God awakened me to the understanding that the American Christian church was drifting nearly as far away from God as America itself. This was approximately thirty years ago. It was during that time that the LORD began to show me the importance of 2 Chronicles 7:14 for returning to the LORD for forgiveness and healing — revival. I have taught, preached, and prayed from that passage over a hundred times in the hopes that America might return, revive, and spark a spiritual awakening to the saving of millions of souls. All, seemingly, to no avail.
So, I am wondering: Perhaps a reason we have not seen much in the way of genuine repentance within our churches is that we have been seeking God to revive us rather than simply seeking God. We may have fallen into the selfish mode of seeking to be rescued instead of seeking the Rescuer. It is not to be, “I am experiencing revival,” but rather and always, “I am experiencing God!”
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)
One cannot be in the manifest presence of God and not have a heart changing experience, ask Isaiah:
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:1-7)
If one person, or even a few, praying for revival according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 is all that is required we would have had revival years ago and America would have avoided much of what we have seen taking place. So, what are we missing?
“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
It must be this: “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face . . .” Jesus stated that His house “shall be called a house of prayer”.
Beloved believer, it is not enough for the individual Christian to be a praying person, who spends much time in his own prayer closet. The individuals must come together as a unit, the church, and be a house of prayer that seeks the face of God, His very presence. We must want God more than we want revival, and that desire will be the doorway of a great movement of God. Church, seek the LORD while He may be found! Pray on!
