Praying for the Body of Messiah on the Day of Atonement ~ Praying for Israel’s return to the Lord ~ Praying for Israel’s security
_________________________________________________
Why was God not pleased with the revival in Josiah’s time?
The repentance and revival that king Josiah led in the middle 7th century BC, seems at first glance a wonder in the history of the nation of Israel.
Four years after he began to seek the Lord, Josiah cleansed Judea of idols. Not only that, but he extended his campaign to the tribal areas of Manasseh, Ephraim, and as far north as Naphtali. He was only 20 years old.
Six years later, while the House of the Lord was being cleansed, the Word of God was found in it. Josiah, a man whose heart was soft and obedient towards God, led Judea and the remnant of Israel in returning to serve the Lord and obeying His word.
It is therefore astounding to find that the Lord sends Jeremiah, who was but a lad, one year after the revival begins, with a rebuke to king Josiah; “And yet…Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 3:10
The Lord actually declares that the revival is shallow, and not a return with the whole heart. Huldah the prophetess corroborates this when she gives a message to Josiah that God will not turn away from His plan to punish Israel, but only delay it. Judah returns to idolatry with a vengeance after Josiah’s death, and a mere 22 years later, is destroyed by the king of Babylon.
The danger for the Body of Messiah is that it falls into shallowness and fleshliness.
The New Testament writings are full of teachings intended to keep, correct, and save the Body from such corruption
Many of the epistles deal with the spiritual condition of the heart of believers, and the incessant battle against the flesh, the enemy, and the spirit of the world.
Flesh
Galatians 5:13-17 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
The Enemy
2Corinthians 11:2-4 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
The World
1John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life*—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Prayer and the Body of Messiah
Although the Body of Messiah in Israel is a wonder of God’s grace and faithfulness in fulfillment of His Word, we are not exempt from the battle that has been waged throughout the ages. Perhaps because it is such a work of God, there is also enormous pressure meant to corrupt and destroy it. We must fight for it in prayer; The Body of Messiah is His House in the midst of His Land, and we cannot afford to see it filled with idols!
Paul warns the Body against the works of the flesh, while in the same wonderful chapter speaking about the fruit of the Spirit
Gal. 5:20-26 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
I feel a special urgency at this time to stand before the Lord on behalf of His Body. Won’t you stand with us in intercession and prayer?
How we are praying for our land on the Day of Atonement
We add a portion of the suggestions and instructions we sent our congregation regarding praying for Israel during the Day of Atonement. We send this a mere 2 hours before the fast begins.
Take time to give thanks to God for the atonement and salvation that we have in Yeshua
Take time to pray for the Congregation and the Body of Messiah in the Land
Take time to pray for Israel
Blessings from Jerusalem,
Ofer Amitai
Israel Prayer Center
The repentance and revival that king Josiah led in the middle 7th century BC, seems at first glance a wonder in the history of the nation of Israel.
Four years after he began to seek the Lord, Josiah cleansed Judea of idols. Not only that, but he extended his campaign to the tribal areas of Manasseh, Ephraim, and as far north as Naphtali. He was only 20 years old.
Six years later, while the House of the Lord was being cleansed, the Word of God was found in it. Josiah, a man whose heart was soft and obedient towards God, led Judea and the remnant of Israel in returning to serve the Lord and obeying His word.
It is therefore astounding to find that the Lord sends Jeremiah, who was but a lad, one year after the revival begins, with a rebuke to king Josiah; “And yet…Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 3:10
The Lord actually declares that the revival is shallow, and not a return with the whole heart. Huldah the prophetess corroborates this when she gives a message to Josiah that God will not turn away from His plan to punish Israel, but only delay it. Judah returns to idolatry with a vengeance after Josiah’s death, and a mere 22 years later, is destroyed by the king of Babylon.
The danger for the Body of Messiah is that it falls into shallowness and fleshliness.
The New Testament writings are full of teachings intended to keep, correct, and save the Body from such corruption
Many of the epistles deal with the spiritual condition of the heart of believers, and the incessant battle against the flesh, the enemy, and the spirit of the world.
Flesh
Galatians 5:13-17 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
The Enemy
2Corinthians 11:2-4 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
The World
1John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life*—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Prayer and the Body of Messiah
- The Body of Messiah was born in prayer (Acts 1:14)
- Is maintained by prayer (Heb 7:25)
- Advances and develops through prayer (Acts 6:2,4; Rom. 8:26; Gal 4:19)
- Battles in prayer (Eph. 6:13-18)
Although the Body of Messiah in Israel is a wonder of God’s grace and faithfulness in fulfillment of His Word, we are not exempt from the battle that has been waged throughout the ages. Perhaps because it is such a work of God, there is also enormous pressure meant to corrupt and destroy it. We must fight for it in prayer; The Body of Messiah is His House in the midst of His Land, and we cannot afford to see it filled with idols!
Paul warns the Body against the works of the flesh, while in the same wonderful chapter speaking about the fruit of the Spirit
Gal. 5:20-26 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
I feel a special urgency at this time to stand before the Lord on behalf of His Body. Won’t you stand with us in intercession and prayer?
- Ask God to invade His Body, purifying her from idols, the flesh, and a worldly spirit.
- Ask God to cause His Word to rise in power, reality and conviction, as it is preached and read in the congregations.
- Ask God to draw His Bride to Himself in a move of the true Holy Spirit.
- Ask God to sanctify his Body, set her apart for Himself, and reveal Himself in her midst.
- Pray for the leaders in the Land, that they would have a single eye and a whole hearted, burning love for Yeshua Himself.
- Pray for the leaders’ prayer life and a hunger for the Word of God
- Pray for the leaders in the Land for humility, brokenness, and confidence in God to such a degree that all worldly methods are shunned.
- Pray that the leaders will receive wisdom from the Lord and discernment, without which they will not be able to guard their congregations.
- Pray for a spirit of prayer to be given to many in the Land, that the Lord may raise up intercessors of caliber and godliness that can lay hold of God.
- Pray for our work in the Land, that we might have the boldness and authority to proclaim these things here without fear of opposition. Revival, as well as judgment, begins in the House of God.
How we are praying for our land on the Day of Atonement
We add a portion of the suggestions and instructions we sent our congregation regarding praying for Israel during the Day of Atonement. We send this a mere 2 hours before the fast begins.
Take time to give thanks to God for the atonement and salvation that we have in Yeshua
- Read one of the following epistles: Romans, Galatians, or Hebrews. If you are sharing the day with someone else, you can take turns reading chapters. Read without stopping to comment or discuss, but rather praise and give thanks.
- Or use the Psalms, such as Psalm 103, to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy, grace, and for His ways with you.
Take time to pray for the Congregation and the Body of Messiah in the Land
- Our natural tendency is to cool off in our relation with the Lord. This is a wonderful opportunity to return to Him with the whole heart: to the first love that you had when you began to walk with Yeshua.
- Pray for El Roii: For the Lord to bless her, to reveal Himself in her midst, to pour out His Spirit on each one, to give a hunger for His Word. Pray that He would give each member a real vision for the congregation, that He will unite her, bless her, and give us each the grace to work and build together.
- Pray for and bless the leadership.
- Pray for the Body of Messiah, that the Lord will purify her, removing the flesh and the spirit of the World from her midst. Pray that He will give the Body the grace to humble herself, and walk in lowliness of mind and heart before Him.
- Pray that the Lord will shed His light, and make His Word to rise in the congregations. Ask Him to remove all things that are not from Him: every error, every waywardness, every strange spirit and strange teaching, everything that takes the place of the Lord in hearts and the center of attention in the congregation.
Take time to pray for Israel
- The wonderful promises of the restoration of God's people and nation always include their return to Him in repentance. Pray that the Lord will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication by whom the eyes of our hearts begin to see Him, the One whom we have pierced.
- Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself on this day when so many in the nation turn, as far as they understand it, to God. There is so much religion and tradition involved, and this beclouds the heart's eyes. You can use such scriptures as Zechariah 12, Ezekiel 36-37, Jeremiah 30-33, as well as many others.
- Pray that the Lord will break the hearts of many in the Land with a revelation of His goodness, mercy, lowliness, and with the understanding that He is indeed the one and only Lamb of God; there is no other.
- Pray for salvation among different groups that the Lord brings to mind such as: students, soldiers, intellectuals, academics, your neighbors, simple working men and women, rabbis, yeshiva students, single parent families, youth, etc.
- Pray that the Lord will save His people from their physical enemies and those who would come to destroy them. The promises of God that speak of Israel's restoration include the specific promise to defend and save the nation.
Blessings from Jerusalem,
Ofer Amitai
Israel Prayer Center
RSS Feed