As we pray this month for Israel and the Middle East, the Lord is focusing our corporate intercession very strategically. In the context of escalating warfare on many levels this month, we want to share with you how the Spirit is leading us to pray and proclaim the prophetic Scriptures. Some of the prayer points below have not only been sensed by us, but have been confirmed or voiced by other trusted intercessors here in Jerusalem, including our friends Rick Ridings and James Goll.
We do not believe it is God’s time yet for a regional war in the Middle East—although that time may not be far off. Indeed, birth pains preceding the Lord’s return are ratcheting up in intensity. But at this time, we believe He is calling us to continue praying mostly for protection, repentance, salvations, and the strengthening of His Body. We also believe He wants to raise up many more intercessors throughout the Middle East, and more houses of prayer. Accordingly, we’re suggesting the targeted guidelines below as Israel enters into the Feast of Trumpets and New Year on September 28. First listed are prayer points for Israel, followed by prayer points for the rest of the Middle East.
Prayer Points For Israel
(1) GRACE AND SUPPLICATION
Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”
This verse occurs in the context of the nations gathering around Jerusalem in a full scale military operation. Although that is not presently taking place, international momentum against Jerusalem is rapidly and precariously increasing. So while it is not yet time for the full, endtime prophetic realization of this verse, the “spirit” of this passage is beginning to materialize. Therefore, we believe the time has come for an accompanying, powerful momentum from heaven—the downpour of a spirit of grace and supplication—on Jerusalem and all Israel. We believe it is time for many Jewish eyes to open to “look upon [Him] whom they pierced,” removing a degree of spiritual blindness not only on this city, but the whole nation.
Please also pray Zechariah 12:10 concerning the Body of Messiah in Israel. We too desperately need an outpouring of the spirit of grace and supplication. Only then will we be empowered to cry out for congregational, Holy Spirit revival to look upon Yeshua as He truly is, and thus reflect Him to the Israeli people in Spirit and truth.
(2) AWAKENING TO TRUTH
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One.”
Isaiah 30:9-10, 18-21 “This is a rebellious people…who say to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things’…therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry…Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.'”
Yeshua described Jerusalem as a city that kills the prophets. That which Jerusalem decrees in the natural or spiritual impacts all Israel—and beyond. To the extent Jerusalem has despised the word of the Lord (and in refusing He Who is the Word) our people have given access to a type of deaf and mute spirit that still affects us today. Pray for Israel’s ears to be opened to hear and speak truth by the Word of the Lord. Pray for her governmental and military leaders to operate in a new spirit of wisdom and truth.
(3) BORDER PROTECTION
Psalm 47:9 “The shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.”
Psalm 3:1-3 “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me…”
We have been urged to intently pray forth God’s “shields of the earth” along all of Israel’s land and sea borders. Multitudes of her enemies—unarmed and armed civilians, intermingled with terrorists—threaten to swarm the country by crossing Israeli borders on foot later this month. Invasions by sea are also threatened.
(4) WATERS OF THE SEA
Psalm 74:13-14 “You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces.”
Psalm 144:7-8 “Stretch out Your hand from above; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks vain words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
Unfriendly countries such as Iran and Turkey have dispatched naval vessels into the Mediterranean Sea not far from Israeli waters. The concern is that they may try to provoke a naval military confrontation. A similar concern exists with respect to the Egyptian navy. In addition, future flotillas are being planned. Declare God’s sovereignty over the waters of the sea, that they would be a source of life and not death.
(5) INTERNATIONAL FORUMS AT THE UN AND DURBAN III
Psalm 9:3-5, 15-16 “When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. … The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”
Psalm 33:10-12 “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
Psalm 82:1,8 “God presides in the great assembly; He gives judgment among the gods. … Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are Your inheritance.”
For the sake of the nations, pray and release God’s righteous justice into their gatherings later this month at the UN and Durban III conference. Durban III, convening on September 23, is an international assembly purportedly aimed at combating racism, but primarily targeting Zionism. Islamist states are given wide open platform by the community of nations to denounce and delegitimize Israel.
Prayer Points for the Middle East
(1) EGYPT
Psalm 79:9 “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for Your name’s sake!”
In defeating Israel’s enemies, God’s purpose is always to exalt Himself.
Psalm 19:1 “The Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.”
Pray that God will come swiftly to Egypt with a visitation of His Spirit. Last weekend in Cairo, the Israeli Embassy was attacked and overtaken by raging mobs. Under international law, this was tantamount to a declaration of war by Egypt on Israel. Thankfully, President Obama quickly intervened and negotiated the release of Israeli Embassy personnel from Cairo. It is not known to what extent, if any, the Egyptian interim government approved of the assault. What is clear is that, based on widespread calls in Egypt at the grassroots level for revocation of its peace treaty with Israel, the latter is beginning to prepare for possible war with Egypt—regardless of the outcome of that country’s upcoming elections.
Isaiah 19:19, 25 “In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. …The Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.'”
While we should pray forth Egypt’s prophetic destiny according to the above verses, the same chapter indicates that nation will also be given over to harsh oppression and tyranny. Pray these matters transpire only in accordance with God’s divine timing.
(2) TURKEY
Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Psalm 83 (The entire psalm is relevant.)
Pray blessing on Turkey as her fury against Israel mounts seemingly daily. Pray for a Holy Spirit revival of Turkey’s ancient, New Testament church roots. [Background: Other than Egypt, Turkey served for many years as Israel’s only key, strategic ally in the region. But Turkey’s stance toward Israel changed rapidly—apparently for philosophical reasons—when Israel launched its 2008 military operation in Gaza, following years of terror attacks. Turkey played an integral role in the Gaza flotilla of May, 2010. This month’s Palmer Report, which vindicated the legality of Israel’s blockade of Gaza during the flotilla, set off a new round of Turkish saber-rattling.]
Some say Turkey represents the people of Gomer, identified in the future alignment of nations against Israel in Ezekiel 38. Others, such as author Joel Richardson, consider Turkey as the final, fourth kingdom (Islamic caliphate) spoken of by the prophet Daniel in chapter 7. They see Turkey aspiring to its former status as a once-great world power. (The Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Middle East for 400 years until its defeat in World War I.) Interestingly, when Turkey started to distance itself from Israel three years ago, it also warmed to Iran. These two nations now boast a political alliance of sorts. Notwithstanding any apocalyptic implications, Turkey clearly regards itself as no friend of Israel, but a key global player, uniquely positioned to draw both East and West into some sort of international accord.
(3) THE PA, IRAN, AND ALL OTHER NATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
We, the global Body of Messiah, must rise to the call of Arab Spring and pray passionately for a visitation of Jesus to multitudes in this region. Now is their season! The same disarray, disorder, and distress permeating these nations can also open windows to heaven that may soon shut without our intercession. Pray forth many new houses of prayer to carry lampstands for God in the PA, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula.
In Return of the King, by J.R. Tolkein, an apocalyptic battle scene is described in which the armies of good are hopelessly pitted against hordes of evil warriors. Seeking to inspire courage among his pitifully outnumbered troops, the protagonist and good king declares to them: “I see in your eyes the same fear that would break the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails… But this is not that day. This day we fight … by all you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand with me!” The battle begins, reinforcements miraculously arrive, and the good king triumphs over evil. Likewise, friends, this day we fight—in prayer—standing with our good King and His kingdom.