ECONOMIC SHAKING
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) The current meltdown of the US economy is shaking the nations, with important ramifications to Israel. On the one hand, God is mercifully revealing our need to repent of idolatry through mammon worship. His desire is for revival! On the other hand, as the stronghold of mammon shakes, doors can open to other demonic powers and principalities—-including anti-Semitism (see Luke 11:24-26).
Already, voices resound that illogically blame the global economic crisis on the Jews. Anti-Semitic rhetoric and physical attacks are on the rise in America and elsewhere. Combined with world reliance on Arab oil and appeasement of Islamofascism, nations are distancing themselves further from Israel. In such a state of affairs, Iranian President Ahmadinejad has now extended his vow to annihilate Israel to include wiping all “these [Jewish] germs of corruption off the face of the earth.” In other words, he seeks not only the destruction of the Jewish State, but the entire Jewish people.
The nations have taken virtually no action against Ahmadinejad, who increasingly echoes Adolf Hitler before the Nazi Holocaust. Like Hitler, Ahmadinejad spouts more than mere rhetoric. Recently revised, unofficial US intelligence reports now suggest that Iran could possess nuclear weapons as early as 2009 (Debka Report, 10/21/08), thus paralleling some reported Israeli intelligence findings.
Meanwhile, missiles filled with radioactive waste were discovered in late October aboard an Iranian sea vessel near the Suez Canal. While international naval and intelligence officials are maintaining strict silence on the matter, Russian intelligence sources allege the ship is an enormous, floating dirty bomb, obtained by Iran from China, and intended for use against Israel. (Israel National News, 10/22/08; Free Republic, 10/15/08) At the same time, Iran boasts it is adding advanced chemical weaponry, in addition to conventional arms, to terrorist “liberation armies” throughout the Middle East, for use against Israel. (Jerusalem Post, 10/27/08)
Under these circumstances, might Israel launch a surprise, preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program in the near future? If so, how would the nations—including your nation—respond? How should Christians pray?
Prayer Points
► Ask God to ignite and keep your heart aflame with His love as you intercede and stand against wickedness. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)
► Exalt and prophetically proclaim Yeshua as King of Kings over the nations and over the demonic entity known as the prince of Persia, which is modern-day Iran. (see Daniel 10:13)
► Pray for protection over the Jewish nation, for the sake of God’s glory and the remnant of Israel fearing His Name. “Because he loves Me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him…” (Psalm 91:14-15)
► Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and specifically for the salvation of Jews and Arabs in Yeshua, the Prince of Peace (Psalm 122:6).
► Intercede for the exaltation of Yawheh and global revival. “… See how Your enemies are astir … With cunning they conspire against Your people; … ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more’ … Let them know that You, whose name is the Lord—that You alone are the Most High above all the earth.” (Psalm 83)
► Pray that true Christians will courageously urge their nations to stand with Israel, for the sake of their nations’ future destiny and blessing. (see Genesis 12:3) The book of Obadiah warns that nations doing nothing to help Israel in her distress are judged by God as if they were Israel’s enemies. (Obadiah 1:10-15) “As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you…” (v.15)
POLITICAL SHAKING
Current political shaking, particularly in Israel and the US, is very much related to the economic situation. God is testing our hearts as we choose the future leaders of both nations in the next several weeks. It is with a heavy heart that we say widespread deception seems to have settled over the United States, affecting even the Church, in our upcoming presidential election. The choice will come down to biblical standards of righteousness versus humanistic values of moral relativism, appeasement and mammon worship. Even if you do not live in the US, we urge you to please, please pray concerning our November 4 presidential election. Every country on earth will be impacted by the result. Pray that the man whose heart is most aligned with the Lord’s heart will be elected president.
Several weeks after the upcoming US election, Israel will hold its own election for prime minister. Acting chief executive Tzipi Livni was not able to establish a majority coalition and will not therefore automatically serve as the next prime minister. Please pray, once again, that the candidate whose heart is most aligned with the Lord’s heart will be elected. The next prime minister will face unprecedented world pressure on such critical issues as not only as a nuclear Iran, but relinquishment of Israeli land—-including portions of Jerusalem—-to Palestinian terrorists bent on destroying the Jewish State. In the final analysis these issues will also come down to biblical standards of righteousness versus humanistic values of moral relativism, appeasement and mammon.
Prayer Points
► Pray regularly for the current and future US President and Israeli Prime Minister, as well as for the leaders of your own nation. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
► Pray for the fear of the Lord and love of truth to stir anew in the hearts of governmental leaders. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7) “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)
SPIRITUAL SHAKING
A prominent leader of a Messianic Jewish congregation in Jerusalem was found nearly beaten to death in his apartment in mid-October. Due to the nature of the crime, anti-missionary assault is suspected. Physical violence is slowly but steadily increasing against Israeli followers of Yeshua. At the same time, the Church is also slowly but steadily growing. Even a steady trickle of Orthodox Jewish rabbis is coming to faith in Yeshua. In a certain real sense, Israel is experiencing revival.
Prayer Points
► Pray for the strengthening of Israeli Jewish and Arab believers. Pray for boldness, anointing and protection in spreading the gospel, and in prophetically proclaiming moral truth to a largely secular Israeli society. Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).
► Pray for wisdom as Israeli believers seek to enforce democratic rights of freedom of religion the Jewish nation claims to guarantee. Yeshua’s followers must endure persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) but even the apostle Paul pursued his civil rights when they were available (Acts 25:11, 28:29).
► Please pray for the Jerusalem pastor beaten last month and for Ami Ortiz, the Messianic Israeli teenager recovering from an attempted murder attack last spring, apparently perpetrated by an anti-missionary group.
► Pray for material provision for needy Israeli believers unable to obtain jobs or governmental assistance because of their faith.
Praying for Israel is not ultimately about Israel.
Praying for Israel is about God the Creator of the Universe,
sharing the burdens of His heart, and His coming Kingdom glory.
Thank you for loving Him enough to pray for Israel.