Sunday School Lesson June 26, 2024
Subject: Praying for Our Nation
The Point: God blesses those who humbly look to Him.
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3,12-20
Study The Bible: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
1). God’s glory, our humility.
- When Solmon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
- The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple became the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord.
- All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the Lord: “For he is good, for his faithful love endures forever.”
Lasting truths from: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
* We stand in amazement that the Almighty God reveals Himself to us.
* The Lord God is a God of power and glory; none other can be likened to Him.
* We are humbled to be in His presence.
* In His presence nothing is ordinary.
* The revelation of the Lord to us calls for our submission, worship, and praise.
2). God’s promises, our repentance.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16
- Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him; “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple of sacrifice.
- If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on my people, and seek my face,
- and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
- My eyes will now be open and my ears attentive to prayer from this place.
- And I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there at all times.
Lasting truths from: 2 Chronicles 7:12-16
* Troubled times may come, even to and among God’s people.
* The way to forgiveness, restoration, or spiritual wholeness is in the Lord.
*The Lord hears the prayers and blesses those with repentant attitudes who humble themselves before Him.
3). God’s blessing our obedience.
2 Chronicles 7:17-20
- As for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep my statutes and ordinances.
- I will never fail to have a man ruling in Israel.
- However, if you turn away and abandon my statutes and my commands that I have set before you and if you go and serve other gods and bow in worship to them,
- then I will uproot Israel from the soil that I gave them, and this temple that I have sanctified for my name I will banish from my presence; I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.”
Lasting truths from: 2 Chronicles 7:17-20
* God has a personal word for each of us.
* God expects our obedience to His Word.
* God blesses the faithful.
* The externals of our religious practice lose their meaning without our being in right relationship to the Lord.
* God punishes the unfaithful and disobedient.
As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions:
- What are your doing personally and as a group to encourage those around you to turn to God in humble prayer and to seek His presence?
Closing Prayer:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name Amen.”
“If this lesson has been a blessing to you, leave us a comment.”