Weep for Your City; for the World

November 9

Jesus Wept for the City
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman

"As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes,'" Luke 19:41-43.

Jesus was making His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. The Pharisees were complaining about the exuberance of His disciples as He made His way into the city. They were celebrating a life that had blessed them and countless others: "When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Luke 19:37-38.

Jesus was saddened by the response of the Pharisees. He knew what His presence could do for the city. But He also knew they would not change. The city would reject His presence and crucify Him. His presence would bring peace to the city if they embraced who He was - the Author of peace. Now it would be hidden from their eyes because of unbelief.

Every city can be blessed by the presence of Jesus in their midst. However, it requires city leaders to invite the presence of Jesus into their city in order for that city to experience peace. Jesus comes to bring peace in any situation. However, He also realizes He will divide city leaders because of unbelief and political correctness.

Does your city need the presence of Jesus? Do you desire to see peace in your city? Begin to pray for city leaders to understand how the presence of Jesus can impact your city in dramatic and positive ways.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And your own city.

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Our Brother Hillman’s observation regarding the need for prayers to be lifted for cities should inspire all believers to pray for the areas in which they live, but not just for our own cities or our own countries, but for the world.

We who are citizens of the United States have a particular obligation to pray for our nation because our founding fathers placed this country at the feet of Jesus at its inception and we must not stand idly by without concerted prayer as we see it being wrest away from Him by current laws and the godless leaders who implement them and the godless voters who acquiesce to them.

Although the Word tells us that in the Last Days there shall be a “falling away,” as stated in II Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,” we should resist the incursion of evil wherever we find it, whether in our government or within our culture, or within ourselves.

Paul states the same thought again in I Timothy 4:1, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

Unfortunately, we have not held the truth of God in the esteem in which we should regard it; we have replaced it with the doctrines of men and we perish under the burden of our foolishness.

May we lift our voices in prayer for our cities and for our nations, according to II Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Then perhaps shall come to pass the word given to the prophet, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

"But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it,” Micah 4:1-5.

Lord, help us to turn to You with a full heart that loves Your law and receives Your Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to bathe our lands, Your world, in prayer in order that Your Kingdom may come and Your will may be done in the life of everyone who walks Your earth. It is in Your own mighty, matchless name we pray, Jesus. Amen.