Jerusalem, Israel
MARCH 8, 2019 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel
and the Nations
ISAIAH 33:5: “The LORD is exalted, for
He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.”
*WILL
WAR BREAK OUT BEFORE THE ELECTIONS?
BACKGROUND: There’s been escalation in tensions between
Israel and the Palestinians… both in the West Bank and in Gaza, which could
explode into a full-fledged war. Israel has been warning of a possible war that
could disrupt or delay Israeli national political elections on April 9th. It seems more likely, now, that something is
brewing among the Palestinians, especially in the south.
On March 30th,
there are plans for a large scale protest planned during the one year
anniversary of the “Great March of Return” on the Gaza border. Leading up to
that, there have been clashes in the south, as Hamas has increasingly sent
explosions in balloons over the border. There have also been a few rockets
launched at Israel’s southern border communities. And, an increase in the
massive demonstrations at the fence, where Palestinians either try to
break-through, or try to kill IDF soldiers. Israel is retaliating strongly to
every rebellious act by Hamas and other terrorist groups.
The Egyptians are
trying to get both Hamas and Israel to come to terms that will allow the border
to return to quiet. But, the conflict continues to escalate.
The Israeli assessment is that Hamas is provoking confrontations with
Israel because of increased internal dissatisfaction. Gazans are increasingly
frustrated with the way Hamas rules the Gazan government. According to reports,
Hamas is afraid that Gazans will rise-up against its rule, and that its leaders
will fall from power. So, Hamas instigates violent attacks against Israel to
distract the public.
IDF statistics show that at least 500,000 Gazans have attended border
protests against Israel in recent years. When the protests turn violent, Israel
temporarily shuts down one of the crossings that helps get humanitarian aid
into Gaza. Closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing usually means that Israel is
planning to respond, militarily, to Hamas terror attacks.
Israel’s new IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, sees the
southern front in Israel as the most explosive, potentially. He has approved
IDF operational plans for war with Hamas. This includes centralizing
administrative efforts, and preparing a list of targets in case a conflagration
with Hamas breaks-out.
Israeli troop deployment has begun on the southern border for those
who have special skills, including counter-terrorism forces, who are watching
for any infiltration of terrorist groups along the border. The IDF has also
beefed up its border defenses, including trenches and barbed wire, to stop any
possible breach of the border by terrorists trying to reach Israel’s southern communities.
Another area of concern is that Palestinian prisoners could start a
violent uprising in jails throughout Israel. Israeli Public Security Minister,
Gilad Erdan, has installed technical equipment that garbles conversations made
by convicted prisoners who have, illegally, smuggled cell phones into their
prison cells. This has already caused violent incidents between Israeli prison
wardens and inmates.
There has also been an increase in clashes between Israeli officials
and Palestinians on the Temple Mount, where the WAQF (Jordanian Trust) wants
greater control of an area near the Golden Gate. The Palestinians have broken
through a security barrier, and are demanding to build a mosque in that area.
Meanwhile, a group of Jewish activists are protesting, including
Israeli Members of Knesset. They say since the status-quo is changing on the
Temple Mount (because of the attempt to construct a mosque), they want to build
a synagogue there. On March 14th,
an association of organizations dedicated to Jewish rights on the Temple Mount
is planning on ascending the Temple Mount, which is likely to stir-up a
conflict in the area.
In late March
the same group is planning a protest rally from City Hall to outside the Golden
Gate.
PRAYER POINTS:
The stage
is set for a violent explosion between Israel and the Palestinians, and there
must be increased prayer that there are no miscalculations which could start a
war. The “hot” points are Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, the West Bank, Israeli
prisons, and the Gaza border.
IF THIS
IS NOT GOD’S TIMING FOR SUCH BATTLES TO TAKE PLACE, WE ASK YOU LORD TO DELAY
THIS WAR, AND NOT ALLOW ANY ESCALATION TO IGNITE IT. DESTROY THE ENEMY’S PLANS
AND KEEP THE WICKED FROM PURSING EVIL AGAINST ISRAEL. KEEP ISRAEL AT PEACE AS
THE COUNTRY GOES TO ELECTIONS. LET NOTHING STOP THE VOTING PROCESS. ACCORDING
TO YOUR WILL, AND IN YESHUA’S NAME, WE PRAY.
KINGS GO
TO WAR IN THE SPRING, 2 SAMUEL 11:1.
MARCH 21ST IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING. IF IT IS GOD’S TIMING
FOR A BATTLE TO TAKE PLACE, PRAY THAT ISRAEL WOULD BE PREPARED FOR A CONFLICT
ON MULTIPLE FRONTS WITH THE PALESTINIANS.
DECLARE PSALM
18:34-40 AND GOD’S PROTECTION FOR IDF SOLDIERS: “He
trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me
Your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me. Your help has made me
great. You clear the way for me, and now I won't stumble. You have kept me from
being captured, and I have never fallen. I pursued my enemies and overtook
them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I chased my enemies and
caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered. I struck them down and
crushed them so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet. You have
armed me with strength for battle. You have humbled my adversaries before me.
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You make my enemies run
from me. I destroy those who hate me.”
PSALM
144:1-2: “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my
hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my
stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues
peoples under me.”
AS
ISRAELI OFFICIALS CONFRONT JORDANIAN AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO
STOP THE BUILDING OF ANOTHER MOSQUE, THIS TIME NEAR THE GOLDEN GATE, PROCLAIM
ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE. PRAY FOR ISRAELI LEADERS TO ACT COURAGEOUSLY TO
DEFEND GOD’S HOLY PLACE – THE TEMPLE MOUNT – FROM INCREASED ATTEMPTS BY MOSLEMS
TO DEFILE THE AREA. ASK THE LORD FOR WISDOM AND HIS PERFECT TIMING FOR NEW
RIGHTEOUS LAWS THAT WOULD ALLOW JEWS AND CHRISTIANS TO WORSHIP THE LORD IN THIS
HOLY PLACE.
INTERCEDE
FOR THE LORD TO CALM PALESTINIAN AND ARAB STREETS IN ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST
UNTIL QUIET IS RESTORED ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT.
ISAIAH
28:6: “He will give a sense of justice to those
who serve as judges, and courage to those who defend the city gates from
attack.”
PRAY FOR
STRENGTH FOR THOSE WHO TURN BACK THE BATTLE AT THE GATE.
JOSHUA
1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go."
PRAY
THAT THE LORD WILL GIVE CURRENT ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU GOOD
ADVISORS WHO WILL HELP HIM TO ASSESS THE SITUATION ACCURATELY ON THE TEMPLE
MOUNT:
1 KINGS
3:28: “When all Israel heard of the judgment the
king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God
was in him to administer justice.”
PRAY FOR
ISRAELI LEADERS AND IDF TROOPS TO READ THE BIBLE AND ADHERE TO THE SET “LAWS OF
WARFARE” THAT THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY HAS INSTRUCTED THEM TO FOLLOW:
DEUTERONOMY
20:1-4: “When you go out to war against your enemies
and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of
them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with
you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and
address the army, saying
to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do
not be fainthearted or afraid. Do not be alarmed or terrified because of them.
For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your
enemies, to give you the victory.’ ”
PRAY
THAT ISRAELI OFFICERS WILL APPOINT SKILLED AND TRAINED COMMANDERS, THOSE WHO
ARE FULL OF COURAGE, TO LEAD ISRAEL’S DEFENSE FORCES (THE IDF), AND ISRAEL’S
AIR FORCE (THE IAF). PRAY THAT ALL ISRAEL WILL REPENT OF SIN. INTERCEDE FOR
ISRAEL’S RETURN TO THE LORD AND TO HIS WORD -- THAT HIS PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT IS
RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT, SO HE CAN GIVE ISRAEL THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR BATTLE.
INTERCEDE
FOR GOD TO PROVIDE HIS GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION OVER ISRAEL, ESPECIALLY OVER THE
SOUTHERN BORDER WITH GAZA, RIGHT NOW!
PSALM
33:20: “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help
and our shield.”
PSALM
66:9: “He preserves our lives and keeps
our feet from slipping.”
PSALM
71:21: “You will increase my honor and comfort me
once again.”
PSALM
89:21-26: “My hand will sustain him; surely My arm
will strengthen him. His enemies will not defeat him, nor will the wicked
overpower him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his
adversaries. My faithfulness and unfailing love will be with him, and by My
authority he will grow in power. I will extend his rule over the sea, his
dominion over the rivers. He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the
rock of my salvation.’
*GROWING
ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE U.S.
BACKGROUND: For the
first time in a decade, U.S. polls show a decline in American support for
Israel. Not only is there a steady increase in the rise of anti-Semitism in the
U.S., there has also been a display of Jew-hatred among new freshman
representatives in Congress. Recently, outspoken Muslim congresswoman Ilhan
Omar (a Democrat from Minnesota), targeted American Jews with hate speech,
using historic anti-Semitic characterizations involving Jewish money and
dual-loyalty.
Omar is a member of the U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee, which
historically allows only experienced veteran members of Congress to be part of
the committee. Recently, the Committee tried to enact a resolution that would
strongly condemn anti-Semitism. Outside radical elements influenced members of
the Committee, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, to water-down the
text, and to also include racism, Islamic phobia, bigotry, etc., as part of the
resolution. Omar’s name was not mentioned as the offending individual that
instigated the anti-Semitic remarks.
This incident has weakened Congress in its ability to fight and condemn
hatred towards Israel and the Jewish People. And, it has strengthened the
Muslim position.
Israel has lost support among liberal and moderate Democrats.
Currently, 43% of Democrats say they sympathize more with Israel than the
Palestinians. U.S. President Donald Trump has protested what he claims is
anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred in the Democratic Party.
In addition to this, a Palestinian organization that has made
anti-Semitic remarks, and has ties to Palestinian terrorists, is planning a
protest on March 24, during the
AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.
PRAYER POINTS:
PRAY FOR
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN AMERICA…. THAT THEY WILL NOT FEAR, BUT TAKE A STRONG
AND DELIBERATE STAND AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM. PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN AMERICA…
THAT BELIEVERS WILL EXTEND THEIR LOVE, COMFORT AND COMPASSION TOWARDS THEIR
JEWISH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE BEING PERSECUTED.
LORD, WE
BESEECH YOU, ACCORDING TO PSALM 36:10-12, TO POUR OUT A DOUBLE PORTION
OF YOUR GOODNESS UPON YOUR CHOSEN PEOPLE: “Send forth your gracious love to
those who know You, and Your righteousness to those who are upright in heart.
Don't let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around. Look at the
troublemakers who have fallen. They have been pushed down and are unable to
stand up again.”
PSALM
37:20: “But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of
the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.”
PSALM
44:5: “Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our
enemies.”
2 SAMUEL
7:10-11: “And, I will provide a place for My people
Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and
be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as
they did at the beginning and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He, Himself, will establish a house for you."
PSALM 9:2-4: “I will be glad and rejoice in
You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies
retreat,
they stumble
and perish
before You.
For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging
righteously.”
ISAIAH 45:4-6: “For the sake of Jacob My
servant and Israel My chosen one, I call you by name; I have given you a title
of honor, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD,
and there is
no other;
there is no
God
but Me.
I will equip
you for battle, though you have not known Me, so that all may know, from the rising of the sun to the
place of its setting, that there is none but Me. I am the LORD, and there is no
other.”