Fellow citizens, will you join me in this prayer?
1 Timothy 2: 1 & 2
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Lord, I pray for our nation Malaysia. We are living under dark clouds. On one side, we have the economic crisis finally hitting our shores. Many have had their salaries cut or lost their jobs or businesses affected. Many more will suffer the same in the coming months. And yet, we see our leaders' response to this crisis is severely lacking.
On another side, we have politicians, govt servants and businessmen who are too busy with their money grabs and power plays to concern themselves about the rakyat's plight.
On yet another side, there are those politicians who would not hesitate to destroy state institutions, laws, principles and morality to grab and maintain their power. We can see the shocking news daily of politicians rising and falling, of their statements which betray the corruption of their thoughts, and of institutions being used and abused to the sole end of grabbing political power.
Amidst all this, the people of this land can only stand and watch in horror as their livelihoods and their nationhood is slowly and surely flushed down the toilet.
Lord, surely You love this nation. You love every one of the people here - we are all Your creation! Lord come to our aid in this needful times!
O Lord, your word says:
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. (Romans 13:1-3)
Lord, You require us to submit and obey the government of the day for it is the right thing to do. You are the authority over all things and the governments of this earth are Your agents for justice on this earth.
But, Lord, we see today that our government is corrupt to the core. Your word says "rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong". Yet, we see that many of those who attempt to do right are imprisoned, arrested, harassed, blackmailed, bribed, rejected, obstructed, abused, manipulated, disgraced and more.
Lord, surely THIS is NOT the government that is worthy to represent Your justice!
Lord in all this political turmoil - where there seems to be no end in sight, and no depths too low to sink to - we pray that You will be the judge and arbiter. We pray that You will miraculously intervene and establish a government that is righteous, fair and just so that the rakyat may enjoy peace, security and prosperity.
We pray that you will install capable leaders of integrity to manage this country. We pray that You give our leaders wisdom in leading the people and formulating policies.
Lord, we pray for our government - that You will place the fear of God in the hearts of our leaders, that in all they do (even in secret) they will remember that You are watching and behave themselves.
Let justice prevail in our courts. Let discipline prevail in our security forces. Let integrity prevail in our government agencies. Let wisdom prevail among our politicians. And let peace prevail in in our Legislative Assemblies.
Lord, we cry out to You for justice. For Your word says:
35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
and their doom rushes upon them."
(Deuteronomy 32:35)
Lord, we await Your deliverance. We await the time when Your miraculous deeds will be shown and a new day will finally dawn on Malaysia. We await that day when justice and wisdom will once again rule in this land. Lord, come quickly to our rescue! Have mercy on our nation and deliver us!
Amen.
Amen!
ReplyDeleteEWO
ReplyDeleteDid Jesus ever teach TRINITY to his followers?
Did Jesus ever called to who follow him Christian?
Anon
ReplyDeleteIn the Bible, it's not recorded that Jesus specifically taught the concept of TRINITY. In fact, the word TRINITY is never mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
But the concept is clearly spelled out by Jesus Himself.
In the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verse 6 - 17:
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth.
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And his clearest indication is in John 14:26 -
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
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So there you have it - the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit (the TRINITY) - all in one, each sharing equal authority as God.
As to who called Jesus' followers "Christians". Jesus never gave a name to His followers. Even the early church was careful not to label themselves because this would give rise to politicking and factions.
1 Corinthians 3:3-4 says:
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
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It was emperor Nero who is credited with calling the followers of Christ "Christians". And it was meant as an insult, as in GeorgeBush-ians or Oprah-ians, et al.