We had a short devotional to encourage the intercessors 

Small and Hidden
Matt. 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matt. 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matt. 6:7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Sometimes we feel small, too small, at other times we feel we are hidden - wondering if God even hears our prayers. That is why we took a moment to take a devotional look at this subject.

Prayer meetings can be large, or small; they can be noisy or quiet, there is no set formula that God has set for successful intercession. Daniel was alone when He prayed towards Jerusalem, so was Abraham when he stood before the Lord for Sodom. Moses, Aaron, and Hur, were a threesome when they prayed during the battle against Amalek. Jehoshaphat stood before the Lord with the whole nation, when threatened with invasion. Jeremy Lanphier started a prayer meeting at lunchtime in NY on Sept. 23, 1857, with 6 people. Within six months the prayer meeting grew to 10,000 people. (read here). In 1949, Two old sisters (84 and 82, one of them blind) in the Hebrides got a burden to pray for their parish. Read here what happened. 

We may be hidden from man, feel small and perhaps doubt the significance of our small prayer group. Yes we may be hidden from man, but we are hidden not from God; he sees those who pray in secret. 

What is essential is for us to stand on the Word of God; His promises. These are an expression of His Will. We don't have to invent fancy prayers, nor do we have to change the subject every five minutes. If you followed the link to the story of the Hebrides, you would see that they stood before the Lord on one verse! I say this because we tend to be antsy, we get bored with standing on the same promise for long, or sitting before the Lord burdened with that one promise or verse or prayer. 

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Praying for Israel's restoration to God's ultimate goal: to dwell among us
Ezek. 37:21 “Then say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
Ezek. 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
Ezek. 37:23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezek. 37:24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
Ezek. 37:25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
Ezek. 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
Ezek. 37:27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Ezek. 37:28 The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ’ ”

When read devotionally, these verses astound in that they express the tender passion of God. He desires to create a people with whom He can dwell forever; this is what He wants -- to live with His people and be their God. He desires to be present in the midst. He desires to gather them to Himself, to cleanse and purify and sanctify a people for Himself. He is determined to gather His people, forgive His people, cleanse them, give them a new spirit, all so that they can be with Him. What do you call this? Holy Goodness, Holy Love, Abundant Grace. He loves us and wants us! I can't get over that. 

• We prayed into the I wills in these verses
• We prayed for God to gather His people (it is not up to them)
• We prayed for the turning of our people to God through Yeshua
• We prayed for the cleansing of our people in Yeshua
• We prayed for deliverances of God
• We prayed the reign of Messiah over our nation (its coming)
• We prayed for our people to be saved and given a new heart full of one love
• We prayed with longing for the Day God comes to dwell in the midst of His people.

Praying for the Body in the Land
Zech. 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain  In the time of the latter rain.  The LORD will make flashing clouds;  He will give them showers of rain,  Grass in the field for everyone.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown have this to comment on this verse:
The latter rain ripened the grain, as the former rain in October tended to fructify the seed. Including all temporal blessings; these again being types of spiritual ones. Though God has begun to bless us, we are not to relax our prayers. The former rain of conversion may have been given, but we must also ask for the latter rain of ripened sanctification.

• We asked God for "rain", for water from Heaven that the harvest might ripen
• We asked God to bless His Body with a true visitation of the real Holy Spirit; not for "show' but for sanctification.
• We asked God to sweep through the Body and remove all the offends Him (starting with us)
• We asked God to cleanse us (His Body) from anything that is not Himself. (see 2Cor 11:4)
• We asked God for the Word of God to rise within the Body with great power through preaching and teaching
• We asked Him to give discernment to His people, especially leaders that they might resist anything that is false and cling to what is of Him. 
• We asked the Lord to pour upon us the spirit of repentance (Zech 12:10), 
• We asked for a broken heart
• We asked the Lord to reveal Himself in the midst of the congregations

Thanks for praying with us. 

Blessings from Jerusalem,
​

Tensions are rising at our border with Gaza we may be close to a ground war
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are relentlessly flying a variety of airborne arson and explosive devices into Israel, causing hundreds of fires, millions of shekels in damage." (Times of Israel)  

Additionally, Hamas launched 45 rockets into Israel and Israel is warning of an impending ground operation if this continues; that may be what Hamas wants (to affect as much carnage and blood as possible.) Israel has no answer yet to the terror kites and balloons that are being launched from Gaza. 

• We prayed that as God gave Uzziah inventions to protect Jerusalem, so He will give Israel inventions and solutions to the kite and balloon terror. 
• We prayed for the completion of the anti-tunnel barrier Israel is building. It will keep the communities around Gaza safe. 
• We upheld God's sovereignty and authority over our war with Hamas. (see below)
• We prayed for Israel to receive the wisdom and the strategy it needs to deal with Hamas without walking into a trap.
• We upheld God's authority over the situation with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon (have you noticed how we are surrounded by so many nations that want to destroy us?)  

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Upholding God's Authority over our war with Hamas, Iran, Syria, Lebanon
Ex. 17:9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
Ex. 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Ex. 17:11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Ex. 17:12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Most interpretations of this passage, relate the holding up of Moses' hands to prayer. Although this may be so, there is more to it. In Ex 17: 9 Moses says, "I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand" The rod of God symbolizes God's authority. Moses is not just praying but is also upholding the authority and sovereignty of God over the battle. 

While God's power is His ability to do something, His authority is His right to do it. This right is not just right-by-might, but a moral right. He is morally right and just, in executing His will in the earth (which, in our view, includes upholding His plan for Israel and helping her defend herself against her foes. 

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The Trump Administration -- Jehu riding strong
President Trump continues to do things that the world says he can't, such as quitting the United Nations Human Rights Council, because of how it abuses Israel. This is unprecedented! You can read about it here...

We realize, that at least as far as Israel goes this is a special time and may not last forever. There is bound to be a backlash as the wrath of the nations grows, both against Trump and against Israel. 

• We prayed for the Lord will accomplish all that He wants to do at this time in the world arena as it pertains to Israel and the nations
• We thanked the Lord for the stand the US is taking at the UN, for Israel
• We prayed into the upcoming unveiling of the Middle East Peace Plan; especially regarding Jerusalem (there are rumors of a proposal to put it under international oversight).

The salvation of Israel and the Blood of The Cross
The main stumbling block for Jewish people when it comes to salvation is their need for atonement through the shed blood of Messiah; generally, the Rabbis have replaced prayer as a substitute for sacrifices (as there is no more temple). They use such verses as Hos. 14:2 to show that prayer has replaced the need for a blood sacrifice. How tragic this is, and how untrue!

• We prayed much for the removing of the veil (2Cor 3:14-14)
• We prayed for the Spirit of Grace and Supplication to all upon our people (Zech 12:10)
• We stood on the promise of God (given in the first person) "they shall see Me, whom they have pierced...they will mourn for Him...grieve for Him...."
• We prayed for the knowledge of the blood of Messiah to be a fountain of cleansing (Zech 13:1)
• We prayed for a mighty breakthrough and a release from the unbelief the nation is held by.
• We prayed for the reconciliation of Israel with her king, her God, her savior.

A revival of the Word in the Body of Messiah
True revival must be based on the Word becoming alive again in the hearts of people. Most people think of revival as an experience of power, but as we can see from the gospels, the people saw much power and many miracles but never turned to Yeshua in faith. Its the Word of God, administered by the Holy Spirit which brings conviction. In Nehemiah's and Ezra's time, the great revival was a revival that came through conviction as they heard the Word. "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law."  (Neh 8:9)

• We prayed that the Word would become real and alive to people
• We prayed for the Holy Spirit to come into the midst of the Body of Messiah using the Word as a sword to pierce the hearts of believers
• We prayed for the Word of God to be taken seriously by the Messianic believers.
• We prayed for the Word of God to be preached mightily and correctly from the pulpits of Israel's congregations
• We prayed for God to give a great hunger for the Word of God in the Body 
• We prayed for a deep desire of many in the Body to humble themselves to do the Word of God, to obey the word of God to cling to the Word of God

Blessings from Jerusalem,

The Two Cities  and the UN vote to condemn Israel 
In Isaiah 24-27, we read of two cities. One - Jerusalem or Zion of whom Isaiah says: " Is. 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:  “We have a strong city;  God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks."

The other represents the world system -- organized humanity. Of her, Isaiah prophesies:
Is. 25:2  For You have made a city a ruin,  A fortified city a ruin,  A palace of foreigners to be a city no more;  It will never be rebuilt. Is. 25:3  Therefore the strong people will glorify You;  The city of the terrible nations will fear You. 

The two systems or "cities" are engaged in a conflict to the end, which is why the UN behaves in the way it does. At its root, the conflict is a spiritual one; a battle against God Himself, over the earth.  And the solution? The rise of one is the doom of the other; God will prevail in Zion! The nations will glorify God, one way or the other. 

Praying for Israel - praying for God's city
Although the hypocrisy of the UN and the nations is maddening, (though America's behavior is very encouraging), it is much more effective and advisable to turn to the Lord and continue to pray for the fulfillment of His plan. There is no doubt of the outcome of such praying - Heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will never pass away till all is accomplished. 

Israel's most profound need is to be reconciled to God through His Son
Zech. 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

Although familiar to most, this is an incredible promise! Yeshua will reveal Himself -- ("they shall see me, whom they have pierced"),--  to our people!  God will give us repentance; God will give us a broken heart, God will give us a praying heart, a humble, contrite heart. And we shall see Him, our Messiah! 

• Lord we long for the day you open the heavens to pour out the Holy Spirit upon us
• Lord we call upon you, we cry to you to pour out the Spirit upon us now
• Lord we pray you will move in our land to grant us a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone
• Lord reveal Your Son to our people
• Lord blow by your Spirit on this nation and turn us to you again
• We pray for a deep repentance in Israel
• We pray for a turning of the whole nation to you
• We pray for your glory to be revealed
• Lord reconcile us to your Son

Most Jews in Diaspora are fast asleep and unaware God's plan to bring them home
Ezek. 39:27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations,

God has decreed that He will bring His people back to the land. They have no say or choice about it. Of course one can choose not to yield, but then that is a very unwise thing to do; that is what the Jews of Europe did before World War 2. (I thank God my grandmother did not ignore the signs of the times and left Europe in 1935)

• Father awaken your people to your purpose for them to bring them to the land
• Father, we pray you awaken your people to the danger they are in, in the countries where they reside.
• Don't let your people ignore the rising anti-Semitism in the countries where they live
• Father send emissaries to call your people back home
• We pray for a work of the Spirit on the hearts of the millions of Jews who are choosing to ignore the situation in their countries 
• Compel them to come, dear Lord
• Father, move on the Messianic Jews too, especially in prosperous western countries

Israel and the nations in the diplomatic arena
Is. 54:15  Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.  Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

Is. 54:17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper,  And every tongue which rises against you in judgment  You shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,  And their righteousness is from Me,”  Says the LORD.

Let the UN or any other countries assemble to condemn Israel and to weaken its hands; it is of no avail. Why? Because of the Lord, He has spoken. This assembly is not from, or of God, and they shall fail! 

• Lord, we pray for Israel's victory in the public arena. 
• We pray that you will give Israel an unassailable tongue to convict and show up the hypocrisy of the nations.
• Lord make the voice of Israel and the voice of the US a prophetic, sane and true voice
• Lord let Israel's and the US' voice be as a beacon of sanity and light calling the nations to turn from their madness
• Father bring the light of truth in the public arena, as a call to turn to Him, or at least as a witness to the nations. 

Israel's security needs
The verses quoted above are also for Israel's physical security. The nations around us have assembled against us, but it is not of the Lord, the BDS movement has "assembled" against us, but it is not of God. No military weapon, nor other kinds of weapons will succeed against Israel. Why? Because God is in the thing. God is in the restoration of His City, His people, and ultimately His kingdom.

Let us pray from these verses into the various issues an challenges facing Israel:

• Hamas in Gaza
• Hezbollah in Lebanon
• Iran in Syria
• BDS in the nations

Thanks for standing with us and for your faithfulness to the Lord and His Word.

Blessings from Jerusalem,