A DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
by Don Anderson
Several years ago I gave the Sunday morning, Fourth of July weekend message at Pleasant Grove Community Church. My text for the message was 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I emphasized the need for God’s people to diligently pray for our country and for its leadership.
Since that time, our country has fallen into dire straits. It can be very discouraging to see all the things that are happening as we watch helplessly. Is there anything that we can do to turn this tragedy around? Is there a way that our country can be healed and come together?
God appeared to King Solomon following the completion of the Temple. God told Solomon that if ever the land of Israel fell into sin to the point that God would withhold rain, allow locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence (think virus), all they needed to do was to follow the imperative in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This certainly applies to today. This verse can be the key to the healing of our very sick nation. If we want God to heal our land here is what needs to be done.
First, God says: “If my people." Who are "my people?” They are those called by God’s name; those who are born-again believers in Jesus Christ as Savior. It’s is God’s people who are called on here, not unbelievers. Unbelievers cannot help in the healing of our land. Only God’s people are called upon in this verse.
What are God’s people called to do? There are four things specified in the verse: humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways. Let’s consider each of these.
- “Humble themselves.” Humbleness is a mindset that forsakes its own desires and honor to be obedient to God’s Word and will. 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
- “Pray.” Praying is simply talking to God! It involves spending time communing with Him. We must pray fervently for our healing, for wisdom for our leaders and for God’s people to repent and get right with Him.
- “Seek my face.” This involves our desire to worship God for who He is, the great creator and sustainer of the universe. The Apostle John tells us to “worship Him in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
- “Turn from their wicked ways.” Sin is the reason that we are in the predicament we are in today. Our nation has forsaken God to serve its own lusts and desires. To turn from our wicked ways is to repent. Repentance means to change the direction of the heart and mind. Christians everywhere need to repent, to forsake their sin and change their direction back to God.
If Christians everywhere would do these four steps, God promises to do three things:
- “I will hear from heaven.” God is listening to our prayers. 1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- “I will forgive their sin.” 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- “I will heal their land.” Only God can heal our land.
It is
not
because of unbelievers that we are in the predicament we are in.
It is because God’s people have fallen away from Him and have, as Ephesians 4:19 says, “given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” This is the time for believers everywhere, including you and I, to be on our knees, fervently humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, repenting of our sins and turning back to Him! If we don’t, our country will continue to go down the road to ruin. Why not make this a time of getting right with God so that He can honor His promise and heal our land?!
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Several years ago, Pastor Phil wrote a Bible Study on Psalm 23 called
Stress Busters. Since our message series is on that Psalm, we are offering you this Bible study. You can study it on your own, or
you can join a group facilitated by Pastor Phil and study it together!
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to properly open the study.
If you do not have it on your computer, you can download and install it for free.
To download Acrobat Reader
CLICK HERE. When the page opens, unclick the two optional offers for McAfee Security and then click on the yellow button that says "Download Acrobat Reader."
How the Facebook Group Will Work
It will be a private group, meaning only members can take part. It will not be available or visible to the public. On the group Facebook page, we will post our answers and thoughts from that week's Bible study. You can post anytime during the week and as often as you like. You can choose which questions you want to offer your thoughts on. This is an experiment, but it will be fun, build our faith, and help us stay connected. If you want to be sent an invitation to join our Facebook group email Pastor Phil at
psommervillepgcc@gmail.com.
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WE WANT TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!
So many of you commented on how much you appreciated reading Dawn Jenning's testimony in last week's email. Testimonies are powerfully encouraging and we want to share more.
It could be a testimony on how you became a Christian, or a testimony of some kind of meaningful experience you have had with God.
If you fear that you wouldn't be able to write it well, have no fear. If you desire, we can interview you and write it up for you.
Please volunteer to share your story and give God glory. Email your story to the church email address listed below or let us know you would be willing to be interviewed.
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WE NEED MORE OF YOUR SHARING!
Please share with us your:
- Artwork (painting, drawing, photography, craft work)
- Favorite Recipe (and if there is a story behind it, share that as well)
- Favorite Quote (and who it's from)
- Favorite Bible Verse
- Garden Picture (if you do your own gardening)
- TESTIMONY! (We will help you write it if you would like.)
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Study the Book of John with Pastor Joe
Pastor Joe is writing a short, "Missional Commentary" on the Book of John. Each week we will offer another installment.
Read John chapter 11. Then, read Joe's commentary and reflect on his comments and questions (it's only two pages). To open Joe's commentary
CLICK HERE.
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If you have a need
,
don’t keep it a secret! If you need prayer, if there is an emergency, if you need help, if you need groceries, if you are going crazy and just need to chat, call or email us.
Call us
at 916-771-4447
(Please leave a message if no one answers.)
Write us
at 1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747
Blessings, PGCC staff
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HOW TO GIVE TO PGCC
The church is not closed (just the building is closed) and staff is still serving. Discipleship, evangelism, serving and care are still full steam ahead. And it is all possible because you, the church, support it. THANK YOU!
You can GIVE:
- By Mail addressed to the Church at 1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747.
- Online through our website, www.pgcc.church, or by using the blue button below.
If you need assistance setting up your Online Giving, please call Cyndi at the office, Mon-Thu, 916-771-4447. Please leave a message if no one answers. Messages are checked regularly.
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If you are not automatically getting these emails
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Pleasant Grove Community Church
1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747
(916) 771-4447 www.pgcc.church
Email: 1730pgccoffice@gmail.com
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