Why Should Christians Pray for Israel?

“You, O LORD, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust. So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer. ‘This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.

For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, to declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.’” —Psalm 102:12-22

 Currently there is much talk across the globe about boycotting Israel. Sadly, this is not a new idea, but just a resurrection of an old one. Ideas like these have been around for hundreds, and even thousands of years. Read my latest article on Tisha B’Av, and you’ll see what I mean.

But what concerns me most, is when I see well known Church denominations carrying the Boycott Israel torch with great fervor. How can Bible reading Christians remove Jewish people from their heritage? Where is the fear of the Lord as they erase Israel from their liturgy and hymnals?

“I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” —Isaiah 43:5-7

While this issue is one that easily upsets many of us, we must remember that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. It is important to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and ask the Lord to continue to melt these anti-Semitic areas in hearts, while asking that all will be given eyes to see and ears to hear the truth, that we are grafted in “One in Messiah.”

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

 “For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

 “For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

 “You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.’ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

 “‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’

 “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.”—Romans 11:11-31

It is important that we as Believers stand with Israel. There are physical ways in which many do this through politics, or humanitarian aid. And there are spiritual ways by seeking the Lord’s heart for the Jewish people, and lifting them up in constant prayer. We shared recent prayer points from our friends, at OneNewManUnited below. We invite you to take a few moments daily to pray for the nation of Israel—lifting up these areas around the globe where anti-Semitic hatred is on the rise.

PLEASE PRAY:

 *PRAY for God to continue to pour out His protection, wisdom, revelation, favor, strength and blessing upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the current members of the Knesset and the Israeli Security Council as they diligently stand for the truth, peace, security and sovereignty of the Nation of Israel…

 “…He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”—Daniel 2.21-22

 *Continue to PRAY for God’s wisdom, favor, insight and protection to rest upon the men and women in all departments of Israeli security and defense, as they diligently persevere to protect the citizens and borders of the Nation of Israel…

 “For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”—Isaiah 52.12

 *PRAY for God’s hand of safety and protection to continue to rest upon the Nation of Israel—for the Nations of the World to hear the truth and begin to rise-up in honor, respect and support of the undivided Nation of Israel and her undivided capital city—Jerusalem…

 “These are the borders by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance…”—Ezekiel 47.13

 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”—Genesis 12.3

 THANK YOU for YOUR PRAYERS and SUPPORT of the NATION of ISRAEL!

 Please visit the ONE NEW MAN UNITED Facebook page for the latest News updates from Israel… www.OneNewManUnited.org