On January 1, 2011, I heard the Lord say to me,

“Ask of Me the desires of My heart, and I will show you the Kingdom.
Ask of Me the desires of My heart, and I will reveal mysteries.
Ask of Me the desires of My heart, and I will explain hidden knowledge.
Ask of Me the desires of My heart, and I will join your heart to Mine, and My desires will become yours.
Ask of Me the desires of My heart, and your eyes will see what I see, and your ears will hear what I hear–the cry of My people for Me.  I hear their cry, and I will act.”

People may wonder why I’m so preoccupied with Israel, Jerusalem, the Jewish people, the Middle East, Jewish Roots of Christianity, Hebrew, etc.  Years ago I made a commitment to the Lord to lay down my own dreams, desires and plans and take up His.  I knew that if I gave myself to make His dreams come true that He would take care of fulfilling my dreams.  I have not been disappointed.

Why do I stand for Jerusalem?  Simple.  Jerusalem is dear to God’s heart.

When Solomon completed the Temple in Jerusalem, during the time the Temple was consecrated and dedicated to the Lord, God appeared to Solomon and said, “For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy–a place where My Name will be honored forever.  I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart.” (2 Chronicles 7:16 NLT)

Referring to this Scripture, 2 Kings 21:4 states that Jerusalem is “the place where the Lord had said, ‘My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”  Then again in verse 7, “…My Name will be honored in this Temple and in Jerusalem–the city I have chosen from among the tribes of Israel.”

The city of Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times throughout the Bible and God’s people are commanded to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  May all who love this city prosper.”  (Psalm 122:6)

It is quite an experience coming into Jerusalem driving from the desert.  As you approach Mount Scopus you enter a tunnel.  It’s quite a long tunnel that gets darker and darker, and then all of a sudden you come out of the tunnel and the first thing your eyes see is the Old City of Jerusalem, and its beauty takes your breath away–even though you see the dirt, grime and the wear and tear of the city, nonetheless it is beautiful.  Then you get out of the bus on top of the Mount of Olives and walk down a steep winding path that ends at the Garden of Gethsemane.  Within the garden, the tour guide points out two olive trees.  One is 2,000 years old and the other is 3,000 years old.  Then you glance over your shoulder and see the Temple mount, and all of a sudden it hits you.  Those trees were here when Jesus wept and prayed and lamented over Jerusalem, and your heart breaks as you hear His voice crying, “O Jerusalem! Jerusalem!”  Then you get it.  Jerusalem is not a metaphor.  It is a very real place, and it is dear to God’s heart, and His desire is for Jerusalem to be restored and to recognize her Messiah and cry out “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”