Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem Part 2 Standing On The Promises Series

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem (2): Standing On The Promises Of God

1. Genesis 12: 1 The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (7-Fold Blessings of Abraham)

2. Genesis 17:8 I Will Give to you and to your Descendants after you, the Land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

3. Ezekiel 36:28 You will live in the Land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My People, and I will be your God.

4. Numbers 14:15 Now if You kill these People as one man, then the Nations that have heard of Your fame will say,16 Because the Lord was not able to bring these people into the Land which He Promised to give them, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.

INTRO: Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem (Pt 2) “Standing On The Promises Of God”

Illustration: Mother-In-Law Dies In Israel

Genesis 9:12-16: What Does Rainbow Originally Represent? A creation of God proclaiming a covenant promise to never again judge the earth with flood. But the rainbow flag is now a symbol of gay pride. White House arrayed in gay flag lights June 26, 2015 when Supreme Court ruled gay marriage constitutional. God will never flood the entire earth again, as He will keep His rainbow covenant promise, but God will judge the Earth. What Is A Promise? A Personal Commitment People Make And Are Expected To Honor. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you.

Humans Make 3 Types Of Promises:

1. Concrete / Strong / Healthy Promises: Promises fully committed to keep. E.g. You can count on me. I will meet you for coffee at 8 am. I will complete my assignment on time.

2. Shallow Promises: Look like a strong promise, but an unspoken condition exists. E.g. Yes, I will go to the movies with you on Saturday if something doesn’t come up.

3. Criminal Promises: Promises we make but have no intention of keeping. E.g. I promise that I will marry you. (You have no intention to.)

The Bible Contains Three Kinds Of Divine Promises:

1. Limited Promises: Promises to specific people in particular circumstances for explicit purposes. Not for everybody. E.g. Israel in Ezekiel 37 / Virgin Mary in Gospels.

2. Conditional Promises. Philip 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ.” Condition is the believer must be living for God & in submission to His will. Ps. 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

3. Unconditional Promises. Unconditional promises require nothing of the believer. John 14:3 “I will come again and receive you unto myself”. Nothing anyone does can alter His plans.

LET’S LOOK AT GOD’S PROMISES TO US BEGINNING WITH JERUSALEM.

The 1st Mention Of Jerusalem Is Genesis 14:18 Where Referred To As Salem (Peace) In Reference To Melchidesek, King Of Salem. David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites (2 Kings 5) and declared it the political / religious center of Israel. Ezekiel 5:5 Thus says the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. But down through the centuries, Jerusalem has experienced little peace. Because of sin, Jerusalem has been attacked and laid waste many times. Since her destruction in 70AD, this city has been captured & destroyed by the Persians, Muslims, Crusaders, Egyptians, the Ottoman Turks and the British. Finally in 1948, Israel was given back to the Jews by British Mandate and became a state against all odds. That Was A Miracle. Ezekiel 11:17 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again. Isaiah 66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. 9 "Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?" says the Lord. "Or shall I who give delivery shut the womb?" says your God. How did this happen? He did it in the 1400BC and in 1948. God’s Promises Are Sure. Israel’s resurgence as a nation is all over the Bible – Ezekiel 37. However, when Israel was granted statehood, neighboring Arabs attacked her. Both the late Yasser Arafat and current Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas claim Jerusalem as capitol of Palestine. Iranian Ayatollah says: “Israel is a cancer in the Middle East to wipe out.” Jerusalem is still in conflict. Thus God command us to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem?"