The following is shared with you to help you in your own praying and interceding.
These are prayer directions rather than prayer points.
We want to leave room for the Holy Spirit to lead you and your group to pray as you are led.
If you would like to receive these Prayer Directions regularly, or
If at any time you want to be removed from the list, please write us at:
ofer@israelprayercenter.org
****
A storm over us
This last week, we had a very violent storm in Israel. The forest right by our home looks like a war zone; trees have fallen, the paths are strewn with branches, everything seems so devastated. Our electricity was out for hours, and sitting in the dark with candles just added to the already apocalyptic feel of things.
How symbolic of the coronavirus storm that has broken over us.
You are no doubt amid your own country's struggle with the coronavirus. You are no doubt challenged in your faith and in sorting out how you should be responding, as a believer, to this enormous challenge that has come upon the world.
Here is how we have felt led:
The Believer's calling
Trust and believe
Psa. 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
That word 'be still' in Hebrew means to make your hands slack (HALOT) it would mean something like this: Don't use your human reasoning or strength, let it go and know the Lord. Rely on His wisdom and strength at this time, turn to him, and know that He is God. He promised to be exalted among the nations and in the earth.
In panic or sorrow and fear, one can be tempted to react out of one's own human understanding and strength. Read the whole psalm: God is more than sufficient, He is a very present help in trouble.
Seek His Face
Psa. 24:6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Psa. 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Psa. 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Psa. 24:9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Psa. 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
What a cry for the return of the Lord! This should be coming out of those who are God-seekers. It's time to turn away from the world. It's time to reassess our walk with God, it's time to turn to Him wholeheartedly, it's time to renew our commitment to the Word of God, to His ways, to His values. It is time to call on Him! Let us be preoccupied with Him and call on Him. It may be that we will not return to what we have considered 'normal' until now. Or if the world does return to normalcy, and we haven't changed our ways, then we have lost in a big way! I am not a prophet, nor claim any foreknowledge, I do believe though that the Word of God indicates that this is just a harbinger of things to come, perhaps worse.
Let us also Hope and wait for the Glory God rather than hope for the good in this world only. 1Peter 5:1, 1Peter 1:4-5
Be a praying priesthood
1Pet. 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are called to be a spiritual house for God. That is what God has desired for us to be. That is what His Body is meant to be. We are considered by the Lord a holy priesthood, that we might stand before Him for the world, for our nations, for His plan, and proposes to be fulfilled. That we might pray for Israel as a critical component to His end-time plan. This is not real to most of the church today at all.
Pray as never before:
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven". Lk 11:2
Pray through the whole Kingdom prayer, for yourself, for your nation, for the world at this time!
Ask the Lord to arise greatly in the earth, according to Psalm 46, proclaim these verses that express that deep desire and longing for the gates to be lifted and the King of Glory to come in.
Ask the Lord to complete His purposes on the earth.
Praying for Israel
God's purpose for Israel
All the scriptures point to an amazing fulfillment of God's promises to His people Israel. Ezekiel 36:23-38 are especially appropriate at this time. They are for today, and they do not mention devastation but blessing instead.
God's purpose is to bring life to the earth through Israel's restoration, Romans 11:15 As Israel's rejection of Messiah was reconciliation offered to the world, Israel' restoration will be an offer of LIFE for the world; to those who turn.
The offer from God is Life! Will you pray?
There is so much more, but this is at least a good start…. Perhaps we will be led to share more next time (who knows what will be next week?)
Praying for God's promises is vital!
The Word of God will be the ultimate factor in what God does on the earth. We should not be just preoccupied with the current situation (although we must pray, of course), but we should give the greater weight to the promises. It will be the fulfillment of the Word of God given as promises, that decided the way the world goes.
Please stand before the Lord for Israel during this coronavirus storm.
- The government is taking extreme measures, some of this out of fear that our run-down and neglected health care system will collapse if this plague goes unchecked.
- Please pray for the sick and dying
- Please pray for our medical teams who are on the front lines of the battle. They are without proper gear (Israel had to use the Mossad to get some testing kits!)
- Please pray a government will be formed! We have no real government in place yet!
- Please pray for our economy - it is being shattered by all of this
- Please pray our people will comply with instructions, we are notorious for not giving heed
Please pray for the Body of Messiah in the land
Our congregation has gone on to meet virtually on Zoom, and other means to keep praying together, hear the Word of God together, and to encourage each other.
These are the verses the Lord put on my heart as guidelines to what I should do:
1Pet. 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, …..1Pet. 5:3 …..but being examples to the flock;
We are to shepherd the flock (feed them with the Word), oversee (take care of them), and serve as an example. For this, we need God's help!
- Please pray for the leadership of the congregations, that we will be enabled and strengthened to be these things to God's people
- Please pray for wisdom, and inspiration to fulfill God's call
- Please pray for God's provision for the congregations
- Please pray for believers not to just mark time, or seek only entertainment but for grace to turn to God and seek His face.
- Please pray for those with small children who need extra help, strength, and energy to care for their kids.
- Please pray for those among the believers who have lost their jobs and those whose businesses are struggling.
- Please pray that we as a Body will be a light to our people; and a source of comfort to our neighbors, a blessing to those who are down, and depressed, and frightened.
Let us pray for one another in these difficult times, and let us above all take our place before God — this is the time, this is our call, this is the moment.
Blessings from Jerusalem,