Seizing Opportunity in Crisis

Praying for Personal Breakthrough and for the Peace of Jerusalem

Crisis clarifies. Simply put, there is no other one thing I can think of that can bring an individual or a people to a place where they can see with absolute clarity.

When there is no threat, no present danger, we are apt to float along, content with the status quo. In this sort of climate, our senses grow dull and we lose that sense of purpose God implanted into all of us.

My observation is that it usually takes some kind of crisis to snap a person out of this stupor and bring them to a place of clarity where they can regain a sense of direction. Crisis brings clarity because it forces us to choose what we will believe.

The Church in the West, and particularly the American Church is facing a crisis that, I believe, will call her to question who she is, what she believes, and where she will go in the days ahead.

We have the option of giving up – of giving in to moral relativism or another belief system that will make our choices for us; that will not force us to choose ourselves whom we will serve.

The other choice is for us to allow the crisis we see in our nation and the nations of the earth to move us to unshakable resolve, to believe the promises of God for us and for Israel, and from that place of faith, to overcome in the battle that lay ahead.

If you are facing personal crisis, or if you are simply aware of the urgent state of affairs facing the people of God in this hour, I want to encourage you: God is giving you the chance to participate in the greatest victory of all time!

And if you choose to believe that the God of Israel will come out on top of every crisis, I am convinced that you will begin to, in faith, pray for the peace of Jerusalem as never before.

Crisis is what brings us to that point of desperation where we’re forced to determine what matters most to us. It determines our priorities and forces us to choose what kind of people we’re going to be. In this hour of crisis, I hope to find you on the side that stands in faith, stands in prayer, and stands with the God of Israel!

An Open Door for Us Today...

The Apostle Paul found himself in such a moment of opportune crisis in I Cor. 16:9, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

To be sure, as in Paul’s day, these are not easy times to be living in – not for Israel, and not for us as believers in the West. But a great and effective door, an unprecedented opportunity, has been opened to us – and I want to ask YOU to be keeping us in prayer over these days.

The Jerusalem Prayer Banquet, our annual leadership gathering that brings together influential ambassadors from both the Jewish and Christian communities for Zion’s sake, has this year been given access to the United Nations in New York City for the event location, on May 15, 2008. Leaders joining us for this historic event include John Haggee, Jay Sekulow, Paula White, Frank Dupree, Carlton Brown, Roderick Caesar, David Ireland, Larry Kreider, Billy Wilson, Barbara Yoder, and many others.

Marching together to the UN as Christians and Jews, we will be honoring the significant milestone of Israel’s 60th Anniversary – in the very place where world political leaders have recently come to openly contend against the values of freedom, democracy, and God-fearing citizenship that have strengthened both Israel and America.

I do not want us to miss the opportunity available to us in such a moment… When most of the nations around the world are pressuring Israel to divide up its land, we now have an open door to proclaim to the nations, from the very seat of international influence, that there is still a God in Israel who keeps His covenant! Can you picture the heavenly activity and spiritual contention that must surround such a moment in time?

This is why I am asking for your prayers and for you to consider being a part of helping make this convocation happen. If we will pray and take action, our God will do wonders on our behalf. Sponsorship Opportunities and ticket information for this historic gathering of the Jerusalem Prayer Banquet are available by calling our office at 1-800-51-WINGS. Also, plan to join us for the city-wide Jerusalem Prayer Rally on Friday, May 16. Visit www.jerusalem prayerbanquet.com for the latest information.

Today, like the Apostle Paul and the prophets of old, let us be alert to the providential hand of God in our day in the midst of every crisis we face, for the sake of His great Name!

Robert Stearns is the Founder and Executive Director of Eagles' Wings For more information, call 1-800-51-WINGS or visit www.jerusalemprayer banquet.com.