On Day 7 of our 10 Days of Global Prayer for Israel, we turn our focus to praying for the global community of Jewish believers in Jesus, also known as Messianic Jews. We seek the Lord’s guidance and blessings for their return to the Land of Israel, their family restoration to the Messiah, and their unique challenges and roles within the body of Christ.
Related Scriptures
- Ezekiel 36:24-28: “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
- Romans 11:21-24: “For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!”
The return of Jewish people to the Land of Israel and their restoration to faith in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, is a fulfilment of biblical prophecy. God promises in Ezekiel 36:24-28 to gather His people from the nations, cleanse them, give them a new heart and spirit, and establish them in their ancestral land. This restoration is both physical and spiritual, bringing the Jewish people back to their land and back to their God.
Romans 11:21-24 highlights the importance of the Jewish people in God’s redemptive plan. Paul uses the metaphor of the olive tree to describe how Gentile believers are grafted into the promises made to Israel. The natural branches, the Jewish people, though currently in unbelief, will be grafted back into their own olive tree as Jesus turns their hearts back to the covenant. This restoration will fulfill God’s promise of “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15) and the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:21, bringing together Jew and Gentile as one in His Kingdom.
In the context of the current situation in Israel, Jewish believers in Jesus face unique challenges. They are often navigating their Jewish identity within predominantly Gentile churches that may not fully understand their cultural and spiritual heritage, while also facing rejection from their families as they seek to be light, especially if they come from a religious Jewish background. This can be an incredibly challenging and lonely place, requiring immense grace and strength.
Messianic Jews are called to be a blessing to their Gentile Christian brothers and sisters. Just as when all Israel is saved in the age to come they will be a blessing to the ends of the earth, Messianic believers are the firstfruits of this. They can provide unique insights into the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and help bridge gaps in understanding. Their presence enriches the body of Christ, and bridges the gap between Jewish and Christian communities.
As we pray, we must ask for God’s grace upon grace for the unique struggles they experience. We need to intercede for their spiritual health, for their effective witness to their Jewish family and friends, and for their ability to be bridges of blessing within the broader Christian community.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the return of Jewish people to the Land of Israel and their restoration to the Messiah, Jesus (Ezekiel 36:24-28).
- Pray for the spiritual health of Messianic Jews, that they remain strong and faithful in their walk with Yeshua (Romans 11:21-24).
- Pray for those discovering and navigating their Jewish identity within Gentile churches, that they find understanding and support (Ephesians 2:14-16).
- Pray that Messianic Jews will be a light to their unsaved Jewish family and friends, leading many to faith in Jesus (Matthew 5:16).
- Pray that Messianic Jews will be a blessing to their Gentile Christian brothers and sisters, enriching the body of Christ (Romans 15:27).
- Pray for grace for the unique struggles they experience, and for God’s provision and protection over their lives (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- Pray for effective bridges between Jewish and Gentile communities, fostering unity and understanding (Romans 11:11-12).
Conclusion
Let us lift up the global community of Jewish believers in Jesus in our prayers today. May they be strengthened, encouraged, and empowered to fulfil their unique roles in God’s redemptive plan.
We will have one more prayer meeting on Zoom on Monday, 27th May at 7:00 PM UK time. The Zoom link will be sent out via email.
