When Leaders Repent

WITH POST SCRIPT ADDED**

Consecrate yourself to God; worship & praise him (2Ch 29:20,24,27-30)#DedicatedToGod #PraiseTheLord #WorshipThe Lord https://www.bible.com/116/2ch.29.20,24,27-30.nlt

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Sixteen days after the Lord’s Temple was re-opened it had been cleansed of every defiled object (inside and out). The very next morning King Hezekiah had priests and Levites in their positions. Every city official was summonsed to be in the Temple. King Hezekiah himself led the procession.

Burnt offerings and sin offerings were made, consecrating the whole throng of leaders to God. Then there was a “joyous“ sound of praise and worship. The entire assembly sang, played instruments and read Psalms. They worshipped. How could the scene of repentance of leadership possibly be described? Only experienced. Lord, may our leaders (I myself) know such a repentance.

** I am encouraged to write the following Post Script: Eight hours after this post was published I heard Vice President Mike Pence speak to The Family Leader Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa. He spoke of a night in the 1970s when he, as a nineteen year old young man, gave his life to Christ. He told the audience that there are times when we feel God has abandoned us and is no longer working. But, he said, God is always working. We ought never give up, continue in faith and in prayers. He called the nation to, “humble themselves, and pray and seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways, then God will hear [as he always does] from heaven, and will forgive [our] sin and heal [our] land.” This is what it looks like when godly leaders call for and lead a nation to repent.

When God Cleans House

Open your heart to the cleansing work of God’s Spirit (2Ch 29:15-17) #Revival #SpiritualAwakening #Repentance #SurrenderToGod https://www.bible.com/116/2ch.29.15-17.nlt

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

When God sends revival he moves the hearts of those he will use to begin to purify, clean out, their own hearts. He calls them to rid their hearts of anything standing between them and God. Like pride, self importance, jealousy, envy and lust; taking God (his blessings) for granted, selfishly consuming personal pleasures and insensitivity to the needs of others, et al.

When revival comes, God calls those who lead to make him the priority in lifestyle and in worship. God calls them to clear the temple of their own hearts of all that defiles and rivals him. He calls them to make ready the way for others to come. Lord, cleanse the heart of this sentry, that I may not be a hindrance to revival.

Is Revival, Awakening Happening?

Be prepared for God to release you in his service (2Ch 29:3–5,10-12). #Revival #SpiritualAwakening https:www.bible.com116/2ch.29.3-5,10-12.nlt

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

I may not know all the ways of God in the onset of revival or spiritual awakening, but I can see clues from God’s word. God used King Hezekiah in Judah to implement a fresh wind of revival. Through Hezekiah God released the Levites (his godly servants) to purify themselves and the temple. Then to perform the ministry they had previously been denied.

Today there seems to be a growing alertness in the people of God. There is a man in leadership who, though not perfect, is a friend toward God. Hostility towards him, the increase of darkness and violence in our society, may be a clue that God is moving in our midst.

Lord, intensify this sentry’s alertness and prayer for those who minister before you daily, who lead in the cleansing of our national sins.

Personal Cathedral of Praise

Come, seek that place of personal praise to the Lord for all he has done (Rom 16:25-27) #AllPraiseBeToGod https://www.bible.com/97/rom.16.25-27.msg

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Reading Paul’s final words in the Romans epistle causes me to pause and reflect on my many weeks of journaling through this letter. H.C.G. Moule* suggests that these final words were written by Paul’s own hand as he sat quietly before the manuscripts. Imagine Paul sitting in silence, as all of his associates, friends, have for the moment, left him alone.

Perhaps Paul retraces the themes of this letter once more. Inspired again, he takes pen in hand. Then, with dim eyes and intensity in his soul, he inscribes a most wonderful closing hymn of praise to God. We leave Paul here, in his personal cathedral of praise to the Lord. I too, sit quietly in worship before this same Lord.

*Epistle To The Romans, “The Expositor’s Bible”