Concerned

I read this quote from Sid Roth yesterday:

"I am so concerned over our President's position on Israel. We need to be on God's Side! God owns Israel and has leased it to the Jewish People forever. (Joel 3:2, Psalm 105:8-11)
"As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you!" Obadiah 1:15 NLT
Pray for this direction to change."  -Sid Roth

I am also concerned about our President's recent actions against Israel. As a watchman, I am also sounding an alarm. This is the Shemitah year as well as we just experienced a solar eclipse which represents judgement of the nations. Also upcoming is a Blood Moon on Passover. These are all signs from The LORD. We must take heed and pray.

I am declaring out into the atmosphere Isaiah 62:8-12 over the nation of Israel:

"The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength: 'No more do I give your grain to be food for your enemies, nor do sons of the foreigner drink your new wine, for which you have laboured; but those gathering it shall eat it, and praise The LORD. And those collecting it shall drink it in My set-apart courts.' 

Pass through, Pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Lift up the banner for the peoples!

See The LORD has proclaimed to the end  of the earth: 'Say to the daughter of Tsiyon, See your deliverance has come; see, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.'

And they shall be called, 'The Set=apart People, the Redeemed of The LORD.' And you shall be called, 'Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.'" 

Prayer Points: Building Israel's next Government

God, we ask for a government that will bring You the glory.

 Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for Your mercy and Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where now is their God? But our God is in Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased. (Psalms 115:1-3)

 With the election over, we now need to focus our prayers on the building of Israel's next coalition government. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will be tasked with this job as his Likud party won the election in a very convincing manner - a specific answer to our prayers! Israel needs a government that will be able to govern, and Israel needs a government through whom God will be glorified.

 We bless You for the election results which confounded the polls, the left-wing media and most of the nations in the West.

• We proclaim You Yeshua - not Bibi - as Israel's King, the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2; 27:37).
  
  
• We thank You for giving Netanyahu an opportunity to lead this nation again.
  
  
• Please impart to him much wisdom on how to form a government which pleases You (1 Kings 3:9).
  
  
• God, we ask for another miracle. Give us a coalition that will govern for its full four year term.
  
  
• Raise up a coalition united in purpose.
  
  
• Raise up a Romans 13 type government, that will protect the innocent and wage war on the wicked, one that is clear on discerning good from evil, right from wrong (Isaiah 5:20-23).
  
  
  
  • Lord, remind Bibi of who he is (Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 3:20) and who You are (Deuteronomy 33:27), thus preventing him from walking in pride (Daniel 4:37).
    
    
  • Protect him and his family from any and all threats (Psalm 121:4).
    
    portions taken from Intercessors for Israel
    

Israel and America's Relationship

Psalm 2
"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Messiah, saying,  'Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.' 

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision, then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 'Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.' I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your posession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. 

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

Article from the Jerusalem Post:

In the wake of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resounding victory in Tuesday's election, the White House has expressed severe concern regarding the Likud leader's campaign rhetoric and noted turnaround against the establishment of a Palestinian state.

According to several administration officials, the Obama administration is now seriously considering agreeing to the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution "embodying the principles of a two-state solution that would include Israel’s 1967 borders with Palestine and mutually agreed swaps of territory," according to The New York Times.

Although the relationship between Israel and the United States would remain strong, according to administration officials, it would not be managed by US President Barack Obama and Netanyahu. Instead, US Secretary of State John Kerry, one of Netanyahu's only remaining friends in the president's administration, would take over along with Pentagon officials who handle the close military alliance with Israel.

“The president is a pretty pragmatic person and if he felt it would be useful, he will certainly engage,” the Times quoted a senior administration official as saying. “But he’s not going to waste his time,” he added.

“The premise of our position internationally has been to support direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” a senior White House official said. “We are now in a reality where the Israeli government no longer supports direct negotiations. Therefore we clearly have to factor that into our decisions going forward.”


WE NEED TO PRAY...

God's Government

Isaiah 9:6-7
 "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.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward, even forever."

Lord Yeshua, we thank you for giving victory to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

We pray now for the establishing of a stable government in the Nation of Israel. We pray that this government will be built upon the foundation of Your eternal Government.

Give Prime Minster Netanyahu wisdom and understanding from on High. Lord Yeshua, we ask for him to hear from heaven Your heartbeat for Your People. As You gave Moses the pattern of heaven in the tabernacle, we ask for the blueprints of Your Government to be given to Prime Minister Netanyahu during this time of building a government in the natural.

We place a guard over Your plans for the Nation of Israel at this time.

We pray that You Lord will strengthen those with Davidic hearts, ones that will prepare the way for the Messianic Kingdom. (1 Chronicles 11:10)

Let Thy Kingdom and Government come forth upon the earth. Come Lord Yeshua and sit upon Your throne over the nations of the earth.

Praying for Israel After Elections on Tuesday

Post-Election

From the desk of Eliyahu of Intercessors for Israel:

Once the election is over the process of forming a coalition government begins. The President invites one of the party leaders (usually the leader of the largest party) to try to form a government. This process involves much negotiation and compromising between the different parties and their policy priorities. This (usually messy process) can take a number of weeks and is possibly just as important as the election itself in determining the direction the nation will take.

• Lord, please watch over this process of building a government. Make it clean and righteous. Guard against compromising on those things which are Your priorities.
  
  
• Please give us a government which will be strong and will last.
  
  
• Give us leaders who will put the needs of the nation before the needs of any particular interest group.
  
  
• Give us leaders who will be like …the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)
  
  
• Protect Israel against including in the government politicians who are set on the destruction of the State of Israel. (There has been talk of including the Arab parties in government, most of whom are actually anti-Israel.)
  

Prayer Points Israeli Elections

From Eliyahu of Intercessors for Israel:

The Jerusalem Marathon takes place this Friday morning and causes a big disruption to transport. As a result we are not holding a prayer meeting and this week's prayer points are being written on Thursday. We are only 5 days away from Israel's Election Day and Eliyahu's appeal is:

We are only a few days (17 March) from critical elections. According to polls (that may be accurate or not), the Labor conglomerate (Zionist Union); is ahead of the Likud party and might be tasked with forming the new government.

I cannot emphasize enough what a disaster this would be. I truly believe that both Herzog and Livni are not competent to be Prime Minister and some in their party have: encouraged mothers to NOT send their children to the army, and another has said that the National Anthem "Hatikvah" is racist and disgusts him. This is not a Zionist party as they have labeled themselves but an anti-Zionist party.
According to reports in the Israeli press, Obama has sent one of his campaign advisors to Israel to see Netanyahu defeated. With all of his faults and weaknesses we still believe that he is God's choice for the job.

Please pray that when the house of Israel goes to vote that they would vote according to the big picture and not their own economic condition. Housing is important, the price of cottage cheese is important but stopping an Iranian nuclear bomb is of prime importance and of all the candidates only Netanyahu has the vision for this.

Praise

• God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
  Psalm 47:8

• Thank You Lord that You are still on Your throne. You don't make mistakes. None of the events which disturb or shock us take You by surprise.
  
  
• You continue to watch over Israel and keep her. (Psalm 121:4)
  
  
• Thank You that You are on the side of Your people Israel. (Psalm 124)
  
  
  

  Israeli Elections

   In this election voters choose one from the 24 lists available. Each list is put forward by a party or alliance of parties. According to the proportion of votes received, Knesset seats are allocated to the people on each list starting at the top. E.g. a list receiving 10% of the national vote will receive 10% of the Knesset seats (12 seats) for the top 12 names on the list. This electoral system leads to a large number of parties in the Knesset and the formation of coalition governments which tend to be weak and unstable. Pray:
  
  
• For the election of a government which will give glory to God.
  
  
• Lord, give us the government we need in this country rather than the government we deserve.
  
  
• Bring the people out to vote on March 17^th. Drive away the apathy and disillusionment with politicians of all persuasions. Watch over the weather on Election Day.
  
  
• Guide those who are voting for the first time and those who are undecided how to vote.
  
  
• Give the people of Israel wisdom and discernment and guide them to vote according to Your purposes.
  
  
• Break the manipulative power of the media as they seek to influence the outcome of the election. Let the people see through all the spin and recognize the truth.
  
  
• Guard over the voting process on Tuesday. Protect against corruption and cheating.
  
• Give us leaders of integrity. Expose the corruption in government and root it out.
  
  
• May our rulers rule in justice and righteousness (Psalm 72:1-2).
  

• I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning.
  Isaiah 1:26

• And I will give you shepherds according to My heart.
  Jeremiah 3:15

• Please give us a government which will care for the well-being of the nation and will not allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
  
  
• Please give us a strong government to lead Israel at this crucial time.
  
  
• Please Lord, have mercy on Israel and turn the nation around before Tuesday!
  
  
  

  Prime Minister Netanyahu

   It seems that much of the political process, the media and the leaders of the world are determined to see Binyamin Netanyahu removed from the position of Prime Minister. We continue to see him as far the best candidate to lead the country.
  
  
• Give Mr Netanyahu courage and strength and refreshment in the face of this immense opposition against him.
  
  
• We continue to ask for the miracle of a convincing victory for Netanyahu and his Likud Party on March 17^th.
  
  
• Give words of encouragement from friends and family. Let him turn to You and would You speak to him from Your word even this weekend.
  
  
• Expose the true motives behind the "Anyone but Bibi" campaign.
  
  
• Protect Netanyahu and his family from attempts to harm them.
  
  

Smuggling Ring in Gaza Exposed

Israel Breaks Up Major Gaza Smuggling Ring

Prayer Focus:

 

Thank the Most High God for revealing the Hamas smuggling network, so its operatives may be brought to justice and the illegal shipments stopped. Pray that shipments through Kerem Shalom Crossing will provide benefit only for the Gazan people, and not for Hamas’s military build-up against Israel.

Scripture

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
- Psalm 34:7–8

 The Israel Security Agency (ISA) and several other Israel agencies have recently uncovered an efficient network operated by Hamas to acquire and smuggle materials used for strengthening the organization's military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

By means of this network, Hamas purchased and brought into the Gaza Strip, via the Kerem Shalom Crossing, thousands of tons of raw materials that were used in its military installations, to prepare attack tunnels, at its training facilities and for the manufacture of war materiel. In certain instances, the materials that were purchased in Israel were transported from the Kerem Shalom Crossing directly to Hamas training bases and installations.

 

The ISA, in conjunction with the Israel Police and Israel Tax Authority, has so far investigated 26 suspects, including Israeli citizens, who were involved in supplying the materials, storing them and smuggling them through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. The Israel Police and Israel Tax Authority have also investigated additional suspects. Trucks and large quantities of to-be-smuggled materiel were seized.

The Kerem Shalom Crossing provides the only passage for merchandise and goods between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The State of Israel saw to the regular operation of the Crossing, even during Operation Protective Edge, in order to allow the importation of consumer goods and basic products for the population of Gaza. Terrorists in Gaza, especially Hamas, identified the potential at the Crossing for bringing in materials needed to build up their military infrastructures.

 

Registered Palestinian merchants were used to purchase a range of raw materials and other goods (including—various iron goods and products, electrical and electronic equipment, communications equipment, fiber optic cables, drills and other digging equipment, concrete, etc.) for military use. Israeli, foreign and Palestinian Authority-based suppliers supplied the goods. Elements in Israel were, for the most part, used to store the goods. These elements were aware that the goods in question were for the Gaza Strip despite the lack of the necessary permits and either knew or estimated that they were designated for terrorist organizations.

 In this manner, large quantities of materials were systematically purchased in Israel and smuggled into the Gaza Strip over a period of time. As routes through Sinai became more difficult, the foregoing route became more valuable to Hamas.

 Smuggled goods were frequently hidden among consignments that had received the necessary permits. In one instance, raw materials for use in the manufacture of explosives were hidden in a container of humanitarian equipment.

Israeli security and law-enforcement authorities will tighten the supervision of goods designated for the Gaza Strip and will use all legal means (criminal prosecution, economic sanctions, the confiscation of goods, revocation of permits, etc.) at their disposal to combat smuggling.

portions taken from Bridges for Peace

Prayers for the Body of Messiah

1. The Body of Messiah

   • Thank You for entrusting Your body with the responsibility to stand in prayer for this nation.
     
     
   • Keep us faithful in the belief that our prayer is needful and effective. (James 5:16)
     
     
   • Keep us watchful in prayer - to see that You are indeed answering our prayers. (Ephesians 6:18)
     
     
   • Raise up more praying people and more prayer groups around Israel who will take this responsibility seriously.
     
     
   • Prompt the leaders of Your body to call the people to prayer more and more.
     
     
   • Release all whom You have called to leadership in Your body.
     
     
   • Protect all in leadership. Protect their marriages. Keep them walking in humility and protect them from building their own kingdoms in place of Your kingdom. Give them respect and honor toward each other. Protect leaders from burn-out.
     
     
   • Keep our eyes on You, o Lord and guard us with Your shield. (Psalm 3:3)
     
     
   • Thank You that Your body includes Israelis alongside brethren who are visitors from the nations. Let each find their place in the body and recognize the place You have given to others.
     
     portions taken from Intercessors for Israel
     

Prayers for Israel's Security

In his speech to the US Congress, Netanyahu referred to the pressured situation in the Middle East with vicious enemies of Israel also fighting bitterly against one another - Iran on the Shiite Islamic side and Islamic State for the Sunni Muslims. As Netanyahu said "The enemy of my enemy is…my enemy." What is Israel to do? We also see Israel being drawn closer to the other nations in the region who share our fears of both these enemies - nations such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia who are only too aware that radical Islam is gobbling up the nations round about, eg Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen.

• Intervene, o Lord! Arise and let Your enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1)
  
  
• Give Israel's leaders the wisdom and judgment to know when to watch and wait and see you bringing our enemies into confusion around about us. (2 Chronicles 20:14-24)
  
  
• Put Your angelic guards about Israel to protect her from her enemies round about.
  
  
• In the Book of Esther the plot of Haman was exposed, but the Jewish people still needed a new decree from the king to release them to defend themselves against their enemies (Esther 8:11-13). So, Lord, equip Israel today to defend herself against those seeking her destruction.
  
  
• Empower the IDF to defend the nation against its enemies all around.
  
  
• Give the wisdom and financial resources to create ground-breaking weapons to confound the plans of the enemy. Help us discover and develop ways to reveal any and all tunnels which Hamas or Hezbollah may have built to infiltrate Israel from underground. Expose all that is hidden in darkness! I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. (Isaiah 42:16)
  
  
• Place Your hand on every member of the IDF from Gadi Eizenkot, Chief of the General Staff, to the newest recruits to work in unity with the government for the protection of Israel.
  
  
• Help each soldier to recognize the responsibility placed on them to keep alert to play their part in Israel's security.
  
  
• Keep each citizen alert to the dangers round about - especially from terrorism within the country.
  
  
• Keep the intercessors alert and watchful. Show us how to pray!
  
  
• Thank You, Lord that You are Israel's security and You have good plans to give her a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
  
  portions taken from Intercessors for Israel

Prayer Points for this Week

Hodu l'Adonai ki tov, ki le'olam chasdo - Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118:1

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalm 121

• Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness.
  
  
• Thank You that Your ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9)
  
  
• Thank You that You are in the midst of Your people. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. (Psalm 46:5)
  
  
• Thank You that You are Yeshua the light of the world. I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. (John 8:12)
  
  
• Thank You that Your word stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
  
  
• Thank You that Israel shall be saved. But Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation (Isaiah 45:17)
  
  
• Lord, we are glad to come into Your house today. (Psalm 122:1)
  
   Israeli Elections
  
   With less than 2 weeks before the March 17 elections we pray that in the aftermath of Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech this week to the US Congress the campaigning would turn away from candidates and parties focusing on personality and on knocking each other down and focus on the serious issues facing the nation.
  
  
  
  • Thank you for Netanyahu's speech in the US and for the enthusiastic response he received there. Thank You for the way he represented Your land and Your people and delivered his warning to the world.
    
    
  • Hold back the media which seems intent only on Bibi-bashing.
    
    
  • Undo the enmity which seems to have been placed between the people of Israel and Binyamin Netanyahu.
    
    
  • Give discernment to the people of Israel that they would see through the manipulations of the media and look to the truth. Shake up the nation so they may have their eyes opened to the realities and focus on the real issues facing the Israel as they prepare for the elections.
    
    
  • Root out corruption and corrupt people from Israeli politics and restore integrity and honor. Give us people who desire the best for the nation.
    
    
  • Give us rulers who will rule with righteousness and justice. (Psalm 72:2)
    

  • I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning.
    Isaiah 1:26

  • All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
    Psalm 75:10

  • You, Lord are the one who removes kings and raises up kings. (Daniel 2:21)
    
    
  • Lord, if, as we continue to believe, Binyamin Netanyahu is still Your chosen man to lead Israel, raise up respected voices in these coming days who will endorse Bibi and guide the thoughts and votes of the people on March 17.
    
    portions taken from Intercessors for Israel Friday Prayer Points