IF 2 Chronicles 7:14 "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." If you had it within your power to transform our church, what would you have it to be? Some may answer that question by saying "I would have it be a more caring church." Others may respond "I would have it become more effective in reaching the lost for Christ." Still others would answer "I would have it be more on fire for God." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could snap our fingers and instantaneously our church would become a model church! I'm talking about a church that is having wonderful worship services--a church where the miraculous is taking place--a church where sinners are being drawn into the Kingdom en mass-- a church where the unexpected is always expected!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be part of a thriving, exciting, on fire, dedicated, consecrated, soul saving church. I'm talking about the kind of church that is found in the Book of Acts. This church has been defined as: ". . . vigorous and flexible, for these are the days before it became... short of breath through prosperity, or muscle-bound by over - organization. These men did not make "acts of faith", they believed; they did not "say their prayers", they really prayed. They did not hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine, they simply healed the sick. They were a fellowship of men and women so united in love and faith that He can work in them and through them with the minimum of let or hindrance." Is this the church you would create if you could do so with the snap of your finger? I have come here this morning to tell you that what I have just mentioned is not an impossibility. I have come to speak to you on what has been called the "biggest word in the English language". I have come this morning bearing a KEY. This key has a two letter name: "If." Someone has rightly observed that: "The saddest words known to men are these four words: 'It could have been'." I suppose one of life's most plaguing questions is: "I wonder what would have happened if...." If I had tried; If I had gone to that school; If I had really applied myself; If I hadn't given up; I would have waited to get married; If I would have married someone differently, etc. This is why it is so important to make the right decisions---for "we will never pass this way again." I normally don't find these "what if" questions to be beneficial. Usually, they only serve as a source of frustration. Therefore, I try not to occupy much of my time with entertaining these questions. However, there is one "if" proposition I want to talk with you about this morning. It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "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." Look with me at the very first word in this passage.... IF The Conditional Blessings of God, p. 2 May I tell you this morning that the promises of God are true. God is identified in His Word as being One "who cannot lie." [Titus 1:2] 2 Cor 1:20 tells us that the promises of God are "...yea and amen." Or, to put it another way we can say "yes sir!" What God promises, you can take to the bank. But there is a prevailing principle found throughout the Word of God in connection with His promises. That principle can be summed up in this little two letter word: "IF." The blessings of God are always conditional. They are dependent upon our response to His commands. Now, let me say that again: The blessings of God are dependent upon our response to His commands! There is no question that God wants to bless His people. Listen to the words of Christ: Luke 12:32 (KJV) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Your looking at a preacher that hasn't bought into the great lie of the devil that the church's best days are behind us. Has he tried to sell you this bill of goods? Has he said that the church is on its way down. Has he told you that the church is no longer relevant in our society? Has he told you that things will get progressively worse? Has he told you that he has taken control? Has he told you that your loved one will never become part of Christ's church? Listen, my friend. The adversary of our soul is endeavoring to discourage the Church - the Body of Christ. If we let him, he will try to give us this song as a battle cry: Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight, With the cross of Jesus clearly out of sight: Christ our rightful Master stands against the foe, But forward into battle we are chicken to go. Like a mighty tortoise moves the church of God; Brothers we are treading where we've often trod, We are much divided, many bodies we, Having different doctrines, not much charity. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain; Gates of hell should never "gainst that Church prevail, We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail. Sit here, then, ye people, join our useless throng; Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song. Blessings, ease, and comfort, ask from Christ the King. With our modern thinking, we won't do a thing. Don't believe him, my friend. For I believe the best days of the Church lay ahead. I thank God for His manifold blessings on His Church down throughout the ages. I thank God for the mighty revivals of the past. I thank God for what He has already done in the lives of many. I thank God for what has been accomplished in this community--- but neighbor, I believe it's safe to say " we ain't seen nothing yet!" Our battle cry remains: Onward Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus going on before Christ the royal Master, leads against the for Forward into battle, see His banner go! Like a mighty army moves the Church of God Brothers we are treading where the saints have trod We are not divided all one body we One in hope and doctrine, one in unity. The Conditional Blessings of God, p. 3 And I've come by here this morning to tell you that the Key to seeing the Lord move with might once again in His church is the little word: IF. "If" what, preacher? IF MY PEOPLE WILL ACT Look at our text this morning: "If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways..." There are two aspects of this verse I want you to see: IF MY PEOPLE. As you are well aware, I have been preaching to you about the Church. I have been telling you that you are the church. I want to reiterate that this morning. You are the church. The church is a mysterious entity. It is referred to in Scripture as the "Body of Christ." It includes all races-- all nationalities-- all traditions. It embraces the young and the old-- the rich and the poor--the wise and the unlearned--the well and the sick. The church is the extended hand of Christ to a lost and hurting world. The membership dues for this organization has been provided for by the shed blood of Christ. Having said that, let me tell you that the Word of God found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is addressed to us this morning. The key to a great outpouring of God does not rest with the world. It does not rest with institutionalized religion. [Pastor, Shady Grove Baptist: "I've never seen so many religious devils'."] It does not rest with the intelligencia of our day. The key to God's blessing His church is in that little word: "IF" Not, "if the world repents." Not, "if our country repents." Not, "if our politicians repent." The problem, dear friend is not with them--- it is with us! We are the ones who need to repent and ask God's forgiveness. As the old Negro spiritual says: "It's not my brother, not my sister, but it's me, O Lord standing in need of prayer!" it's God's people --- it's His church standing in need of repentance. It's time for His Church to apologize to Him for our misuse and abuse of the power invested in us. Our text cries out to us this morning. After all that God has done for us, we have become like the Laodicean church of Revelation 3, and have excluded Him from the operation of His church. We have come to rely on our own strength. We have come to rely upon our own intellect, plans, and programs. We have excluded Christ from the business of His church, and we find Him standing on the outside, knocking for admittance. Dearly beloved, I have come by here this morning to tell you that the "if" of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is pointed at the church, and God is asking "What will you do?' The power and authority of the church is seen in Matt 18:18-19 (KJV) "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." My friend, I believe it is time to quit leveling our complaints at God asking Him why we are not seeing His hand move among us. The problem is not with God, it is with us. Heaven is waiting on you!! Scripture says "whatsoever ye shall bind on earth... and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth." Listen again to the words of Christ as recorded in Matthew 28:18 ff "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Christ's command to " go " follows immediately upon the heels of His claiming ultimate authority. Why is that? Because earlier he says ". . .if ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it that the Father may be glorified through the Son." He is saying in essence --- "Go into this world with the reality that you have The Conditional Blessings of God, p. 4 the power of God at you disposal." And so, I say again "Heaven is waiting on you!" Is it any wonder then that God says that His people-- his church needs to repent for their inactivity and lack of faith. HUMILITY, PRAYERFULNESS, REPENTANCE. Realizing we are His people, God calls upon us to do 3 things: 1. Humble ourselves-- We have come to the point where we are attempting to do in the flesh that which can only accomplished in the spirit. We are living in an age where man is attempting to take credit for all that God is doing. But my friend, we need to hear again the words of God recorded in 2 Chr 34:27 (KJV) "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words ... and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD." In this age of "spiritual superstars" it is good for us to heed the words of the Lord: Psa 9:12(KJV) "...he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." Psa 34:18 (KJV) "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Prov 29:23 (KJV) "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." James 4:10 (KJV) "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." I believe a great sin of the church today is the sin of arrogance and pride. This was the prevailing sin of the Laodicean church. They said "I am rich and increased with goods and habve need of nothing." Christ's response was you are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." But my dear friends, we must understand that what we have, we have received from the Lord. It isn't ours--- it's only borrowed for awhile. We're not the owners, we're only the stewards of the grace and power of God! The Apostle Paul reminds us that "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." [2 Cor 4:7] 2. PRAY When we truly humble ourselves, we find a great need to pray. We understand that we cannot operate on the arm of the flesh. "Why is it", many a Christian is asking, "that I make such poor progress in my Christian life? Why do I have so little victory over sin? Why do I win so few souls to Christ? Why do I grow so slowly into the likeness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?" God has given us the answer to these questions. It is found in James 4:2. The simple answer is: NEGLECT OF PRAYER. "You have not, because ye ask not". "Why is it", many a minister is asking, "that I see so little fruit from my ministry? Why are there so few conversions? Why does my church grow so slowly? Why are the members of my church so little helped by my ministry, and built up so little in Christian knowledge and life?" And again God replies: "NEGLECT OF PRAYER. You have not because you ask not". Time does not allow for much to be said about this most important area of a Christian's life. Suffice it to say that the Church of the Living God is in dire need of prayer! A.W. TOZER: "Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night..." The Conditional Blessings of God, p. 5 BRAINERD: "I think my soul was never so drawn out in intercession for others as it has been this night; I hardly ever so longed to live to God, and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life for Him. I wrestled for the ingathering of souls, for the ingathering of souls, for multitudes of poor souls... I was in such an agony, from sun half-an-hour high till near dark, that I was wet all over with sweat!" It is no accident that some of the great awakenings in history have begun in prayer. A prayer meeting under a haystack in a rainstorm in 1806 led to the first large-scale American missionary efforts. In 1830 some 30,000 people were converted in Rochester, New York, under the ministry of Charles Finney; later Finney said the reason was the faithful praying of one man who never attended the meetings but gave himself to prayer. In 1872 the American evangelist Dwight L. Moody began a campaign in London, England, which was used of God to touch countless lives. Later Moody discovered that a humble bedridden girl had been praying. The list could go on and on. These folks took seriously the admonition of the Lord: "If my people will pray!" 3. REPENTANCE Repentance means that I take responsibility for my part in what was unsatisfactory behavior. I accept responsibility for my part in what is and what will be new behavior. Repentance is taking responsibility for what was, accepting responsibility for what is, and acting responsibly now. It is responsible action. It is not a matter of punishing ourselves for past mistakes, hating ourselves for past failures, and depressing ourselves with feelings of worthlessness. Repentance is finishing the unfinished business of my past and choosing to live in new ways that will not repeat old unsatisfactory situations. In the full Christian meaning of the Word, repentance is a process. It is a thawing out of rigid lifestyles into a flowing, moving, growing, repenting process. That's what repentance is! A Sunday School teacher once asked a class what was meant by the word "repentance." A little boy put up his hand and said, "It is being sorry for your sins." A little girl also raised her hand and said, "It is being sorry enough to quit sinning." That's what repentance is! There was a cartoon several years ago in the Saturday Review of Literature in which little George Washington is standing with an ax in his hand. Before him lying on the ground is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his smug admission that he did it--after all, he "cannot tell a lie." But his father is standing there exasperated saying, "All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is, when are you going to stop doing it." That's what repentance is! There's the tri-fold key to the blessings of God: "If you will humble yourself"; "If you will pray"; "If you will repent." Someone put it this way: I can give a prescription that will bring revival-- revival to any church, or community, or any city on earth. First: Let a few Christians get thoroughly right with God. If this is not done, the rest will come to nothing. Second: Let them bind themselves together to pray for revival until God opens the windows of heaven and comes down. Third: Let them put themselves at the disposal of God for His use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all. I have given this prescription around the world... and in no instance has it failed. It cannot fail. [R.A. Torrey] Someone else put it this way: The Conditional Blessings of God, p. 6 If all the sleeping folk will wake up, If all the lukewarm folk will fire up, If all the dishonest folk will confess up, If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up, If all the depressed folk will cheer up, If all the estranged folk will make up, If all the gossipers will shut up, If all true soldiers will stand up, If all the dry bones will shake up, If all the church members will pray up... Then we can have a revival! --R.G. Lee And so, I conclude this morning with the same question I asked at the beginning: "If you had it within your power to transform your church, what would you have it to be?" We will never again be able with a clear conscious to point our finger at God and ask Him why He is not moving throughout His church in a powerful way. For when we do, I believe we will hear a little, one word response from the Holy Spirit -- "If". I conclude this morning by reminding you that what God says, He will do. He says explicitly "If my people will humble themselves, pray and repent" --- I will hear, forgive and heal." I believe as we truly seek God, we can expect Him to perform the miraculous. The Church will be transformed! It will become: A soul-saving station. An oasis for the weary travelers of life. A shelter for the storm-tossed. A place where God is! A place of healing and deliverance. In short, the Church will become what God intends for it to be: "Glorious". IF --- God's blessings are conditional!