|
Ground Zero Christians
5 Then he said to them, "Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs. 7 They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
(II Chronicles 29:5-7)
These are the words of Hezekiah, the newly crowned king, as he stood before the priests of the Lord, people who could make the great transformation happen that was so desperately needed in their morally corrupt nation. It is true, only God Himself could actually do it, but He needed people to use - a willing leader, faithful ministers, and passionate men and women of God...like you!
The conditions of their day were very much like ours. We can see this in the sins Hezekiah listed. We all long to see our loved ones and city turn to God, as well as our nation, and the entire world. It will take a transformation...but one that is completely possible if you and I will simply answer the call of God He has spoken to us, just like He did to them.
* Our fathers have been unfaithful, done
evil, forsaken the Lord, turned their faces
away from the dwelling place of the
Lord, and have turned their backs. (:6)
...That is pretty much every way you can say, "They left the Lord with all their heart, mind, and strength", instead of "loving Him".
* They shut the doors of the porch. (:7)
...God couldn't get in, nor could others get in to God.
* They put out the lamps.
...This signifies the Word of God being shut down - not opened, not spoken, read, or preached.
* They stopped burning incense.
...There was no more Prayer.
* There were no more burnt offerings.
...Giving & Worship had ceased.
Hezekiah said, "Consecrate yourselves". (:5)
We are the House of God now. He lives in us. Look at the list above and see if there is any "filth that needs to be carried away from God's house" (Us) as needed to be in Hezekiah's day.
* Is the Door to your Heart open to Him?
Can others find Jesus in you?
* Have you shut up the Word of God in your life, or is it open, alive, and active in you as you live it 24/7?
* How's your Prayer Life with the Father?
* Do you live a life of Worship & Giving?
Transformation is coming.
It starts at Ground Zero.
With us...Ground Zero Christians.
Let it spread from there.
| 
