Daniel was burdened for the glory of his God, and the God of his people. In our lives there are times when we are greatly burdened but do not really understand what to do about the matter that weighs on us so heavily. The apostle Paul writes that as believers serving the Lord, there are times and situations when we are “hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair”. (2Cor 4:8) This is what Daniel was going through in his life serving YHVH his God in a foreign land, rising to power and influence with Gentile kings and their kingdoms. Daniel’s response to this was to humble himself with faith believing in the Most High God. (2Chr 7:14; Ja 1:5-8) Daniel is one of the great men of faith and wisdom in the Bible (Ezek 14:14,20; 28:3), and he set himself from his youth to be faithful to the God of Israel and to His covenants. Continue reading “Daniel’s Prayer”
Prayer of God’s Family and Yeshua’s Disciples
Prayer might be the only thing many believers can do; and prayer might be the only thing on which many believers across the denominational streams agree. Therefore, even here, the enemy comes in to bring inaction or disunity!
Let’s pray now together the prayer, commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer”, but which is better described as the prayer pattern which Jesus taught His disciples and brothers to pray. Yeshua’s prayer in John 17 is definitely the Lord’s prayer! (Even now He intercedes for us!)
Mt 6:9-13 . . . Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, (10) Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread; (12) and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Continue reading “Prayer of God’s Family and Yeshua’s Disciples”
JERUSALEM AT PEACE, AND A PRAISE IN THE EARTH
Ps 122:6-9 Prayerfully ask about the peace of Jerusalem; those who love you shall be blessed. Peace be within your walls, blessings within your palaces. For my brothers and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within you. Because of the house of Yehovah our God I will seek your good.
Is 62:1-7 For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until its righteousness goes out as brightness, and her salvation as a burning lamp. And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yehovah will name. You also will be a crown of glory in the hand of Yehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You will no more be called Forsaken; nor will your land any more be called Desolate; but you will be called, My Delight is in her, and your land, Married; for Yehovah delights in you, and your land is married. For as a young man marries a virgin, so will your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who always all the day and all the night will not be silent; you who remember Yehovah, do not be silent. And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYERS
–Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:33)
—Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20)
–till end of age
–fullness of Gentiles towards Israel’s salvation
—“Lord’s Prayer” (Mt 6:9-15)
–actually prayer for disciples and family
–sanctification of God the Father’s name (3rd Commandment)
–anticipation and expectation of coming Kingdom of God to Earth over Israel and the nations
–seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness
–must forgive
–not to worry about most basic of human needs: food, clothing, covering
–serving God, not mammon
–fear of God to shun evil
–living faith and trust in YHVH that He – and we – will prevail, overcome over evil
–God’s plan, not ours; God’s righteous paths in His grace and mercy, not our own sense of righteousness and judgment; God’s work – believe in Jesus – not our works
—Yeshua’s intercessory prayer for us, not for the world (Jn 17:9, 15-26)
–Jesus now seated at the right hand of the Father (Eph 1:20-21)
–the day is still to come for Him to stand as a Lamb, even though a Lion (Rev 5:4-6)
–love and unity in the truth as proof of who Jesus/Yeshua is, and of the Father’s love for us in Him
–Local believers and congregations/churches to care for each other for Messiah and the gospel’s sake
God has something far better in mind than what any nation or government could ever accomplish. He will even make peace with and among the animals, for example. (Is 11:6-9; Hos 2:18 Eng 20 Heb); Ezek 34:25-28)
We are called and sent out to be ambassadors of Christ, of another King, of another Kingdom.
Let us do all we can to give people, at the least, to respect – and even to fear — the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so that they might find mercy when the wrath of God is poured out on those who refuse to repent from evil and to turn to that which is good.
A PRAYER FOR THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
Our Father in Heaven, thank-you for your goodness and long-suffering to your people Israel. You have sent the Holy Spirit to the world to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Sin is not believing in Your Son, Yeshua, as the Messiah. Our people still harden their hearts and stubbornly stiffen their necks against the truth of the gospel, despite all that we have done till now.
The New Covenant in the blood of Yeshua is the basis for the promise that You will save the full remnant of your people, as you have promised in many ways and places throughout the Scriptures, by forgiving their sins.
Act on behalf of your holy Name’s sake to show to the Jewish people everywhere in the world, and to the enemies of Israel round about Israel and anywhere else, that there is still a God in Israel! Why should the nations say, Where is your God?! Put Your fear in your own beloved people, and in those who would seek her destruction, that they would fear YEHOVAH, the God of Israel, God Most High. Break the pride in Your chosen people regarding their being chosen as the first-born among the nations. Bring them to see the futility of trying to justify themselves by their own works, rather than returning in humble confession to You in the way You have provided. In wrath, remember mercy, O God! Continue reading “A PRAYER FOR THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL”
PRAYER
Why do we pray?
Even Yeshua prayed! Did He not come to do His Father’s will? Yet He prayed according to the Word of God for the Father’s will to be done that would accomplish the purpose for which He came. And because He loved God His Father more than even His own life, and always desired to please Him, then God heard His prayers, and His Son had confidence that they would be answered in the way that best served God’s purpose for Him, in Him, and through Him. Continue reading “PRAYER”
THE INCENSE OF PRAYERS – Feb 2006
(Written for IsraelPrayer.com . Slightly edited here.)
Replacement Theology began a long time ago, when first Jews and then Christians went to the left or to the right of the Spirit of Truth of God the Father’s Word. We replaced the commandments and promises of God with traditions of men and hope in this world, which opposes the Kingdom of YHVH God and of His Anointed One. The Messiah and Son of God Himself has taught us to pray firstly for the sanctification of our Heavenly Father’s name, and that HIS will be done…on Earth, as it is in Heaven. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (I’m writing English, and this name honors Him), we are commanded by Him to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. (If I may turn aside for a moment after what I’ve just written: if born-again belieiving Christians get involved with all kinds of very unprofitable nonsense over the name of our Lord and Savior, we can certainly not expect much favor from God. In this we show ourselves to be like the Jewish people who, too, have made a mockery of The Name of the God who chose us! All in the interest of sanctity and reverence!) Continue reading “THE INCENSE OF PRAYERS – Feb 2006”
STRIVING TOGETHER IN PRAYER
We have been speaking lately of the importance of our prayers and actions being for the sake of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We saw how Phineas acted with his zeal and with God’s to stand in the gap for the glory of the Lord in the midst of Israel. We saw, too, how God is collecting the prayers of the saints over the centuries: prayers which cry out for God to judge and avenge His people for the unrighteous deeds done against them because they have believed and trusted in YHVH.
Today let’s look together at another aspect of prayer and action for the sake of God’s Kingdom and His righteousness:
Rom 15:25-33 striving together for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the love of the Spirit, so that the giving of donations from believers to the poor believers will be in – and result in – the peace of God
Gal 2:9-10 of primary importance to remember the poor (not necessarily building projects, whether personal or congregational. This is a major precept throughout the whole of the Bible.
2Cor 8:1-7 sacrificial giving – a living sacrifice – for the sake of the Lord and of the brethren
1Tim 5:3-16 take care of those who are really widows
We are one body working together for the building up of the church in love, in accord with what the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Scriptures. Many of us here are “poor” in the estimation of the world, but we are truly rich in Messiah which the unbeliever knows nothing about. But being in the world, we are dependent upon the mercy and grace of God and of our brothers and sisters in the faith, while, at the same time, we are to do all we can not to be a burden to the congregation. Each of us can examine himself in this matter; as the Lord Jesus has said, “It is better to give than to receive”. May we learn to give sacrificially, trusting in God for His provision, for the sake of the Lord and of our brethren.
Strive together in prayer that those who have the responsibility to know needs and to disperse donations will have the love and the wisdom from God to do so righteously.
WHY PRAY FOR ISRAEL?
A commandment from the Holy Spirit!
—Ps 122 Pray for (Ask about) the peace of Jerusalem
–this present Jerusalem (the heavenly New Jerusalem does not need any prayers!)
–still being trodden down by the gentiles
Understanding the times
—1Chron 12:23 (24 Heb), 32 (33 Heb) those prepared for war; . . .the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do
—Dan 9:2 in the first year of [Darius’s] reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of years by the word of YHVH through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations ofJerusalem
—Dan 9:24 seventy weeks of years to accomplish God’s plan for Israel’s redemption Continue reading “WHY PRAY FOR ISRAEL?”
Prayers and Intercessions for Beer Sheva
–We are in the world, and God commands us to pray for and to bless those in the society, for He loves them.
–We are all priests in Christ, and we are called to intercede on behalf of the Lord for all nations, and to reflect His qualities.
–It is a principle that the LORD works with and through His people in order to bring knowledge of Him to others and so to show mercy and to bless a city, region, a nation. (see Gen. 12:1-3; Rom. 10:11-15; Ps. 144:15)
–We are exhorted to pray for kings and all who are in authority in order both to bless our own lives and to glorify God through the salvation of others (1Tim. 2:1-6).
–In all things God gives reasons and promises and hope to do His will and to participate in both the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and also in the fellowship of His sufferings, as well as to partake of His holiness. Even now God is training us to rule with Messiah in His kingdom to come. Continue reading “Prayers and Intercessions for Beer Sheva”