Jerusalem, Israel
PRAYER UPDATE NOVEMBER 2018
Israel and the
Nations
STRIKES IN GAZA:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister
Avigdor Lieberman, have been under growing pressure to respond to Hamas
provocations for months from the Gaza Strip. Israelis have endured rocket
launchings by terrorist groups against Israeli cities; confrontations at the
border by thousands of Gazans who want to break down the military fence
protecting Israeli communities; explosive balloons and fire kites sent over the border by Gaza
terrorists that have burned thousands of acres of Israeli land; and, most
recently, a Palestinian breaching the border and setting a greenhouse on fire
in an Israeli community. Now, there are reports of Israel retaliating with airstrikes
in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, including strikes against a senior
Hamas military commander.
Prayer Points:
For many months,
Israelis have been in favor of the Israeli government taking a harder line on
Hamas. Despite Egypt’s attempt at a cease fire, the constant attacks on Israel
have been harder and harder to take, and calls for dealing a strong blow to
Hamas have increased.
Intercede for the
protection of Israel’s Defense Forces (the IDF) as they are given new orders to
confront Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza.
Pray that Gazan civilians
are not used as human shields by these terrorists; and, that God protects those
Gazans who are not participating in any kind of terrorist acts.
Pray for this
current military operation and others to be successful.
Declare over Israel:
“…. Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He
trains my hands for war, and gives my fingers skill for battle.” (from Psalm
144:1)
“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can
bend a bow of bronze.” (2 Samuel 22:35)
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my
deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of
my salvation; my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
“With God we will gain the victory, and He
will trample down our enemies.” (Psalm
60:12)
THREATS FROM IRAN:
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran has
threatened Israel, stating that the Islamic Republic has forces throughout the Middle
East that will continue to confront Israel and Americans in the region. An IRGC
commander said that “The ‘Zionists’ know that today any war they start will
lead to their being erased. We have bases of the Islamic Revolution from the
Mediterranean to the Red Sea.” He also claimed that Hezbollah in Lebanon and
Syria had become a “nightmare” to Israel. And, he threatened to confront the
U.S., economically, and defeat the sanctions against Iran which were re-imposed
on November 5, 2018.
Prayer Points:
Thank the Lord for
the strong Israel-U.S. alliance today. Thank Him that He is a shield over
Israel and America. According to scripture, as long as a nation continues to
bless Israel, it will be blessed. (see Genesis
12:3). Bless the U.S. for its current support of Israel!
Declare the destiny
of Israel as a nation; one that will not be erased by demonic forces, but instead,
be at peace and prosper.
“They gave her this blessing as she
parted: ‘Our sister, may you become the
mother of many millions! May our descendants be strong and conquer the cities
of their enemies.” (Genesis 24:60).
“David himself declares in the Book of
Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your
enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ”
(Luke 20:42-43).
“I will surely bless you, and I will
multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky, and the sand on the
seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.” (Genesis 22:17)
“But, You have said, ‘I will surely make
you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too
numerous to count.” (Genesis 32:12)
Declare that the Lord
will gather His sheep from the four corners of the earth; bring them back to their
land; and protect them as he resettles them. This is the reality of what God
will do!
“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over His flock like a shepherd.’ ” (Jeremiah 31:10)
INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITISM:
Polish leaders are scheduled to join a reportedly
anti-Semitic nationalist Independence Day march, including the president and
prime minister of Poland. Anti-Semitism is increasing throughout Europe and the
United States. It is happening on a community level, but also in the elections
of anti-Semitic government leaders.
In Europe, it’s France that tops the list of enduring the
highest number of attacks on Jewish people during the past nine months. Many of
these attacks are happening in low-income French suburbs where a majority of
Muslims are living. France has the largest Muslim population in Europe… 5.7
million people. And, the biggest Jewish community in Europe with 400,000
people.
The recent shooting of Jews by a lone gunman during a
Shabbat service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was indicative of the increasingly hostile
environment in America for Jewish communities. A friend, and president of a
synagogue in the Carolina’s said that there were bomb threats last year. The
synagogue increased their security measures, and they are doing so again, as
are other Jewish community institutions after the Pittsburgh shooting.
Prayer Points:
Pray that God would
crush the spirit of Haman in the western world that is harassing the Jewish
People. Intercede that the Lord will change the hearts of government leaders
that are allowing this anti-Semitic spirit to rule and reign in their nations.
“Then Haman informed King Xerxes: ‘There is a certain people scattered and
dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom… If the king
approves, let a decree be issued to destroy them…’ ” (from Esther 3:8-9).
Ask the Lord to raise
up Esther’s who will harken to the call of God, and pray and fast for Jewish communities
throughout the world. Thank the Lord that He will deliver His Chosen People,
regardless!
“For if you remain silent at this time,
relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and
your father’s house will perish. And, who knows but that you have come to the
kingdom for ‘such a time as this.’ ” (Esther
4:14).
Declare a time for
the Jews in the Diaspora of “light and gladness, of joy and honor.” Also a time of “feasting and celebrating” as the Jewish People are delivered from their
adversaries in the nations. (from Esther 8:16-17).
ALIYAH:
Of all the Diaspora Jews around the globe, 75-80% live in
North America (the United States and Canada). Many of these Jews visit Israel,
but do not stay or immigrate. There are still more Jews living in North America
than there are living in Israel.
In Israel, some Jewish Ethiopians who are believers and new
immigrants, are being forced into conversion to Judaism. Those who will not
cooperate with the government are told they will not be able to stay in Israel.
Also, many Falasha Mora’s (Jews who converted to Christianity under pressure in
Ethiopia), are currently not being allowed to leave Ethiopia for the Promised
Land. The Israeli government is letting in just a trickle this year.
All Jews
in the Diaspora, whether from the east, west, north or south, need to be able
to follow God’s commands and return to Israel to inherit His covenant promises.
Prayer Points:
Declare that the Jews
will come back to their homeland, Israel; that they will obey the Lord and
return to the land of their forefathers; and, do so during this time of grace,
as God intended them to do, in Yeshua’s name!
“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will
bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will
say to the north, ‘Give them up’, and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar. And, My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5-6).
“For I will take you out of the nations; I
will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24).
Ask the Lord to put a
hedge of protection around His faithful Jewish believers, and plant them in the
land, not to be uprooted again. Proclaim their obedience to God and their
return to the land according to scripture.
“Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall
return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon
their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall
flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11).