·
Jerusalem, Israel
PRAYER UPDATE JULY 2018
Israel and the
Nations
·
Dozens of earthquakes and tremors have been felt
in northern Israel the past few days, especially in the area around the Sea of
Galilee. The Israeli government has issued a statement that at least 80,000
buildings in Israel could collapse in a serious earthquake. The government is
considering a plan that would require a 250 million NIS annual budget, every
year, for the next five years to re-inforce homes in earthquake zones. However,
it would only cover reinforcements of homes that are located on the Great Rift
Valley, which is the highest risk zone for earthquakes. All buildings
constructed before 1984 are not earthquake proof in Israel. An emergency meeting of the Defense Ministry,
the National Emergency Authority, the Home Front Command, the police,
firefighters, the MDA, and heads of all local authorities will meet on
Thursday, July 10, 2018 to discuss the current and future threat of earthquakes
in Israel.
PRAYER
POINTS:
GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE IN TIMES OF
CRISIS!
·
Pray that all systems in Israel will function at
the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in regard to
earthquake-preparedness. Intercede that the people of Israel will be ready if
and when an earthquake comes to their area. Pray that citizens will be
educated, nationwide, on what to do in the event of an earthquake. Ask the Lord
to hold back any destructive earthquakes from occurring in Israel.
·
Declare Psalm 28:6-9: “Blessed be the
LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD
is my strength and my
shield; my heart
trusts in
Him, and I am
helped. Therefore my
heart rejoices,
and I will
thank Him with my song. The
LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.
Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them
forever.”
·
Proclaim Isaiah 40:11: “He tends His
flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close
to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.”
·
Pray Psalm 16:9 for the Israeli people: “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue
rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.”
·
Declare Psalm 59:17: “To You, O my
strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of
loving devotion.”
·
Intercede according to Psalm 144:2a: “He
is my loving devotion and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer.
He is my shield, in whom I take refuge…”
GAZA:
·
The Israeli government is taking strong measures
to stop Hamas and Islamic Jihad from operating against the Jewish State.
Israeli officials want to stop Gaza terrorists from using explosive devices put
in kites, balloons, and other projectiles that threaten the State of Israel. A reported 7,000 acres have been destroyed in
Israeli communities bordering Gaza because of these explosives igniting crops
and burning fields. Israel recently closed the Kerem-Shalom crossing, which is
the main crossing that brings humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Emergency
aid (medical and food supplies) will continue through the crossing. The closing
of the Kerem-Shalom crossing has resulted in Islamic Jihad proclaiming that
this is a “declaration of war.”
The Gaza fishing area off the coast will also
be restricted from 9 to 6 nautical miles as the fishing season comes to an end.
PRAYER
POINTS:
·
Pray that every measure Israel takes against
enemy forces is done in the right timing and for the right purposes. Pray that
it causes the enemy to shrink back and not respond with force. Ask the Lord to
hold back the enemy from pursuing war against Israel. Pray that all wicked
plans from Gaza terrorists will be made null and void by the Lord.
·
Pray that the Lord arises from His resting
place, and that He scatters the wicked who want to harm the righteous! Psalm
68:1-3: “For the
choirmaster. A Psalm
of David.
A Song. God
arises. His enemies are
scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. As
smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the
wicked will perish in the presence of God. But the righteous will be glad and
rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.”
·
Declare Numbers 10:35: “Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,
“Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee
before You.”
·
Proclaim 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.”
·
Proclaim Psalm 9:3 over the people of
Israel: “When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You!”
·
Pray Psalm 27:1 over Israel: “Of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?”
ISRAEL’S
WORLD RANKING:
·
Israel has been ranked the 8th most
powerful country in the world! This is
the same ranking it got last year by U.S.
News and World Report. The other countries (in descending order) are: the
U.S., Russia, China, Germany, the UK, France and Japan. After Israel, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were ranked 9 and 10 on the list. The
magazine looked at the countries that “consistently dominate the news
headlines, pre-occupy police makers, and shape global patterns. Their foreign
policies and military budgets are tracked religiously. When they make a pledge,
at least some in the international community trust they will keep it.” The
magazine also looked for political and economic influence that these countries
have on the world, including the strength of international and military
alliances. Israel is perceived to be the country that is the “most religious in
the world.” Israel is also considered very highly developed in terms of life
expectancy, education, per capita income, and human development.
PRAISE
AND PRAYER POINTS:
·
Thank the Lord for Israel’s strategic
importance worldwide. She is becoming a “light to the nations”, and fulfilling
her Kingdom purpose, according to Isaiah Chapter 49:6: “He says, ‘It is not
enough for you to be
My Servant, to raise up
the tribes
of Jacob,
and to
restore the protected
ones of
Israel. I will also make you a
light for the nations, that you may
bring My salvation
to
the ends of the earth.’ ”
·
Declare Luke 2:30-32 over Israel
concerning the birth of Messiah Jesus: “For my eyes
have seen Your salvation, which
You have
prepared in
the sight
of all
people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your
people Israel.”
·
Proclaim Isaiah 11:10: “On that day the
root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek
Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.”
·
Intercede according to Isaiah 42:6: “I,
the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your
hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a
light to the nations…”
·
Pray according to Acts 13:47: “For this
is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles
(nations), to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
·
Declare Isaiah 60:1 over Israel: “Arise, shine, for your light has
come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”
·
Look to the Lord to shine forth His
glory! Psalm 80:1: “For the
choirmaster. To the tune of ‘The Lilies of
the Covenant.’ A Psalm
of Asaph.
Hear us,
O Shepherd
of Israel,
who leads
Joseph
like a flock;
You who sit
enthroned between the
cherubim, shine forth!”