Title: The Best Patriots Prayer
Contents
1. Words that begin
The burial case of ‘Maggapa’ is truly a demonic murder case beyond imagination. However, the bigger problem is that the name ‘Maggapa’, which means ‘makga life’, represents a phenomenon that can be found all over the country.
Golden all-aroundism, bribery, the natural result of luxury and debauchery, a surge in drug offenders, family breakdown due to increasing divorces, and a surge in income from luxury consumer goods amidst military and economic crises , deceitful sales, disorder, confusion and distrust, environmental pollution and environmental destruction, all kinds of idolatry, corruption in the public service, the application of unfair laws, the last conscience, corruption of all religions, etc. Society, it shows that the world is dying.
The text shows what true patriotism we can do for such a country.
2. Nehemiah's Sorrow over the Fallen Fatherland
In the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes of Persia, in the month of Kisle (November-December 445 B.C.), Nehemiah in Shushan Palace came to Nehemiah with his brother Hanani, who was in Judah, and two men. So, Nehemiah inquired about the situation of the Jews and Jerusalem who remained in his homeland. As a holy patriot, he asked a question about the ruined country, especially the city where the temple of God is, before sharing a sad story.
Personally, Nehemiah was able to enjoy wealth and honor as much as he could because he was in a position where he enjoyed the mighty authority as a cupbearer of the king of Persia, a powerful country at the time. However, the image of the Jerusalem temple, the temple of God, and the ruined compatriots did not leave his mind, and the holy concern and regret for God and the ruined country did not leave his heart.
Unfortunately, Nehemiah's answer to Nehemiah's question was disappointing. The remnants of those who escaped captivity met great tribulation and insults in Jerusalem, and the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and its gates burned down. When Nehemiah heard this, he sat down, wept and mourned for days. Neither the face of being a man nor the body of a world power authority could contain the tears and sorrow for the destroyed Jerusalem Temple and our countrymen.
Even now, when you see that there are political leaders who think of Japan as if they were the masters of the great domination and exploitation in the past, and that the people who were strong and strong at that time are still not waking up from that nightmare, they are in a ruined country that gives no benefit. Nehemiah's patriotism toward Korea is truly remarkable.
Gentlemen, please believe that true patriotism comes from true faith in God. Still, if there is one glimmer of hope in this country, isn't it a true church and its members?
Nehemiah's love for the kingdom of God, who believes in God, is in tears and sorrow for his compatriots who are living in a ruined country and miserable life, but the greatness of his love lies in his fasting and prayer.
3. The Best Patriot Prayer
Nehemiah did not give up saying that he had no choice but to do it because it was 1600 km from Shushan Palace to Jerusalem. He believed in the power of prayer, which seemed the most vague and displayed the most amazing power. Everyone, please believe that prayer is a way to receive the power and wisdom of Almighty God who works beyond time and space.
A pastor who was working as a missionary in Africa was on his way to the train station to distribute missionary expenses to his colleagues, when robbers suddenly surrounded him, tried to attack him, but just scattered and ran away.
After that, when one of the robbers repented and was saved, people asked, “Why didn’t the robbers kill the missionary then and take the money?” I asked. Then the repentant robber confirmed, “We saw soldiers surrounded the missionary.”
As I learned later, at that time, people who supported the missionary from their home countries were gathering and praying.
The prayers of the saints in their home countries protected the lives of missionaries working in foreign countries and made them more powerful in carrying out the gospel ministry.
Perhaps some of you have experienced a dream in which an evil spirit has gone out ahead of time on the night of your appointment, or you may have experienced the power of a pastor's intercessory prayer while feeling something escape from your body .
Everyone, if you want to experience the power and wisdom of God working beyond time and space, please believe in the Word, fast, and pray. In particular, intercessory prayers for nations and peoples can receive even more amazing answers to God's love, power, and wisdom.
At that time, you can know that the best patriotism is to pray to the Almighty God, who controls the rise and fall of individuals and nations.
Nehemiah fasted and prayed for the temple and homeland destroyed by Babylon.
First, we prayed thoroughly based on God's covenant. He did not pray according to his own will, nor did he pray according to the difficulties and hardships of his compatriots. He prayed to the God of unparalleled greatness and fear, who keeps his covenant and shows mercy to those who love him and keep his commandments. This kind of prayer was the way for Israel, which was destroyed after worshiping idols and committing all kinds of iniquity. So, he prayed day and night to the God who made a covenant of love for Israel.
Second, Nehemiah confessed his sins as well as the sins of his ancestors and compatriots and prayed for repentance. The cause of their ruin was that they did so much evil toward the Lord that they did not keep the commandments, ordinances, and ordinances. So, just as God had warned, He scattered Israel among the nations.
Unless a person confesses before God and repents of all the sins that block God's grace and blessing, he will never receive answers to prayer. The only way to overcome the overall crisis in our country is to obtain God's power and wisdom through a national prayer of repentance.
Third, Nehemiah prayed day and night according to the word of God's covenant. He did not pray according to the wishes of his pitiful heart, nor did he pray according to the miserable reality of his compatriots. He prayed that God's promises would come true. “Now, I beg you, remember what I said, “If you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, I will gather you from there even if they are at the ends of heaven, and I will bring them back to the place I choose to put my name”
In a nutshell, his prayer was not a prayer to ask God to do his will, but a prayer for God's will to be done.
Fourth, Nehemiah prayed day and night, remembering God's grace he had received in the past. “These are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and strong hand.” In other words, these fallen people are the same people whom God delivered from Egypt through ten miracles and miracles in the past. It's the people. So, listen to the prayers of your servants and those who rejoice in revering the name of the Lord, and grant them favor in the presence of King Artaxerxes.
In the end, Nehemiah made a great contribution to rebuilding the temple and the nation by receiving the permission of the kings of the Gentiles as a response from God.
4. Conclusion
Like an old tree that is rotten, sick, and eaten by insects, the path of true patriotism for a country that is faltering by field is prayer. Please believe in God's covenant, confess your sins as well as national sins, and pray day and night, remembering God's promise of salvation and past grace. Then, the power and wisdom of God that transcends time and space will be revealed everywhere.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Complete Commentary on 27 New Testament Books/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/Paul’s Understanding of Man/ Prosperity Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermonbook 18. -3051)