| Romans 9:1-5 "I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Starting from Romans chapter 9, Paul started talking about the important concept of God's sovereignty and mercy. This was particularly difficult concept for the Israelites to understand. They were God's chosen people and also offspring of Abraham, and they obeyed the Old Testament law from God. Therefore, they considered themselves righteous and thought they were saved just because who they were and what they did. According to the Bible, however, the reality is that no one can be saved by what they do. We are saved by God's mercy and His sovereignty, that way no one can boast that they have chosen God and it was all their own merit; the fact is the God first chose us and made us His children. For the Israelites, because thought they were righteous, they went farther away from God. For the gentles, because they didn't feel worthy, they sought God's mercy and received salvation. As a Jew, Paul saw his own people, who were supposed to be God's chosen people, abandoned outside of the door of salvation and he was deeply saddened. That's why in verse two he said: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. " His sorrow and pain was not caused by his own suffering, but rather it was for his people. He felt sad because he saw that his people will received God's punishment for their sin, and he'd rather be "cursed and cut off from Christ" if that's what it takes for his people to be saved. The spirit of evangelism was burning inside Paul; while he knew that God's heart was in the church, he still pleaded for his people - the Israelites - before God. Brothers and sisters, do we also have such fervor for the gospel for our kinsmen? Are we willing to pay the price of prayer for the 1.3 billion Chinese people, and especially for our relatives? An effective intercessor is one who understands the merciful heart of God and pray earnestly by holding on to God's promises. The intercessor will also pray persistently until He reveals His heart. Just like how Moses stood on the gap and prayed for the Israelites, God is asking us to stand on the gap to pray for our kinsmen today. Are you willing to pay the price of prayer?
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, please let brothers and sisters rise up and become prayer warriors in the end time. Let us see the needs of our kinsmen and pray that your mercy will fall from heaven. May the Lord have mercy on China so that China will become yours. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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