Prayer Works Morning Devotion: April 3, 2025

"Readying Our Hearts for Resurrection Sunday"

"The Destruction Of Jerusalem"

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Good morning, good morning, good morning, people of God. What a beautiful day to be alive. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning. We thank you for your goodness and your mercy towards us.  

Your word says where can we go, where your spirit is not, we could go in the depth of the oceans. You are there we could go at the top of the mountains, you are there. You know our ways, you see us, there is absolutely no place we can hide.  

You know our thoughts, you know our desires, you know our concerns, our fears, you know all the things that we struggle with, there is nothing that is hidden from you and we are grateful that in spite of all that your love is greater than any challenges we could ever see anything that would ever experience.  

So we are grateful that you are a Father who loves us dearly for you do anything to be patient with us, to save us from our own mistakes and we just want to honor you for that. And Father we as we gather this morning, we recognize that it's always you we need for direction, for insight, for wisdom, for clarity.  

In order for us to continue living successful lives under the duress of the challenges of this world. So as we look at these words today, we pray that you continue to give us insight and wisdom on how to live this life as we prepare either for the return of Christ or for us being with you.  

So we thank you for your grace. Thank you for your mercies this morning and we claim them as we go into this day, knowing that today you have an idea for this day. You have wisdom for the day and you have daily bread for the day.  

So we thank you for revelation, knowledge for this day. That as we encounter different ones and as we do what you have called us to do that God may your spirit be seen, touched, felt through us.  

We bless you and honor you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen. Today we are in Luke 21:20-28 and Calvin did a good job yesterday in fact, we've all been doing a great job explaining and working with Christ as he has towards the cross and so today we heard about standing firm and you will win life. 

That was the last statement from yesterday's reading, you stand firm and you will win life so standing firm in your faith, standing firm in faith, standing firm in your courage.

In your broadness standing firm in principle, standing firm in wisdom, standing firm in worship, standing firm in giving, standing firm in all the different structures of this standing firm.  

The scripture says you will win in life. That's what's true winning is, winning life is standing firm, so verse 20, so Jesus now is reiterating things. This is like the last quarter of his life.  

And he's just emphasizing things that needs to be emphasized and things that people need to keep in their heads as much as this was to them who were listening. The reason why it was captured as scripture it is also for us who were going to listen to this word 2000 years later.  

So it applies to them. It applies to us and it's important that we take heed of what these instructions were. Now when you see verse 20 when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies.  

You will know that it's dissolution is near. Isn't it amazing how God warns us of things on order to prepare ourselves. Which means that in our efforts, preparation is what's so important when we hear God's word, giving us a warning instruction or things that we need to take care.  

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those in the city, get out and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of what has been written.  

How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. There will be great distress in the land and wreaths against the people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  

There will be signs in the moon, sun, moon and stars. On Earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity, as the roaring and tossing of the sea people who feigned from terror apprehensive of what is coming on the world for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  

At that time they will see the son of men coming in cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your hands because your redemption is drawing near, stand up, lift up your hands because your redemption is drawing near.  

This is a very simple passage of scripture because it's giving precise information that does not need a lot of interpretation. Now the people who are hearing this message from Jesus re the disciples and those who are around him before his crucifixion.  

Now this prophetic web of the destruction of Jerusalem is fulfilled 70 AD after Jesus death, the Roman Empire remember prior or during Jesus time. The Roman Empire was appointing governors or kings to run nations on their behalf.  

This is how we get King Herod. He was appointed by the Roman Empire to run the Jews, or maybe their on their behalf. This is why he ends up sending Jesus to Pilate, because he said well I'm under your jurisdiction.  

So we're going to send them to you to decide what will happen. But he’s warning them that there is a time that's coming was that governance will be removed and the Roman Empire would totally take control of Jerusalem.  

There will be no governors put in place. In fact, this is the punishment for rejecting the Messiah who came through your loins because you rejected him. This is the punishment that God is imposing on Jerusalem of rejecting the Messiah.  

So 70 AD, The Roman Empire takes over and pretty much destroyed the city of Jerusalem, including the temple. Now why is this happening? It’s happening because one this is a punishment.  

Then 2 is happening because metaphorically, Jerusalem. This Jerusalem that we know of Physical Jerusalem. It has to disappear in order for the New Jerusalem to come which is the Heavenly Jerusalem. 

The City of God, which he is preparing for those who are called according to his name for inasmuch as he is addressing this crowd, Jesus is also addressing US 2000 years from now.  

That these events will also be leading to my return. That this is what will happen again. Where the city of Jerusalem, physical Jerusalem will be surrounded at some point. And he's telling Saints get out.  

Why do they have to get out? Because there will be a new heaven and a new Earth. And you don't want to be caught in the crossfire of what will happen to the City of Jerusalem. So get out and go find shelter somewhere else.  

If you are not in the city, do not go into the city. Because this city has to be destroyed. Why does it have to be destroyed? Because it is contaminated. It is a contaminated Jerusalem, remember the Lord's prayer asked us to pray for heaven to be on earth.  

And at this juncture here Jesus desire is to see the Kingdom of heaven manifest itself on Earth, but currently it cannot be a physical jurisdiction. It has to be a spiritual jurisdiction that exists in our hearts.  

That's why it says the Kingdom is in you. This is why sometimes in prayer in worship, you can spiritually enter Heavenly Jerusalem. If you ever get yourself into a spiritual moment where you are worshipping the Lord and you find yourself entering a space of joy, peace, love.  

Incredible revelation, more times you have entered a spiritual Jerusalem. Hebrews chapter 12:22 says you have come to the city of God's Heavenly Jerusalem upon in numerous angels singing holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, since that's what we have come into.  

But what's being addressed is people who are here on Earth. So the Israel and Jerusalem that we know of. It is a symbol, it was meant to be a symbol of what's to come. That in order for what's to come to manifest itself the old has to be done away with.  

So this prophetic word is fulfilled in 70 AD. But the reason why it was captured in our scripture for our reading is for you and I to prepare for what's coming. So when Jesus warned that the destruction of Jerusalem would come inhabitants needed to be ready to escape that disaster.  

Many of the Christians in Jerusalem here at Jesus words and did escape to safety, when the time came. So they needed not to fear, only look forward to that day with hope and confidence.  

But for us there will also come a time when Jesus will come again and retain in glory with salvation. So we too need to look forward to that day, with great hope and confidence. Knowing that even in the worst moments the Lord is near. 

And his return can come at anytime. Brothers and sisters, do you guys understand that Jesus could come today at 4:00 PM. It's a possibility there is a possibility that he would come because this day says it's near.  

So the preparation that we have to live by and the things that we ought to make sure we do. So when you hear escape right physically to them, they were supposed to escape physically out of Jerusalem. But you and I, we are not in Jerusalem.  

So what's being talked about for you and I is that we have to escape the chaos of this world. Remove our minds from the challenges and the things that we see. Looking ahead to spiritual things. You know what I believe, I believe that God is so patient that he wants to see so many people saved.  

That is keeping this earth going because of that reason and I believe that if a lot of people run to the Lord and I believe probably if 90% of the world start turning to the Lord. I believe the Lord will come tomorrow.  

So which means that we have to play a role in all of this to take place. For Jesus to return we have to play a role and the role that we play is to preach this gospel to all nations so that every single person that we can get in touch with can be saved.  

If that happens the return of crisis eminent it will probably be first threat. Because that's God's idea, that every person saved but I believe this earth has gone on for this long because of the sinful  nature.  

And God does not want to destroy mankind, but he wants every single person to come to Christ. But for you and I, the preparation has to always be something that we do all the time.  

Because we don't know the hour or the day. It could be today. So we have to prepare, this is why we do early morning devotion. This is why we study scripture. This is why we pray without ceasing. It's all part of the preparation and if you are not doing it, you need to do it. 

As often as you can because what happened in 70 AD if it's any preview of what's to come then you have a greater understanding because the destruction of Jerusalem was horrible. 

The temple was burnt down, remember it's the same temple that Jesus went and cleans out and that temple was destroyed. And everybody was scattered out of the city. You talk about the fear of the Roman Empire, if he ever study what the Roman Empire did.  

They were burning people alive. During the same time, that's when they massacred 1000 people and put them on crucifix for every mile. For every 100 yards, sorry, covering 7 miles.

The road that led to Europe to discourage anyone of ever coming up against the Roman Empire. Heinous things happened and if that was to come.  

And we have to hear this word says take heed. And now we don't have to run to the mountains. No, we don't have to seek hide. We just have to run to Christ on solid rock we stand. We just have to dwell under his shadow.  

So we can be hidden in plain sight. So our running is not to the hills. Our preparation is running into Christ. Remember when this word is being issued, Christ has not dead yet. But you and I, we have to run into Christ.  

We have to stand on Christ, the solid rock I stand. That's our preparation. We have to commune with Christ. If I heard you under the shadow of the Almighty, who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord? He that have clean hands wasn't raised an idle.  

So this probably happened in 70 AD is a representation of what's to come. Their acts to physically run and hide. We are being asked to spiritually run and hide. That's how we stand firm. 

 Remember the last statement yesterday was stand firm and you will win life. You will win at life. I was standing firm. Their standing firm was running to the hills and not come into the city. Our standing firm, was spiritual. That's our standing firm.  

So we have a responsibility, if we are going to win at life is to stand firm in crisis to win at life. This is why, you see, the word preaches at different gospel. That in order to win it life we're going to do all.  

This at this I mean I want you to think about this, this past decade you know how many songs that have been released about winning. And the crazy thing is that I've absolutely heard people in church.  

You know, seeing rap music about winning. If you just follow social media, you will see people say you know, I'm winning at life. All I do is win, win, win. Songs like that that people sing in the world.  

That literally. Churches sometimes and pastors seeing this stuff on pulpit. And then you think about why is this such a big thing winning? Because the enemy tries to change that which God has created.  

So as you see the world talk about winning. So it is in the spirit that's why you can see in this past few years, that winning has become this huge thing that people are talking about so much, even in sports.  

Who's going to win? Who's going to win over here? And the reason why that is, is because spiritually that’s what we are being asked to do. And the way we win in life is standing firm in spiritual things. 

That's how we win. Standing firm in faith, standing firm in prayer, in devotion, in Scripture reading, that's how we hide. We can't run to the hills. That we can hand run to the hill of the Lord.  

We can ascend to the hill of the Lord with clean hands and pure spirits. So brothers and sisters as you stand firm know that you're standing firm is how you win at life. This warning which was given to the inhabitants of Jerusalem is also being given to us.  

In order to continue preparing for what can happen any minute, this is why if you turn your eyes to the things that are happening around us in this world, you'll be stressed. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord, that's our strength.  

If I’ve hidden you under the shadow of my wings. He that dwells in the secret place of the most high will abide under the shadow of the Almighty who sayeth the Lord, that you are my refuge and my fortress my God in him will trust.  

Surely he shall deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. That's how we win.  

Heavenly father. We understand these signs that you gave us in the scriptures. As we continue to look up in the sky, we know that your return is eminent when we are not sure. But we know that the last days were activated by your death. And we've been living in the last days for the past 2000 years.  

We know a day is like 1000 in you. So, Father as we continue on this journey of life, our desire is your children is to stand firm in your statutes, in your principles, in your guidelines.  

In the things that you have asked us to do in every spiritual activity that we indulge ourselves in, we want to stand firm. We thank you for wisdom to live. We thank you for courage and boldness to push this gospel.   

Lord I pray that may you continue to strengthen us in our weaknesses, we bless you and honor you for all that you have done, and what you're still going to do as we look to you we know that all our needs you take care of.  

As we pray in faith we believe that you answer every prayer according to your will and your riches in glory. There is nothing that we are going through that you are not aware of. From victories to challenges, from needs to unanswered prayers. You all have it in your view.  

So we ask, Lord that as we continue to be patient in waiting, may we not lose faith. May we not faint in our journey and process of waiting, knowing that if we continue on this path eventually, we will get to our destiny.  

Every prayer answered and every request fulfilled. I pray for wisdom and guidance continually. Because it is the principal thing that we need to live in this diabolic world. Help us to be meek for we know we shall inherit the earth.  

I pray for leaders, political leaders across the spectrum. We know that throughout this world is a generation of men and women who are in leadership, politically, who don't care whatsoever about spiritual things.  

Their desires is to fulfil whatever they desire to fulfil. Have mercy on them given the opportunity to repent. I pray Lord, what they do may not hinder the progress that has been made spiritually. Help this nation that is living under the spell of lies. Where it has never been made this comfortable to lie.  

I pray may the Holy Spirit convict people who live on life in order to fulfill their own agendas. Transform those that need transformation and mute those whose voices don't need to be heard. May words, Lord that come from these platforms to your people become insignificant or irrelevant.  

If they seek to divide and to push lies. It is money they desire, are prey for pocket that evolves in them. That nothing will come to not in the name of Jesus. We thank you for the church which is a symbol of your Kingdom.  

We pray for clean pulpits, clean words, clean choirs, clean worship leaders across the spectrum. May his spirit be relevant and that be accommodated in these churches. So that you can move the best way you know how to move for your grace, for your honor, we love you.  

Now if we go into this day, continue to bless us in everything that we do. Bless the works of our hands and bless the works of the one who send us. I pray Lord that in our efforts, when we do wrong, Lord forgive us.  

Our intent is to do right by you and by this Kingdom. So I pray that you continue to give us wisdom and may the guidance of the Holy Spirit be as loud as possible in our ear. So that we have less mistakes, more victories as we stand firm in the purposes of our lives.  

Now lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen. Brothers and sisters may the Lord bless you. May the Lord equip you with wisdom as you make decisions.  

And may you continue to stand firm in your faith and continue to practice all these racial activities that are for you to practice.

Pray for courage, boldness, determination to preach this gospel so we can expediently push the return of Christ, even closer than we think and may the Lord bless you and have an awesome day.