Title: When You Meet a Crisis
Contents
When faced with crisis (Isaiah 38:1-8)
The word crisis is derived from the Greek word 'Krinein', which means 'separate'. Originally, it was used as a medical term to refer to a sudden and decisive change of condition that is the turning point between recovery and death. The dictionary meaning of “crisis” is “dangerous turning point or period”.
Dangerous turning points and periods in human history have always existed. And today and tomorrow, we can face crises.
Such crises arise from the physical and mental aspects of each individual, the political and social system of a country, and even the relations between countries. Today we face many crises. Looking at the situation at home and abroad, the Middle East crisis, the terror crisis, and the 'North Korean nuclear crisis' that our country is facing, as well as the 'energy crisis' and 'food crisis' because of the problem of eating and drinking. If you look at the crisis of living health and the sharp rise in the divorce rate, the crisis of family dissolution is on the attack. Besides, there are other difficulties and crises.
Above all else, the spiritual crisis is more of a problem. Religious pluralism, which is trying to wear away the belief in one God and universalize religion, is strongly raising its head. On the other hand, the shamanic beliefs that have worked tenaciously and persistently for half a million years in this country are hitting the ground and ruining the souls of the people.
One day, the military dictatorship collapsed, and along with the democratization wave, the youth centered "movement to find our culture and shamanism riding on the free wave" is a < superstition > < shamanic ritual > < divination > > As an act, the superstitious and shamanistic act was established by wrapping it up as a modest cultural event, artistic act, and academic act. According to the social section of <Sunday Sisa Weekly>, "2002 As of February, more than 100,000 shamans are affiliated with the Korea Magicalist Association, and more than 200,000 shamans are affiliated with the Korean Federation of Victory and Gonggyeongshin, a coalition of shamans and others. It is estimated to be.”
In fact, it is said that there are over 500,000 shamans who are not affiliated with them. And it's amazing that there are as many as 1,000 sites that look at <Fortune> operated through the Internet. Now, in this country, the flags of shaman houses are fluttering in alleys of residential areas. You should know that this is a flag that signals a spiritual crisis.
Some said, "The church doesn't pray, so the devil gains strength and works."
Now we are seeing a total crisis both inside and outside. So how can we overcome this total crisis? We would like to find out about the man of faith Hezekiah introduced in the text.
Hezekiah was the 12th king of Judea. He was a devout king who ruled Judea from 715 to 687 BC. Although he was a king who served God well, there were two great crises in his life.
One) was a national crisis.
Assyrian king <Sennacherib> invaded with a large army of 185,000 men. (Isaiah 36-37)
Sennacherib sent his subordinate general <Rabshakeh> to speak blasphemy against God, and sarcastically criticized King Hezekiah's incompetence. When Jerusalem was on the brink of fall, the God he served was blasphemed, and he was ridiculed and ridiculed. In Isaiah 37:3, Hezekiah describes the national crisis as follows: “Today is a day of tribulation, discipline, and humiliation. It is like a mother who wants to give birth to a child but has no strength.”
Regretful. The beleaguered state is telling the situation of disappointment.
Another crisis experience of Hezekiah was a personal crisis. It is recorded in today's text. In the middle of verse 1, "You are about to die, so arrange all your household affairs. You will never recover again." The sentence of death due to illness fell. After being diagnosed at the hospital, the doctor said, “You only have six months to live.” It's like saying It's a 'blue sky'.
Hezekiah met two crises, a national crisis and death from disease. When faced with a crisis like this, people are usually shocked and frustrated. However, we are people living with the Almighty God. We believe that Christians do not get frustrated even if there are mountains that cannot be crossed, waves and sorrows of life that cannot be overcome. Please believe that in Christ there is an answer to any problem in life. I believe that no matter how difficult a problem may be, there is an answer in Christ.
<Praise 2234, a mountain that cannot be overcome>
How did King Hezekiah, who believed in God faithfully, overcome the crisis without getting frustrated?
First, I thought of God and sought God.
1) When faced with a national crisis, Hezekiah remembered the Lord.
And entered the temple of the Lord.
“When King Hezekiah heard this, he could not contain his wrath, so he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the temple of the Lord.”
A person who remembers the Lord when faced with a crisis! Those who enter the temple of the Lord when faced with a crisis! The psalm says, "God is in the temple." said In times of crisis, Hezekiah remembered God and sought God. At that time, God delivered the good news through the Lord's servant Isaiah. "Do not be so afraid that the king's men of Assyria have heard a reproach on me. I will send a spirit to him and hear the news of him, and he will return to his own country, and there he will be struck with the sword to death." (Isaiah 37:6-7) )
Then, God said through Isaiah, the army of Sennacherib, which is currently besieging Jerusalem, will go back the way it came and will never enter the city of Jerusalem without shooting the bow properly... The people will sow seed and eat the fruit of the harvest.” (Isaiah 37:30-35)
gave the word -Hallelujah-
Immediately after that, the angel of the Lord appeared. An unbelievable miracle occurred, destroying 185,000 men in one night. The omnipotence of God itself is a miracle. But it is a miracle to us and ordinary to God Himself. Because God is the Creator and the Almighty. Therefore, please believe that no matter how unbearable a crisis can be easily solved if God touches it. Therefore, please believe that Hezekiah's national crisis has been simply solved and overcome. Therefore, on a day of crisis, do not be discouraged, do not despair, and seek God. I hope you find the temple of God. Then you will experience the miracle of overcoming the crisis.
2) Also, in the personal crisis of Hezekiah's death, he thought of God and sought God.
In Isaiah 38:2, when Hezekiah was sentenced to death, he turned his face to the wall and cried out in tears.
A man who thinks of God in the crises of sickness to die!
Hezekiah, the man who thought of God in the circumstances of death!
God saved him from death.
"I will extend your life fifteen more years" Hallelujah! He overcame the crisis of Hezekiah's death.
Dear saints,
I bless you all who overcome crises by remembering God and seeking God like King Hezekiah when faced with a crisis.
Finally, Hezekiah prayed in times of crisis.
1) We prayed even in times of national crisis and crisis.
Hezekiah, who met a crisis, remembered God/ entered the temple of the Lord and said that he sought God. What did you do in the temple? Hezekiah prayed to God in the temple. Isaiah 37:15-20. "Lord of hosts above the cherubim, you alone rule over all the kingdoms of the world.
There is only one God, who made the heavens and the earth.
Lord, listen to me. Lord, please take note.
Do not forget that remark of Sennacherib, who spoke insultingly against the living God. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the nations of the earth may know that you alone are Lord God."
God finally answered Hezekiah's prayer in a crisis situation. God sent a deceiving spirit to make Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, return to his homeland to be killed by the sword, and the 185,000 men led by General Rabshakeh, Sennacherib's subordinate, were annihilated by an angel sent by God in the night by an angel sent by God to annihilate the crisis.
-Hallelujah- Everyone! In times of crisis, we must pray. I bless you all who pray like Hezekiah.
2) Hezekiah also prayed in times of personal crisis.
Isaiah 38:2-3 is the content of Hezekiah's prayer when he was stricken with a deathly disease.
“Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord, I pray to you.
Remember that you obeyed with all your heart and that you did what was good in the sight of the Lord." After praying like this, Hezekiah wept and wept for a long time."
How did God respond to Hezekiah's prayer of tears in the crisis situation that caused him to die? In verse 5, it says, “He has heard”. And he said that he extended his life to live another 15 years. "I have heard your prayers, and I have seen the tears you shed. I will prolong your life for fifteen more years, and I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will protect it." "Hallelujah!"
God is a good Father, rich in mercy and mercy. That is why He is the God who hears the tears of the saints and their prayers. “I have heard your tears and your prayers.” please believe With that belief, I hope you do not sit still in the day of crisis, do not hold your breath, do not despair, and pray before God who sees your tears and hears your prayers. Then it will give you a miracle of overcoming stomach upset. Just as the 185,000 enemies of Rabshakeh, who caused pain and crisis, were destroyed in an instant, the reality of the crisis will collapse. We bless you to experience the exhilarating work of God through prayer.
finish the speech.
Dear saints, We live in an era of total difficulties and crises. However, it is said that the crisis does not give us despair as Christians. He said that it is because God is the way and method of overcoming crises for the saints. In Psalm 18, David says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God is a rock for me to take refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.” As it is said, in times of crisis of the saints, God is “a rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God is a rock for me to take refuge, my shield, the 1) horn of my salvation, and my stronghold,” so that God can give us faith and hope. like Hezekiah at any time
Please remember God. Go to the temple and seek God. And I hope that I can pray earnestly with tears.
So, I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that you will always overcome and overcome when you are faced with a crisis.