Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
4 12 2024
IRAN’S ATTACK ON ISRAEL IS EMMINENT! WE MUST PRAY TOGETHER!
The hostility of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel at the end of 2023 drew my mind to
Psalm 122. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
We know from what we see and what we’ve heard from countless sermons that evil will grow more intense before Christ comes again. The Bible says that in those final days “evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
These things will herald the day of Satan’s final defeat, but you must know that he is crafty and wicked and will do everything he can to deceive and confuse the nations before then. His goal is to stop God’s work on earth. But Jesus said, “Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).
Do you know what God says about Israel?
From a religious perspective, the Bible, which mentions Jerusalem more than any other place (about 800 times), states, “the Lord has chosen Jerusalem and will dwell there forever” (Psalm 132:13-14) and expressly calls upon God’s people to never forget Jerusalem and to “exalt it above their chief joy”
(Psalm 137:5-6). For a Christian to not forget means to pray for Israel.
I wonder how many of us have them on our regular prayer list, let alone an intercession list.
Psalm 122:6: says “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”.
In Exodus 32:30, Moses tells the Israelites that they have committed a great sin and that he was going back up the mountain to the Lord to intercede on their behalf. Exodus 32:11-14
Moses’ intercession is the crucial turning point where God decides to keep His promise to be present with His people as they continue their journey through the wilderness. Exodus 33:12-23 i
Have we not committed many great sins against our Lord Jesus? Have we not put other idols in front of him? Work, hobbies, and even our children can supplant our adoration of putting Jesus first in our lives. God, Spouse, Family, work. Have we forgotten? We have too many times to count.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 says – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way”.
Casey Kasem, who hosted the top 40 songs each week back in the 80’s said, “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground!”
We must be alert to the signs that point to future events. Jerusalem coming under complete control of Israel in 1967 is one. As we have discussed in these last devotionals, many believe April 8th was another one. None of these signs give the full picture, but these and others taken together get us closer to seeing what God is doing before us. IF we have eyes to see.
Have you not seen the tremendous falling away of traditional values along with biblical morality? The Bible has clearly prophesied this.
Read 1 Thessalonians. Paul speaks of Christ’s return in every chapter. Chapter 4 gives a clear description of the Rapture. The Bible does use the word “Rapture” but it speaks of the concept. Rapture is the Latin word, “raptuo” which means to seize hastily, to snatch away. Believers who are alive will be snatched away with him. If you are alive when he comes and I think many of us will be. You will not see death. First the dead in Christ will rise and then we who are alive will meet him in the sky. 1 Thess 4:17 “ We will meet the Lord in the sky and be with him forever.”
In an instant believers will go from here directly into the presence of our Lord in the skies.
These are critical times for Israel.
The report “ According to The Times of Israel, prominent media sources are now reporting that “a major attack by Iran on Israel is imminent and could happen in the coming days.” The original report cited sources familiar with Israeli and American intelligence”. Some context: Six months into the war against Hamas, Iran is blaming Israel for a recent strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed two top commanders and five military advisers in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Last week in an error admitted by Israel 7 civilians were killed in mistaken reconnaissance. It is always hard to hear of innocents killed but the Oct 7th massacre and their barbaric atrocities brought war. Many have died, some under friendly fire but this is a war of survival for Israel. And the world is now turning against Israel again. Iran has declared, “Israel must be punished!” The attack on Israel is IMMINENT”.
We must pray and intercede. God promised blessings on those who bless Israel and curses on those who curse her (Genesis 12:3), Jesus also said that we should be peacemakers, which would include praying for peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Father God, we ask You to send peace and protection to Jerusalem.
We know Lord you have foretold all of this. Your sovereign hand is upon Israel. Help us to pray for her. Help us to better understand these signs we are seeing and share the good news of your coming with others. Lord bring a spirit of urgency to each of us to up our game in prayer, and faith.
Lord, we praise you and look excitedly and expectantly for your 2ND coming.
lauren daigle peace be still
