Jerusalem, Israel
FEBRUARY 2015 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the
Nations
·
There is great
concern regarding the struggle between U.S. President Barack Obama and Congress
about the delay in the Iran sanctions legislation. And, the fact that the
President wants to sign the agreement with Iran on March 24th, which some
believe could lead to Iran becoming a nuclear threshold state. (At least 61% of
Israelis think that Obama will make a bad deal with Iran).
The White House seems willing to compromise
in nuclear negotiations with Iran (even with Israel’s disapproval), in order to
keep Iran from advancing its terrorist plans throughout the Middle East. Also,
there are reports that Iran is expanding its military operations in Venezuela,
while developing closer ties to South and Central American countries. Obama’s
decision to re-establish ties with Cuba may be a result of this new alliance forming
between Iran and these nations. Perhaps, Obama wants to establish a backchannel
diplomatic tie with Iran in in order to be protected from Iran’s expansionist
goals.
Meanwhile, the breaking of diplomatic White
House protocol by U.S. Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who invited Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to a joint session of Congress has
been relentlessly reported in the media. The action by Boehner, in coordination
with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, is being described as a
rupture in ties between Israel and the U.S. government. Some Democrats plan to
boycott Netanyahu’s speech. They are accusing Netanyahu of causing a breach in
bi-partisan support for Israel. He is also being attacked, daily, by Israeli
politicians. He is getting constant flack for wanting to give a speech before
the March 17th elections, defending Israel’s case against a bad
nuclear deal with Iran.
Then, there is the Obama Administration’s PR
campaign that has been set up in Israel to unseat Netanyahu. A non-profit U.S.
organization has been, reportedly, receiving illegal funds from various people
and organizations to try and stop Netanyahu from becoming prime minister again.
The real danger of a nuclear Iran is being
sidestepped by all these side stories that the media continues to headline.
Political maneuvering on the part of both
nations is unprecedented, and is entwining the U.S.-Israel alliance in a way
that is choking off God's goodness in the relationship.
JEREMIAH 3:16:
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition,
there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Prayer is
needed for Godly ties that bring in the righteousness of the Lord in what is
intended-- that is, for these two allies to be properly aligned in this season
of change (shift) for what awaits us in the future.
Intercede for
the strategic cooperation agreement to hold and not be shaken by the diplomatic
and political fall-out that is currently occurring.
·
At a cabinet
meeting on Sunday, February 8, 2015, Netanyahu declared: “The
major powers and Iran are galloping toward an agreement that will enable Iran
to arm itself with nuclear weapons, which will endanger the existence of the
State of Israel. The American Secretary of State and the Iranian Foreign
Minister held talks over the weekend. They announced that they intend to
complete a framework agreement by the end of March. From this stems the urgency
of our efforts to try and block this bad and dangerous agreement. We will
continue to take action and to lead the international effort against Iran’s
arming itself with nuclear weapons. We will do everything and will take any
action to foil this bad and dangerous agreement that will place a heavy cloud
over the future of the State of Israel and its security.”
As servants of
the living God, we must stand in the gap and pray that no weapon formed against
Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu shall prosper.
ISAIAH 54:17: "No weapon that is formed against you
will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. And, their vindication is
from Me," declares the LORD.
Pray for every wicked plan of the enemy to be revealed, and that
all ungodly alliances between nations, especially between the U.S. and Iran,
will be broken in Yeshua’s name.
·
Regarding the March elections…. There is a
petition by Likud and Yisrael Beytenu to stop MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) from
running in the next Knesset. She supports terrorism and armed conflict against
the State of Israel; as well as negates Israel’s existence as a Jewish and
democratic state. The two political parties say she is in clear violation of
the “Basic Law: Knesset”.
·
Pray that the Lord either remove Zoabi from office or keep her
voice from being heard. Pray that all incitement by Zoabi, especially towards
the IDF and Israel, be stopped in Yeshua’s name. Pray that she has a revelation
of the goodness of God towards His Chosen People, Israel, and that she stops
supporting Israel’s enemies.
PSALM 37:9:
“For those who are evil will be
destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit
the land.”
PSALM 37:17:
“For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord
upholds the righteous."
PSALM 37:28-29: “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the
offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and
dwell in it forever.”
·
Israel is
being threatened by the International Criminal Court. They want to investigate
the IDF for war crimes in Operation Protective Edge. Israel will be releasing a
legal document in the next few days, stating its position in order to try and
pre-empt an investigation. The ICC has, in the past, been reticent to take up
cases which are being investigated, already, by a country’s judicial system.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians have now asked the ICC to investigate Israel
because of what they perceive to be “illegal” Israeli settlement construction.
The PA intends to formally join the ICC on April
1. They think that they could lose against Israel about war crimes, but not
about “illegal” Jewish settlements. Recently, a report revealed that the
European Union has been building illegal Palestinian structures throughout the
E1 area of Judea and Samaria. This needs to be continually brought to world
attention. May the Lord deal with EU
member states that are siding with the Palestinians and helping them to
establish a state on Israeli territory!
Pray for God’s wisdom for
judicial leaders in Israel regarding what to do, and the perfect timing in
taking action regarding the International Criminal Court. Pray that Israel’s
sovereignty will reign over any attempts by the ICC to take Israel to task for
war crime allegations. Pray that the ICC, itself, will be investigated as to
who they are, what their checks and balances are, and how they operate.
Pray that everything will be
exposed and brought to light regarding the EU illegal maneuverings on behalf of
the Palestinians.
PSALM 35:1: “Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who
fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.
PSALM 35:13-25: “Do not let those
gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me
without reason maliciously wink the eye. They do not speak peaceably, but
devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. They sneer
at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it. Lord,
you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. Awake, and
rise to my defense. Contend for me, my God and Lord. Vindicate me in your
righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over
me. Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
Proclaim vindication for Israel,
by declaring:
PSALM 37:6: “He
will bring forth your righteousness as the light. And your judgment as the
noonday."
·
Iran is not only gaining ground in South and
Central America; it is not only taking advantage of the P5+1 nations and the
Obama Administration in its efforts to secure a deal that would allow it to
become a nuclear threshold state; it is also trying to open up a front against
Israel on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Using the expertise of
Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Iran is setting up a terror infrastructure
with plans to fire anti-tank missiles and rockets in future cross-border raids
against the Jewish State.
The head of the IDF’s OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi
has warned that Israel should expect many future rounds of fighting with its enemies.
Also, Colonel Tomer Yifrah, commander of the 188th Brigade, has spoken about
the incidents in the North with Hezbollah.
“Recently, winds of war blew around us, and the brigade is fully prepared.”
Israel’s IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz has declared
that Israel’s northern border villages must be better defended against missile
threats. This statement was issued after two soldiers will killed by a
Hezbollah missile launched against an IDF vehicle in the north. Hezbollah has
attack capabilities in close range to Israel. They also have built
sophisticated tunnels and may try, as Hamas did in the south, to infiltrate
Israel through the tunnels. Reportedly,
Israel’s northern border military movements are limited and it is harder for
the IDF to anticipate cross-border attacks than it is in the south.
Pray for Israel’s vulnerable
northern border. Pray that the Lord will equip the IDF and the IAF with
everything it needs in order to defend Israeli citizens in the north. Ask the
Lord for supernatural discernment and vigilance for those soldiers in watch
towers in the north.
ISAIAH 21:8: “Then
the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the
watchtower. And, I am stationed every
night at my guard post.”
Declare PSALM 91:5-8: “You will not
fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks
in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your
side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will
only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.”
·
Anti-Semitism
continues to raise its ugly ahead. Vandals attacked a large Jewish cemetery in
Warsaw. Neo-Nazis are planning an anti-Semitic rally in Great Britain on March 22.
Pray that God will cause those
who are against the Jewish People to be silenced. Pray that their power will be
removed and that He will cause confusion in their ranks. Pray that those
involved in the U.K. rally that is scheduled to take place in March will be thwarted
in their purposes. Intercede that all those who cause Israel and the Jewish
People to be harmed will be rendered useless in their actions.
PSALM 68:1-3: “May God arise, and
may His enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before Him. May you blow them
away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before
God. But, may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy
and joyful.”
·
Recently,
the Mideast Quartet met in Munich and came up with a statement on the peace process.
They said: “A sustainable peace requires the Palestinians’ aspirations for
statehood and sovereignty, and those of Israel’s for security, to be fulfilled
through negotiations based on the 2-state solution.”
This is a misleading statement because it doesn’t recognize
Israel’s sovereignty. The Quartet is looking towards a comprehensive peace
deal, not just between Israel and the Palestinians, but between Israel and Arab
States (excluding Jordan and Egypt who Israel already has peace agreements with).
Most of Israel’s political candidates (including Netanyahu), are looking to
reach beyond a deal with the Palestinians; hoping for a peace that is far
reaching. But, the Arab States will not compromise on the major issues of land;
borders; Jerusalem; Palestinian refugees, etc. And, so far, Israel has not
agreed to the Arab Peace Initiative introduced in 2002, which is still very
much alive.
Pray that Israel’s future
government will not fall into deception in a way that causes Israeli leaders to
give up “land for peace” either with the Palestinians or with Arab States. Pray
that the next prime minister will demand the nations recognize the sovereignty
of the Jewish State, and refuse to negotiate unless Israel’s borders are secure
and defensible.
JEREMIAH 17:9-10: “The heart is more deceitful than all else.
And, is desperately sick; who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the
heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.”
PROVERBS 21:1-3: “The king’s
heart is like channels of water
in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every man’s way
is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness
and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.”