Saints,
As we begin this 21 day journey first consider God's heart for Israel and Jerusalem.
Israel’s national repentance (Acts 3:19) and confession that Jesus is Messiah (Mt. 23:39) is deeply connected to Jesus’ second coming, the Great Commission, and “life from the dead” for the whole earth (Rom. 11:15).
Jesus will not return until the leaders in Jerusalem acknowledge Him as Messiah according to Psalm 118:26.
37“O Jerusalem…39you shall see Me no more [a reference to Jesus’ return] till you say, ‘Blessed is He [Jesus] who comes in the name of the Lord [thus, acknowledging Him as Messiah—Psalm 118:26].’” (Mt. 23:37-39)
Peter proclaimed that the Father would not send Jesus from heaven back to earth until many in the nation of Israel repent and are converted in context to “the times of restoration of all things” spoken by the prophets (Acts 3:19-21).
19Repent therefore and be converted, that your [Israel’s] sins may be blotted out, so that…20He may send Jesus Christ…21whom heaven must receive [keep or retain at the Father’s right hand] until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by…all His holy prophets. (Acts 3:19-21)
Paul taught that the nation of Israel would be “provoked to jealousy” to have a relationship with the God of Israel (Rom. 11:11) that they will see in the lives of many Gentile believers. There have been individuals Jews who have been provoked to jealousy by a Gentile, but this has not yet happened to Israel on a national level.
It will surely occur in the generation the Lord returns, when “the fullness of the Gentiles” is openly manifest (Rom. 11:25)—when millions of Gentile believers walk in mature love, power, and understanding of God’s purposes (including His plans for Israel). This will lead to “all Israel” coming to salvation (Rom. 11:26).
11“Through their fall [Israel’s], to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles…13I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some…25[spiritual] blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved… (Rom. 11:11-14, 25-26)
When “all Israel” is saved (Rom. 11:26)–it will result in “life from death for the world” (Rom. 11:15). God’s blessing on Israel is connected to the fullness of the Great Commission and His glory covering the earth.
15If their [Israel’s] being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead [including the fullness of the Great Commission]? (Rom. 11:15)
Jesus referred to Jerusalem as His city—the city of the great King (Mt. 5:35; cf. Ps. 48:2).
35[Jesus said]…Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. (Mt. 5:35)
2…the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion…the city of the great King. (Ps. 48:2)
You can watch the prayer room at IHOP: https://www.ihopkc.org/prayerroom/
PRAYER
Day 1 (Day 31 of the Omer, 7 May 2023) Verse 1 (a) “For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace.”
Father of Creation, You have loved me, and all Israel, with an everlasting love. You are worthy of all my heart’s affection and adoration. Yet You Yourself are the One who ignites in my soul the fire of holy passion for You. You are the One who fans flames of ardent desire for You. May Your love so burn within me, Abba, that Your desires become mine. Then will I love You with all my heart, soul and strength, and love others as myself. Then will the unquenchable fire of Your love burn through me to ignite Your people Israel.
Personally and as an act of intercession for Israel, I return to my first love and reconsecrate my heart to Yours. Show me where I may need to reset my heartbeat to resonate with Yours. I ask You to sync its rhythm to the rhythms of heaven. Grant me the gracious gift of conviction during this 21 day fast to align more fully with Your purposes for my life. Let this be for and toward that day when all Israel will be saved. My fast for Zion’s sake, O God, is ultimately for Your sake. It is for the sake of Your incomparable Name and fame being displayed in heaven and earth, through Zion, according to the glory of Your will. It is for the sake of Yeshua receiving the full inheritance for which He came to earth and died, and now eagerly awaits His own return. It is for the sake of the joy of Your heart and His when Your beloved Israel opens her heart in utter surrender to You. For this, Lover of my Soul, I will not hold my peace. Bless, direct, empower and protect each of my brothers and sisters in Yeshua joining in this fast from Israel and the nations. Teach us to pray according to Your words of truth. Unite us in pure and sincere love as one new humanity in a new synergy of Your Spirit. Let it be so for Zion’s sake, for Your sake! Thank You for inclining Your ear to my prayer and responding in Your boundless grace.
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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