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Prayer and Intercession January 9, 2020

1/9/2020

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore, …you…are not consumed. (Mal. 3:6)

This new year has turned out to be not so new after all. The same old hatred, violence, and greed for power and dominance continue as usual. The same old mankind, ever falsely believing, and hoping in its own goodness to make things better, is hopelessly in need of God but does not know it. 

We are grateful that something else has not changed this year, God's sovereignty, God's faithfulness, and God's goodness. Thank God!

He continues as ever to unfold His plan for this earth. He will not leave the earth, or mankind for that matter, forever in the hands of man. He is working providentially to fulfill His purposes on the earth, and that also means Israel. He reigns! 

Thus says the Lord
For our prayers, we considered the ten "thus says the Lord" declarations in Zechariah 8. They unfold the amazing and marvelous power and goodness of God. You will have to read chapter 7 to understand the flow of the mind of God in this chapter, and you might as well read beyond chapter 8 to see where it is going. 

I am jealous for Zion (Zech 8:2-3)
God is "red hot" and determined deeply to return to His chosen abode to dwell amongst His people.


Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city (Zech 8:3) 
When was Jerusalem ever a faithful city? But this is her destiny. It is only possible when Messiah will rule in our midst. 


  • We deeply acknowledged our need of Messiah
  • We owned up to our unfaithfulness to Him, as a nation
  • We acknowledged our rejection of Messiah
  • We cried out to the Lord for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon Israel, in great conviction, in a tremendous, overwhelming flood of grace to bring about a brokenness of heart that acknowledges our rejection of our King and Savior
  • We recognized this has to be the work of God, and that our nation is unable to produce this turning by ourselves. We cried out to God, to do the impossible. (Zech 8:6)

Old men and old women,,, boys and girls will fill the streets… I will bring them from east and west 
(Zech 8:7)
Looking at Israel today, we may miss the wonder of its restoration. But looking back in history, even 150 or 200 years ago, the land was desolate, and the Jewish people were hopelessly and helplessly at the mercy of the nations, they resided in.
But there is more here. Jerusalem is called the Faithful City, the Holy Mountain. This means not only a people returned, but a people transformed! A holy people, a people, reconciled to their God in Messiah.  

  • We thanked God for the wondrous restoration of Israel to the land, it is all His Work, it is all His faithful fulfillment of His Word and Promise
  • We asked the Lord "turn us, and we shall be turned, restore us, and we shall be restored
  • We cried out to God for this wondrous work of the physical restoration of the Jewish people to their land
  • We prayed for these words to be fulfilled to the fullest, to fill the land with a transformed people who rejoice in their Messiah and King.
  • We asked the Lord to break through the bondage of a religion that relegates Yeshua to being a blasphemer instead of acknowledging His Messiahship
  • We asked the Lord to break through the culture bondage that has kept Yeshua out!
  • We prayed for a greater fulfillment yet, of the ingathering of His people to the land

As I have plotted disaster to you….so again I have plotted good to Jerusalem (Zech 8:14-15)
The word "purposed" (ESV) in those verses is a word that means to plot. Usually that word is used in a negative way, but here it is God who is plotting! And His purpose is to plot good! The sense is that 'with resourcefulness and discretion, God will (is) carry on His plan. It is all there, plain as can be for anyone to see, in scripture, but it is hidden from man who is blinded by his own wickedness and rebellion against the Lord and against His anointed (Psalm 2)

  • We prayed for the Lord's plots to be carried out in great success
  • We prayed for the goodness of God (in Messiah and in His cross) to overwhelm every evil plot of the enemy who is dead set on our destruction
  • We prayed for the providence of the Lord to guide His mercies and grace to their ultimate goal (Hab. 2:14)

We prayed briefly into the new situation regarding Iran in light of those verses. 
We prayed in light of His eternal plan, and in light of the prophecies of Zechariah.
We see God's sovereign hand in the affairs of the world, and in the Middle East in particular. The Lord may be "dragging" the US into the fray to help Israel handle Iran. Everything is too fresh right now to make assessments, and we all need the patience to see how things will develop. Meanwhile, we can continue to pray into the Will of God as it is made plain in the scriptures regarding all of these things, and then, we must wait for wisdom and light, rather than rush to predict or find a verse or two that might fit into the situation. 


We prayed briefly for the (third) coming elections in March.
​


Dear friends, the one most important thing that needs to change is you (and me). And the only real agent of change is the Lord. 

2Cor. 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Perhaps, this year can be a New Year for us after all, if we turn to Him, and if we behold Him, and if we yield to the Holy Spirit as He transforms us from the inside out, till we shine, transformed and conformed to His image.  (Romans 8:29) 

Blessings from Jerusalem,



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Prayer and Intercession December 20, 2019

12/20/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Rampant Idolatry in any nation leads to great loss both physically and spiritually. In Israel, it was more so, for they were God's people, they had the Word of God, which is light and truth, they had the true worship of the true and only God. This leads not only to a loss in the material and physical, such as lack of rain, but also the scattering of the people, confusion, etc.

Yet, Zechariah 10 describes a great victory over the enemies of Judah, a great in-gathering, and great blessing. How so?

It all hangs on the Lord.
Zech. 10:4 From him comes the cornerstone, From him the tent peg, From him the battle bow, From him every ruler together."

The cornerstone - Messiah, the ultimate Shepherd of Israel. He will not leave Israel in the hands of the he-goat shepherd, who only abused the people and led them astray.
The tent peg - "was a large peg inside an oriental tent, won, which hung most of its valuable furniture. On Messiah hang all the glory and hope of His people״ (JFB)
The battle bow -He will lead the battle and be its guarantee of success

Now Zechariah 10, was a prophecy (given around 520 BC) pointing to Judah's victory over the Greeks (Antiochus) at the time of the Maccabean revolt 167-160 BC). But it also speaks of the times ahead, as you can read for yourself in the rest of the chapters of Zechariah.

God does not bring these victories by Himself without human agency; rather it is by using His people as His Royal battle horse (Zech 10:3)

Four times does the text use the word 'gabar' in the Hebrew (Zech 10:5, 6, 7, 12). The root 'gabar' in Hebrew means: prevailing, overcoming. It is used here in the Piel stem, which indicates a causative action, i.e., God makes us overcomers.

We overcome because He is with us (Zech 10:5). We overcome because he will have mercy upon us (Zech 10:6). We will overcome because He will answer our prayers (Zech 10:6). This victory will be spiritual as well as physical. God will use Israel to fulfill His own purposes in the earth. Israel's survival, Israel's wars are not only her own but stem from the call of God and His purposes.

What should our response be? Prayer, of course.
We are called to it: 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.

Two kinds of rain are indicated here: a physical rain, and a spiritual rain of the Holy Spirit.

"Though at Pentecost there was a former rain on the Jewish Church, a latter rain is still to be looked for, when the full harvest of the nation's conversion shall be gathered in to God." (JFB)

Most Christians tend to think of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as a mere demonstration of power and miracles. Still, the first Pentecost was characterized by a massive conversion of thousands of people to faith in Messiah. The conviction of the Holy Spirit at the preaching of Peter was so strong and penetrating that 3000 people were 'cut to the heart' and turned to Messiah. (Acts 2:37)

This is our heart's desire; to see the move of God among our people, in the powerful conviction of the Holy Spirit, unto repentance and salvation by faith in Yeshua.

Praying into and from Zechariah 10
Rather than give you specific prayers, we will conclude this Prayer Directions bulletin, with a suggestion of topics. As we often say, our goal is not to put words in your mouth, but to stimulate you to look at the Word and find inspiration to pray according to it.

  • Pray for the visitation of the Lord in the Land
  • Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon this 'dry' Land
  • Pray for the revelation of Messiah to His people
  • Pray that the Lord will intervene in the leadership of the Land, especially as, for the third time in a year, we are heading into elections (in March.)
  • Pray for the Lord to gather His own scattered people. Zech 10:8 indicates it is the work of the Holy Spirit that will gather the people to the Land.
  • Pray for physical rain 
  • Pray for a deep visitation of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Messiah, to purify it, to bring it back to the Word, to bring deep conviction unto consecration and separation from the world spirit
  • Pray that the outcome of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Body will be a total fascination and preoccupation with Yeshua Himself. Psa. 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

May the Lord give you the grace to take time and ponder these things, find inspiration, and may you be given the strength to pour out your heart in prayer for these, His kingdom purposes.


Blessings from Jerusalem,




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Prayer and Intercession December 13, 2019

12/13/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy
Zech. 1:11 So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly."

Zech. 1:12 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?"

Zech. 1:14 So the Angel who spoke with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.

Zech. 1:16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it," says the LORD of hosts, "And a surveyor's line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem."'

Zech. 1:17 "Again proclaim, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, And will again choose Jerusalem."'"

Jer. 33:8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.

Jer. 33:9 Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.'

Ezek. 36:22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.

The scriptures quoted above make several things crystal clear:

Israel's restoration is pure mercy
It is interesting to note that the Angel of the Lord is sore displeased when he hears the report that all the earth is quiet and at ease. Why? It is because the nations are at ease while the work of God languishes. It is because the nations are happy when God's people and his work are defeated. They have no intention of ever coming under the sovereign God, nor care for His kingdom. 

But God is zealous and Jealous for His Work on the earth, and Israel is a big and central part of it. That is why we pray, that is why we stand before Him for His will to be done. It is for His name sake, for His glory, It is for our King that we fight in prayer; it is for His glory and Honor. We cannot ourselves be at ease while the World spirit flourishes and devastates the earth with its foulness

Mercy, in God, is not just a little favor done in momentary laps. Mercy is God's covenant love in action. Mercy means the whole work of redemption on the cross. Mercy means we are totally unworthy of this Grace. Mercy means that we have nothing. Mercy means that Israel's restoration is not based on her worthiness; she has not all of a sudden become righteous on her own. Mercy means that God has determined Israel's restoration in His sovereignty; God is working his sovereign will on the earth.

Mercy is not some passive force, it is the very Power of God, who is moved by compassion to accomplish redemption and salvation. The cross of Messiah is His mercy to us. O' what great mercy! Mercy means - all from God, none from ourselves. He will even supply the repentance (Zech 12:10) 

We prayed in this vein for our nation
  • Lord, we thank you for your covenant love
  • We thank you that although we have turned from you, you have not turned from us
  • We thank you that you are keeping your covenant promises although we broke your covenants
  • We cry to you for mercy, we cry to you for Grace
  • Turn us, and we shall be turned
  • Wash us, and we shall be clean
  • Give us your righteousness, and we shall then be righteous before you
  • Sanctify us unto yourself dear Lord
  • Break the Power of sin in this Land
  • Open the blind eyes to see our need for you
  • Remove from us the terrible darkness of religion
  • Shine your light into our hearts, dear Lord, 
  • Arise O' Lord, in thy great majesty and holiness — that we might fall at your feet
  • Lord. 
  • Cleanse us, pardon us, sanctify us for your self. Do it for your great name sake dear Lord.
  • We thanked the Lord for His move among the Jews of the Diaspora — it seems that 10's of thousands have gotten saved in the last few decades. 
  • We prayed for many more to be saved.
  • We prayed for the Diaspora Jews to awaken to their calling to come to their homeland.

We prayed for the nations (Jeremiah 33:9)
  • Lord make Israel a showcase — a place of a Great Display of who you are
  • Lord the nations are stirred up against your plan, against your purposes - Show them thy great Power, the Power of Salvation, of pardon, right here in this Land
  • Lord display the great Power and efficacy of your blood, its cleansing power, its power to redeem the vilest sinner
  • Father, the nations laugh at goodness, at mercy; they see it as a weakness. Morality is far from their hearts. Reveal thy might to them through the salvation of Israel.
  • Lord, it seems that though the nations will first greatly fear the display of your awesome and great goodness to Israel, they will, in the end, be attracted by it — they will come to Jerusalem to hear the Word of the Lord. 
  • O' Lord save the nations from their folly and hatred of you! 
  • Send your light into the nations that surround us, dear Lord. Reveal thy son, even in the strictest of regimes. 
  • Lord, you have set your Son as King on Mt. Zion (Psalm 2) We plead for His rule over all the earth. 

We prayed for the Body of Messiah
Hag. 1:12 Then Zerubbabel the Son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the Son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD.

Hag. 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

What a relief it is to read: "the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God." How rare is that! There is an amazing combination here: The preaching of Haggai, the move of God to stir the spirit of the people, and most amazing: His Presence! 

How we long for the presence of God, for the stirring of God in our midst. Yet, take note that Haggai's preaching was part of this. We must preach, and we must believe and hope in God, that He would stir up the hearts of the people to build His Body, to be His house.
  • We prayed into those verses that the Lord might stir up our hearts as a Body
  • We prayed for the Lord's Word to be preached mightily from the pulpits of the Land
  • We prayed for His presence in our midst. 
  • We asked for a mighty stirring of God's people in the Land. To awaken out of slumber, to awaken out of self purposes, to awaken from pursuing their own comforts and ease, to awaken to the need of building the House of God, of which we are living stones.

We prayed for Israel's 3rd elections (in less than one year) 
  • We pleaded with God for mercy in the matter of leadership (we are a bit envious of the decisive outcome of the elections in the U.K.)
  • God's whole heart for His ancient people is revealed in Jeremiah 31 — the Land is meant to prosper, and the people are meant to be happy and secure, rejoicing in the goodness of God. This, of course, will not be realized fully till we fully esteem and look to our Savior-King, but nevertheless, God has meant our return to the Land to be a blessed, happy thing.
  • We prayed for leaders that will be part of the means of fulfilling His promise. Both internally and externally). 
  • We acknowledged God's sovereignty in the earth and in Israel. We asked for Him to accomplish His purposes even though it may seem to us a chaotic situation.

Thank you for reading this prayer blog, thank you for praying. May you be encouraged as you comprehend the Grace of God upon you in Yeshua, your Savior and King.

Blessings from Jerusalem,










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Prayer and Intercession December 6, 2019

12/6/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Recently, I found an American Bible Society bookmark, from 1959, in one of the used books I bought some years ago. It is a Bible reading plan to be read between Thanksgiving and the end of the year; November 26 to December 31.
Looking closely at it, I saw that the readings for December 1-3 were from the book of Romans as follows: December 1 - Rom 8:1-17, December 2 - Rom 8:18-39, December 3 - Romans 12:1-21.

Romans 9 to 11 is skipped entirely; Israel’s restoration is skipped entirely, and its place in world redemption ignored, this by the Bible Society. How tragic!

This kind of thing is also true of the Jewish yearly cycle of daily readings, which include readings from the Torah, and from the prophets (and other portions.) Isaiah 53 is skipped over! One of the greatest prophecies that describes the Savior, is ignored! 

Skip over Yeshua? Can’t be done, it will do no good. Skip over Israel’s restoration, the same thing; it will do no good. 

Without Yeshua, there is no salvation, and God’s plan regarding Israel’s place in world redemption cannot be changed by man. Romans 9-11 describes some of the most profound things regarding the fullness of God’s eternal plan.

We read: Romans 9:1-8, Romans 10:1-4, Romans 11: 11-12, 15

Rom. 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,
Rom. 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;


Paul’s wish to be accursed for his own people if it could help in their salvation does not stem from some sentimental emotion. Rather from a profound recognition that those things that belong to Israel’s restoration are absolutely central to the fullness of God’s plan. Think of it; he was willing to be separated from Messiah forever if it would further God’s global and eternal plan.

O’ may we at least have a zeal to live for Him and give our lives in His service! How few of us actually have a revelation of God’s purposes on the earth and then give ourselves to intercede for its fulfillment!

Adoption speaks of sonship, and of a full and complete inheritance—the fullness of salvation, body soul and spirit! It is the fullness of God in His saved ones. Of this, Paul declares, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1Corinthians 2:9)

We prayed into the eternal purpose of God and cried for its completion
  • We thanked God for the cross of Yeshua, for the salvation we have in Him
  • We thanked God for Yeshua who became accursed for us and for His eternal plan that God may fulfill His will on the earth
  • We prayed for the fullness of salvation to be fulfilled in the earth and for Israel to be restored that those things may come to pass.
  • We were moved by the realization that God is moving with a purpose to fulfill His purpose. “You have a purpose, Lord, you have a plan. We thank you for it and ask for it to come to pass, as you have spoken.” 
  • Lord, you put in Abraham’s heart hope for a son, for an heir, and he did not give up believing and hoping and waiting upon your Word to be done. Birth within us the same expectant faith and desire for the fullness of your Son’s reign in our lives 

We prayed for Israel’s restoration
Rom. 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
  • O’ Lord, what vanity! How futile is the pursuit of establishing our own righteousness! How horrific it is that we, as a nation, have not submitted to the righteousness of God
  • We cry for our people, secular and religious, we are always correcting each other, teaching each other, always trying to be the ‘right one.’  
  • Lord, Israel is so full of self-righteousness, how odious this must be to you!  
  • Open our eyes, Lord! Let us see that all our righteousness is as filthy rags. 
  • Let a deep conviction come upon us as a nation, by the holy spirit, of our need, of our nakedness before you. 
  • Lord, open the eyes of our nation to see the gift of God in Messiah as you have been offering it for two thousand years now. 
  • Let a great humbling of ourselves come at the sight of you, the one who was crucified. 
  • Thank you, Lord, that you have loved us with an everlasting love in spite of this folly.
  • Thank you, Lord, that you keep your covenants and are faithful to them
  • We thank you that your plan cannot fail! Because you will keep and fulfill all your promises. It cannot fail! Isaiah 49:13-16

We prayed for the Church
  • Lord, Paul wrote the gentiles because they have a role in the fulfillment of your end-time purposes. 
  • Lord bring the Church to an understanding, light, godliness that she may fulfill the role you have called her to!
  • May the Church understand your Word and respond to the altar call of Romans 2:1-2
  • Thank you for those in the Church who know, who intercede, who teach without apology those things
  • Lord, remove the opinionated attitude of the Church that is informed more by the media than the Word of God
  • Lord let the Church do mercy as it is called to in Romans 11:30-31 (See the ESV for a very good translation of these verses)
  • Lord, the Church is so filled with false teachings, bring light dear Lord. 
  • Let the Church come back to the Word, let the Word become central in it preaching
  • Let the Church desire, like Paul, to get a hold of your heart and lend itself for the fulfillment of your will in the same passion


We prayed for the formation of a government in Israel
We are just a few days before the time to form a government runs out, and new elections are declared. Avigdor Liberman has promised that his party will make some fateful decisions during this coming weekend, all to avoid the 3rd election. 

The whole thing points to the rather awful condition in which our political system finds itself. It also points to the deep philosophical differences and visions regarding Israel's character and future.
  • We thanked God for His eternal plan, using Romans 9:4-5
  • We thanked God that His Word cannot be broken
  • We thanked God for His promises regarding this land and its role in the world
  • We prayed for God to move sovereignly to align Israel with that role
  • We prayed that God will give us a government that will even unwittingly carry out His will for this time
  • We prayed that He will provide us with a government that will fit His own prophetic time 
  • We prayed for the Lord to move and give us governors after His own heart, and that will be aligned with Him. 
  • Egos -Lord deflate egos, bring down the pride of man
  • Remove the impasse 
  • Lord give us a government that will do much good for this country, according to your promises

Blessings from Jerusalem,



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Prayer and Intercession November 29, 2019

11/29/2019

0 Comments

 
Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Zech. 8:6 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.

Divine reversals
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the siege of Samaria in the time of Jehoram, son of Ahab and Jezebel (about 852-841 BC). See 2Ki 3:1-3

The Syrian armies besiege Samaria. Things get desperate, and some people in that idolatrous city, take unspeakable measures to assuage their hunger (See 2Ki 6:25-29). Upon seeing this, the king resolves to kill Elisha, the prophet, who is also in the city.

He sends a servant to Elisha, saying, “Surely this calamity is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (2Ki 6:33) Elisha advised the king to repent and wait on God. Jehoram says: “I’ve had enough, if God can cause such evil upon us, why should I wait upon Him?”

How superficial was Jehoram’s repentance! He wore sackcloth under his royal clothing (2Ki 6:30), but his heart was untouched. (How outward can our repentance be sometimes!)
Elisha, not known to be a man of many words, says to him — “tomorrow, there will be a lot of food!” That is such an outlandish declaration that it is met with unbelief by the king's assistant, “ if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” (2Ki 7:2)

You know the rest of the story. A total divine reversal unfolds within less than 24 hours. The army besieging the city became the means of the abundant supply of food. (And riches to boot.)

What was the key to this divine reversal?
While the king was busy walking on the walls, fretting and worrying and not truly repenting, Elisha was waiting on the Lord! He was sitting before the Lord with the elders of the city. No doubt that included prayer, intercession, but also waiting, and submitting to the pain of waiting on the Lord and for the Lord, till He speaks! 

The situation was grave, no doubt, but it called, not for action and fretting, but for seeking for, and waiting on God!

The point of all this
Israel is in a very tough situation right now, both within and without. There is a crisis of leadership; the enemies of Israel are almost at the door. This time calls for waiting on God. We all have opinions and advice for God, which many times we express as prayer, but what we need is to get a hold of His Word, and wait on Him over it. Not once has the Lord warned me, “Ofer don’t pray your opinions to Me!”

He is Wonderful
Is. 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The word “Wonderful” is from the same root in Hebrew as the word “difficult”, Zech 8:6. We can say it this way. Our God, can meet every difficult thing, by doing something Wonderful, and reverse every difficult thing to bring us into a broad place. (See psalm 118:5)

So we are facing some difficulties

Difficulties within
1. No clear leadership in Israel at this time, non-functioning government. We are possibly heading for a third election, the first two having failed to produce a government.
2. Emerging crisis of the Secular and Religious. Read 
here

Difficulties without 
Iran threatens Israel in both word and deed. It continues its effort to reach Israel’s borders physically, continues to supply Hamas and Hezbollah, who are on our borders. The goal is clear: “Nothing will be left of Israel.” Read 
here

Difficulties in the Body
The wonder of it all is that there is a Body of Messiah in the Land again! What a wonder. Yet, being a young body of believers, we lack Godly leadership; those who know the Lord deeply, those who have had a long history of walking with the Lord, those who know His Word and preach it straight; the whole counsel of God. 

We are inundated with strange teaching. Too, we are tempted to fit into society, tempted to go after the world, tempted to make Yeshua manageable and “safe.” We are pressed by apathy when it comes to living an all-out life for Yeshua. Individualism (putting oneself at the center instead of cooperating to build the Body with Yeshua as the top and center), hinders us from becoming a House for God, to dwell in. 

So while all of these things besiege us, we are trusting for God to bring a divine reversal by fulfilling His Word.

Zechariah 8 has been such a place of waiting and praying and seeking God. Here are some of the main points that we are waiting on God for. 
  1. God will meet the need with great zeal and fury! Zech 8:2
  2. God will come! Zech 8:3
  3. God will remove all of the lies and corruptions to make Israel a place of truth! Zech 8:3
  4. God will cause Israel to remain safe. Zech 8:4-5
  5. These promises are NOT too difficult for God! Zech 8:6
  6. God will save Israel through Messiah (truth and righteousness) Zech 8:8
  7. God will cause the Body to know Him in Truth and in His Righteousness (we will know the crucified Messiah deeply and walk in Truth and Righteousness.) Zech 8:8
  8. God will cause Israel to inherit in peace! Zech 8:12
  9. God will cause Israel to be a blessing once again to the nations (incl. Iran) Zech 8:13
  10. God is determined to do good to Israel. Zech 8:14-15
  11. There will be justice, truth, and right judgment in the Land. Zech 8:16-17
  12. There will be spiritual integrity and wholeness within the Body of Messiah Zech 8:26-17
  13. The nations will come to Israel to seek the Lord together with us (Lebanon? Iran? Syria? Impossible? Difficult? Yes, but not for God Zech 8:20-22

Please take time to read and meditate on this chapter, until it becomes real to you and pray. You’ll be glad you did. And we will be happy that you prayed together with us.

Abundant blessings from Jerusalem,






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Prayer and Intercession November 21-22, 2019

11/22/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Is. 3:4  “I will give children to be their princes,  And babes shall rule over them."

This week will be a week to remember in Israel. Two momentous events have revealed a deep crisis in leadership.

One was the failure of any leader to form a government in Israel, for the second time, after two elections. The second announced on the same day, is the decision to take our prime minister to court over allegations of corruption and bribery.

The verse quoted above is what came to us as we were praying on Wednesday. That was before the bombshell announcement of the AG of the decision to indict our PM.

Two statements. One regarding the failure to form a government, the other is of the AG regarding Netanyahu's indictment.

Our president, Mr. Rivlin, rebuked the politicians saying:
"Let there be no illusion, this politics of disruption has to stop," said, telling political leaders: "Your political fate is no more important than the old person in hospital, than the children in special education, than the victims of violence in the Arab sector, than the residents of the south – Jewish, Arab, ultra-Orthodox and secular – who need protection from rocket fire, and than the women who need shelter. Over these next 21 days, do not be blocs or parties. Each one of you should look to their conscience and answer one question: What is my duty to the State of Israel." (1)

Attorney General's statement regarding the decision to indict Netanyahu:
"In the prime minister's affairs, I found there was evidence pointing to grave actions allegedly being committed, which carry a reasonable likelihood of conviction," Mandelblit said. "For this reason, it is my duty by law to indict. It is not a choice. It is an obligation. Thus it is in the case of any citizen, and thus I acted here.

"Law enforcement isn't optional. It's not a question of politics. It's a duty incumbent upon us…. We were not swayed by slander from all sides, and acted only to enforce the law," he said, referring to criticism from Netanyahu supporters who have accused prosecutors of conducting a witch hunt to unseat the prime minister."
 (2)

To understand the next phase of the political process to form a government, read at the following link:  jpost.com 

Surprisingly, we were felt upbeat when we began to pray.

Thankfully, the destiny of Israel is not up to our leadership nor even up to our people. It is in the hands of God. Therefore we were in an upbeat mood to turn to God and turn to His Word in our praying. 

We were led to the following verse as we began to pray:
Jer. 32:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

The sense of the words "too hard" is: "Is there anything that is beyond my power? Anything beyond my reach or ability or wisdom to do?"

If you want to enjoy the full impact of this verse, read Jeremiah 32-33. Israel's salvation and restoration is not a fruit of any worthiness, but of God's mercy and faithfulness to His covenant! Thank God! Is it not so with you?

The whole thing is centered, you will find, on the work of Messiah! (Jeremiah 33:14-16) On Him, all the promises of God hang, and in Him, they are Yes and Amen! And it is all for His Glory! That is why we can be upbeat in the midst of a problematic situation Israel finds itself in.

We prayed for our government
  • Arise O' Lord, in your sovereignty and make an executive decision regarding our government
  • Lord, you can move without needing anyone's agreement, or voting, in matters of state. You are our King. Thankfully we don't get to elect you, and you have complete sovereignty in the Land.
  • Choose our leaders O' Lord, put together - through providential means, the government you want for this Land.
  • You are a compassionate God; your desire is to take care of your sheep, and to secure your flock's safety. Move O' God mightily at this time.
  • Save us from religious coercion dear Lord, save us from fanaticism and fanatics who will assuredly lead us to disaster
  • Expose corruption, deal-making and any other corrupt thing hindering the formation of a unity government, or a government that will be good for all the people, not just sectors of it
  • Show your loving-kindness to us, dear Lord, give us statesmen who are true leaders, mature and visionary, not gripped with their own welfare or promotion.
  • Lord, you promised good shepherds, we stand before you on this promise and ask you to bring it to pass.

Visit your people - praying for Israel's salvation
Ex. 4:31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

There is always a communication of Grace and Mercy in God's visitations when it comes to His people (you too). Within God's move, there was a communication of His deep love and understanding of their affliction. It is this that made them bow in worship. It is this that brings us down on our face to worship Him who has loved us. It is this that gives us a desire to break away from our sins. Yea, a longing for Him
  • Hear the cry of your people dear Lord, those who are bowed under the burden of sin
  • Visit your people again, as you did in Egypt and lead us out of bondage
  • Communicate this Grace and Kindness, dear Lord, to your people. Show them you understand their sorrows and their bondage
  • Create in your people a longing for you dear Lord
  • Show them your compassion by revealing the cross — your sufferings for them, in order to save them

Visit our enemies — Praying for protection
Is. 24:21 It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will punish (visit) on high the host of exalted ones, And on the earth the kings of the earth

God will deal with all the forces that come against His work and agenda in the earth, human and not human. (The word "punish is the same word as "visited" in Exodus 4:31, see also Isaiah 10:12, Isaiah 13:11)
  • Lord, save us from our enemies who hate us without a cause, those who have day and night only meditate on our demise and destruction.
  • Lord, you promised to be a wall of fire around your nation. We cling to that as a great hope and plead with you to be that to your people. Be our "Fire Dome" O' Lord
  • We pray that you will send your light among our enemies, to display your Glory and save them from the darkness they are in, especially the citizens of Iran who are suffering greatly under the regime
  • Lord save us from our enemies that we might serve you without fear (Luke 1:68-75)

Visit your Body - Praying for the completion of the "House" - Luke 1:68-75
  • Lord, we beg you to make Yeshua The Center of every congregation in the Land
  • Lift Yeshua high dear Lord in the Body of Messiah and make Him very precious to every believer
  • Lord, we plead with you that you will cause your Word to arise greatly in the Body of Messiah
  • Be zealous for your Body, dear Lord, and visit us. We need you, we need the fire of your holiness, the fire of your love, the fire of zeal in our hearts towards you
  • We want to be alive to you and dead to the world O' God. Grant it we plead
  • Judge and separate from us all that offends you in the Body
  • Let us build according to the Pattern, according to the Corner Stone
  • Help us not to compromise our faith with the world, our self-desires
  • Build us to be your dwelling place, make us a house of God
  • Give us a heart for you dear Lord, only for you
  • Grant us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only
  • Teach us your ways and grant us the surrender to follow you with the whole heart

May the Lord bless you and reignite in your own heart a great fire of love for Him, for His Word and for His ways.

Blessings from Jerusalem,


_________________
1. https://ejpress.org/israeli-president-reuven-rivlin-strongly-deplores-politics-of-disruption-in-failure-to-form-government-new-elections-in-march/

2. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-announces-netanyahu-to-stand-trial-for-bribery-fraud-and-breach-of-trust/

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Prayer and Intercession November 13-15, 2019

11/15/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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 Cease Fire has been reached
A Cease-Fire has been agreed on between Islamic Jihad and Israel.

Here are the conditions:
  • Islamic Jihad will cease launching rockets into Israel, Israel will cease its counter attacks
  • Israel will cease with targeted assassinations of armed Islamic Jihad members
  • the IDF will not use live fire against demonstrators during the Friday demonstrations. Islamic Jihad will keep the protests peaceful.

The toll of the two-day fighting:
  • 34 Palestinians have been killed, 25 of them were terrorists
  • 450 rockets were fired at Israel. 90% were intercepted

Two articles for those who desire a deeper understanding and analysis:
  • 1. The Gaza strike and what it means: click here
  • 2. The unprecedented security threats Israel is facing: click here

Our Intercessions
Wednesday was the second day of the battle, so we kept praying regarding the conflict, as well as for Israel as we usually do. We read Psalm 47, and Psalm 67

Psa. 47:0  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
Psa. 47:1   Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!  Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
Psa. 47:2  For the LORD Most High is awesome;  He is a great King over all the earth.
Psa. 47:3  He will subdue the peoples under us,  And the nations under our feet.
Psa. 47:4  He will choose our inheritance for us,  The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.     Selah
Psa. 47:5  God has gone up with a shout,  The LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Psa. 47:6  Sing praises to God, sing praises!  Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
Psa. 47:7  For God is the King of all the earth;  Sing praises with understanding.
Psa. 47:8  God reigns over the nations;  God sits on His holy throne.
Psa. 47:9  The princes of the people have gathered together,  The people of the God of Abraham.  For the shields of the earth belong to God;  He is greatly exalted.

Psa. 67:0 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
Psa. 67:1 God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
Psa. 67:2  That Your way may be known on earth,  Your salvation among all nations.
Psa. 67:3  Let the peoples praise You, O God;  Let all the peoples praise You.
Psa. 67:4  Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!  For You shall judge the people righteously,  And govern the nations on earth.  Selah
Psa. 67:5  Let the peoples praise You, O God;  Let all the peoples praise You.
Psa. 67:6  Then the earth shall yield her increase;  God, our own God, shall bless us.
Psa. 67:7  God shall bless us,  And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.


We took time to declare that the Lord is Most High--this does not mean that God is a little higher than everybody else; He is Supreme. God is in a class of His own! How can He be compared with the creation?! Psalm 113 says that God has to humble Himself to look into the heavens (Psalm 113:4-6,) yet He lifts up the poor out of the dust. How wondrous is our God!  He is awesome, meaning that people are struck with awe and fear when they see the mighty works of God in the earth! Psalm 47:3, but also Jeremiah 33:9
  • Lord you are supreme, there is no one like thee in the heavens
  • You are before all, and above all, you are the beginning and the end - you are awesome!
  • Lord, you have chosen this nation and people for your own purposes, and many are the nations that oppose your purposes. Be thou exalted O Lord in the situation
  • Lord use this situation to bring glory to your name — fulfill your purposes despite the terrific opposition to them
  • Lord let the situation serve as a catapult to the formation of the government you want for this nation
  • Rule over our enemies, take their diabolical wisdom from them, let the darkness they have chosen to imbibe, turn to confusion
  • Yours are the shields of the earth dear Lord, protect your people

We prayed for Israel in the light of Psalm 47 and Psalm 67
“God will be gracious unto us, and He will bless us and will shine His face upon us.” So goes the verse in Hebrew. It is an emphatic declaration of faith—our covenant God will fulfill what He has promised. His grace will win the day in Israel and for Israel. 

O’ what a shining this will be! The Glory of God shining in the Face of Messiah, beaming His Holy Grace, and Holy Love, and Holy Judgment on sin and darkness as it appears at the cross. (Rev. 5:6 A Lamb as though it had been slain!)
  • Lord shine your face upon Israel. Surely this is the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Yeshua the Messiah! Shine, dear Lord, shine the glory and beauty of you Son upon this nation.
  • Be gracious unto us dear Lord, destroy our self righteous by the revelation of Yeshua crucified
  • Shine the Light of Messiah into the heart of darkness this nation dwells in (Isaiah 9:2)
  • Lord, you are the God of the “again”, you will gather us again, cleanse us again, covenant with us again (the New Covenant in Yeshua), sanctify us again, and best of all, you will come to dwell in our midst again!

We prayed for the nations in this light
Especially those nations around us, who do not rejoice but rather hate the people of God and the plan of God.

Note  in Psalm 67 the effect Israel’s salvation will have on the nations, they will know His way; His salvation. Don’t fail to note this simple and wonderful truth: God’s blessing and saving Israel, will make His salvation known in the earth, again. (The world has rejected God and the whole Judeo-Christian ethic, as a myth, and have turned to darkness as their light and understanding.)

“The nations will praise you, O God, the nations will all praise you.” The earth will yield her increase! God will get the harvest He has desired.
  • Lord, let Israel become a place of the shining of your glory, beaming your grace, your salvation into the nations that surround us.
  • Lord, those nations that are around us have made it their goal and purpose to destroy your work in the land, to destroy the very people who will be the means of blessing to them. Shine your truth, your light, into those nations. Let them see the power of your grace toward Israel and let them turn. Shine, dear Lord, into Gaza, into Syria, into Iran, Into Lebanon and Jordan, into Egypt and Saudi Arabia
  • Lord you are the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38), send laborers to those darkened nations and bring Your Light

We prayed for the Body of Messiah in this light
  • Lord make us a place of the shining of your face, to Israel
  • Trim our wicks, fill us with oil, burn within us and through us dear Lord
  • Shine your truth in our midst, let us live out the Word unto you and to one another
  • Let us be good ground for the seed of your Word dear Lord, not hard ground, not shallow ground, not thorny soil, but a good soil that you might receive the full grain in the head (Mark 4:28)
  • Prepare your body for the harvest that is surely coming, dear Lord
  • Prepare the Church in the Arab nations likewise, dear Lord

Thank you, dear friends, for sticking with us in prayer. May the Lord Himself shine His face upon you, revealing Messiah to you in ever deepening ways. May His light upon you be a source of great blessing and great joy, and may you delight in Him as your chief joy and bring Him much glory.

Blessings from Jerusalem,
















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Prayer and Intercession November 7, 2019

11/8/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Zech. 4:6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
Zech. 4:7 "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!"'"

Zech. 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zech. 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be "from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'

Zech. 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside (literally - neglected); For I am the LORD their God, And I will hear them.
Zech. 10:7 Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
Zech. 10:8 I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased.


We dwelt on and prayed from the verses above. We were gripped by the lowliness of God, the lowliness of Messiah in Zechariah 9. There is the picture of the King riding towards His certain death on the cross. We will say more about that later.
We prayed for the urgent need in Israel for the formation of a government. It is essential for the running of the country and for its protection. After two elections, we still do not have a government! This is dangerous and irresponsible!

Zechariah 4:6-7 Flatten out
In these verses, the Word of the Lord assures Zerubbabel that the Lord will flatten out all opposition to his governing, by the Holy Spirit. No might or power or scheming of man will be able to resist God's Spirit in its purpose to restore His people (who must have proper government.) The Word of the Lord then commands all opposition and resistance to this restoration, to become a plain, to flatten out! The Hebrew is utterly direct and commanding. Notice the supplied words, italicized, in the verse. Take them out, and you get the gist of the verse: "to a plain!" Is the command, its an order! Flatten! That's it, just that. Just like you would command a dog, for instance, by saying, "sit!"

  • We asked the Lord to speak to this obstacle preventing the formation of a government
  • Remove every barrier, dear Lord, nothing is impossible for you!
  • Lord bring down every prideful thing in the current leadership that they might cooperate with Gantz for the well being of this nation
  • Do your Will, regardless of what seems possible or not, surprise the analysts and the know-it-alls, after all, you have never abdicated your throne
  • Lord involve yourself in these matters, just as you did in the time of Zerubbabel
  • Lord, your Will is specific down to smallest details. You have a will about matters, you know what you want here in the Land - bring your Will to pass dear Lord.
  • Let your Will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven. Lord those things that have been decided in Heaven let them come to pass now!
  • Push your own agenda for Israel, Lord, override the will of man! 
  • Lord, please cut through the manipulations of men, the conniving and self-plans, and do great mercy to our people. 
  • Lord rule thou for the sake of your little ones, the weak and the powerless. Please don't let the strong and 'mighty' among men, shape the country for their own benefit. Rather let all that is done conform to your Word and promises.
  • Lord, please protect Israel during this time and let nothing that is decided militarily be decided for political expediency. 
  • Have mercy upon us dear Lord, we cry to you to remove the "mountain" of man's Will, desires, and plans, and make it a plane, where the nations can move forward


Zechariah 9:9-10 Please come near to me
It's not the riding of a donkey that makes Yeshua lowly, but His death on a cross for us, for His people. And while His second coming is as a Great King and Judge, coming to rule the earth, nevertheless, His revelation to Israel will be as the Lowly, Savior King, who was pierced by us."They shall see me, whom they have pierced," He said. (Zechariah 12:10)

Can you imagine what happened at the moment of revelation when Joseph spoke to his brothers? That moment must have been one of total disorientation, perhaps confusion, till their brains came around to the reality that this man was their brother! Thus it will be when Israel's eyes are opened and in that instant, 2000 years of blindness, history, opinions, wrong knowledge, will be wiped out by truth and reality. In a moment, reality will hit, "this is our own brother Yeshua, our King and Savior." "I am Yeshua, your brother," He will say.

"But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed (terrified) in his presence.And Yeshua said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Yeshua, your brother, whom you sold…." (a light paraphrase of Genesis 45:3-4)

  • Lord, the reality of these verses bring great joy to us. Indeed they do, at the thought of you're soon revelation to your people
  • How lowly of you to bear 2000 years of misunderstanding and maligning of your name by us, your people, have mercy upon us and open our eyes to see you
  • Shine your light upon us, dear Lord, in your light we shall see light
  • This is your Will, your promise, and your desire — to reveal yourself and finally gather your people under your wing. 
  • Pour your Spirit, dear Lord, upon this nation (Isaiah 44:3)
  • Lord, let thy Word, wherever it is read in the Land, penetrate the darkness of human thinking and give Light of understanding, revealing Messiah in all of scripture

Zechariah 10:6-8 I will whistle
When I was growing up, many families in Israel had a family whistle: usually a snippet of a song or some melody. This was handy in a crowd if we lost sight of each other. Such was the case when we visited the World Exhibition in New York in 1964. I got separated from my parents and brother. It was quite terrifying, but just as fear began to seize my heart, I heard that familiar whistle, oh the sound of that whistle! I answered with the same whistle, and was soon reunited with my family; we found each other.

What will God's whistle be? Surely it will have in it the sound of Mercy, Grace, the Love of God. The Holy Spirit will blow on our people. (See Zechariah 10:7), and the old, now forgotten sound of God's voice will call His people again. O' for that sound of God! The effect is wonderful — the Jewish people will be drawn to their Land and to their God, in Messiah.

  • Lord, we pray you will "whistle" for your people
  • Lord, we pray for that ancient voice of God to be heard again in the Land
  • Lord, we pray you will call your people to come Home - to the Land, and Home to You as well! Psalm 90:1  Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
  • Thank you, Lord, for the miraculous ways you brought your people back (from Egypt, from Babylon, and even in the beginning of the last century,) we pray for your hand to do mighty things in bringing your people back again. 
  • Lord, not one good thing of all you promised failed (Joshua 21:45)
  • Soon, Lord, soon. Please, draw your people back
  • It is in your heart to bring your people back, and ultimately to yourself
  • Lord give us the government that will facilitate Aliya of all Jews, whether reformed, conservative or Messianic

Thank you for praying with us for the things of God, may you experience His Word being fulfilled in your own life.

Blessings from Jerusalem,



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Prayer and Intercession November 1, 2019

11/1/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Zech. 1:18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns
Zech. 1:19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" So he answered me, "These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
Zech. 1:20 Then the LORD showed me, four craftsmen.
Zech. 1:21 And I said, "What are these coming to do?" So he said, "These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it."

Zech. 2:5 For I,' says the LORD, "will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"
Zech. 2:10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD.
Zech. 2:11 "Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.


Although Zechariah prophesied in 520 BC, much of what he prophesied pertains to the last days. His is one of the most messianic books in the Bible, filled with prophecies about the Messiah.

In the portions quoted above, we see that God will send "engineers" to break the power of the nations that have so resisted His plans and purposes, especially as they pertain to Israel. This is so amazingly important for us to know, believe, and pray. There is fierce resistance to God's work on the earth.

The greatest of all promises, it seems, is God's promise to dwell in the midst of His people. With that, we see His wonderful promise that the nations, those who so opposed God regarding Israel's restoration, will actually be joined to the Lord. Israel's restoration spells the destruction of the veil cast over all people (Isaiah 25:7).

All of Zechariah 2 is wonderfully encouraging, we prayed through portions of it

Israel's reconciliation and restoration to the Lord Zechariah 2:4-5, 10
  • Lord we cry out to you to return to this Land and nation
  • Lord be Israel's Glory again, be Israel's King
  • Lord, we pray for your return to your people
  • How can you be our Glory if we as a nation resist you?
  • We pray you will break down the resistance of Israel to Yeshua
  • We pray you will come into the midst of Israel with great authority and power
  • We pray you come as a great King, our great King--Rule thou in the midst of your people
  • We pray you will remove the veil cast over our 'national' eyes
  • Open the heavens dear Lord and send the Holy Spirit as great Fire, Light, and Grace
  • Open the heavens dear Lord and let us hear your voice, not as in Sinai, but as from Calvary
  • Open the heavens dear Lord and grant us the Spirit of Repentance, the Spirit of Supplications at the sight of the Great Grace of the Cross
  • Lord, you are not waiting till we repent,for without your grace coming to us first we will never even think of it. You are only waiting till the set time to grant us repentance. Let it be now O' Lord, let it be now!
  • Lord, we do sing and rejoice at the prospect of seeing you in the midst of the nation 

The blessing it will be for the nations Zechariah 2:11
  • Lord Israel's restoration though much resisted, will be a huge blessing to the nations that sit in darkness and are ruled and moved by the enemy to resist you.
  • Send those "engineers" who will break the power of the nations, and the forces that rule them so they might be freed from the enemy
  • We know Lord that the fight is not over and that the breaking of the power of the nations will probably be through much bloodshed and evil; nevertheless, we trust in you and dare to pray this verse to you
  • Glorify your name in Israel, Glorify your name in the earth — come Lord and free us from "Babylon's" rule
  • Primarily we are thinking of the nations around us who are so deeply held in the grip of evil and darkness. Free them dear Lord by the power of your right hand (Yeshua, and Him crucified.) 

We prayed for the Body of Messiah in the Land
  • Lord, you promised to dwell among your people, how much more should you inhabit your Body — Your House.
  • Lord come powerfully to the Body of Messiah, throw out all things that offend you, and hang on the door of the Body a sign: God lives Here! 
  • Lord cleanse us that we might be a priesthood (see how Joshua the high priest had to be purified to be made fit to minister before the Lord — Zechariah 3)
  • Lord fill our congregations with your Glory and Presence and the Word of God
  • Lord awaken your Body in the Land
  • Lord restore a passion for the Word of God in the Body
  • Lord bring your people in the Body to know you in the deepest possible way — through the cross, through the New Covenant (See Jeremiah 31:34)
  • Lord we just need you not programs
  • Lord, we desire that you might search us out, in every area of our lives, in every 'nook and cranny' and find us out. 
  • Lord, we want to meet you in every room of our hearts, we open to you and beg you to come in. 

We prayed for the formation of the government in Israel
We may be facing third elections if Benny Gantz from the Blue and White party is unable to form a government. Gantz's declared intention is to form a unity government, which seems to us to be the best solution for Israel's current and multiple challenges and problems.
  • Lord we pray you will bless those efforts to form a unity government
  • Lord we pray you will remove all obstacles, opposing these efforts.Is. 42:16 "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know…. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places (stubborn resistance in the Hebrew) into plains…. "
  • Lord give all the parties involved a shaking so that they may be shaken out of their' navel-gazing' selfish goals to cooperate for the good of the nation
  • Lord, accomplish your purposes for this country regardless of man.
  • Lord, we must have a government and a good one at that. Give us a government that will be a blessing and a mercy to this country
  • Lord deliver us from corruption in the government 
  • Lord restore some integrity to any new government that you choose to build
  • We pray you will intervene and shed light on all the manipulation that is being exerted in media, in backroom negotiations

Thank you for standing with us. May God make all of these things real in your own life as you give yourself to prayer in this way.

Blessings from Jerusalem,




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Prayer and Intercession October 24, 2019

10/24/2019

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Every Wednesday evening we gather for intercession for the restoration of Israel.
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

****

Psa. 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:Psa. 132:14 "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

We prayed and interceded along the theme of "House": The House of God, The House of Israel, and God's spiritual house on earth — His Body.

The House of God
We looked at praying for Israel's salvation and restoration from the point of view of God's House. Here are a few scriptures that highlight some of this "journey." The leading thought behind this is that God has determined to not only redeem man from sin but that he should dwell with Him in all eternity! That is what the work of God is all about. See Ezekiel 37:25-28

Psalm 132:13-18 speaks of God's eternal decree to dwell with man. He will provide all that is needed, materially and spiritually (Psalm 132:15-16). It will be based on the work of His Son (psalm 132:17). It will be ultimately victorious. God will defeat all enemies that will come against His work in the earth. His Son shall rule gloriously.

Psalm 79 - God's work failed utterly because of His people's sins (Psalm 79:8). The enemy has invaded the land, and God's house was eventually destroyed, His work seemed to have failed.

Ezekiel 10:18-20 God's presence and glory were withdrawn
Ezekiel 36:17-20 God's reputation is lost. The nations thought of him as just another local deity and not a very successful one at that! (Till this day the nations don't think much of God).

But, you know that this is not the end of the story! Praise our God and King!
Zechariah 1:14-17 God is zealous for Jerusalem, God will have mercy on Zion, God will deal with the nations according to their hatred and resistance to Him!

Ezekiel 36:23 God will reveal His great name. They shall see who He is, His character, and power by what He does. They will acknowledge Him when they see the great work of restoration: His great Mercies, and power in restoring sinners to Himself and turning them into saints. All of this and more, He will do by the power of the Cross. All of Grace and all of Mercy.

Psalm 102:13, 15-16  God will have mercy, God shall appear in His glory, God shall build Zion, the nations will fear the name of the Lord as He appears in His Glory.

What can be worse than the Lord withdrawing His presence from us? Worse than God leaving (Ezekiel 10:18-20)! What are we without His presence? Exodus 33:3, 16. (see the whole story there) What are we without the Lord's presence! What separates us from the World if not His Presence. Oh, what a loss….
  • We cried out to God much for salvation for our people. 
  • We cried out for the Lord to send His Spirit of Grace, Repentance
  • Turn us O' Lord, and we shall be turned. Grant us repentance, grant us the softening of our hearts towards you and your Son
  • Oh that salvation would come out of Zion and to Zion
  • Oh that God would rend the heavens and reveals His Face to our nation
  • We prayed for God to vindicate His name. To restore His reputation to Himself by fulfilling His promise to cleanse us, give us a new heart, put a new spirit within us.
  • We cried out to God to "destroy" our self-righteousness and to become our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6). 
  • We asked for the day to come soon in which this city, Jerusalem, could be called again: The faithful city (Isaiah 1:26)

The House of Israel
Jeremiah 31:11-13, Ezekiel 34:1-6
As you know, Bibi Netanyahu has not been able to form a government and has returned his mandate to the president of Israel. Our president has tasked Benny Gantz with forming the next government.

We prayed from the scriptures. Israel has been promised a leadership that would not only protect it but also care for it. The prosperity of God's people promised as part of the restoration depends on good leadership, just the same as security does.

It seems to us that a unity government is still Israel's best option to fulfill the scriptures mentioned above. See article regarding this and the difficulty in forming such a government here:
  • We prayed for Israel's prosperity as promised by the Lord
  • We prayed for Israel to prosper to make her attractive to immigrants
  • We prayed for our leaders to become free of religious coercion in their decisions
  • We prayed for our leaders to be strong against the manipulation of the monied crowd (as in other countries, the tycoons are influencing Israel's decisions according to their own interests) 
  • We prayed for leaders who would genuinely care of the people economically — especially regarding the significant lack of affordable housing, building rental properties, etc.
  • We prayed for the new government to take care of greatly neglected areas such as education, infrastructure, medical field -- hospitals, and doctors (we need more). 

The Spiritual House of God - The Messianic Body
Someone said that the prayers that are answered from heaven are prayers that originated in heaven. That means that if we pray the Word of God where He shows clearly what His will is, we are sure that he will answer (see: 1John 5:14)
We prayed, therefore, according to His Word.

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 prayed for the Lord to grant us the surrender we need to be living stones in His hand, to shape us according to the cornerstone.
  • We prayed for the Lord to build us together into a spiritual house
  • We prayed for believers to go beyond their individualism and self-centered focus to see the whole house and their place in it. 
  • We prayed for the Lord to make us indeed a consecrated, separated priesthood that we may serve Him in His house

Jer. 24:7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
  • We cried to the Lord to give us the heart to Know Him! A heart that recognizes that we are His people, and not our own, and not of the World. 
  • We cried to the Lord to give us a 'returning' spirit, a repentant heart to be wholly His

Jer. 29:12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jer. 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
  • We cried to God to give His Body a heart to seek Him, a heart to call upon Him, a heart to pray and seek and search for Him.

Jer. 32:39  Then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.
  • We asked the Lord to give us One Heart and One Way — all in Messiah
  • We asked God to send His fear into our hearts

Thank you, dear praying friends for standing with us, sometimes for things that may not necessarily be real to you or benefit you personally. Thank you for standing for us before God. Surely He is coming, and His reward is with Him.

Blessings from Jerusalem,




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