A Message for Both Christian Ministers and Church Members
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
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” (NKJV).
Our spiritual standing with God is proportionate to our prosperity in the economy of heaven, and it must be assessed based on how willing (or otherwise) we are to allow His work of redemption to be fulfilled in our lives.
Our ecclesiastical callings or duties in the church, or outside it, do not automatically mean that we have a good relationship with the Godhead. However, our commitment to living a sin-free life is a more reliable indication of such a relationship.
Romans 14:17: “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men” (NKJV).
Though identified as God’s people in the Scripture above, the Israelites were nevertheless admonished to turn from their wicked ways and seek God. This might mean that they had, at one time or another, gone astray and that God’s admonition had therefore become necessary to restore them to fellowship with Him.
Sin, no matter how small, can cause a serious breach in a Christian’s relationship with God. A person may still retain their religious titles or public recognition but lose their standing with God unless they repent and turn away from that sin.
It is not uncommon to find some children of God falling into sin and then making futile attempts to cover it up, but to no avail. Whatever is concealed from people cannot be concealed from God and may eventually be exposed.
Matthew 10:26: “… For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (NKJV).
To such persons comes God’s admonition to turn away from their wicked ways, seek His forgiveness, and obtain His mercy.
- WHY REPENTANCE?
«”Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” (Isaiah 52:11).»
If we must continue the Lord’s ministry of calling the lost to repentance, whether from the pulpit or through our personal Christian lives, then we too must have repented of all sins. Carrying on this work without a proven testimony of genuine repentance could prove fatal in the end.
«”Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devil? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21–23).»
Our love for God, our ministry, and the people among whom we live should move us to turn away from every sin so that they will not be deceived.
A thorough spiritual breakthrough can come about only when sin is gotten rid of. A holy life will lead to a spiritual breakthrough, as seen in the following Scriptures: Acts 2:41; Acts 8:6; 2:6, 7; 12:3, 4; 3:7; 6:7b; 19:17.
Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (NKJV).
Sin brings reproach to the life of anyone who lives with it. No godly ministry can thrive while tolerating even the least sinful act, just as no personal relationship with God can flourish in sin.
«”He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”»
- WHAT SHOULD WE REPENT OF?
The greatest hypocrite is the one who knows their sin yet pretends not to.
Judas was an apostle, but he was covetous. Eli was a priest, but he tolerated the sins of his sons. Like Achan, some people take things consecrated to the Lord and convert them for their personal use, such as church money and property.
Some people can be as envious and rebellious as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Others backbite against God’s servants, as Aaron and Miriam did. Some are as greedy for gain as the prophet Balaam, who, for the sake of money, taught King Balak how to entice the Israelites into immorality. Some tell lies like Brother Ananias and his wife, Sister Sapphira. These are some of the sins we should look out for in our lives and repent of wherever they are found.
Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (NKJV).
We cannot be so good at recognising and condemning sin in others yet fail to see it in our own lives, unless we simply do not want to see it!
«”Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1–3).»
There are other areas of our lives, particularly concerning our Christian duties, that call for close scrutiny today. This is especially important because our personal ambitions sometimes tend to overshadow our primary calling and duties as Christians.
We need to repent of our reluctance to preach the Gospel publicly and of forsaking our first love and passion for the lost!
Nowadays, some of us think it is old-fashioned to witness for Christ publicly to the lost, but it is not! Pride is what keeps many Christians from doing so.
Proverbs 24:11–12: “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (NKJV).
- WHEN SHOULD WE REPENT?
«(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
(2 Corinthians 6:2)»
After acknowledging sin, one should repent immediately. Any delay might be fatal, for “now is the accepted time … of salvation.”
For fear of imminent death, Peter denied Jesus Christ right in His presence without shame. However, when he realised the gravity of his sin, he turned back to God in repentance and sought forgiveness. If we also make it a habit to repent immediately and forsake any sin into which we may have fallen, God will forgive us and renew our spiritual strength.
However, when we reluctantly or deliberately postpone repentance to some other convenient time, without considering the great sorrow and grief this causes God, we may be unconsciously demonstrating our love for sin or our fear that our secrets will be exposed through confession. Whichever the case, it only shows how unworthy of God’s love we are proving ourselves to be!
John 14:23–24: “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (NKJV).
Repentance is proof of man’s love for God, just as His work of redemption is proof of His love for mankind. Therefore, those who sincerely and honestly repent of their sins prove that they still love God, but those who keep themselves from committing sin prove that they are truly living in the love of God.
May we receive God’s abundant grace to enable us live in love with Him by the demonstration of a pure and holy life. Amen.
How do we seek the fact of God and what name are we called according to 1 Chronicles 7:14…
Thank you for asking your question. I hope the answer I provide will satisfy you.
1. SEEKING THE FACT OF GOD
We seek the FACT of God not through arguments alone, but by using the right instruments. To illustrate this, you do not hear light with your ears; you see it with your eyes. In the same way, you do not find God through logic alone, but through a sincere heart that is willing to obey what it discovers.
You must know that God truly wants you to know Him (John 17:3), find Him (Jeremiah 29:12–14a), and experience Him fully in your life (John 7:37–38; Matthew 11:28–30). He has also left us with sufficient clues to help us achieve this.
Apart from His Holy Word, which is the greatest witness to His existence, there are also three methods through which you can seek Him:
1. By Observing Creation, Nature, and Its Order and Design
Creation, nature, and their order and design tell us that there is an intelligent Being behind them all.
Romans 1:20: “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (NLT)
2. Through Inner Experience
It would seem that God has planted a chip in every human being that tells us who He is and what He requires of us. Only those who do not make time to pray, fast, meditate, or silently listen to their consciences may miss this inner witness.
Romans 2:14–15: “Even when Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong.
They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.” (NLT)
3. By Action
Seeking God by practising the values He stands for—truth, love, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and so on—brings you face-to-face with Him. He makes His home in anyone who loves Him and obeys His Word.
John 14:23: “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’.” (NIV)
2. WHAT GOD CALLS US ACCORDING TO 2 CHRONICLES 7:14
In this portion of the Holy Bible, God calls the Israelites “My people” because they had an existing covenant with Him: they were to be His people, and He was to be their God.
Exodus 6:7: “I will make you my own special people, and I will be your God. And you will know that I am the LORD your God who has rescued you from your slavery in Egypt.” (NLT)
Non-Jews were also welcomed by God into this covenant relationship during the Old Testament era.
Isaiah 56:3: “And my blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they commit themselves to the LORD. Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens. And my blessings are also for the eunuchs. They are as much mine as anyone else.” (NLT)
By extension, today, anyone who turns away from their sins and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour enters into a covenant relationship with God, much like the one we read about in 2 Chronicles 7:14, but with better promises!
2 Corinthians 6:17–18: “Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (NLT)