If this pandemic is because God's people sinned against Him, what should we do?

   

Please click this link for the video version of this blog:  https://youtu.be/gbZ9MvfasX4

  

Bible in one year by Nicky Gumbel:

https://bibleinoneyear.org/en/

Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:

https://preview.mailerlite.com/v5e2x6r4z6/1970063121573747505/x0v4/

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

    

    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/

    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 131:1-3, 1 Kings 8:1-66; Acts 7:51-8:13; Proverbs 17:1)

    Today's key passage: 

     35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance.

37 “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel—being aware of the afflictions of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple— 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), 40 so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.

1 Kings 8:35-40

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him.

    My Listening

    The topic I received today is: If this pandemic is because God's people sinned against Him, what should we do?

   1 Kings chapter 8 records Solomon's prayer of dedication to the temple in Jerusalem.

    2 Chronicles 6:28-31  has the same record as today's 1 Kings 8:35-40, and this prayer is the most used prayers the 2 1/2 years for Christians and Christian leaders to cry out to God all over the world.

    So, our question seems not to be: If this pandemic is because God's people sinned against Him, what should we do?

     Our reality and situation seems like we need this question:

     This pandemic is because God's people sinned against Him, what should we do?

     I hope and pray that you will get your answer from today's 2 Kings 8:35-40. And, you start to cry out to God everyday for God's people to turn their heart of stone to heart of flesh as says in Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26 and for God to take away this pandemic.

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     Help us to cry out to you each day for your people to turn their heart of stone to heart of flesh. We plead to you to take away this pandemic, have mercy on us, Lord Jesus. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

     

   

     Reflect on these questions:

     1. Do you believe that God allows this pandemic to happen is because  His people sinned against Him?   

        

      2.  What is your next step to make your daily prayer and cry out to God happen?

      Family Corner:

     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org