Salvation of a Nation

I heard Emma Stark recently say, “You can’t just pray for yourself and call it “intimacy with God.”

To draw close to Him is to hear Him and to participate in His omnipotent heart of raging love for people, cities and nations. While He’s concerned for us as individuals (which I emphasize a lot), a crucial part of real intimacy, as with any healthy marriage, is to listen to what’s on His heart and act upon it.

There’s an overwhelming sense that America is being weighed in the balances in this season. The hour is crucial. We need prayer meetings that focus on national concerns perhaps now more than ever.

But the truth of the matter is, few in my generation will do it.

I remember when I jumped into the prayer movement several years ago as a fulltime intercessor at age 24. I knew of the way young adults gathered 24/7 in KC and other houses of prayer to encounter Jesus.

Yet when I joined a seasoned prayer and worship ministry where the clear vision God gave them was to contend for cities, regions, and nations, the young adults were few and far between. In fact, at most of our gatherings it was hard to find any new faces under the age of 40!

Why?

Because we’re self-centered.

Sorry, there’s no better way to put it.

That’s not to guilt or shame anyone who’s been focusing their faith and prayers mainly on themselves and their concerns. We’ve all gotten carried away with this at times.

But even more glorious than having our personal prayer requests answered—as wonderful as that is—is corporately experiencing John 16:24: “Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

While it’s harder on our flesh, often the more selfless the thing is that we contend for, the more we end up in glee and gratitude when the breakthrough comes! We’re not made just for our own little worlds—”my” family, “my” ministry, “my” business. None of these things belong to us anyway. They all belong to the One who commanded us to love each other in the same way that He loved us!

So will you put aside, or at least lower the priority you’ve placed on your personal prayer list?

Paul wrote to his apprentice, Timothy, “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. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Tim. 2:1-5).

First means first.

While prioritizing your intimacy with the Lord even above interceding with Him, when it comes to intercession, will you make the nation and the salvation of those who don’t know Christ Jesus your number one objective?

If we do this together, the results will be amazing.

As I felt led to write this, I didn’t even have in mind that in just a few weeks, May 7 to 21, there will be the biggest three weeks of prayer and fasting for the salvation of Israel in world history. Perhaps 100 million will participate worldwide. I encourage you to ask the Lord if you’re to participate in this!

When Jews start embracing their Messiah in mass, what will their acceptance [of Messiah] be but life from the dead? A genuine Revival of true life for all!

And that’s exactly what we need to contend for most in this hour. Another wave of Revival that transforms the spiritual and moral climate of nations as we see Jesus for who He truly is.

Imagine the JOY of seeing nations set FREE!