Jerusalem, Israel
MARCH 11, 2023 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the Nations
Israel is going through a “double whammy.” There are the controversial judicial reforms making their way through the Knesset, which has caused major divisions in Israeli society. Every week there are so many protests that it is nearly impossible, on certain days, to get into and out of major cities. Roads are blocked, people are angry, and the police are out in force. Mark 3:25 says that a house divided cannot stand. It is because of this turmoil that Israeli society looks weak. This has become an open door for the enemy, and we are seeing a great increase in terrorism. In this schism, in this divide, God is also revealing the sins of His people. The whole world is seeing what the Lord is allowing to happen here.
What is your place in this? It’s time to favor Zion; the set time has come! Israel is going through this constant upheaval, but you can pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-8). Peace be upon Israel!
PRAYER POINTS:
GOD IS CAUSING A HUMBLING THROUGH SUFFERING:
Isaiah 2:11:
Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment.
2 Samuel 12:28:
You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.
Psalm 18:27:
You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.
We appeal to God’s mercy -- to comfort His people; to save His people:
COMFORT:
Isaiah 40:2:
Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.
Isaiah 12:1:
A day is coming when people will sing, "I praise you, LORD! You were angry with me, but now you comfort me and are angry no longer.
Isaiah 49:13:
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
SALVATION:
Isaiah 26:1:
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.
Psalm 80:3:
Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 80:7:
Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Psalm 80:19:
Turn us again to yourself, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 31:16:
Let Your face shine on your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.
RIGHTEOUSNESS:
The Lord is doing a work of righteousness in His beloved land. There is turmoil, but eventually, it will lead to a better day:
Isaiah 32:17:
Then, an act of righteousness will bring about peace, calm, and safety forever. Because everyone will do what is right, there will be peace and security forever.
THE HOPE:
Isaiah 44:23:
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
2 Corinthians 3:7—2 Corinthians 4:1:
The Law was carved in letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given. Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him.
If the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such glory, won't the ministry that brings the Spirit have even more glory?
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
We may say that because of the far brighter glory now, the glory that was so bright in the past is gone. For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts forever!
Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.
We are not like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Messiah is it taken away.
Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into His likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.
We don't become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through His mercy.