The “IF” in Life
Sermon Text: 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. (2 Chron. 7:14)
Introduction: The “if” in life; yes there is an “if” in life. If you would be honest with yourself you would admit and acknowledge the “if” in life. I believe everyone has an “if, or some ifs in their life. Let me speak for myself, I know I have some ifs in my life. Regardless of whether you admit it or not there definitely is an “if” in life.
If you have an ink pen or pencil, try to write the word life without “if“. Now I think we can agree that there is an “if” in life. If an elephant had wings he would be a big bird. If a bullfrog had wings he wouldn’t bump his butt every time he hops.
If I was 21 again, knowing what I know now; I might have done a few things differently. I think that maybe everyone has uttered the words or phrase, “If I had it to do all over again, or “If” I could start all over again.”
Music is a universal language everyone can identify with or find some correlation to the words of a particular song at some place and time in their life. Brother Tyrone Davis sang the song entitled, “If I can turn back the hands of time.” If I could turn back the hands of time I would correct some mistakes; maybe choose a different path; make different decisions and choices.
The word if is a conjunction and it introduces a condition or supposition; meaning in case that, or supposing that, whether or not something is granted or allowed. It is a dependent question, what if? It even leans toward great imagination, and uncertainty, fantasy and virtual reality. If I can or I cannot; maybe so, maybe not; I will or I will not.
There is a degree of mystery or unknown about “if”. If I was 7ft. tall; I would be a NBA basketball player. If I had not dropped out of college, I would have my degree. If I hadn’t gained so much weight, I wouldn’t have to buy a new wardrobe. If I hadn’t lost so much weight, I wouldn’t have to have my clothes altered. If I was rich, I would be debt free and happy. If I could marry or remarry, I would never get a divorce. If I had a new car; “If” I had my dream home; “If” I could retire and didn’t have to work anymore; “If” I had a dollar for every “If”; I would be a millionaire.
I was watching TV and one of my favorite cartoon characters was featured in a MetLife commercial. Snoopy was navigating down the river through the jungle of ifs in an if-boat. I’m sure you’ve heard the old cliché that life is a jungle or society is an asphalt jungle. Then I guess the moral of this commercial is – even the boat that you’re navigating (through the sea of life) is an “IF” so you need MetLife insurance.
I suggest that it is not insurance that we need but assurance. Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, oh! What a foretaste of glory divine; heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit washed in his blood.
God is omnipotent (all power, all authority), omnipresent (every-where at the same time), omniscient (fore-knowledge, all knowledge, all knowing), but strangely enough even God has an “IF”. Let’s look at our text. 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.
The historical setting of our text today is the finished building of King Solomon Temple. It was the first of 3 temples to be built on Mt. Moriah in the city of David (Jerusalem). During the dedication of the temple, King Solomon offered prayer for the people. This prayer is the first intercessory prayer offered for Israel (Gods’ chosen).
Gods’ promise concerning the revival of Israel (7:14) can also mean to intervene, to interpose, to arbitrate, or even to judge. The Lord was asking His people to intercede for others in their prayers. King Solomon modeled intercessory prayer (6:3-42). According to the Lord, this type of prayer would be the catalyst for revival and restoration in the future.
· If my people; that’s an uncertainty, maybe so maybe not
· which are called by my name; God is doing a wonderful thing right here, he is claiming ownership, God is calling us his own.
· Shall humble themselves; this is our part, our responsibility.
· And pray and seek my face; we have to seek him through prayer, seek his face or his presence.
· And turn from their wicked ways; we have to change our ways, after we pray and seek him, God is going to wait to see if we turn from our wicked ways.
· Then will I hear from heaven; only then will God receive our prayer.
· And will forgive their sins, and will heal their land; even the land is sick, when God forgives our sins, he will heal the land (earthquakes, floods, tornados, volcanoes, tsunamis, intense heat, drought, famine, sickness, and disease).
Let us transition to the present, here and now. God has an “If” concern; that if we are his people called by his name, we then have some ifs to be concerned about, and expediently make a commitment to diligence in prayer, faith, spiritual growth, and Christian maturity.
I don’t have any points, but I do have a few Ifs. And I’ll soon be finished. If we would diligently seek after Jesus:
“IF” #1(Luke 9:23) And he said to them, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Matt. 10:38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Luke 14:27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
“IF” #2(II Corinth. 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (Rom. 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
“IF” #3 (Jhn. 8:51), Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (Jhn. 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (Jhn. 11:26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
“IF” #4 (Jhn. 14:15,23) If ye love me, keep my commandments. 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (1 Jhn. 2:4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
“IF” #5 (Jhn. 14:14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (Jhn. 14:13) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (Mark 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
“IF” #6 (Luke 17:6) And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Matt. 17:20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Mark 11:23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
“IF” #7 (Jhn. 12:32) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (Jhn. 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (Rom. 5:18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Heb. 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
The “IF” in life: what if you decided to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, accepting the finished work of the Cross of Calvary. Where his body was broken with your sins and my sins, and the sin of the world. For cursed is anyone that hangeth on a tree. He laid down his life so that he could take it up again with resurrection victory over death and the grave, and to destroy the works of the devil (Satan).
He was our propitiation (substitute) he died our death so that we could live his life. He pardoned us, paid ransom and the sin debt that a God of justice demanded for the penalty of sin. He spared not his only son. This was expiation of our guilt so that we were acquitted of all charges, Jesus dropped the charges.
He purchased our salvation with his eternal, divine, precious, sinless, innocent, miraculous, blood. For there could be no remission of sin, without the shedding of blood.
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 sins, and will heal their land. Amen…Amen..Amen.