Shortly after the flooding (which they called Katrina)

…of the southeastern part of the United States, a prominent Pastor suggested that it was the homosexuals and the like of which caused God’s judgment on the people.

We sometimes wonder why there is crime and pollution and false religions and all sorts of debauchery in the world today. I have a one word answer for what is the reason. The word is Christians.

2Ch 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.

When we look at this verse and realize that God called us to be salt and light we have to understand that we are the reason for the problems.

If you have a side of pork and you want to preserve it, you salt it. It then will be preserved. However if you do not salt it, it will rot and it will be your fault for not preserving it. It will not be the pigs fault.

How many are rising in the morning to pray for our leaders?

If not, the pork is rotting.

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Our God holds the rulers head in His hand and is able to turn it whichever way He chooses whether to the good or the bad. It is up to us to intercede so that God can cause them to do good and not evil.

So, when we cry corruption in government, have we prayed for our leaders, when we smell the pollution have we prayed for those who make decisions to control pollution?

God has put the world in our hands and told us simply to turn from OUR wicked ways and to pray. What an easy mandate.

How many times do we need to hear, ’Just obey God’ Just do what He tells you’.

Let’s study that verse again to make sure. It starts with: If my people, which are called by my name’ God is calling His people. Not the unsaved but those who have called on the name of the Lord and have been saved. Those who are called by the name of God.

Next: , shall humble themselves, This implies that we are not humble people. Perhaps we stick our chest out a bit too much. Perhaps we always blame the sin on the sinners instead of taking responsibility for doing the right thing before God and man. We are not humble or else God would not need to say we should humble ourselves.

Next: and pray – specifically pray for forgiveness for not being humble, for sinning against God and for Him to have mercy and heal our land.

Next: , and seek my face, Many people talk to God, they pray but they do not seek His face. They do not request to look into the face of God to be revealed by Him for what they truly are. When you seek God’s face, it is no longer only requests made in prayer but you are actually asking Him to look you in the eye and tell you what is good and right. Not that you give him a shopping list of items you want Him to do but to actually seek His leadership by seeking His face.

Next: and turn from their wicked ways Do we, Christians, have wicked ways??? You bet! We need to turn from them. What are they? Each man will examine himself and admit to his own evil ways. We all have them.

Now, The Promise! ; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I will hear- up until then God is ignoring you. He has closed His ears but as we respond in obedience, God decides to HEAR!

He will then FORGIVE the sin you don’t think you have but have finally admitted. Before we can expect change in society we must expect change in ourselves.

Finally, when it is all over, He heals our land.

When I first came to Payatas I started praying for the government officials and anyone who has anything to do with Payatas. I believe God can turn this place of garbage into a place of beauty. Anyway, within no time they were widening the roads, they installed street lights and Maynilad is installing new main lines. Now you might say, “That has been in the plans for years“ My answer is maybe so but God has heard my prayer hundreds and thousands of years before I prayed it.

So start praying now. Who knows the wonderful changes that God will do for those who will.