Sermon by Thulane: Humbling Ourselves Before God
Beloved congregation, tonight we come together to immerse ourselves in the powerful message found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The scripture reads:
“If my people who are called by my name humble can 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.”
In this passage, God makes a clarion call to the children of Israel—and to us—inviting us to obedience and surrender. He outlines seven fundamental actions we must undertake: humility, prayer, seeking His face, turning from wickedness, and in return, He promises to hear us, forgive us, and heal our land.
The Call to Humility
In our journey to understand what it truly means to humble ourselves before God, let us first ponder the question: What is humbling ourselves before God? The answer is beautifully captured in the Book of Ezra 8:21:
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”
Ezra proclaimed a fast as a means of humbling themselves before God, seeking divine protection for their journey. This illustrates that fastingis a vital expression of our humility.
As the scripture continues in Ezra 8:23, it says,
“So we fasted and implored our God for this, and He listened to our entreaty.”
Herein lies the profound truth: when we fast, we position ourselves to pray more deeply, seek His face genuinely, and forsake our wicked ways. This act of humble surrender invites God to respond to us in the most transformative ways, leading to the healing of our land.
The Example of Nineveh
Who can forget the story of Jonah and the wicked nation of Nineveh? The King of Nineveh received Jonah’s message and responded powerfully. In Jonah 3:6-10, we read:
“The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He proclaimed a fast throughout the city, urging everyone to turn from their evil ways.”
The entire city humbled themselves before God. When God saw their repentance and genuine humility, He relented from the disaster He had planned. This teaches us that no matter how far we may stray, a humble heart can always turn back to God.
The Teachings of Jesus
Our beloved Master, Jesus Christ, also addressed this vital principle of humility in Matthew 23:12:
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
This poignant teaching reminds us that God values humility. When we come before Him with a heart of submission, we open the door for His grace, mercy, and favor in our lives.
Finally
Beloved, before we voice our complaints about unanswered prayers, let’s reflect on the message of God:
“If my people who are called by my name can 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.”
Let us commit ourselves to these four actions: humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face, and forsaking our wicked ways. In doing so, we activate God’s promises in our lives.
Thank you for allowing me to share the Word of God with you tonight. May we all embrace the call to humility and draw closer to our Lord. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
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