Sermon - 03/21/20

Greetings to all members of FHG in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I hope that all of you and your families are doing well and governing yourselves in accordance with the professional medical advice aired daily. We are grateful for the ongoing informative updates given to us by our own deacon Fletcher.

Today, I would like to share a brief comment on 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."

Those of you who know me will understand that I would first want to establish the context for this verse:

After seven years of very careful and specific construction, the first temple in Jerusalem is ready for dedication. King Solomon summons all of Israel to the glorious festivity. which co-insides with the annual Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. (I wish I was preaching this sermon in person, for then I could go into some detail discussing the significance of this feast. Maybe the Lord would allow me to re-preach this message sometime in the future)

Twenty-two thousand bulls along with one hundred and twenty thousand sheep would be sacrificed for this special occasion. Solomon's bronze alter of sacrifice sitting in front of the temple cannot accommodate this incredible slaughter. Another area on the temple mount has to be consecrated by the priests to allow for the extreme number of sacrifices and for the large quantity of blood flowing down through the Kidron valley. Hundreds, even thousands of priests are summoned and consecrated by the kohen gadol (High Priest) to assist with this never before seen process.

The temple mount is densely populated. Thick crowds gather wherever they can find space and the Mount of Olives overlooking the brand new beautiful Solomonic Temple is packed with tens of thousands. Jews have traveled from everywhere in Israel to witness the event that no human would ever have the opportunity to see again.

Later that day, the wise king, son of David, stands in front of the temple whose construction he has commissioned and prays to the Lord God - an extensive prayer consisting of several special requests. He asks that God would be gracious to His people, and be ready to forgive their sins should they be repentant. Additionally, he asks that God would send the rains in a timely manner for the food crops and water provision for His people. Please now read Solomon's complete prayer in 1 Kings 8. What an honorable list of selfless petitions!

At this point, allow me to draw your attention to one request Solomon made in verse 37 of 1 Kings 8. He asks that if there be any pestilence or sickness that may come upon the people, and they pray for God to act on their behalf by rebuking such a calamity, that the Lord would hear and answer their prayer and grant their requests.

God listened to Solomon's most sincere prayer for his people and responded. The Lord's answer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Please do not think that Solomon's prayer and the Lord's answer was applicable only to the Jews in Israel. Thankfully, we gentiles are included in the entire transaction between the king and the Lord. Proof for this is recorded in 2 Chronicles 6:32.

Please notice in God's answer the following words "If my people....". These three words are very important as they make clear that the welfare of the nation is really not in the hands of the medical scientists, or the politicians, but in the hands of God's people. Of course God uses men and women to accomplish His work, and will no doubt do so again during the current corona virus crisis, but the answer's source is non-other than Israel's God, and our God! Praise His holy name!

All over the world, multiple millions are praying to multiple gods. All such prayers collapse as soon as they leave the mouths of the petitioners. But, the prayers of the righteous (God's people who are called by God's name) avail much.

Furthermore, please now re-read God's answer to king Solomon and notice that it is an "IF.....THEN" statement. This is called a conditional statement and is structured so that the THEN part would happen only when the IF part happens. In other words, the fulfillment of the second part of the statement is dependent on or is conditioned on the fulfillment of the first part. This kind of logic can get quite complex, believe me, so I will say nothing more on it. I do however want to emphasize that we must first humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways (not just turn to God) in order for the Lord to hear from heaven and heal our land.

This sermonette can be much more developed, but I think you get my point. We have work to do! We have to acknowledge who we are and who God is; we have to admit to our failures, faults and inadequacies; we have to reject sin and then pray to the Lord. In accordance with His answer to the Solomonic prayer, God will answer our prayer and heal our planet.

Please take this message very seriously and join with the many other Christ followers around the world in seeking God's divine assistance as we all face this dreadful and global challenge together.

In His Holy Name,

Pastor Chandroo