Asking God to Hear

I'm going to ask you to stand and take your device or your Bible and go to 2 Chronicles, chapter 6, 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament, chapter 6. I'm going to read one verse, but then I'm going to ask you to just stay there. Keep your Device open to 2 Chronicles 6. Keep your Bible open to 2 Chronicles 6, because we're going to walk all the way through the entire chapter over the next four hours, and it's going to be powerful, powerful.

Second Chronicles, chapter six, one verse. We're going to circle back to this verse in a little bit. Verse 40. It's on the screen. If you don't have your Bible or device, it says this.

O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all. Everybody say all. To all the prayers made to you in this place.

Let me read it one more time. O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in the Refuge.

Come on, somebody missed a good chance to say amen right there. To all the prayers made to you in my house, in my car, in my prayer closet. Anybody excited about the Word this morning? Come on, let's make some declarations together as we do every week. Everybody together.

You ready? Go. I will hide this word in my heart.

This word is life to my body and health to my bones. I will be a doer of the Word, and I am confident of this will complete it. Come on, come on. Somebody shout Amen. Amen.

You can be seated. It's the final day of our series called the Desperate Cry on Notable Prayers of the Bible. And we started back in November, and then all through January we've talked about these great prayers that are offered up throughout Scripture. Final day of this series is the final day of Selah. Maybe you're here for the first time.

You're watching for the first time you say, what's selah? It's our 21 day fast that we observe every January that we've done since the refuge started 20 years ago. It's the first day of launch. Somebody make a little noise.

And believe it or not, we're almost one month into the brand new year. It's flying by already. It's interesting when we think about that, think about all the things that have happened in 25 days.

Wildfires in California, a freak snowstorm in the Deep South. I'm not trying to imply that there's something end times or prophetic about the freak snowstorm in the South. I'm just a little bit bitter because we've gotten gypped twice now.

Anybody know what I'm talking about? Maybe you are considering that to be a blessing. You moved here from the frozen north and you're grateful and you were the one praying against us getting any snow and we're all mad at you.

We had this week the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States.

An executive order was signed this week that there are count em two genders in America.

The next executive order signed this week amongst hundreds of other ones, that the rainbow flag cannot be flown over federal buildings any longer.

There was an executive order signed this week that federal taxpayer funds can no longer fund elective abortions.

Nor can men compete in women's sports.

This week, hostages that have been held since October 7th of 2023 began to be released in Israel.

August 25th of last year, a revival broke out at Ohio State University, primarily led by members of the football team. And this past Monday night, those young men who boldly have proclaimed Jesus as their savior won a national championship. And on national television, not just Ohio State, but members of both teams were boldly declaring that Jesus is their savior. They weren't just giving a nod to the man upstairs, they were saying, jesus is my Lord, Jesus is my Savior. And then this week, a female woke Episcopal bishop, and I use the term bishop very loosely, used the pulpit to attack the new president who's sitting right in front of her instead of praying for him as she was supposed to do.

Been an interesting year already 2024, we painfully watched as many prominent pastors and leaders and ministries were exposed for hidden sin.

Kind of leaves us scratching our heads wondering, what does it all mean? We've just begun the year 2025, which on the Hebrew calendar is the year 5785, which actually began at sundown, October 2, Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the new year on the Jewish calendar. But for us, our new year started 2025, January 1st. But it's the year 5785 on the Jewish calendar, which carries great meaning for the 5,785 year is symbolized on the Hebrew calendar by the fifth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, the letter Hey. H E, Y.

Everybody say, hey, now you speak Hebrew. Wow, look at you.

Jewish scholars say the letter, the symbol, because Hebrew letters are both, they're alphanumeric, they are letters and numbers at the same time. And Jewish scholars say that the symbol for the letter hey, pictures, open space. I think we have a picture of the symbol or we're supposed to. I thought we did. Do we noticed.

There it is. Thank you. So you see that opening at the top of the letter, which Jewish scholars say represents an open window or open space. Interesting that the year 5785 begins and ends with the number 5, which is symbolic in scripture of God's grace. The number five, God's grace, it's.

It is symbolic of God's supernatural, unmerited favor and of the divine empowerment of God over our lives. I believe as we have begun and are beginning a new season, a new year, that we're reminded of God's abundant grace that surrounds us both on the front end and on the back end at the beginning of the journey and at the end of the journey. What's also fascinating are the two numbers, seven, eight in the middle. I believe that's symbolic. I believe it's noteworthy.

Of the number 7 and 8, 7 being the number of completion, 8 being the number of new beginnings. Pivotal markers for this year. 20, 25, 57, 85. I believe that the Lord is speaking. I want you to hear me, Church.

That the Lord is speaking and saying, this is a year where there will be the completion of past trials and tribulations and seasons and lessons that will give new birth to new beginnings and the fulfillment of the promises of God. Anybody receive that? It's a transition from a time of refinement into a time of renewal and a time of breakthrough. Well, don't miss this today. You need to grab.

Some of you really need to grab hold of this word. Some of you, life has beaten the daylights out of you for 2024 and maybe for years. And I'm declaring over you, and I want you to, by faith, grab hold of this, that it's a new season, it's a new beginning. Not just because the calendar clicked over from 2024 to 2025, but I believe that because of what it represents, 5785. I believe with all of my heart that God is releasing something over you and over the church and over America.

It's a transition time. And I believe just as God heard the cries of the Israelites, he's heard your cries. This is a year that God's not only bringing you out of those trials and tests, but I believe God's also bringing you in to a new and wide open space where you can breathe and you can grow and you can thrive in the things of God. I want you to raise your expectation. Church.

Come on. I want you to believe by faith that this is a Time in a year where you're going to begin to see the hand of God moving in areas where you have felt stuck or you have felt pressed down by the enemy, that his grace is bringing expansion and he's faithful to complete what he has started, just as we declared a moment ago. Are you with me so far, Church? It's a year, and I believe it's a time to reflect and repent and to return to the awe of God.

King David desired to build a permanent resting place for God, a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. But God told him that he would not be the one to do so. However, I want you to note from scripture that David made preparations so that his son Solomon could build a temple for the Lord.

David did two things. David gathered and he gave.

In other words, David gathered resources. He gathered building materials. David didn't go pout in a corner because God said, you're not the one that's going to build the temple.

You see, some of us have the maturity level to handle a no from God.

And when God tells us no about something, or God gives the assignment that we want to somebody else, we go pout in a corner. We get angry and upset with God because he didn't pick us for the assignment. David could have gone and said, oh, that's the way we're going to play now. I'll let you handle this, God, if you're not gonna let me be involved. No, David didn't do that.

David began saying, if I'm not the one, I'm gonna make sure that the next generation has everything that they need. I'm gonna gather the materials. And then out of his own wealth, David gave. He led the way, and it inspired others then to begin to give. I want to speak to those of you in the room or those of you watching online.

And you're over 40. Not going to ask you to raise your hand.

40 is significant in scripture. But I want to talk to you because you have a responsibility.

Listen, your season is not over. God has not bypassed you. God has not put you on a shelf.

But you have a responsibility to make sure that the next generation coming up behind us has everything that they need to usher in the greatest move of God that we've ever seen.

You and I have a responsibility to gather and to give.

We have a responsibility to pave the way for the next generation.

It doesn't mean we're not gonna get to be a part of it. Doesn't mean God's not gonna use us. Doesn't Mean, we're not gonna be smack dab in the middle of the anointing of God. Whenever it happens, wherever it happens, it just means that according to scripture, David modeled for us, that we have to prepare the next generation for the move of God.

So Solomon begins building in the fourth year of his reign. It took him seven years to build this majestic, beautiful temple that you see described so acutely in scripture. And Solomon builds the temple. And then 2 Chronicles, chapter 6, verse 12. Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer.

Listen, it's a new day. It's a new season for the Israelites. There's a wide open window in front of them. God's grace, God's divine favor, God's supernatural empowerment has delivered them from trials and from slavery and from 400 years of Egyptian bondage. And now for them, it's time to celebrate the goodness of God.

It's time to welcome in the King of glory.

Listen, last year, this exact time, on the last night of launch, evangelist Nathan Morris. How many of you were here for last year's final night of launch? How many of you remember the move of God, the sovereign and supernatural move of God that we experienced as a church. And Nathan Morris prophesied over this house, and he said that we were to open the gates. He said it over and over.

Open the gates. Open the gates. Open the gates so that the king of glory may come in. Listen, that word has not expired, church. Do you understand?

We still carry the responsibility of opening the gates. How do we do that? We do that through fasting, like we've been doing. We do that through prayer, not just in January, but throughout the year that we cultivate an atmosphere and an environment that sends a clear message to heaven. The Holy Spirit is welcome here.

And we're not embarrassed by you. We're not ashamed of you. In fact, we put the welcome mat out for you and we say, king of Glory. Come on in. Come on in.

Every time we gather, we are desperate for you. We need you. We want you, King of glory. We want you, Holy Spirit, to come in. Verse 14, 2 Chronicles 6.

And he prayed. He prayed. This is his notable prayer, or part of it. O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and you show unfaithful, unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.

You've kept your promise to your servant, David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth and with your own hands. You have fulfilled it today. Come on, how many of you are believing for some promises to be fulfilled in 20, 25? Come on, how many of you are believing for some prayers to be answered this year?

Or for some dreams to come to pass? Or for some prodigals to come back home or some family members to be saved? Or for some strongholds to be broken? Come on, I need to hear from you. How many of you are believing this is the year.

This is the year for sovereign moves of God. Verse 19. Listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord, my God, hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. I want you to notice the word hear in the Hebrew. It's the word shammah.

It goes beyond just the mere act of hearing. It includes understanding. It means paying attention.

Ten more times in the next 20 verses, we find that exact word in the Hebrew where Solomon is praying over and over and he uses that word and he's pleading with God. God, I don't want you to just hear. I don't want just the inner workings of your ear to move around a little bit. God, I want you to understand and I want you to pay attention to to the prayers that we're offering in this place.

Pay attention, O God. Understand the cry of our heart, o Lord. Verse 20 and 21. Come on. How many of you are still with me?

Say Amen. Solomon says, may you watch over this temple day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers that I make toward this place. May you hear the humble and earnest request from me and from your people Israel, when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live.

Understand, O God. Pay attention, O God, to us. And when you understand and when you pay attention, forgive.

And then Solomon goes on to pray as he continues this notable prayer from Scripture. Verse 22 and 23, Solomon says, in matters of right and wrong, pay attention and understand. Pay back the guilty and acquit the innocent. In verse 24 and 25 he says, if we suffer defeat because of our own sin, because of our own disobedience or our own rebellion, if we'll turn to God and pray to him. Solomon says, then God will pay attention and God will understand and God will forgive us.

In verse 26 and 27, he says, if we're in a season of lack and of struggle because of sin or disobedience, and we turn to him and we pray, pray and repent, he'll pay attention, he'll understand, he'll forgive, and then he'll bring provision to us even when we don't deserve it. Verse 28 through 31 Solomon says, if we find ourselves in a season of disaster or sickness or destruction, where the enemy is plundering and and destroying like the thief loves to do, or he's coming after your possessions, he's trying to shipwreck your joy, he's trying to rob you of your hopes or of your dreams. Solomon says we can pray, we can cry out to God in 2025 and he'll hear our prayers and he'll provide, guide and protect, and he'll teach us to fear him.

Verses 32 and 33 he speaks watch of an ingathering of foreigners, those who are outside of the faith, unbelievers that if they will just pray from wherever they are.

Like Caleb shared a moment ago in a bathroom at a party. Solomon says, if you're laying in bed, strung out on drugs, if you're living in an immoral lifestyle, if you're consumed with greed and materialism, if your life is marked by anger or pride, Solomon says, wherever you are, whatever the condition of your heart, if you're outside of the faith, I feel the Lord on this right now for somebody that's watching online. Whew, man. If you'll just cry out to God, God doesn't expect you to clean up your act and then come to him. No.

God says, I want you just like you are, with the pig slop still on you. I want you just like you are full of pride or immorality or addiction or anger. You come to me just like you are. And the Father According to Luke 15 just wraps his arms around you and starts kissing all over your neck and loving on you.

Solomon says if you're outside of the faith, if you'll just cry out to him that God will pay attention and that you'll come to fear him and to know him. Verse 34 and 35 When God's people go to battle, how many of you are expecting there to be some battles in 2025 Solomon says when the people of God go to battle, he'll hear and he'll uphold our cause. In verse 36 through 39, if we rebel, if we disobey and we end up back in Egypt, if we're back in bondage again, Solomon says we can cry out to him from our place of captivity and God's not going to say, no, no, no, no, you did this to yourself. No, I set you Free. You blew it.

No. There's no freedom for you now. No, no, no. Solomon says if you've blown it, if you're back in Egypt again, all you gotta do is cry out to God. He's faithful and just, to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all.

Everybody say all. From all unrighteousness. And then verse 40. I told you we were going to circle back. Verse 40.

Oh, my God. He says, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place. Church, listen to me. Today I believe it's the beginning of a new season, new beginnings of renewal, of breakthroughs, where there's an open window of his grace on the church and on our nation, where we're going to see. Oh, I'm believing.

We're going to see an unprecedented harvest of souls in 2025. Come on. I need somebody to believe with me. We're going to see miracles in 2025. We're going to see restoration.

We're going to see revival. We're going to see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Come on. Do you believe that with your pastor today? Come on. It's the heart of God. It's what he desires for us.

Solomon's crying out. He's praying all these prayers in the temple that he's just built.

And then we jump to chapter seven, the first three verses, and then we're going to pray. He says in chapter seven, verse one, when Solomon finished praying. Watch. Come on, Jesus. Fire flashed down from heaven, burned up the burnt offerings and the sacrifices burnt up.

Listen, we don't bring animals in here today. We don't have to do that anymore. Guess what the offerings are. Guess what the sacrifices are. You.

You're the offering.

You're the sacrifice.

And then it says, in the glorious presence of the Lord. Lord, come on. God, fill the temple.

And the priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled him.

When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, come on, say these words with me. His faithful love endures forever. Come on. Will you say it again? His faithful love endures forever.

Will you say it one more time? His faithful love endures forever.

It's a new season.