AUGUST 2012 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the Middle East
Syria’s chemical weapons: Syrian President Bashar Assad has
threatened to use his vast stockpile of chemical and biological weapons against
any foreign entity that tries to interfere with the conflict in Syria. Israel has announced that it will take action
against any attempt by Assad or his government to transfer the WMD’s to
Hezbollah or other radical groups. The IDF has been on high alert on the
Israeli-Syrian border, acquiring intelligence, and keeping a watchful eye on
Syria’s weapons stockpile. Israel is also watching to see if Assad tries to
smuggle more advanced weapons systems to Hezbollah.
Israeli Golan Heights & Syria: For the
first time since 1973, there are heavy battles between the Assad regime and the
Syrian local population on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Israeli
Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently visited the area and could hear mortar
fire in Damascus, where heavy battles were taking place between the regime and
opposing forces. Over 500 Syrian soldiers
were recently dispersed to the de-militarized zone between Israel and
Syria. The war in Syria is getting more
brutal. There is no mercy on the part of
Assad and his forces. They are shelling
and destroying entire villages. Syria’s main cities – Damascus and Aleppo – are
now under fire.
More than
1.5 million Syrian refugees are on the move.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prepared the IDF for the
possibility of an influx of refugees. Israel is reportedly setting up refugee
camps in the enclaves between the Israeli and Syrian borders.
The Israeli
government is concerned that radical Islamists, like Al Qaeda, might try and
use the Syrian Golan Heights as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against
Israel. With Assad’s government occupied in fighting the rebels in Aleppo and
Damascus, little attention is being paid to the control needed in border towns
where militants from other countries are filtering in.
In another
development, Hezbollah is storing its missiles, advanced weapons systems, and
ammunition within an extensive underground tunnel network that stretches throughout
Lebanon. The tunnel network, which is supervised by Iranian agents, can resist
Israeli air and land attacks. The tunnels reach deep into Syria and, reportedly,
Hezbollah can smuggle their rockets through Syrian territory. This is another way that the northern border
with Israel is being used by enemies of the Jewish State to advance their evil
goals.
In recent
news, Israel’s security services arrested an Israeli Druse man who had been
traveling back and forth from Israel to Syria as a medical student since 2005.
He was arrested for providing information about security at the Kuneitra border
crossing between Israel and Syria. He gave the locations of northern IDF bases
and training centers in the north. And he spied on Israeli Druse living in the
Golan Heights who were opposed to the Assad regime.
PRAYER POINTS:
·
There has been much saber-rattling
going on between Israel, Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Any slight unusual move and a conflict could
flare-up on Israel’s northern border. Israeli
troops are prepared for every possible scenario. Pray that the Lord will give
Israeli military commanders an extra measure of insight, wisdom, alertness, and
discernment. Intercede for top Israeli officers to know when it is essential to
strike at enemy forces and when it is not – according to God’s will and
timing.
·
Pray for Israel’s home front to be
prepared and not fear. Ask the Lord for an extra measure of faith and courage
for the citizens of Israel at this time.
Declare, according to Psalm 91:7-8, that Israeli citizens will be safe
from the coming missile war. “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten
thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your
eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.”
·
Pray that all evil plots will be
exposed and brought into the light, so that Israeli leaders will know the goals
of wicked rulers in neighboring countries and take action as directed by the
Lord. (Psalm 37:12).
·
Pray that God removes all dangerous
weapons aimed at the Jewish State, confuses the enemy, and renders these
weapons useless, in Jesus’ name!
·
Pray that the Lord will put His
shield of protection over Israel’s border with Syria. Ask the Lord to repair
all damage done by the Druse spy who was recently arrested. Pray that, in the
future, Israeli intelligence agencies will be quick to catch all those who are
spying on IDF soldiers and bases.
·
Pray that the Israeli government will
be ready for Syrian refugees that try to cross into Israel, and will show God’s
mercy to all those who are truly seeking shelter and food and have no agenda
that would harm the state of Israel.
·
Pray for the Syrians to know the
peace that passes all understanding in Messiah Yeshua. Pray that through these
times of great darkness, the Syrian people will have dreams and visions of the
Messiah and turn to Him.
·
Pray that all violence and bloodshed
will stop now in Yeshua’s name! Pray
that God will shelter all Syrian citizens that are caught in the crossfire
between Assad’s army and rebel forces.
·
Proclaim Psalm 82:3-4 for Syrians who
are suffering under the brutal dictatorship of Bashar Assad. They do not
understand why he is unleashing violence on their cities and villages. As the foundations of their lives are
crumbling, ask the Lord to reach out His hand of love and compassion. Pray that He will subdue those in the Assad
regime who are oppressing and murdering the Syrian people. Ask God to turn His hand against these
adversaries.
·
The Lord is mighty and capable to
remove Assad and his family from Syria. Pray that his family and those Syrians
who have contributed to the mass killings of civilians would be humbled and
convicted of their crimes. (see Psalm 83:13-18).
Christians in Gaza:
Five ethnic
Christians were recently kidnapped by an Islamic group in Gaza who forced them
to convert to Islam. Those attacked were part of the Greek Orthodox Church. The
church claims that “a dangerous Islamic movement is trying to persuade
Christian youth and women to convert to Islam, thereby destroying Christian
families and the Christian presence in the Gaza Strip”. (Palestinian Media
Watch, 7/25/12).
PRAYER POINT:
Ask the Lord to bring the truth and
light of the gospel to all Gazans. Pray that those Christians who converted to
Islam will return to the Lord and bring many other Gazans to salvation. Declare John 14:6 over Gaza: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me.’ ”
Egypt, Gaza, Sinai:
As Egypt
births its new government, it is likely that Sunni Islamists from throughout
the Middle East, who align themselves with the Moslem Brotherhood, will have
great favor and influence in the halls of the Egyptian parliament. Already,
Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has met with two Hamas leaders, strengthening
the hand of the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile terrorist cells
in the Sinai are expanding and getting more aggressive, hoping to conduct an
attack on Israel that would create a diplomatic rift between Egypt and the
Jewish State.
PRAYER POINT:
Proclaim Isaiah 19:17, “And, the land of Judah will be a terror to
Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the
counsel of the Lord of Hosts which He has determined against it”. Pray that the
Egyptians come to respect the God of Israel and His land, and “in that day,
there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a
pillar to the Lord at its border.”
(verse 19).
Iran:
Iranian
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said in May 2012 that the Iranian
nation is standing for its cause which is the full annihilation of Israel.
Despite western diplomatic talks with Iran, the Islamic Republic is increasing
its stockpile of enriched uranium, in defiance of international sanctions.
Most likely
in late fall/early winter 2012, Israel and the U.S. will conduct the largest
military drill ever coordinated between the two states. While U.S. President
Barack Obama has taken credit for the enhanced strategic cooperation agreement
between the two allies, it is the Lord who is directing this close security
relationship. Israel and the U.S. are
working on plans for military action against Iran, which analysts predict could
occur in 2013 or 2014.
Iranian
leaders have already claimed they will block the Straits of Hormuz if the
country is threatened. Iran is increasing its military presence in
international waters. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s naval forces have
stated they have the ability to stop all oil traffic in the straits. Meanwhile, America has beefed up its presence
in the region, adding naval ships to its growing fleet in the Gulf. The U.S. has threatened retaliation leading
to war if Iran tries to block the narrow straits.
There have
been multiple attacks on Israeli diplomatic missions in India, Thailand, and
Georgia connected to Iran. An attempted attack on Israelis in Bulgaria was
thwarted last year. But, in July 2012, a Hezbollah-Iranian attack was launched
on a bus carrying Israelis from the Bulgarian airport to their hotel. The
bomber killed five Israelis, a Bulgarian bus driver, and himself. Recently,
Iranian nationals were arrested in Kenya, carrying explosives they planned to
use on Israeli targets.
PRAYER POINTS:
In the face of Iranian threats,
declare that those who curse Israel will be cursed (see Genesis 12:3). Proclaim
these words for the citizens of Israel: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
And, every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn!” (see Isaiah 54:17).