13 July, 2021
š Dear Royal Praying Priests, shalom!
š āBrothers and sisters, my heartās desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation. Ā For I testify about them that they have zeal for Godābut not based on knowledge. Ā For being ignorant of Godās righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God.Ā For Messiah is the goalĀ of theĀ Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.ā (Rom 10:1-4, TLV)
Paul is called by God as the Apostle to the Gentiles, yet he has never forgotten the salvation of His own people. In Romans 9, he mentions carrying with him at all times a huge sorrow, and an enormous pain deep within him that he is never free of it. His concern is so great that he doesnāt mind being cursed or banished from Messiah for the sake of his people! They are his family, and they had everything going for them ā family, glory, covenants, revelation, promises, being the race that produced the Messiah who is God over everything always!
In Romans 10:1, Paul repeats his great concern and deep affection to his people again. His heartās desire and prayer for Israel is for their salvation ā being saved from the temporal ruin and destruction, from the eternal wrath of God, and from the eternal death of sinners. It is also our earnest desire for the salvation of the Jewish people.
How to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people?Ā Last week, we learnt to ask the Holy Spirit to convict them, so their hearts are open and receptive to the Word.Ā This week, let us pray deeper according to Romans 10:2-4.Ā
- Their zeal has to be based on correct knowledge.
The Jewish people have a zeal for God. However, their opposition to the gospel is from a principle of respect to the law, which leads to a blind misguided zeal. After the Templeās destruction, the sacrificial system for the atonement of sins was stopped. Therefore, Judaism emphasizes three elements for the relationship with God ā repentance (teshuva), good deeds resulting from repentance (tzedakah and mitzvot) and a life of devotion (kavanah and tefilah). Nevertheless, religious fervour and spiritual exercise are not enough. The best for Israel is salvation through Yeshua, nothing less.
- Their righteousness has to be Godās righteousness.
Self-righteousness is the enemy to Godās righteousness. Godās righteousness centred in Messiah, for Messiah is the goal of the Torah!Ā When any exegesis or teachings point another way for salvation and lead us away from Yeshua, it is not the Truth.Ā Let us prayĀ that the Jewish people will read the Hebrew Bible themselves and find out everything written concerning the Messiah in the Torah of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms was fulfilled. Pray that Yeshua will open their understanding of the Word of God, and set their hearts on fire for Him!Ā (Luk 24:32, 44-45)
š Dear Father, please increase the burden in our hearts to always pray for the salvation of the Jewish people.Ā Teach us to pray in unity and with love, pray prophetically by the Spirit of God, and pray with authority in the name of Yeshua.Ā Our heartās desire is their salvation through Yeshua.Ā In the name of Yeshua we pray and bless You, Amen.