As we continue on our journey of confession it is obvious, (that is if you read the bible) that we must repent for our sins and sins of those who have gone before us. We have not adhered to God’s word. You cannot read scripture and then compare it to the church today and not say something is seriously wrong. We can no longer continue in this ignorance and apathy. Unfortunately what has happened is our theology has become very individualistic / distinctive. I believe this; you believe that seems to be the motto of the day and everyone continues to go their own way. But it is not about believing from our own distinctives and making the bible say what we want it to say; it is believing what God specifically states in his word without adding or subtracting. Most read His word with their own views at the forefront thus changing what His word is actually saying. This has been going on since the beginning of time, as satan loves to say, “Did God really say?” These changes are often subtle but more often than not they are a blatant disregard for what God’s word specifically says. Mans views usually require much filling in the blanks, thus lots of manmade doctrines.
The church is in a dire situation with only a remnant of believers left and we desperately need God to save us. As pray to him we must be willing to follow His word wholeheartedly. The people came to Jeremiah and asked them to pray for them. Jeremiah 42:1 “Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached 2 Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3 Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” 4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.” 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”
We too are pleading our case before God and asking him to hear our cry. We must believe that he will hear us and respond. We must be willing to follow Him wholeheartedly and we must trust that God will provide a way for us. Now the people who had gone before Jeremiah decided not to listen and paid the price for it. Today we cannot turn away from God so we cry out to Him and He will answer. Will you obey His direction or disobey?
In Solomon’s prayer he said, 1 Kings 8:46 “When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; 47 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; 48 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; 49 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. 50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their captors to show them mercy; 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, out of that iron-smelting furnace.”
We join with Solomon and petition the Lord our God for mercy. 1 Kings 8:52 “May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. 53 For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”