Global Prayer Call October 2

We praise God that once again we can join our prayers with hundreds of brothers and sisters in Christ from every tongue, tribe, and nation, throughout the 24 hours of the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem on October 2nd. Through the Teleconferencing Prayer Ministry of Greater Calling we can use technology to pray together with one heart and one mind, from every time zone, for the needs of this strategic region and her people groups. This is an exhilarating and powerful experience of the global Body of Christ reflecting the Throne Room in Heaven. You don't want to miss it! Sign up to lead a one hour prayer watch or to plan your time to participate on October 2nd.

We're so thankful for our partners at Greater Calling, who since 2005 have held this strategic global prayer conference call for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Each year, Christians from all over the United States and believers from many nations - including Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Israel, and Australia - create a steady flow of callers throughout the day and night for our global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ). From each time zone around the world, prayers are continually offered to G-d through this "virtual prayer room" in many different languages, from leaders and laymen alike.These prayer calls have been so anointed and well-attended that Greater Calling has continued throughout the year to hold a one-hour daily DPPJ Prayer Call since 2006.

Join the DAILY PRAYER CALL
You can join a call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem every day. Just pick up your phone any morning at 6 AM (Eastern Time, US), dial 712-432-0233, and enter the code 3775 (DPPJ).

There are just a few things you should know before calling in, such as how to mute/ unmute or exit a call. You can find that information on Greater Calling's website by clicking here.

Also, Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network hosts a prayer conference call for Israel every Thursday night at 9:00 PM Eastern (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, and 6:00 PM Pacific). Just dial 760-569-7676 and enter the access code: 989326#

ELUL

THE MONTH OF ELUL

Wednesday August 31st begins the Hebrew month of Elul, the 6th month in the religious calendar and the 12th of the civil year. This is traditionally a month of self-examination and repentance before the Lord in preparation for the High Holy Days of Yom T'ruah (The Day of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). As a call to this, it is customary in some Jewish circles to blow a blast on the shofar each morning (except the Sabbath) of this month. A further ancient practice is to recite Psalm 27each day from the First of Elul through the "Last Great Day" of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This wonderful psalm reaffirms our trust in the Light and Salvation of our LORD (vs. 1), the importance of seeking His face, dwelling in His presence and gazing on His beauty (vss. 4,8), our place of safety in His sukka and tent (vs. 5), and our utter dependence on Him to deliver us from our adversaries-including our own sin (vs. 12). It was during this month of Elul that Nehemiah finished rebuilding the Wall around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:15). We need to see this to be a time for inspecting our "walls," securing all breaches, all places of vulnerability along our 'borders'.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For revelation that it is the Lord's kindness (Romans 2:4b) that leads us to repentance; that many Jewish people will sense the Holy Spirit drawing them and will respond.

*For an awareness amongst believers that it is a time for examining and securing our spiritual borders.

*That the LORD release spiritual guidance and leadership upon His returned people in our day as He did for the returned remnant from Babylon (Ezra and Nehemiah). That He define Israel's physical borders (Psalm 147:14) and the lines of Jerusalem according to His desire, in such a way that Israel's enemies will "perceive was done by God" (Nehemiah 6:16). That He Himself become a "wall of fire around Jerusalem, and her Glory within" (Zechariah 2:5).

Combined Terrorist Attacks in Southern Israel

Combined terrorist attacks are currently taking place on Israeli territory,
near the Israel- Egypt border, approximately 20 kilometers north of the city
of Eilat.

Nine people were injured when terrorist opened fire at an Israeli bus
approximately two hours ago. The injured were evacuated to receive medical
care at a nearby hospital.

Several people were injured as a result of an explosive device, detonated on
an IDF force that arrived at the scene and drove over it.

Crossfire between IDF forces, led by the Commander of the 80th Division,
Brigadier General Tamir Yadi and the cell of terrorists is currently
underway. Additional IDF and rescue forces are arriving at the scene.

PLEASE PRAY: God's security forces would direct the IDF and the govt of Israel in this time of attack.

Israel would keep her eyes on the hills from whence comes her help. Her help from the Lord, who is her shield and defense.

Psalm 91 read over Israel right now.

Make your voice heard

Tell Democrat Senator Not to Threaten Israel's Security

Dear Friend of Israel,

Senator Patrick Leahy, has taken hostility to Israel to new levels. Leahy is a senior member of the Senate. He is promoting legislation that would cut off aid to three of Israel's most elite commando units. Reportedly, he is doing this to placate pro-Palestinian advocates in his home state of Vermont.


Leahy needs to be confronted head on on this matter. He is the most dangerous perpetrator of embargoing Israel. Others want to deny Israel commerce and trade, he wants to disarm Israel. Leahy sees himself as judge and jury over the sovereign state of Israel.

Unfortunately, his initiative will not shock people who follow Israel's relations with the Obama Administration. We have witnessed this Administration treat Israel as a vassal state. They feel they have the right to make demands over Israel's actions in its capital of Jerusalem and over Israel's policies in every other respect. Now a close ally of President Obama is pursuing a policy of punishing Israel for defending itself.

Israel needs to push back strongly.

American friends of Israel need to do the same. Let Senator Leahy know what you think of this legislation. His contact info is here: http://leahy.senate.gov/contact/.

Date Has Been Set

DATE SET FOR UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF STATEHOOD

This week Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki announced that the Palestinians will present their bid for being recognized as an independent state and granted membership as such to the United Nations on Tuesday September 20th just after the opening of the 66th Session. It so happens that in September the rotating presidency of the General Assembly and the Security Council will be held by the Arab states of Qatar and Lebanon respectively. Qatar will hold that role for one year. Although Arab states enjoy an automatic majority in the General Assembly, a new state cannot be admitted without consent of the 15 member Security Council. As of now, the United States, one of five members of the council with the power of a veto, has indicated that it plans to oppose any unilateral move. A Palestinian spokesperson has said that "We have completed our responsibilities and are ready to govern ourselves. We cannot keep waiting for Israel to negotiate with good faith." Israel denies that the Palestinians have been willing to negotiate at all, despite "confidence building gestures" continually requested of her (Israel) by the international body, compared to none for the Palestinians. She also points out that the Palestinians are deeply divided between the Hamas and Fatah factions, which have been more or less continually at war for over five years.

It is unclear what will be the repercussions of the move, even if the U.S. vetoes it. At present Israel is strengthening its borders against the possibility of thousands of Palestinians from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan seeking to surge into the territories after the vote.

PLEASE PRAY:

*That establishment of a sovereign (Muslim) Palestinian state will not be ratified by the U.N. in September.

*Wisdom from the Father of Lights (James 1:5, 17) for believers here in Israel.to know how best and most effectively to direct our prayers according to the guidance of His Holy Spirit-not according to mere 'knee-jerk' emotional reactions.

*For wisdom for Israel's national and military leaders as to how best to prepare Israel to face any violence and lawlessness following the vote in September.

*That God will guide Israel in the borders she is to be responsible for protecting during this season. That the Palestinian people will be protected from Covenant-hating spiritual forces seeking to use them as pawns for keeping Jews out of lands God has promised them by everlasting covenant.

*That the Kingdom of God will Come in the hearts of Jews and Arabs.that He will provide a way for each to dwell in peace within the boundaries He has ordained for them.

portions taken from Israel Prayer list

Prayer for Israel's Govt

"PM WOULD ACCEPT PRE-'67 LINES AS BASELINE FOR TALKS."

With the Palestinian Authority poised to appeal to the UN for recognition of statehood next month, there has been much pressure applied to Israel to contribute to preparation of a document which would serve as a framework for returning to negotiations and making such an appeal at the UN meaningless. This past week the above title or something similar to it appeared as a headline in many papers in Israel and Europe. One had to read the fine print to see that it wasn't quite the whole story. Jerusalem, "while not endorsing the 1967 lines, would agree to language [in such a document] that would say that Israel recognizes that this is the position of the international community" (emphases ours). According to Israeli officials, Israel would go this far if the Palestinians would show flexibility by showing a willingness to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. There has been no indication that the Palestinians are prepared to consider making such a statement. Were they to, it would have to be very veiled indeed; certainly militant Islam will never concede that any of the land occupied by Israel has a right to be under "Jewish" sovereignty.

Although we do not stand in approval of our Prime Minister's offer, neither are we convinced that it is a "major climb-down", that he "has bowed to US pressure by agreeing for the first time that a Palestinian state should roughly follow the contours of the 1967 ceasefire lines separating the West Bank from Israel" as an on-line London Telegraph sub-headline of August 1 had it. Netanyahu has stated unequivocally that Israel will never go back to the '67 borders, and as of now, we do not see that he has altered his stance on this. Nor do we see that the PA (and certainly not in partnership with Hamas, who rules a large portion of the contested territory) is any nearer to recognizing Israel as a Jewish State. But the pressures are extremely intense upon our Prime Minister to come into alignment with the tenets of President Obama's recent '67 Lines speech.

PLEASE PRAY:

*That Israel's Prime Minister would be influenced by Divine guidance as he must lead Israel through turbulent and dangerous waters; that he would not be entrapped by his own tongue as he seeks to maneuver his government and people forward. That his decisions would be supplied by integrity and uprightness (Psalm 25:21), and that he would lift up his need and his hope to the LORD.

*That Israel's government will be prepared for whatever eventualities the fall may bring. That her governmental and military leadership will be in a place of strength before any outbreak of hostilities, either outside of or within her borders.

*That God will supply a redemptive pathway for Israel "out of all his troubles" (Psalm 25:22).

portions taken from Israel Prayer list

Tisha B'Av

"All her persecutors overtook her bein hametzarim-between the straits."
(Lamentations 1:3b)

MEGILAT EICHA-SCROLL OF LAMENTATIONS

From sundown Monday evening through Tuesday, many Jews around the world will sober themselves by fasting (Fast of the Fifth Month-Zechariah 8:19) and reading this anguished account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple which took place on this date in 586 BCE, a holy dwelling from which God's manifest presence had departed (Ezekiel 10) after having dwelt there since the dedication of King Solomon. The book is actually made up of five "laments", each related in some way to the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet-and crafted with consummate poetic skill.

It is customary to conclude the reading with a repetition of verse 21, "Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old." Messianic Jews also take part in this observance, and there will be gatherings around the Israel to pray.

PLEASE PRAY that the Holy Spirit of God would convict and draw hearts to repentance for sin, to hope in the Mercies and Compassions of the LORD, which are "new every morning.Great is His Faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). "From the strait place I called on the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear." (Psalm 118:5-6a).

Eve of Tisha B'Av

Are we willing to be marked by God as an intercessor who shares in His grief and
plead for mercy for His people, Israel?

He is seeking intercessors to stand in the gap for Israel.

God sent a messenger throughout the midst of Jerusalem to “put a mark on the
foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done
within it.” (Ezekiel 9:4)

“There is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and
a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

In his wisdom, King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that there is a season for
everything, and “a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

On the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av
is the time for mourning.

According to some rabbis, this day of fasting is as significant to the Jewish people
as Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), which is considered the holiest day of the
Jewish year.

Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in Jewish history, primarily commemorates the
destruction of the First and Second Temples.

In synagogues around the world and at the Kotel (Wailing Wall) which is Judaism’s
holiest site, religious Jews gather to mourn the destruction of the Temples and to read from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah and portions of the book of Lamentations.


Other tragic events that befell the Jewish people on this exact same day are also
remembered on Tisha B'Av, most notably the expulsion of Jews from Spain.


In 586 BCE, Solomon’s Temple (the First Temple) was destroyed by the Babylonians,
who sent the Jews into Babylonian exile.

Under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra, construction began on the Second
Temple 70 years later.

In 70 CE, Herod’s Temple (the Second Temple) was destroyed by the Romans,
656 years after the destruction of the First Temple on Tisha B'Av.

Other Tragic Events That Took Place On Tisha B’Av:


In 132 CE, the Romans crushed Bar Kokhba's revolt and destroyed the
city of Betar, killing over 100,000 Jews

In 133 CE, following the Roman siege of Jerusalem, Roman commander
Turnus Rufus plowed the Temple site and the surrounding area

In 1095, the First Crusade was declared by Pope Urban II, killing
10,000 Jews in its first month and annihilating Jewish communities in France
and the Rhineland

In 1290, King Edward I issued an edict expelling all Jews from England

In 1492, an edict of expulsion of the Jews in Spain was carried out

In 1914, World War I broke out, setting the stage for the later devastation
of World War II and the Holocaust

In 1942 on the eve of Tisha B'Av, the mass deportation of Jews from the
Warsaw Ghetto to Hitler’s Treblinka death camp began

In 1994, the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires
killed 86 and wounded 300 others

In 2005, more than 8,500 Jewish residents were expelled from Gaza as part
of Israel’s ill-fated Disengagement Plan, a desperate bid for peace designed
to further relations with Palestinian Arabs.

After the Jewish soldiers left Gaza, the looting began. The synagogues were
desecrated and torched. Gaza became the staging ground for terrorist attacks
against Israel.

And the rockets have been launched from Gaza ever since, raining fear down
on the Jewish towns and cities in southern Israel.

On Tisha B’Av we must ask ourselves how could God’s people be brutally torn
from the Land that He promised in an everlasting covenant to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Comfort is found in Amos 9: 14-15:

“I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;…I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.”

How can Believers, as fellow citizens in the commonwealth of Israel
(Ephesians 2:12-13, 19), appropriately respond on Tisha B’Av to the grief of the
Jewish people?


This is the time to weep with those who weep and to mourn with our brethren, the
people of Israel.


Yeshua (Jesus) wept with compassion when he foresaw the destruction of the
Holy Temple and the disaster that would come upon Israel. He said,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who
are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate.”
(Matthew 23:37-38)


Yeshua knew that not even one stone of the magnificent buildings of the Temple would remain untouched. All would be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)

Despite this, when Yeshua was asked for a sign, he answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)

WILL YOU HEAR THE CALL TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE??

WE MUST STAND UP WITH ISRAEL!!!!

Continual bad press demonizing Israel in today’s media has left many Christians confused about supporting Israel, leaving some wondering if blessing Israel is still in keeping with Scripture.
Further in this blog I will share how churches and Christian denominations are boycotting Israel, but first let’s look at Scripture that tell us to bless Israel.

As Believers our thoughts and actions should be solidly founded in the Word of God.

Honoring the promises
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3

The Bible reveals a simple equation: those who bless Israel will themselves be blessed.

What’s more, God takes it personally when nations seek to harm Israel:

“... he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 2: 8)

In a recent New York Times article, Ahmad Tibi, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset,
called upon the world to boycott Israeli companies.
Who is Ahmad Tibi? He is an Arab Israeli, who was elected by other Israelis to
sit in the Israeli parliament (Knesset).

Many Christians falsely think that Israel is a country with only Jewish citizens. Did you know that the Israeli Knesset is a democratic governmental body made up of both Jews and Arabs?

Tibi, who is the leader of Ta’al (the Arab Movement for Renewal), is stirring up pressure in countries outside of Israel, to force Israel to end the “Israeli occupation” and implement the right of return for Palestinian refugees from 1948.

Can you imagine a member of your democratic government, inciting the world
to boycott business in your own country?

While other peoples have always lived in the land known today as Israel, the nation
and borders of Israel promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the
Jewish people) were spoken of in the Bible and created by an act of God alone.

This fact in and of itself is reason enough to support Israel.

The Land of Israel was one of three covenantal promises made to the Jewish people by God, a covenant which can’t be broken by man.

You can read about that Royal Deed to the Promised Land in Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-18,15:1-21, 17:4-8, 22:15-18, 26:1-5 and Psalm 89:28-37.

Israel is an extremely diverse and vibrant democracy—the only established one
in the Middle East where both Jews and Arab have the same rights and work together
to build the nation.

It was the Jewish people that allowed Arabs to have full rights as citizens with them in 1948, as the Jewish people were given their own Jewish state to call home.

For 1900 years previous to this, the Jewish people did not have a home and were treated as second class citizens in the countries they lived.

After the Holocaust in which half of the world’s Jewish population were destroyed by Hitler,the Jewish people returned enmasse to Israel, which at the time was under British control. On May 14, 1948, the UN voted that Israel would be the Jewish Homeland.

Today, Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, is a shining example of Israel’s success. Here both Jews and Arabs work together to create a thriving metropolis that plays an important role in Israel’s economy.

But that’s what Israel is really about.

It’s made up of Jewish and Arab cities and villages that live side by side. You can drive down most highways and see an Arab town and then two minutes later a Jewish town.

Did you know that Christian denominations such as the Presbyterian and
Methodist churches have been asking their millions of congregants to boycott Israel for a number of years?

Despite the reasons to bless Israel, many church organizations and denominations encourage hatred against Israel, asking their members to sanction and boycott the Holy Land.

Christian groups such as the Dutch Interchurch Organization and the Irish Catholic group Troicare, both funded by the EU government, drive such divestment campaigns against Israel.

This year the United Church of Canada voted to boycott six companies (Caterpillar,
Motorola, Ahava, Veolia, Elbit Systems and Chapters/ Indigo).

Last year the Methodist Church of Britain voted to boycott products manufactured in
Judea and Samaria.

And read these numbers: The World Council of Churches, representing
560 million Christians, has also called for a boycott of Israel-made products.

Shame on these Ecumenical churches for standing against the Promises of the God of Israel,the Creator of the world.

Imagine that if the city where you live had missiles pointing at it, and terrorists and suicide bombers trying to cross into your city to kill your family and neighbors?

Well the people who live in Israel have to endure that every day.

Missiles are fired, suicide bombers blow themselves up, and innocent Jewish people are killed. They have democracy, but do not have peace.

Christians should support Israel because it is the only true friend in the Middle East to the United States and other democracies in the world.

Israel has been an important roadblock to terrorism and strategic ally of the U.S.

Today, many American Christians are alarmed that the U.S. support of Israel seems to be diminishing.
They recognize that the U.S. pressure that Israel give up Land for Peace is not a solution, but a problem.
Some Christians correlate the dates when U.S. presidents have publicly insisted that Israel give up Land to the Palestinians with the same dates that “natural disasters” have taken place in the United States. These Christians believe judgment on the U.S. has already begun.

However, just as the Jewish Prophet Jonah went to Nineveh to warn the people to repent, it is never too late to stem the tide of worldwide anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism (anti-Zionism)and begin to bless Israel in words and action.

Debt of Gratitude
“…For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” Romans 15: 25-27

Christian Believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are partakers of a covenant and promises
given to Israel and as such owe Israel a debt of gratitude.

As John 4: 22 states: “Salvation is from the Jews.”

The Faithfulness of God
The final reason we offer for standing with Israel is the faithfulness of God.

Romans 11: 28-29 states that the Jewish people, “…are loved on account of the
patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

The good news is that God’s Word never changes.

This is something in which we can trust: God is as faithful today to Israel as He was yesterday, and He still blesses those who bless Israel!

WATCHMEN LOOK WITH HIS EYES!!!!

PROTESTS, DEMONSTRATIONS, THE NEED OF SOLUTIONS.WITHIN THE LAW.

For months Israel has watched as revolutionary waves of demonstrations and protests dubbed "Arab Spring" have rolled over the territories of her Middle Eastern neighbors. Yet, nothing similar seemed to be taking hold here. Now, in a strange way, with almost "no clues or signs beforehand", the past week has found Israel bursting forth in various kinds of protests, strikes and demonstrations. There were strikes and demonstrations by doctors and medical workers, homosexuals, people protesting the high prices of raising families (with hundreds and hundreds pushing baby-carriers), and on Saturday some 150,000 took part in demonstrations, with tent-cities being erected in many cities to draw attention to the frightfully high costs of buying or even renting homes throughout Israel. Monday many municipalities declared a one-day strike in sympathy with the protestors. The Prime Minister has called a round-table of leaders to try and find measures which would calm the protests and address the issues.

From the outside, Israel's economy is seen as presently being in a very good place, and unemployment is at the lowest in almost 25 years. Nor for some time now, has Israel been subjected to sustained violent conflict on any of her borders. Yet there is no question that the issues being protested against are very real. The cost of housing has indeed risen to unprecedented heights. Everywhere there seem to be new "luxury" apartments going up.yet all of these are far beyond the means of most Israelis. Most seem to be being bought up by foreign investors. Rental property has also continued to soar. Many Israeli families, even where both spouses work, are finding their paychecks gobbled up by rent-costs, leaving precious little to live on and raise their families. As one student union president said, when granted with others an audience with President Shimon Peres, "What we all here have in common is that ultimately we want to see Israel as our home. We are fighting for the right to build a future for ourselves in Israel."

There is no question that something must be done. But worthy solutions cannot be provided overnight. We are grateful that as of yet, there haven't been extremely serious confrontations or violence in these protests. Yet something is making us uneasy. We are seeing the left-wing media capitalizing on the unrest as a means for steering accusation and blame in the direction of our Prime Minister, casting doubt about his capability to cope with the crisis, in fact insinuating that it is his incompetence which has brought it about in the first place. And along with those many concerned voices very worthily seeking to make themselves heard, there are others taking occasion to comingle that concern with anger which may be ignited into full-blown rage against authority in general. In the timing and volatile nature of the present uprisings, we sense a spiritual agenda at work to weaken, if not bring down, the present government so as to leave Israel unprepared for a much more serious crisis which is coming. We sense approaching storms just over the horizon.storms which will require a strong united leadership if Israel is to withstand. It is our belief that the Lord placed Benjamin Netanyahu into his present position as Prime Minister, and it is the Lord who has enabled his coalition, against all odds, to endure this far. We do not believe it is because of an abundance of innate heroic qualities in Mr. Netanyahu (opposite ones have certainly surfaced in the past); we do believe him now to be a man whom the Lord has found whom He is able to make to stand.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For God to have mercy on those He has brought back to live in His covenant land, enabling them to work and prosper with their families in the Land (Psalm 118:25).

*For spirits assigned to awaken lawlessness and rage within the current uprisings to be bound. For men and women of integrity to rise to the surface among those demonstrating for a change.

*For wisdom and honesty and courage in the present administration in being able to effect changes which will bring real viable solutions to the housing and cost of living crises in Israel.

*That Israel will have and maintain strong leadership in her government and military going into the fall.

*For Prime Minister Netanyahu, that his mind and integrity be preserved and strengthened. That he look to God for His strength and preservation, that he have grace to remain in office until He has fulfilled all appointed for him in being divinely placed in that positioning.

Hebrew Month of Av

"Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month [i.e. 1st of Av]. Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor."

1. MONDAY AUGUST 1ST BEGINS THE HEBREW MONTH OF "AV".

Today, Monday August 1st is Rosh Hodesh, the "head" of the Fifth Month in the Hebrew Biblical calendar. Since the return from Captivity in Babylon, the month has been called by the Babylonian name, Av.

This day is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (see above) as that of the death of Aaron the High Priest. Aaron had not been without serious failings-in the incident of the golden calf, with his brother Moses in the striking of the rock when God had commanded to speak to it. But he had also fallen on his face with Moses in intercession to God when they sinned, and he had for decades "borne iniquity" (Numbers 18:1) as he went about his duties in the Tabernacle on behalf of all of the people. Now his mantle had been passed on to the next generation.who would likewise be fallible, who would also one day die. This passing of the first High Priest, from whom the "Aaronic" priesthood would take its name reminds us of a "greater" priesthood, that of Malki-tzedek (King of Righteousness), and the greater Priest of that order who would take Aaron's place as an intercessor between the Father and all Humankind.

"There were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 8:23-25).

Av in Hebrew means "father". Although the name as used for a particular month was of Babylonian origin, it happens to bear the same spelling and pronunciation as the Hebrew word. As we pray over our land and people at the beginning of this new month, we recall a verse from last week's Haftarah portion, Jeremiah 3:4: "Will you not from this time cry to Me, 'My Father, You are the guide of my youth?' And as we continue through this season during which Darkness has repeatedly sought to take occasion for evil against the covenant land and people, we find it a time for especial watchfulness over Israel and Jews throughout the world, holding them up before the "Father of Lights" (James 1:17).

In a rare coincidence, it happens this year that the Muslim fast month of Ramadan also begins on this day. "Ramadan" comes from an Arabic root related to "intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations." During the month, Muslims are forbidden from eating or drinking between sunup and sundown. Tens of thousands will attend meetings on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem over the course of this month.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For the Body of Messiah in Israel to come into a deeper awareness of the work of Yeshua (Jesus) as our High Priest. Last year the Bible Society in Israel released a small booklet containing an annotated Hebrew language printing of the Book of Hebrews. Please pray that this wonderful Book centered on the Priesthood of Messiah, written specifically to First Century Messianic Jews, would be rediscovered by Israeli Jews in the 20th Century!

*For an awakened longing for Fatherhood in Israel-for an awareness that the God of Israel's "fathers"-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-is in fact, the One from whom all fatherhood gets its name (Ephesians 3:14-15). That Yeshua the Messiah has opened a way to bring us as fellow sons and daughters to His Father!

*For dreams and visions during the month called by Muslims Ramadan to reveal the true nature of the God in Heaven. Over the inside doorways of the buildings on the Temple Mount are inscribed a quotation from the Muslim holy book, to the effect that "Allah is great and has no son". Pray for revelation that El Elyon, the Most High God does have a Son, the knowledge of whom frees us from bondage and dead works, and brings us near to the Father.

*For protection in Israel from demonic power released from millions fasting before a God of a different covenant (Most Muslims are taught to believe that the person Abraham was told to sacrifice was Ishmael, not Isaac). Pray that the Body of Messiah in Israel and Jerusalem will be unified and anointed throughout the month in its praise to the One True God, in the name of Yeshua His son. That rather than resorting to a defensive stance, the Body move forward in Her praise and worship this month, in spirit and in truth. That she take territory and defeat the enemy by the Word of her testimony, the Blood of the Lamb, and that she love not her own life even unto death! That many be brought out of the wilderness into Life!