"As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand." Ezekiel 37:16-17
Pray for Israel
"For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and the fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you..........that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved..." Romans 11:16-18, 25b, 26a
Jerusalem Prayer Tower-House of Prayer, Historic Jaffa St.
Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was a gateway to the pagan world. Travelers passed en route North & South through this area. (Egypt to Iraq). As they encountered Jesus, they came to believe in Him and carried their faith "to the ends of the earth" as it was known in those days.
Much of Jesus' 3-year ministry was spent in the Galilee.
Peter's mother-in-law's home, the first house church. Imagine first century Capernaum. Meals were shared, prayers taught and prayed, community life bloomed, and marketplace flourished. This was a family of faith and intercession who communed with Jesus and each other.
To the right, is the Capernaum synagogue, located across from the house church, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Bread of Life (John 6:35-59) and raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. (Luke 8:41-53)
Those with oil in our lamps who want to keep it burning are coming back to the first church of Acts with a lifestyle of presence, generosity and love; being sold out for Jesus and the Gospel. The Kingdom comes at a cost.
