laid
hold
on
other
gods
and
worshiped
them
and
served
them
therefore
he
has
brought
all
this
disaster
on
them
so
in
context
when
you
read
all
that
together
about
what
that
one
verse
says
verse
14
it
makes
a
big
difference
it
makes
a lot
more
sense
but
there
is
something
about
this
verse
anytime
you
and
I
are
reading
God's
word
yes
we
know
the
context
of
what
is
happening
in
that
moment
in
that
time
and
in
that
place
but
as
a
student
of
God's
word
we
also
have
to
ask
the
question
God
what
do
you
want
me
to
know
from
this
God
what
do
you
need
me
to
use
from
this
to
correct
my
life
what
do
you
need
me
to
use
to
bring
about
a
change
in
my
life
and
I
think
there's
a few
things
that
you
and
I
can
see
to
do
that
again
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
what
does
God
desire
for
his
people
you
and I
must
recognize
who we
are in
Christ
who you
identify
with
do you
identify
yourself
as a
child
of God
do you
identify
yourself
with who
Christ
is
are you
known
by God
in a
personal
and intimate
way
if you
are
then you
can say
I am
a child
of God
I am
the people
of God
God
desires
for you
and I
that we
must come
humbly
before God
that's a
hard word
humility
do you
recognize
in your
life
I can
recognize
it in
my life
when it's
I'm not
humble
but God
says to
you and I
come before
him with
humility
why
because when
we come
to God
in humility
we realize
a few
things
one
I'm not
as big
as I
think I
am
I don't
know as
much as
I think
I know
and I
am really
weak
and I'm
not strong
to handle
and do
the things
that I
need to
do
for the
things
that I'm
going
through
I've
got to
come to
that place
in my
life
where I'm
humble
because in
that humility
I need to
surrender
to God
I need
to surrender
to the fact
that he
has the
strength
he has
the power
to do
whatever it
is that he
needs to
do in
my life
and that's
kind of the
first thing
that Solomon
said that
God says
to Solomon
says to
his people
humble
yourself
and then
the next
thing
that we
see there
is that
God
desires
that we
must be
consistent
in prayer
and seeking
the face
of God
the whole
content of
this conversation
that you
and I
see
with Solomon
and with
God
is about
the people
confessing
or an
individual
confessing
their sin
to God
and God
forgiving
them
that's the
context
of what we
see in
this prayer
prayer
and seeking
the face
of God
has to
involve
confessing
and asking
God
for forgiveness
how often
and in what
manner
do you and
I pray
and seek
the face
of God
how often
and in what
manner
do you and
I pray
and seek
the face
of God
does it
only happen
in a 9-1-1
call to God
God I got
emergency
I really
need you
right now
or is it
more like
the old
hymn
I thought
I would
sing it
to you
but I'm
a little
scared
I need
thee
oh I
need thee
every hour
I need
thee
I do
every hour
every moment
I need
the Lord
when my
mind is
racing for
thoughts
that aren't
what God
intends
when my
aggravation
in my
head
or my
heart
is in
overdrive
when my
fuse is
so short
there's not
a fuse
I need
thee
oh I
need
thee
every hour
I need
thee
and like
Solomon did
and like
the children
of Israel
did
they fell
on their
knees
on the
pavement
and placed
their face
to the
ground
to pray
to God
and lastly
the Lord
says there
it's important
for you
and I
one of the
things we
take away
is to
turn from
let go
of
release
sinful
and wicked
ways
you know
sometimes
we like
just to
kind of
hold on
to some
things
and kind
of pack
it away
and think
it's not
doing
anything
but in
reality
Satan
is using
that
to continue
to stir
in your
heart
your mind
and your
spirit
it could
be
anything
it doesn't
have to be
a bad
thought
it could
just be
something
going on
that you
just kind
of keep
or a bad
habit
but you're
just
you're
keeping
it there
it's sin
it's wickedness
and Satan
is using
it and God
says
turn
repent
go the
opposite
direction
get it
out of
your life
put it
somewhere
where it's
not going
to affect
you
you and
I
when we
read something
like this
we have
to ask
ourselves
what sinful
and wicked
ways do I
see in
myself
and am I
willing to
turn
from that
you see
Solomon knew
and he says
it in that
prayer that
every one
sin
when he
looked out
on all
these people
of Israel
he said
every one
of them
not just
one
not a half
a dozen
or a half
a couple
of thousand
every one
and you
and I
are no
different
am I
calling out
the sin
of my
life
and turning
away
and seeking
God's
forgiveness
through confession
if the
church
the big
C
in the
U.S.
and in
the world
wants to
see global
spiritual
renewal
it has
to start
with you
and I
it has
to start
with the
people
of God
knowing
what God's
word says
and applying
those words
to our
life
and like it
says over
in Revelation
for you
and I
to return
to our
first love
who is
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
and then
God says
this is what
I'm going
to do
if you
do this
then this
is what
I'm going
to do
and he
promises
to hear
his people
because I
will hear
from heaven
it starts
when you
and I
are humble
and we're
praying
and seeking
the face
of God
but God's
promise
holds true
he's going
to hear
us
then he
promises
to give
our sin
and again
understand
when God
promises
something
he's going
to come
through
with it
it's not
like you
can go
away
and go
50-50
maybe God's
going to
do this
maybe he's
not
no you
can walk
away
knowing
with
beyond a
shadow
of a
doubt
what God's
word says
God is
going to
do
we're
reminded
of that
in 1
John 1
9
where it
says
if we
confess
our
sins
there's
that word
if again
I think
I might
have to
do a
study
of the
word
if
in the
scriptures
if we
confess
our
sins
he is
faithful
and just
to forgive
us of
our sins
and to
cleanse us
from all
unrighteousness
and then
the last
part of
that he
says
he promises
to heal
now I
left the
word
land
off for
a reason
because
when you
know
in the
entirety
of God's
word
God does
more than
just heal
the
land
where
he
sent
drought
and
sent
locusts
he does
more
healing
than
just
that
God
has
the
power
to
heal
your
mind
God
has
the
power
to
heal
your
relationships
God
has
the
power
to
do
whatever
it
is
that
you
need
him
to
do
he's
got
that
power
and
strength
we
see
that
in
God's
word
he's
got
the
power
to
take
a
whole
nation
and
the
children
of
Israel
and
turn
them
back
towards
him
and
then
when
they
venture
off
again
and
do
something
else
he
has
the
power
to
bring
them
back
so
if
you're
sitting
there
things
like
now
God
can't
do
this
in
my
life
I
promise
you
if
you
will
humble
yourself
and
be
before
the
Lord
he
will
accomplish
in
you
those
things
that
you
think
he
can't
do
I
promise
you
but
a lot
of
times
folks
just
want
to
stick
their
toe
in
the
water
of
God
and
God
says
no
I
need
your
all
that
list
that
we
just
read
about
what
God
challenges
Solomon
and
the
people
to
do
is
that
plan
for
you
and
I
to
have
that
continual
fellowship
and
relationship
with
the
Lord
yes
it's
our
faith
and
yes
it's
our
trust
but
there's
that
renewing
that
constantly
has
to
take
place
in
our
life
especially
when
sin
has
entered
in
God
has
the
power
to
heal
and
he
heals
our
relationship
with
him
last
question
I leave
with you
is this
is your
relationship
right
with
God
is your
relationship
right
with
God
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
will give
their sin
and heal
their land
father
we are
grateful
we are
thankful
for your
word
father
if we
would just
do our
due
diligence
to study
your
word
to be
in your
word
we would
see
things
we would
know
things
that we
never
realized
that we
would know
and see
and understand
so father
it's my
prayer
that as
we've
seen
here
that
lord
whatever
reconciliation
that we
need to
do
on an
individual
basis
in our
relationship
that we
have
with you
father
I pray
that we
will do
that
whatever
sin in
our life
that we
need
confess
to you
I pray
that you
would give
us the
strength
and courage
to confess
it lord
and to
turn from
it
lord
help us
to realize
who you
are
and how
powerful
you
are
and the
strength
that you
have
to do
whatever
it is
that
needs
to be
done
in our
life
lord
if there's
some
things
that we're
battling
with
even
today
lord
just
maybe
some
sickness
in our
life
maybe
some
major
decisions
that we
have to
make
for
ourselves
or
maybe
for
our
family
lord
may we
come
to you
in prayer
knowing
that you
listen
to us
and you
are
attentive
to our
prayers
lord
we know
that you
love us
beyond
what we
can even
imagine
or think
father
thank you
so for
loving us
so much
that you
gave us
your
word
to mold
and shape
the relationship
that you
desire
for us
to have
with you
thank you
for reaching
out to us
and drawing
us to you
lord we
love you
and we
thank you
and we
ask this
prayer in
your name
amen
that's it
for this
week's message
be sure to
check back
next week
for a new
episode
and in the
meantime
you can
visit us
online at
willowridgechurch.org
or by searching
for Willow Ridge
Church on
Facebook
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and YouTube
thanks again
for listening
and we'll see you next time