Dear Friends

For me to ask you to pray for Israel seems unnecessary. I'm sure that most, if not all of you, know the scriptural directive to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. and I'm sure you do. But, that's not why I’m writing.

I want to implore you to pray for the nation and the people of Lebanon. Not just now while war is raging, but in the months ahead, after a cease fire, when the Lebanese people begin to rebuild their country and lives. It’s going to happen because the end is not yet!

God has caused a strong sense of intercession to rise up in my heart for the people of Lebanon. Like everyone else on this planet they are in that valley of decision on who they will serve. Hezbollah is working hard to influence that decision in Lebanon.

Hezbollah is ranked as the fourth or fifth strongest military in the Middle East even though they are not the official army of any government. They are financed and supported by Iran and Syria, and they are trained primarily to fight Israel. I just read about a young Hezbollah fighter who shares a vision of a new Middle East where Lebanon and Palestine share a common border­with no Israel in between them. That is the way they have been trained to think.

Hezbollah has a humanitarian component also. They help the poor and needy in Lebanon and offer their services in rebuilding homes that are destroyed by the Israeli war against the military arm of Hezbollah. The financing for this does not come from the Lebanese government, but from Syria, Iran and others who would like Israel destroyed. The purpose of Hezbollah’s humanitarian side is rather devious at best. While the Hezbollah hand of war hides amongst the population and draws fire, it uses civilians as a shield, and as props in their public relations campaigns after those civilians are hurt or killed by Israelis. Public opinion suggests that this tactic is working, but, consider that most Arabs are afraid to side with Israel because of the backlash from the most violent of their own people.

There are many who, deep down, realize that the Israelis are doing what they have to to protect themselves. And besides that they are tired of war and tired of burying friends and family. We don’t know how many are squarely and irrevocably on the side of Hezbollah and militant Islam. Although Lebanon is within the border of the former Greek Empire where the ten nations of the beast will arise from, there is something about Lebanon and its people that sets it apart. I can feel it when I’m praying. There are more than ten nations within the Greek outline so there is the possibility that some of the nations will not join in support of the beast and the overthrow of Israel. The Bible provides evidence that Egypt, the southern kingdoms of the Saudi peninsula, parts of Asia and even Greece itself will not be willing participants in the beast kingdom. I have a hard time accepting that Lebanon will be either.

Please pray for the Lebanese.

Jesus did not tell His people to hunker down, hide and pray for Christians and Jews to make it through when things get rough. He tells us to pray for those who hate us and despitefully use us.

Matthew 5

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even (your enemies do) the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the (militant Islamists do) so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We are serving the God of love and the God who will one day judge. Let’s leave the judging to Him and allow His love to flow through our prayers to those in need regardless of whether they call us friends or enemies. The Bible tells us to judge rightly between right and wrong, judge ourselves (but not to condemnation), and to judge fairly in legal matters. However, when Jesus told us not to judge, more than anything else, He meant not to ever pass a final judgment on anyone as being not worthy, to far gone or not worth the effort. Even a Hezbollah fighter who has been raised as a child to hate Israel, and trained as an adult to fight Israel, can wake up one day and cry out to God to make sense of it all.

Pray for All those in Lebanon and if at all possible find a way to send them your love in a more tangible way.

Please forward this letter to others who love the work of salvation that God is doing in the earth and those who know nothing about it.