Would You Pray for Portland?

I believe we are in the midst of the Last Days. The world system is aligning with Bible prophecy and the rapture of the Church is ever closer.
However, until the rapture (calling out of the church) takes place, the believer is left on this earth to do the will of Christ. Sometimes, this means interceding on behalf of the unbeliever. We must see those who do not believe in Christ as sheep not having a shepherd. Compassion is the motivation for intercessory prayer.
There is no pretense on my part to judge. Portland, Oregon, has been in the news many times recently. No matter the political or social issues, the city is made up of many individuals. The majority are quietly trying to live a normal life while others engage in the activity which puts Portland in the spotlight.
You might have friends or family in Portland. Would you pray for the city? What would it take for you to go before a Holy God in prayer to ask for His longsuffering and mercy for the inhabitants of Portland.
The Bible gives examples of intercessory prayer for a city: Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, Jesus weeps for Jerusalem, and Nehemiah is burdened to rebuild Jerusalem.
The first is the intercessory work of Abraham as he intervenes on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. These wicked and carnal cities are the only time in the Bible when their sin is described a grievous. Genesis 18:20 “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;”
At that moment, Abraham begins to intercede on behalf of the cities. His nephew, Lot, and Lot’s wife and daughters had been dwelling in the cities for a while. It is not only the love of life for all inhabitants of the cities, but also his love for his family that Abraham intercedes.
Abraham negotiates with God and lowers the bar from fifty righteous in the cities to ten righteous in the cities to spare them from the judgment of God.
Jesus intercedes for Jerusalem. Jesus had come to seek and save that which was lost. Although He was God made man not all believed on Him. His one desire was that all would be saved. As Jesus overlooks the city of Jerusalem, He beings to weep, and then prays in Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Also, Luke records the event in Luke 19:41-44 “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
Nehemiah, a captive in Persia at the time of Artaxerxes, had heard of the destruction of Jerusalem. Saddened by the news and moved with much compassion, he was afraid to discuss it with the king. He prayed to the LORD in Nehemiah 2:4 “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.” Nehemiah’s fears were not unfounded. The king could have him killed on a whim.
Nehemiah received permission from the king to return to Jerusalem to begin the rebuilding. Nehemiah 2:6 “And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.”
With letters of passage in hand, Nehemiah makes his way to Jerusalem. Three days after his arrival Nehemiah privately views the destruction of the city and formulates his plan to rebuild. He then informs those with him in Nehemiah 2:17-18 “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
Nehemiah had his fair share of those who mocked the work and his passion, but he pushed on.
So, would you intercede for Portland, or Chicago, or New York City, or San Francisco? Would you intercede for the city where you live? The devil has worked hard to influence the mind of the inhabitants and has done much destruction which needs rebuilding.
The most powerful effort we can make is that of intercessory prayer. It’s encouraged, it’s efficient, and it’s effective.
See you in church. ---Bro. Louis