When We Seek the Lord, He Will Be Found by Us

Day 1 – When We Seek the Lord, He Will Be Found by Us

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him, if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”  For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 
– 2 Chronicles 15:1-4

Revelations concerning the moral lives of Ravi Zacharias and pastor of Hillsong Church of New York City, Carl Lentz have recently troubled the American Christian community.  These revelations are on top of other disappointments in recent years related to Christian leadership faithfulness and even the suicide of some ministers.  There has been considerable decline in Christian belief and practice in the nation for over fifty years and all the good work of all the Christian churches and ministries has only slowed the decline, but not stopped or reversed increasing secularism.  

The question that naturally arises is whether American Christians as a whole, and especially Christian leadership will realize that a radical departure from current mindset and practice is the only solution.  For many it seems the solution is to complain about the current state of affairs in conversations and via social media by forwarding to each other the latest disappointment or outrage.  To date, the appetite for making dramatic change has not yet reached a  level to prompt sober self-reflection and needed action.  

American Christianity has become exceedingly feeble such that our energy for morning and evening devotionals, extraordinary prayer, humbling ourselves through fasting and repentance and other Christian practices is virtually nonexistent.  We’ve even developed theologies to justify our self-indulgent behavior, commending ourselves for our advanced learning!  Indeed, we’ve largely become lovers of pleasure, justifying our lack of Christian diligence when we should be weeping and repenting for neglecting self-denial which is at the heart of the Christian life having been modeled by our Savior Jesus Christ.  

God has ordained that the power of the Holy Spirit, and much more so now than during the Old Covenant, is released as His people seek Him as He requires and not as is comfortable or convenient.  Great revivals have been progressing around the world outside the West for a few decades, bringing radical change to entire nations.  Indeed, we have witnessed the greatest sociological shift in the history of the world.  These dramatically different cultures seek the Lord in the same ways - and in the same ways as our forebears in America sought the Lord.  They pray and read the Scriptures mornings and evenings for about 30-90 minutes as individuals and families.  They periodically gather for all-night prayer or 24-hour prayer chains.  They humble themselves through regular and sometimes extraordinary fasting and repentance.  In short, they seek God with great energy and passion.  Truly they know and experience that when they are with the LORD, He is with them.  This has always been true of God because He is faithful to His promises and He loves His people.  

Christian Union Day and Night begins today a 21-day fast to seek God for mercy, power, deliverance, healing, redemption and a new spirit of faith and devotion.  Many thanks to all who are joining this effort!  The sacrifice of the few has the effect of moving God to have mercy on the many.  As Moses pleaded with God to have mercy on the nation of Hebrews, so we plead with God to stir up America to seek Him wholeheartedly, and honor Him as He deserves.  

Yours in Christ,
Matt Bennett
Founder and CEO of Christian Union