Day 38
I Show You My Faith by My Works
Again God has clearly stated in II Chronicles 7:14 that when we align ourselves with His ways, He will then hear from us, forgive us of all of our sins, and heal this land. Clearly, this land is in a devastating spiritual drought, is being destroyed by the devourer, and is full of pestilence. We have already discussed in detail our need to fully rely on God-never trusting in ourselves but placing our trust in Him-for Him to move mightily through us. So why then does God require certain things of us before He will work through us?
Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Clearly, works do not save us. Going to church, being baptized, serving, giving, sacrificing or any other work or deed will not save us. Due to our sin, we are totally depraved and separated from God. We are saved only by the work that Jesus did on the cross and given eternal life by the power of His resurrection. We receive that gift of salvation by placing our faith in the work of Jesus and not our own. Titus 3:5 also tells us, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” God’s Word is clear; we are saved by Jesus works and not our own.
Unfortunately, some people then get the unbiblical idea that we are not saved by works; therefore, God does not require works from me. That is, however, a lie that Satan has sold to the church for the purpose of keeping us silent and impotent so the church would not operate in the power and the authority God has given to it. We need to understand that God has clearly called all of His children to work for Him. We don’t work for our salvation; we willing work for the Lord because of our salvation. James 2:18 says, “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
If we choose not to align ourselves with God’s plan that He has clearly outlined for us in II Chronicles 7:14, we are then choosing to not be used of God. God will not work with an unwilling vessel. Throughout God’s Word, He gives us the choice of living for Him and, therefore, be used of Him. In Joshua 24, Joshua gave the children of Israel a choice of going back to the gods of Egypt and serving them or continuing to follow the one true God. He said in Joshua 24:15, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” To go back and serve the gods of the Amorites or the Egyptians would be going back to enslavement and cursing; to continue to follow the one true God and serve Him would mean freedom and blessings. When we choose to align ourselves in accordance to His will and His plans for our lives, we are choosing the abundant blessings of God upon our lives.
God has given us His plan in II Chronicles 7:14 for the purpose of getting us out of the way so God can use us for His purpose and for His glory, filling us with His power. When aligning ourselves with the truths and promises of II Chronicles 7:14, our will, our wisdom, and our might is then fully surrendered to God’s will, God’s wisdom, and God’s might. Then and only then will we place ourselves in a position of allowing God to work through us. God refuses to work through unwilling vessels. However, when we recognize we are His and not our own and that we are called to serve Him, when we choose to humble ourselves before Him and pray, and when we choose to seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, we have chosen to be willing vessels of God to be used as instruments of righteousness so His power and authority can be enacted upon the earth. While in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus gave us the greatest example of this truth in the most difficult trial in His life when He prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42).
Day 38 Prayer Guide
- Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
- Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
- Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
- Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
- Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
- Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
- Pray that the people of God’s faith will move them to works.
- Pray that the people of God will live out the principles of II Chronicles 7:14
- Pray each section of II Chronicles 7:14 over yourself and your church.
- Ask God to hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and heal our land.
- Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
- Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
- Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
- Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
- Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
- Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
- Pray that the power of God would fall on the church moving them to prayer and sowing the gospel seed.
- Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
- Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
- Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
- Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation.
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