November 27 - The Priority of Prayer 기도의 우선

November 27 - The Priority of Prayer

 

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.” - Zechariah 4:6

 

An amazing message was given to Zerubbabel (a descendent of King David), who, having returned from the Babylonian captivity to govern Jerusalem, was the one God chose to start rebuilding the Jewish Temple. The prophet Zechariah told him that God would carry out the work: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. 

 

This divine revelation is as relevant today as it was centuries ago, for we must all come to an understanding that the LORD Himself will carry out His plans, which He alone has purposed, not by might nor by power, but by the grace of God's Spirit alone. Zerubbabel was not told HOW God was to carry out His plans and purposes, for, like us, he only saw through a glass darkly. Nevertheless, like ours, he is responsible for living by faith in God, trusting the Word of the LORD, and believing all God has told us.

 

God is working His purpose out as year succeeds to year, but we are not always a party to God's proposed plans in the counsel of His will. However, we are His workmanship. We are the spiritual Temple of God built together by His Holy Spirit. God's work is not carried out by men's cleverness or the influence of their mighty ministries. We are being built together by the work of the indwelling Spirit of God. We are the Body of Christ. We are the Church of God quietly being built into His eternal dwelling place, precious stone by stone.

 

We, too, face increasing pressures in our day and age, and at times, we too may be tempted to consider that the task of living by faith and trusting the LORD is overwhelming in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Nevertheless, this Word from the LORD is as true for us today as it was so many centuries ago, that God Who started a good work in us would complete it in the day of Christ Jesus: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD.

 

When we acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ and hold to Biblical faith, prayer becomes our priority. That is because we believe we can do nothing alone, but every good gift comes from the LORD alone. Without prayer, it is impossible to be involved in the work that changes people’s hearts to accept Jesus as their LORD and Savior. We know many deep prayers were behind the Korean church’s revival movements and growth. God’s work is not possible through human efforts but only through the power of the Spirit and prayer (Zechariah 4:6). Jesus also emphasized the importance of prayer for doing God’s work (John 14:12-13). After the ascension of Jesus, his disciples came to Jerusalem and focused on prayer alone (Acts 1:14). Pentecost was the result of these prayers. 

 

Why do we pray? It is because, through prayer, the door for the gospel opens up. In Africa today, 25,000 people come to Jesus Christ every day. In China, there are 28,000 people; in South America, 35,000 people come to Jesus Christ. In Iran, more people are coming to Jesus than in the past 1000 years. However, about 80 to 85 percent of the churches in America are losing their members; every year, about 6,000 churches close down. Most American Christians pray three to four minutes a day. When Jesus Christ was on earth, he promised to answer anything we pray in his name. His disciples trusted his promise, believed it, and prayed. Prayer brings us the power of God, enabling us to be the reapers of the harvest, and helps us to do his ministry more effectively. 

  

Today’s Prayer: Pray your family members would have genuine love and concern for each other. Ask especially that your children will reflect Jesus’ love as they interact with each other.

Prayer Pointer: There are no shortcuts when it comes to revival. The church desperately needs revival, but it will not come by quick and easy methods. Evan Roberts prayed for eleven years before the Welsh Revival broke out, and his ministry during that wonderful time broke him physically. More than one hundred thousand people were converted to Christ during that mighty awakening, but it was not the result of manufactured meetings (they were spontaneous) or artificial promotions. True revival goes deeper than that. – Warren Wiersbe

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 38-39; 1 Peter 4

 

 

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11월 27일 - 기도의 우선 

 

“이는 힘으로 되지 아니하며 능으로 되지 아니하고 오직 나의 신으로 되느니라” - 슥 4:6

 

바벨론 포로에서 예루살렘으로 돌아온 다윗 왕의 후손인 스룹바벨은 유대인 성전 재건을 위해 하나님의 선택을 받은 인물로 하나님의 놀라운 메시지를 받았습니다. 그는 하나님께서 선지자 스가랴로부터 이 일을 수행하신다고 말씀하십니다. "이는 힘으로 되지 아니하며 능으로 되지 아니하고 오직 나의 신으로 되니느라 만군의 여호와의 말이니라”(슥 4:6). 

 

이 하나님의 계시의 말씀은 수 세기 전과 같이 오늘날에도 의미있고 관련이 있는 말씀이 되는 것은 하나님 자신이  계획하신 것을 인간의 힘과 능력으로 수행해 갈 수 없고 오직 하나님의 영과 그의 은혜로만 가능하고 하나님의 계획의 본래 목적을 성취할 수 있기 때문입니다. 스룹바벨은 우리들 처럼 모든 것을 부정적으로 보았으나 그의 책임은  하나님을 의지하고 믿음으로 사는 것과 하나님의 말씀을 신뢰하고, 하나님이 말씀하신 모든 약속을 믿는 것이였습니다. 

 

하나님은 시간 지나가면서 그의 목적을 이루어 나가고 계시지만, 우리가 하나님께서 자신의 뜻에 따라 목적하신 계획에 항상 참여하는 것은 아닙니다. 우리는 하나님의 걸작품입니다. 우리는 성령으로 함께 지어지고 있는 하나님의 영적 성전입니다. 하나님의 사역은 인간의 영리함이나 사람의 강한 사역의 영향력으로 이루어지는 것이 아닙니다. 우리는 내주하시는 하나님의 성영의 역사로 함께 세워져 가는 것입니다. 우리 믿는 자들은 그리스도의 몸입니다. 우리 각자는  하나님의 영원한 거처로 보석 같은 존재로 조용히 세워지고 있는 하나님의 교회입니

 

우리도 이 시대에 더 많은 압력을 받고 있고 때로는 믿음을 가지고 주님을 신뢰하는 것이 어려워서 모든 것이 잘못된 세대에서 믿음을 다시 재고해 보고 싶은 유혹을 받을 수 있습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 수세기 전과 같은 말씀으로 오늘날도 마찬가지로 우리에게도 참되기 때문에 우리 안에서 선한 일을 시작하신 하나님께서 그리스도의 날에 완성하실 갓을 믿으며 이 모든 일에 우리의 힘과 능력으로 되지 않고 오직 예수 그리스도의 신으로 하실 것입니다. 

 

예수 그리스도를 주님으로 고백하고 말씀에 순종하는 신앙생활을 한다면, 최우선으로 할 일은 기도입니다. 우리의 힘으로는 아무 것도 할 수 없고, 모든 것이 오직 하나님께 로부터 온다는 사실을 믿는 이유 때문입니다. 기도하지 않고 사람들의 마음을 변화시켜 예수 그리스도를 믿게  한다는 것은 상상할 수도 없는 일 입니다. 한국교회의 부흥운동과 성장의 역사 뒤에는 언제나 열정을 가진 기도의 사람들이 있었습니다. 하나님의 일은 인간의 힘과 노력으로 이루어지지 않습니다. 오직 기도와 성령의 능력으로만 가능합니다(슥 4:6). 예수님께서도 하나님의 일을 하시면서 기도의 중요성을 말씀하셨습니다(요4:12-13), 예수님께서 승천하신 후 제자들은 예루살렘으로 돌아와 기도에 전념했습니다(행1:14). 이러한 기도하는 제자들과 사람들이 있었기 때문에 오순절 성령강림의 역사가 일어난 것 입니다.

 

왜 기도해야 합니까? 기도를 통해서 복음의 문이 열리기 때문입니다. 오늘날 아프리카는 매일 2만 5천여 명의 새신자가 있고, 중국에는 하루에 2만 8천여 명, 남미에는 3만 5천여 명이 주께로 돌아오고 있습니다. 이란에서는 지난 과거 1000년 동안 결신한 숫자 보다 더 많은 사람들이 주님께 돌아오고 있습니다. 미국에서는 약 80% 내지 85%의 교회가 침체하거나 감소하고, 매년 6,000여 개의 교회가 문을 닫고 있습니다. 미국 그리스도인의 대부분이 하루에 단지 3, 4분 정도 기도한다고 합니다. 예수님은 세상에서 자신의 이름으로 구하면 응답하신다고 약속 하셨습니다. 제자들은 그 약속을 믿고 기도했습니다. 기도는 하나님의 능력을 얻게하고, 추수의 일군들이 되게 하며, 효과적인 사역을 하도록 변화시켜 일하게 하시는 것 입니다.

 

오늘의 기도: 가족 식구들이 서로간에 진정한 사랑과 관심을 가지고, 특별히 자녀들이 다른 사람들과의 관계에서 예수님의 사랑을 나타내도록 하나님께 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 부홍에는 직경이 없다. 교회의 부흥이 절대적으로 필요하지만 부흥은 빨리 쉬운 방법으로 오지 않는다. 이반 로버츠는 웨일즈 부흥이 일어나기전 11년을 기도하였다. 이 사역하는 기간 동안에 그의 육신은 완전히 망가졌다. 이 놀라운 각성기간에 10만명 이상이 그리스도에게 돌아왔다. 그러나 이것은 어떤 조직된 집회나 인간의 홍보활동으로 이루어진 것이 아니다. 진정한 부흥은 그보다 더 깊이 들어가는 것이다. 워렌 위어스 

성경 읽기: 에스겔 38-39장; 베드로전서 4장