"On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brought burnt offerings to the Temple of the LORD. Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. The Levites brought the sacrificial blood to the priests, who then sprinkled it on the altar.
Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the LORD. Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony." And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people."
This passage of scripture gives me hope for America's Christian population who are not where they should be with the Lord. The leaders of Israel were not where they should have been either but when they realized their state of being they were ashamed, repented, got their "act together", unified themselves and went to the Lord on behalf of the rest of Israel. When they confessed their sins and asked the Lord to forgive them and to allow those who were unprepared but willing to follow the Lord to also be allowed to receive the Passover meal the Lord granted their request.
I believe we are in a very similar place in America because the leadership in the body has not been what it should be. We have missed the perfect timing of the Lord and we are not prepared for what the Lord requires, but if we as leaders (priests/bridge builders) will acknowledge our lack of leadership and will repent I believe He will honor our efforts and will 'turn the clock back' to bring us into His perfect timing.
When we (leaders) have repented and begin to stand in the gap for the body in America I believe God will 'heal' the people and open their eyes to see where they are and give them the opportunity to repent and follow Him. This passage says that God pardoned those who decided to follow Him when Hezekiah prayed and I believe He will do the same today if we will ask Him to.
The only question is, will we swallow our pride and work together across denominationally doctrinal lines for the sake of the people of God, or will we continue with the status quo and try to preserve what has not worked for centuries.
Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the LORD. Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony." And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people."
This passage of scripture gives me hope for America's Christian population who are not where they should be with the Lord. The leaders of Israel were not where they should have been either but when they realized their state of being they were ashamed, repented, got their "act together", unified themselves and went to the Lord on behalf of the rest of Israel. When they confessed their sins and asked the Lord to forgive them and to allow those who were unprepared but willing to follow the Lord to also be allowed to receive the Passover meal the Lord granted their request.
I believe we are in a very similar place in America because the leadership in the body has not been what it should be. We have missed the perfect timing of the Lord and we are not prepared for what the Lord requires, but if we as leaders (priests/bridge builders) will acknowledge our lack of leadership and will repent I believe He will honor our efforts and will 'turn the clock back' to bring us into His perfect timing.
When we (leaders) have repented and begin to stand in the gap for the body in America I believe God will 'heal' the people and open their eyes to see where they are and give them the opportunity to repent and follow Him. This passage says that God pardoned those who decided to follow Him when Hezekiah prayed and I believe He will do the same today if we will ask Him to.
The only question is, will we swallow our pride and work together across denominationally doctrinal lines for the sake of the people of God, or will we continue with the status quo and try to preserve what has not worked for centuries.
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