October is set to mark seventy years since Communism took over in China. Seventy years is such a significant marker. Ancient Israel spent a total number of 70 years in captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10-14):
"This is what the LORD says: 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,' declares the LORD, 'and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.'"
Recognizing this promise, Daniel felt the call to earnestly pray. Daniel 9:2-3:
"In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."
Please read this call to prayer from our brother in Hong Kong. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
From anonymous writer in Hong Kong - name withheld to protect identity:
This is a vital moment and time for our city, Hong Kong. Since June 9th our city has been marked with protests and, in recent weeks, those protests have turned violent. Corruption has been exposed to the whole world. It is a time when everything is polarized and, even within families, people are split and at odds with each other. The global economy has even been impacted. As things begin to come to a head, there is a looming sense of fear over what will happen next that has settled over the city.
As followers of Jesus, it is vitally important we do not respond with fear of what seems to be impending upon our city, but rather it is in this time that we are called to pray and discover God's heart for our city and His heartbeat for everyone within our city, and find ways to partner with Him. It's time we speak boldly what He is saying and proclaim it loudly to any who have an ear to hear. It is time to arise in faith and not let our hearts be disheartened.
Hong Kong's Unique Call
God has a specific call and purpose for Hong Kong. We see it through our city's unique history and culture. For over a century, Hong Kong has stood as a gateway city for the Gospel to both China and even to much of Asia.
When you talk to leaders who have been serving in Hong Kong and China for the last 50 years or more, they confirm that God has miraculously preserved Hong Kong, all of these years, to continue to be a city that serves as a gateway for the Gospel. God has protected Hong Kong with specific freedoms and favor to maintain this unique call. This city has a call to be both a city of refuge and a city on a hill. It has a call to both influence and to serve.
In the spirit this is a fight over Hong Kong's call and destiny. This is a fight over the heart and soul of this city. This is a fight over Hong Kong's birthright as a gateway city for the Gospel.
Esau's Stew
In this spiritual fight, it is important for Hong Kong to beware of "Esau's stew," that is, an easy way to satisfy a legitimate hunger at the price of giving up its birthright. In Genesis, Esau was ravenously hungry, so his brother decided it would be a good idea to sell a bowl of his stew in return for Esau's birthright, and in an act of haste to satisfy his legitimate hunger, Esau sold his birthright.
In the Hong Kong situation, it is important to note that I am not suggesting that all of those protesting for maintaining a free society in Hong Kong are the "Esau's stew" per say. The caution is for Hong Kong to not be hasty and settle for "temporary satisfactions" that might present themselves as solutions to the issues and, in the process, give away its "birthright" as a unique gateway city to China and Asia.
A Hope Filled Destiny
In mid-June, there was one prophecy over Hong Kong released in a prayer meeting, which particularly stands out to me. This prophecy proclaimed that God had set Hong Kong apart with a special destiny and that God was committed to accomplishing His purposes. At one point, the Lord spoke clearly:
"My hand is over this city. My hand is covering this city. My hand is protecting this city. My children, do not be disheartened, but rather look up! Look up and see where your help comes from. I am with you, I am for you, and My purposes are filled with hope. Your light will shine and you will be a city on a hill. My heart will be revealed through this city. Even as I have lifted you from your shame, you will lift others from their shame and help cause them to shine. I am not through here, I am just beginning."
Hong Kong, God is with you, He is for you, and His purposes are filled with hope in your regard. Some have said that Hong Kong is losing an entire generation; but rather this next generation is being discovered with the passion of God's heart for justice, and they will rebuild the foundation of this city with righteousness and justice.
We should not be disheartened in the shaking we are seeing, as it continues to expose corruption and unrighteousness in high places, for God is removing systems and facades that have kept this city from embracing its call. God is raising up those who will be the healers and builders, who will change the course of this city.
I encourage you to remember the miracle of how God has preserved Hong Kong and its freedom all of these years, and to trust His faithfulness to His own word, and His ability to perform what He has spoken.
Pray for the Next 10 Days to See a City Healed
When we pray facing a crisis like we do, it can be easy to focus more on what God hasn't done and emphasizing that, rather than partnering with what He is doing and standing upon what He has said.
What God has called this city to be may, in fact, look impossible to some. An actual resolution that doesn't look like Hong Kong giving up its birthright might look impossible at this stage to some as well. But we serve a God with Whom all things are possible. That is why I am calling people around the world to pray.
I have felt the Lord specifically speak to me to pray for the next ten days for a supernatural shift in Hong Kong! Let's see faith arise. We are believing for something that it is undeniably God to intervene in the affairs of our city, and that the whole world would be watching and be shocked to see what God has done.
The solutions will be divine. The result will be that many will see, fear, and put their trust in the Lord. The result will be a city being healed. The result will be a dramatic and supernatural shift in Hong Kong and China.
Would you join us for the next ten days? I would encourage you to receive communion on a daily basis as a reminder of all that He promises His people, and that we have been given full access to these great and mighty promises through His Cross, and that with Him all things are possible.
Points of Prayer for Hong Kong:
1. We are believing for the hearts of the protesters to walk in supernatural peace.
2. We are believing that the hearts of those in the government will be turned toward their people rather than away from them.
3. We are believing for the hearts of the Hong Kong police to be filled with justice and righteousness and a desire to serve their fellow man.
4. We are believing for supernatural love to win through reconciliation in families that are divided over all of this.
5. We are believing for nonviolent resolutions, for the heart of the city to be supernaturally healed, and for the freedom for Hong Kong to fulfill her unique call as a gateway city.
6. We are believing for God to raise up more authentic prophetic voices across Hong Kong that will proclaim the heartbeat of God and release divine strategies.
7. We are believing for God to raise up the healers and the rebuilders across this city. That they would walk in confidence in their strategic roles to help this city live out its unique calling.
Submitted via Katherine Ruonala from anonymous writer in Hong Kong
Glory City Church
Website: www.katherineruonala.com
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