Receive
IF MY PEOPLE …
Terry R. Baughman
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
God’s character assures us of His expected response. He is a caring and concerned God who is attentive to our prayers. God has promised, “And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious” (Exodus 22:27).
The conditions were clearly outlined to Solomon and God’s response was equally detailed, “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” (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is a three part response offered to those who identify with God, submit to Him, forsake their sins, and seek His presence.
1) God will hear. We have an assurance that when we pray there is a God in heaven who is listening. He is not just hearing but He has a ready response. It is one thing for God to hear, but he has also given us His Word, “I will answer.” Many passages of Scripture give us confidence of His unfailing love and His listening ear. Jesus said,“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
God said, “I will hear from heaven.” It doesn’t matter how far away He seems to be we are assure of His ability to hear even from heaven. In our text He said “Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” We are never out of earshot, even when He is out of our sight. When we pray God will hear!
2) God will forgive. God is the one who said, “I am He who blots out your transgressions … and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). We can petition on the grounds of His mercy for forgiveness and appropriate His grace to remove the stain of our sins. When we call out to Him in sincere repentance we have every confidence that He will forgive us. John assured us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
3) God will heal. Healing is a part of God’s provision and restoration is a part of God’s plan. Both physical and spiritual healing is in God’s plan for us. Isaiah prophesied that the Servant’s mistreatment was a sacrificial offering for our benefit, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
The effect of our prayer has a ready response. God will hear us, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal. His healing will bring reconciliation to our estrangement, restoration to our brokenness, and wholeness to our infirmity. Pray with expectation. The miracle is waiting. Get ready to receive!
Scripture:
“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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
IF MY PEOPLE …
Terry R. Baughman
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
God’s character assures us of His expected response. He is a caring and concerned God who is attentive to our prayers. God has promised, “And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious” (Exodus 22:27).
The conditions were clearly outlined to Solomon and God’s response was equally detailed, “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” (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is a three part response offered to those who identify with God, submit to Him, forsake their sins, and seek His presence.
1) God will hear. We have an assurance that when we pray there is a God in heaven who is listening. He is not just hearing but He has a ready response. It is one thing for God to hear, but he has also given us His Word, “I will answer.” Many passages of Scripture give us confidence of His unfailing love and His listening ear. Jesus said,“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
God said, “I will hear from heaven.” It doesn’t matter how far away He seems to be we are assure of His ability to hear even from heaven. In our text He said “Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” We are never out of earshot, even when He is out of our sight. When we pray God will hear!
2) God will forgive. God is the one who said, “I am He who blots out your transgressions … and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). We can petition on the grounds of His mercy for forgiveness and appropriate His grace to remove the stain of our sins. When we call out to Him in sincere repentance we have every confidence that He will forgive us. John assured us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
3) God will heal. Healing is a part of God’s provision and restoration is a part of God’s plan. Both physical and spiritual healing is in God’s plan for us. Isaiah prophesied that the Servant’s mistreatment was a sacrificial offering for our benefit, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
The effect of our prayer has a ready response. God will hear us, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal. His healing will bring reconciliation to our estrangement, restoration to our brokenness, and wholeness to our infirmity. Pray with expectation. The miracle is waiting. Get ready to receive!
Scripture:
“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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
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