1 Timothy 2:1-3
(TLB); Job 22:28 (KJV).
God, as a Merciful
and Just God over Nigeria.
Ø What is mercy? –it is all
about forgiveness/being lenient and having sympathy/empathy for an offender.
Ø What is justice? – it is
the apportioning of deserved punishment for wrongdoings.
Therefore, these two
traits form the union of the character of God that He shows both to His people
and also towards a nation. From the Bible, there are so many cases of Him
revealing His mercy; and at other times, He is just and will one day dispense
justice on the sin of the world.
God is unique because His mercy is
shown through His justice; hence none can be set aside for the other. Thank God
for allowing His only Son – Jesus Christ – to take the originator of sin and
injustice to the Cross! - Romans 3:24-26.
So for us as midwives of
God (Shipruah and Puah – Exodus 1), who are standing in the
gap on behalf of Nigeria, it is by the sacrificial death of Jesus and our trust
in Him that we are saved from God’s wrath and experiencing His grace and mercy.
And just like Brother Paul said, “Since we have now been justified by His
blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him” (Romans
5:9 – NIV).
As there is a concern for justice for
our Nigeria today, and in order to achieve it, we need to have a better
understanding of God’s intention and PRAY
as the Spirit directs:
v 1Timothy 2:1-3 – “Here are my
directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks
for all he is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others
in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can
live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking
much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Saviour.”
· Lord Jesus, we plead for Your mercy upon Nigeria this day, we
cry and ask for this because we are sure that except Your mercy falls upon a
nation, the leaders and those in authority worketh in vain; O God save Nigeria
and the indigenes of Nigeria.
· In the book of Exodus, You were executing judgment upon the
Egyptians, while the Israelites were receiving mercy from You God, and both
were in the same nation. Visit Nigeria once again with Your mercy; deliver her
from every disastrous consequence brought upon her by past
leaders/authoritarians who have acted in disobedience and against Your will.
v Proverbs 21:15 – “When
justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.”
but terror to evildoers.”
· O Lord, let Your Word prevail over
every situation in Nigeria.
· You our just God, let Your justice
reign; let it be registered in the hearts of men that You delight not with evil
doers, but for them to turn from their evil ways to the Lord, to repent and live.
v Proverbs
28:5 – “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”
· As many in Nigeria who seek Your
righteous ways O Lord, prove that You are a righteous God to them; let the
evildoers in Nigeria know that every minute is a chance/opportunity/door for
them to desist from their evil ways – let understanding come into their hearts.
· O God, You gave Pharaoh so many
chances to let go of Your people, until he ran into his own doom; touch the
heart of the evildoers of Nigeria – let them know that the God who fought for
Israel is still alive to fight and save His people; prove to Nigerians and
nations surrounding her that indeed You are a Living God.
v Psalms
37:27-29 – “Turn from evil and do good then you will
dwell in the land forever. For the Lord
loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be
completely destroyed and the offspring of the wicked will perish. The
righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”
· As many challenges that Nigeria is facing, let Your people seek
Your face (in obedience) for the way out; help them to remember that You do not
abandon Your people, neither do You turn deaf ear to the cry of Your righteous
ones.
· Holy Spirit, help Your people to look up to You - the just God and
the God who loves the just; let them not see the prosperity of the wicked which
is destruction; uphold them and make them strong, O Lord in the name of Jesus.
v
Isaiah 30:18-19 – “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he
will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who
wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will
weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he
hears, he will answer you.”
· Jesus, Thou our Everlasting portion, arise and show Nigeria and
Nigerians Your compassion; as we await Your glory upon our nation, let Your
justice prevail; You have promised us that if we faint not in the days of
adversity, how great is our strength. So therefore strengthen Your people (Proverbs
24:10).
· Thank You for You have seen and heard the cry of Your people – for
they have sowed in tears – and You have declared that they will reap in joy (Psalms
126:5).
· Thank You for as we call upon You for help concerning Nigeria, You
will answer and deliver Nigeria, so that we can glorify and honour You (Psalms
50:15).
v Isaiah
61:8-9 - “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will
be known among the nations and their offspring among
the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
· In Your loving-kindness O Lord,
deliver Nigeria from every dubious act from the pit of hell; with Your hands of
righteousness save her; let Your mercy lift up the downcast and let Your
faithfulness be known to Nigeria as well as other nations.
v Isaiah
51:4-5 - “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice
will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation is on the way, and my arm
will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.”
· Jesus, You are the answer and light to/for all nations. Shine Lord
Jesus, shine; shine Your searchable light unto every dark place over Nigeria;
shine Your light into every nook and cranny of every part of Nigeria. Expose,
reveal and bring to life every act of injustice of men - to the poor, to the
oppressed, to the lame man – who have stood for righteousness sake. Let Your
outstretched arm that can save bring mercy and justice to Nigeria. We look up
unto You our great deliverer – please deliver Nigeria – please deliver Your
people.
