© Presbyterians Pro-Life
P.O. Box 11130
Burke, VA 22009-1130
The healing of the Church
By the Rev. Dr. Donald A. Elliott
I have been preaching through II 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I guess I got tired of hearing that verse referred to so much without struggling with it myself. So phrase by phrase I exegeted the verse and found a gold mine of truth for myself, for my congregation, and for my denomination, and for the whole Church.
I found the Lord speaking to a King of Israel, Solomon, at what might have been one of the most glorious times in Israel's history: the dedication of the temple and palace. And the Lord chose that time to remind Solomon that even though "The Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever" (II Chronicles 7:3), there would be times ahead for Israel described this way by the Lord:
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people…
and you know the rest.
In other words, Solomon needed to know that the Lord would bring judgment upon Israel in the days ahead and then the people called by God's name were to respond in a prescribed way:
humble themselves
pray
seek God's face
turn from their wicked ways
Then the glorious promises of the Lord were enumerated:
"…I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
These promises guaranteed an encounter with God, orchestrated by God, and all to God's glory.
We in the church know the need for this healing
And this was where I found myself in Conflict with the way I had heard II Chronicles 7:14 used most often. Countless times I had heard preachers use the truth of this text to lead to one point - - revival in America. The promise, "…I will heal their land," was usually assumed to be for America. Well, it is not there! I wanted to find it, but it is not there. The promise of healing the land was for Israel, the Old Testament Church. And today when the Lord refers to "My people who are called by My name" that is the Church of Jesus Christ.
We who are in that branch of the Church called Presbyterian Church (USA) know about the need for healing. We hear many cries on behalf of the Presbyterian Church today. Cries for unity, peace, or purity. Well, what about the cry for healing. Lord, heal the Presbyterian Church (USA)!
It is not my practice to give an altar call at my church, but while preaching through II Chronicles 7:14, I thought the Lord wanted me to call my congregation to decision. I was genuinely surprised and moved to see the entire front of the sanctuary and all three aisles filled with Presbyterians. Virtually everyone in the congregation that morning came forward. Truly God is good.
Corrie ten Boom was asked one time about how to pray for revival. She said to draw a circle on the floor with chalk, and stand within the circle. Then she said to pray this prayer: "Lord, bring revival within this circle."
For all of us Presbyterians who yearn for the Lord to heal our church of its immorality and heresy, on one hand, and shallowness and mediocrity, on the other; may it start with the truth of II Chronicles 7:14. May it start with you and me.
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© Presbyterians Pro-Life
P.O. Box 11130
Burke, VA 22009-1130