A message of hope, inspiration and challenge.

America’s only hope for restoration is for men, women and children to turn their hearts toward God. This Sunday message is one that is good for every day of the week.

*** Pastor Ron Burtz***

We live in a sick society and many believe we are already experiencing the judgment of God upon our nation.

But God has promised to end the judgment and restore and heal the land IF his people-believers who claim the name of Christ and follow Him-will take several important actions. Those four simple steps are outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where we read. “If my people who are called by my name will…#1 Humble themselves…#2 Pray…#3 Seek my face…#4 Turn from their wicked ways. Now, today I want to look at one and four because I believe their connected. I find it interesting that 2 & 3-prayer and seeking the face of God-are sandwiched between two important attitudes that we MUST adopt if we are to expect any favor from the Throne of Grace…humility and repentance. Repentance starts with humbling ourselves before the Almighty. James 4:6 says “God opposes (literally “stiff arms”) the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Much of the church today has become arrogant , like the church at Laodicea thinking we are rich and self-sufficient, but in the eyes of Christ, wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…to proud to pray. As Abraham Lincoln wrote in a proclamation signed 150 years ago this very month, “It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” Near the conclusion of Lincoln’s proclamation is a prayer of hope for the promised healing: “All this being done… let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”

May it be so in our day as well.

If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, today would be a GREAT day to begin! It’s easy:

A. Admit you are a sinner.

B. Believe that Jesus died to purchase forgiveness for your sins.

C. Confess Jesus as your savior.

Now… you are saved. Your new life has BEGUN. Find a Bible believing, Gospel preaching church. Read your Bible and pray (talk to God). May God bless you as you trust and obey Him in everything you do!