There are many reasons why Christians should continue to remember Jerusalem in our prayers. First of all because I believe that we are commanded to pray for Jerusalem in Psalm 122:6. But beyond that we need to pray for the destiny of that land and people.

Those of us in America should be praying for Our President and his administration. VP Biden has been over to Israel recently and pretty much favored and was sympathetic to the Palestinian Muslims and their claim over the land. In fact he warned Israeli officials that their relationship with the US was in severe danger over settlements in Jerusalem.

It is my perspective that if this country does not support Israel and their right to Jerusalem then we are the ones that are ultimately in real trouble. So even for purely selfish reasons we do need to be praying. I just don’t understand why we would want to support violent dictatorial Islamic despots over the freely elected leaders of a democratic Israel. It doesn’t make sense to me on any level. Obviously we are battling against demonic powers here and spiritual blindness can be the only logical explanation. Prayer is essential for this situation.

Also while praying for that land we do need to remember to pray for the Palestinian Christians who are all but being ignored and constantly under persecution by everyone. Unless there is a major revival those folks are basically going to disappear.

Meanwhile, while the international community is sleeping an Islamic giant- Turkey is rising in the north and already challenging Israel having made recent pacts with Israeli neighbors Syria and Jordan and even more telling a reconciliation with Iran. For over 60 years Turkey has been one of the only friends of Israel in the Middle East, but no more.

Then there is the pretentious Ahmadinejad and the rise of Iran and their nuclear ambitions in the East. Recently Iranian officials had extensive talks with their allies in Syria along with the leaders of terrorist groups from Lebanon and the Palestinian Territory. All with a view towards coordinating attacks upon Israel particularly if the Israelis try to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

Yes folks, even though Israel seems so far away for many of us it is extremely important right now to pray for the peace and wholeness of Jerusalem and her people. Believe me, the effects of an escalation of war over there will be felt in this country. Many international experts believe that we have already passed the point of no return with Iran testing missiles last week that could carry a nuclear load and easily reach Israel.  Meanwhile, the American press is substantially ignoring many of these developments in the Middle East.

How will it affect us in our safe far away land? What about gas at $7 a gallon. What would that do to our already weak economy? If gas goes over $5 I am personally out of business. Many experts say that a confrontation between Israel and Iran would result in stopping the flow of oil from the Middle East for several months at least. In fact Iran has already said that they would intentionally stop and sink all oil shipments leaving the gulf in the event of war.

For these reasons and for the sake of regular folks who would be victims of any war let’s remember to keep Jerusalem in our prayers, particularly right now.

Here’s another good article to read about the importance of praying for: “The Peace of Jerusalem”                *Top

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• Israeli troops, Palestinians clash near Jerusalem (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• US attacks East Jerusalem plans (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Unease Hangs Over Mideast as Biden Ends Israel Trip (nytimes.com)
• MJ Rosenberg: The US-Israel Crack-Up (huffingtonpost.com)
• Israel seals off West Bank to prevent unrest (msnbc.msn.com)
• ‘Insulted’ U.S. scrambles to save Mideast talks (msnbc.msn.com)

Related Posts?:

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Matt 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.   -KJV

What is the Kingdom?

For years I have prayed- “Thy Kingdom come” with only a vague idea about what I was praying for. Usually I had in mind the end of history and the Second Coming of Jesus when he is going to come back and set up His Kingdom and rule the World.

I had the perspective that right now the Kingdom of God was “not of this world” but in Heaven. Other times I viewed the Kingdom as merely another word for the church.

However when you look at the original Greek word used here for ‘Kingdom’ it seems to offer so much more that could apply to this life. The Greek word is: ‘Basileia’. It doesn’t necessarily refer to a geographical location like a country, but means: ‘rule’. So wherever God rules there is his Kingdom. So when we pray for his Kingdom to come we are really praying for an extension of his rule and authority.

Here’s the actual Greek word order from the prayer:

“Let it come- the- kingdom (or rule)- of thee”

The Kingdom in the Teaching and Ministry of Jesus

It is in the teaching and actions of Jesus that the Kingdom is more clearly identified for us. Wherever Jesus went he proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was near:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” –Matt 4:17

In fact Matt 4:23-24 tells us that where ever Jesus went he preached about the good news of the Kingdom and healed the sick. But what did he really mean when he said that the Kingdom was “near” and what did those listening to him think he was saying?

The Old Testament prophets talked about the coming of the Messiah and the Kingdom that he would establish and what it would be like. It was going to be an incredible life under the Messiah—no sickness, no more slavery or servitude, plenty for everyone and perfect justice. Totally different than the Roman Empire and the puppet kings like Herod they were suffering under.

When Jesus preached about the Kingdom and healed the sick the people received it in the context of a hope for the coming Messianic Kingdom of justice. In fact when the disciple of John the Baptist showed up asking if he was really the Messiah, he indicated that the Kingdom was being demonstrated in his ministry:

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” –Matt 11:4-6

Then when he returned to Nazareth he was asked to read from the scriptures in the synagogue:

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:17-21

This was the context that the disciples and regular folks understood when they heard Jesus talking about the Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom of freedom and justice, healing and no sickness, plus abundance for all.

Today when we read the words of Jesus about the Kingdom we think about the life to come in Heaven or about the millennium at the end of time itself. For us the context is mostly future and we are asking for the ideal future to come.

The Kingdom -‘Basileia’

However the prayer is not future, we are asking in the present for his kingdom to come now—Thy Kingdom come—let your Kingdom come right now. Let healing come, let oppression cease, let freedom ring, let abundance come to the poor, let God’s justice reign.

Again, the original Greek word for Kingdom – ‘Basileia’ actually means ‘rule’. So wherever God rules there is his Kingdom. So when we pray for his Kingdom to come we are really praying for an extension of his rule and authority.

I believe that it is our calling as the representatives of the Messiah—his body-to extend the ‘rule’ of God in this world. To bring healing and justice, and freedom and hope for the poor and oppressed. We are to be agents of the Kingdom in this world and the world to come.               *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Victory in ‘Living’ The Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom Come”-Becoming Naturally Supernatural
2. -Victory in ‘Living’ The Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be Thy Name”

Here’s a devotional by Smith Wigglesworth- “Incorruptible Seed“:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. —1 Peter 1:23

You are born of an incorruptible power—the power of God’s Word—by His personality and His nature. Ye are begotten of God and are not your own. You are now incarnated. You can believe that you have passed from death unto life and become an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ, in the measure that you believe His Word.

The natural flesh has been changed for a new order. The first order was the natural Adamic order. The last order is Christ—the heavenly order. And now you become changed by a heavenly power existing in an earthly body; a power that can never die. It can never see corruption, and it cannot be lost.

I want you to see that you are born of a power which exists in you, a power of which God took and made the world that you are in.

Thank You, Lord, that I have the privilege to be born of Thy incorruptible seed, Thy Word. Amen.               *Top

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2. Kingdom Culture: Do Not Worry, Be Thankful and Pray Instead

In the 70’s we had the ‘Jesus people’ move out here in California that spread across the whole country particularly among the young people. The emphasis was on salvation and Jesus coming back soon for his church.

In the 90’s in Toronto and at Brownsville in Florida it was the ‘Fathers Love’ which flowed into the churches and touched the lives of millions.

For nearly the entire 20th century beginning with Azusa Street in LA the emphasis was on reviving the work of the Holy Spirit and brings back all of the gifts and offices to the church. That one is still ongoing.

Nearly 500 years ago the Reformation began with Luther posting 95 Theses on a church door. That move was directed towards getting back to the Bible and making it available to everyone. There was an emphasis on Salvation by Grace, right theology, and the Letters of Paul.

Each one of these revivals brought back something that was missing in the church at the time.

Now I believe that we are soon going to experience a new ‘Jesus’ revival.

The Holy Spirit, the Father, and The Word has been brought back to the church. Even an expectation for Jesus coming back for his church is alive and well.

Now it is time for the Church to stand up and be the ‘Body of Christ’ to the world.

I believe that a new awakening is coming when the very words and teachings of Jesus in the Bible will be enlivened in a special way and leap right off of the page into the lives of Millions across our land. A move when Jesus will come to his church in a special intimate way and cause the church to stand up and be the representative of Christ and His Kingdom in the world.

The prophets said that The Messiah would bring justice and good news for the sick, the poor, the oppressed, and the enslaved in this life. That is the calling of the church also—to be the Body of the Messiah in the world.

For too long the church has relegated the good news of the Kingdom to the hereafter and the future. Now it is time for the church to stand up and bring The Kingdom to bare in this world just as Jesus taught us to pray: ”Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”.

The Church is called to be agents of justice in this world and ambassadors or practitioners of the Kingdom of God in this life and the life to come.

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