March 11, 2018

Praying for Healing and Restoration

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: 40 Days of Prayer Topic: Prayer Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 18:9–14

40 Days of Prayer:

Praying For Healing and Restoration:

2 Chronicles 7:14 & Luke 18:9-14

We are living in an age of material prosperity and moral and spiritual poverty.

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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." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Some Introductory Observations:

  • This is not a promise for Everybody
  • This is a promise with a Premise

Powerful Prerequisites

  1. Choose Humility

Humility is a proper view of myself that leads me to Admit my sin, Acknowledge my need and Accept God’s grace.

Humility is seeing myself as God sees me; no more and no less.

Q: How is humility developed?

A: By Seeking God’s Face

Luke 18:9-14: A Study in Contrasts

The Pharisee had:

  • A good eye on Himself
  • A bad eye on Others
  • No eye on God

The secret to developing humility is:

  • Not looking Inward at ourselves
  • Not looking Outward at others
  • Looking Upward at the face of God

I seek God because He is Worthy To Be Sought

Seek God’s face, not just God’s Hand

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

  1. Practice Repentance

“True repentance must include everything that is offensive to God, including the secret sins of the heart, which are often the most devastating sins.” Richard Owen Roberts

We must deal with the root of sin, not just the fruit of sin.

Genuine Repentance Involves:

  • A change of Thinking

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

  • A change of Behavior

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:7–8)

 Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (Acts 26:19–20)

In response to God’s Spirit, we must live life as a life-long repenter.  A repenter will:

  • Renew their mind with the truth from Scripture consistently
  • Accept God’s discipline faithfully
  • Respond to God immediately
  • Obey God completely
  • Follow God personally

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

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.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Making It Personal

  • Where in my life do I need to experience God’s healing and restoration?
  • What will it look like for me to choose humility and practice repentance?
  • Who can I share these truths with?

other sermons in this series

Mar 18

2018

When God Says "NO"

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Acts 12 Series: 40 Days of Prayer

Mar 4

2018

Praying Throughout Your Day

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Ephesians 6:18 Series: 40 Days of Prayer

Feb 25

2018

Persistence in Prayer

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Luke 18:1–8 Series: 40 Days of Prayer