"When the World Has Gone Crazy"

Today's sermon was again very fitting for what is going on in the world today. I hope that you enjoy and maybe gain a little something from it. All scripture reference is from the NIV translation and any thoughts of my own will be in bold print.


"When the World Has Gone Crazy"

"Turn to God"
March 1, 2009

"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."
2 Chronicles 7:14

I. We must confess with humility.

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.""
James 4:6

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
Proverbs 28:13

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
James 5:16

Our pastor challenged us to make a "sin list". We are to write a list of our sins that we have not asked forgiveness for. We are to get honest with God. It helps to find someone that can hold you accountable and to be there to pray for you through life's journey.

II. We must pray with tenacity.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Colossians 4:2

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
Ephesians 6:18

Pray daily with PASSION. Don't just pray on a whim. Get on your kness and beg. Make a notecard with the titles: date, request, and answer. The date is when you start the request. Write your detailed prayer request on the card. Pray daily over that request and then write the date that the prayer was answered.

III. We must seek God with intensity.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrews 11:6

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God;"
Deuteronomy 4:29-31(a)

I know that I am often guilty of wanting to know where God is in the hard times. He wants us to long for him. He wants us to trust in Him alone to bring us through. We need to put God in control.

IV. We must repent with sincerity.
"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Having nothing to do with them."
2 Timothy 3:2-5

CHANGE OF THOUGHT PROCESS = CHANGE IN THE WAY YOU LIVE
We must teach our children by our actions and not just by our words.

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Acts 3:19