From the desk of Steve Shultz:
We, at the Elijah List, support great causes, events and days of prayer for God's people. Such is the important day which is coming up this Sunday, October 3rd, called the "Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem" or DPPJ for short. This is a yearly event and day which we can all put aside to pray and get involved in numerous ways.
Listed below are some ways YOU and your Church can get involved. Also listed are some very important strategic prayer points by Robert Stearns. We can all be a part of this day, no matter where we are on the face of the earth - we can join in together and PRAY for the peace of Jerusalem.
Let's remember to: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."–Psalm 122:6-7
First, here are some awesome resources about Israel by Sandra Teplinsky:
Robert Stearns and Others:
Sunday, October 3, 2010: Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Dear Praying Friends,
As the Bible said it would, Jerusalem has become a cup of controversy on the global stage today (Zechariah 12:2-3). RIGHT NOW there are increasing threats from many nations against God's covenant city, there are escalating tensions surrounding the inhabitants of the land of Israel, and there are ever-increasing global repercussions for all mankind because of the critical situation.
As these global challenges arise, however, GOD is present. His response has been to stir the hearts of Christians from China to Germany and from Kenya to Brazil, to raise their voices in fervent intercession with His Son, on behalf of Jerusalem and all her inhabitants, both Jew and Arab alike.
We are asking you to join us THIS SUNDAY in this global chorus of prayer.
We are days away from a powerful moment. On Sunday, October 3rd, tens of millions of Christians in literally every corner of this planet will unite for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ), a day specifically set aside by more than 1,200 global leaders (click here to view a partial list of leaders).
Below are four simple ways you can be involved:
1. Participate via Global TV Broadcast.
2. Join with Believers from around the world on 24-hour prayer call.
3. Feed the poor in Jerusalem.
4. Pray through some or all of the Prayer Points.
Blessings,
Rev. Robert Stearns
Co-Chairman, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Dr. Jack Hayford
Co-Chairman, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Dr. Paul Cedar
Executive Committee, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
How to Get Involved
• JOIN VIA GLOBAL TV BROADCAST!
Celebrate with Believers around the globe as GOD TV broadcasts this event internationally, LIVE on October 3rd overlooking the beautiful city of Jerusalem. Click here for more details, including information for watching the program online. Consider having your church link with the Jerusalem celebration of the DPPJ by viewing the event on GOD TV!
• JOIN THE 24-HOUR DPPJ CONFERENCE CALL ON OCTOBER 3!
Join 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 (DPPJ) on October 3rd.
Through the teleconferencing prayer ministry of "Greater Calling", we can use this technology to pray with one heart and one mind, from every time zone, for the many needs of this strategic region and her people groups. This is an exhilarating and powerful experience of the global Body of Christ reflecting the very throne room in Heaven. You don't want to miss it!
To participate on October 3rd, dial (712) 432-0075 and use the Access Code 7739242#. This unique prayer room is open from 12 Midnight ET (U.S.) on October 3rd until 11:59 PM ET (U.S.) October 3rd. You can call anytime during the 24 hours and stay on the line as long as you would like.
There will be trained prayer leaders on the call leading intercession on various Biblical prayer topics, and there will also be time devoted in each hour for "open" prayer when callers can pray what is on their hearts regarding Jerusalem, Israel, and her people groups.
To connect for free, people are encouraged to use their cell phones (usually minutes are free and unlimited on weekends) or to use a VOIP service like Skype (click here) or the Gizmo Project (click here) to use their computer as a telephone. See the Greater Calling website for more information (click here).
• JOIN IN PRACTICALLY BLESSING ISRAEL BY FEEDING THE POOR
Join us as we help feed the needy in Israel. This year, we are adding action to our prayers by practically blessing the poor in Israel, both Jew and Arab alike. Through this initiative, all citizens of Israel who are suffering in poverty can receive assistance and food.
The People Being Served:
• Over 1,651,300 Israeli citizens live in poverty.
• Many are children who lack even 1 hot meal a day.
• Many are elderly Holocaust survivors who can't afford basic groceries, or are too ill to care for themselves.
• Some are new immigrants with almost no money; some escaping extreme persecution and poverty with only the clothes on their backs.
Watch this video (click here) to learn more or visit daytopray to donate today.
• JOIN IN PRAYER WITH THE POINTS BELOW
Day to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – Sunday, October 3rd
Prayer Points by Robert Stearns
1. Pray for Restoration
We worship God, who "makes all things new" (Revelation 21:5) – the God of restoration. When the Lord restores something, it is always increased, multiplied or improved so that its latter state is significantly better than its original state (see Joel 2:21–26). As the Psalmist writes, God more than restores souls. God's covenant with the Land as well as with the people is everlasting. God promises that "Israel will bud and blossom and fill the world with fruit" (Isaiah 27:6). We pray also for the restoration of Israeli soldiers (Gilad Shalit and others).
Jeremiah 30:17, "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord, "because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares."
Isaiah 61:4, "And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."
Other verses: Amos 9:11; Psalm 126; Psalm 147:2-3; Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 41:18-20; Jeremiah 30:18; Jeremiah 31:12; Ezekiel 34:25–30.
2. Pray that God Would Raise Up Christian "Watchmen" to Pray for His Peace and His Purposes to Manifest in this Spiritually Strategic Land
God's Mandate for us to Pray for Israel: Even though the Jewish people and the nation of Israel desperately desired peace, peace has historically eluded this tiny nation and this particular people. Have you ever wondered if this would be the case had the Church been fulfilling her Biblical mandate and praying for Israel's peace and protection? It is not too late to begin now.
Pray for current houses of prayer to have an increased heart for Israel and God's purposes for the Land and its inhabitants. Pray also that God will raise up, increase, and embolden Christian "Watchmen" in each nation. Pray Psalm 91 protection for those standing in prayer for Israel, especially watchmen living in countries governed by Koranic or anti-democratic rule of law (for example, communism, totalitarianism, and the like).
We need informed, strategic intercession for a "time such as this" as well as spiritual covering for any impinging spiritual retaliation from the enemy for praying for Israel. Prayer leaders and houses of prayer also need to be equipped with prayer coverage, leadership training, and resources to succeed. May God strengthen His perfect unity among the houses of prayer and may prayers prayed forth bring forth unity between Jews, Arabs, and other ethnicities as described in the "One new man" (see Ephesians 2:15).
Isaiah 62:6, "I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night."
Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Jeremiah 32:18b-19, "The Mighty God, whose Name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings."
Ephesians 2:15, "Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace."
Other verses: Genesis 12:3; Numbers 24:5, 9; 2 Samuel 22:2-3; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 32:10; Psalm 33:20-22; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 91:2-5; Psalm 102:13-14; Psalm 145:17-20; Isaiah 40:1-5; Isaiah 21:6; Isaiah 52:8; Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 62:7; Ephesians 2:15.
3. Pray for Peace and Protection
Throughout history, the Jewish people have been dispersed throughout the nations and have endured relentless harassment, persecution, and near annihilation. Even at the birth of a safe Jewish Homeland in 1948, the new nation of Israel was welcomed by war. Jewish people still fight for survival as Israel is surrounded by adversaries, foreign and domestic. Israel's desire and hope for peace remains as constant as her enemies' desires for her death and destruction. Israel needs continued prayer for Angelic hosts to encamp around the Land (see Psalm 83).
Pray that the nations would align with Israel. Pray for Godly wisdom for those bartering for peace in the peace process. Let Israel also know that true shalom will come from the Lord and not from man (Psalm 20:7).
Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."
Psalm 83:1-5, 18, "O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how Your enemies are astir, how Your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. 'Come,' they say, 'let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.' With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You. Let them know that You, whose name is the LORD – that You alone are the Most High over all the earth."
Psalm 121:4, "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."
Other verses: Psalm 122:6, Zechariah 2:5, Psalm 147:13-14, Zechariah 8:4-5, Isaiah 54:10, 13.
4. Pray Against Radical Islam and Jihad
The battle is not Israel against the Arabs, nor Israel against the Palestinians, but rather, radical Islam against everyone that is not of their fundamentalist beliefs. There are only 13 million Jewish people worldwide, but there are 1.4 billion Muslims who are being taught by many of their religious leaders that Jewish people, Israel ("Little satan"), Christians, America ("Great satan"), the West, and those not willing to convert or submit to fundamentalist Islam, are all infidels and must be destroyed. Even if only 10% of all Muslims believe this hateful lie (as some Muslim apologists claim), that is 140 million people whose numbers are growing each year at a birth rate 3-5 times higher than that of Americans, Europeans, Australians and Canadians.
Ideological warfare is also pervasive in the form of "revisionist history" and in indoctrination techniques which can lull people to complacency and inaction. Pray for protection for courageous and fair-minded moderate Muslims speaking out against radical Islam and Jihad.
Jeremiah 15:20-21, "I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the Lord. "I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel."
Other verses: Psalm 2:2-5, Psalm 3:1, 3; Psalm 5:9-10; Psalm 55:9-11, 16-17; Psalm 83:4; Psalm 140:1-8; Proverbs 21:29-30; Isaiah 8:9–10.
5. Pray for Reconciliation – Jewish/Christian, Jewish/Arab and Other People Groups
Our God has always lived in community in that He functions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the Three Persons in One. There is neither comparison nor competition among them; each Person of the Godhead delights in and gives honor to the Others. God's desire is that mankind – made in His image – would reflect Him in all of His ways, especially in our relationships and interactions with one another. There needs to be prayers of reconciliation between the Christian and Jewish people, as well as prayers of reconciliation between the offspring of Ishmael and Isaac (see Ephesians 2:15).
a. The Roots of Our Faith – Reconciliation Between Christians and Jews
Isaiah 51:1b-2a, "Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you."
Romans 11:18 - Grafted In, "Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you."
Other verses: Ruth 1:16; Psalm 80:14-15; Isaiah 56:8; Malachi 4:6; John 4:22; Romans 9:4–5; Romans 11:2, 11, 18; Galatians 3:29.
b. Reconciliation with the Arabs (mostly same prayer as above)
Our God has always lived in community in that He functions as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the Three Persons in One. There is neither comparison nor competition among them; each Person of the Godhead delights in and gives honor to the Others. God's desire is that mankind – made in His image – would reflect Him in all of His ways, especially in our relationships and interactions with one another. There needs to be prayers of reconciliation between the Christian and Jewish people, as well as prayers of reconciliation between the offspring of Ishmael and Isaac (see Ephesians 2:15).
Isaiah 51:1b-2a, "Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you."
Romans 11:18 - Grafted In, "Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you."
Psalm 133:1, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
Other verses: Isaiah 14:5-7; Isaiah 49:9; Ephesians 2:15.
c. Other People Groups
Pray for healing and reconciliation for Ethiopian Jews and other people groups – like Sudanese refugees in the Land.
Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
6. Pray for Healing from Pain in the Past
We serve the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, and He desires to bring "Abundant Life" to every season – past, present and future. It is therefore not surprising that when Jesus proclaimed His mission, He said He was sent to heal the brokenhearted and to proclaim liberty to the captives (see Isaiah 61:1-3). Today we can do the same for those in Israel who have tremendous pain from the past, by the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus.
Pray that the joy of the Lord would be the strength of Israel (see Nehemiah 8:10). Pray that the anointing bestowed upon David known as the "Davidic anointing" would be graciously poured out over all Israel and to all the nations. Pray that new songs unto the Lord would bring forth deliverance, healing, restoration and joy for those who live in Zion.
Psalm 126:1-3, "When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Isaiah 30:26, "The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted."
Hosea 11:3-4, "It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them."
Other verses: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 65:8; Psalm 66:10-12; Psalm 126:1-3; Psalm 129:2-7; Isaiah 14:5-7; Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 51:3; Jeremiah 30:4-6, 16-17; Jeremiah 31:1-2.
7. Pray for Christian Arabs in Israel – Protection for Pro-Israel Ones, Release from Replacement Theology for Others and Help from the Church Rather Than Hamas
Many Christian Arabs in Israel have had a salvation experience with Jesus Christ but not a Biblical revelation of God's Covenant with the Jewish people and His plan for "the One New Man" (see Ephesians 2:15). As a result, many Christian Arabs have embraced "Replacement Theology," believing God is finished with the Jewish people. Thus, many Christian Arabs hold on to animosities and hurts while still proclaiming Christ as Savior. Since the worldwide Church seems unaware or uninterested in the severe physical needs of Arab Christians who are rejected on all sides – Hamas has stepped in by default and has reinforced anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic attitudes and actions by providing for the overwhelming needs of these people.
The Church needs to be praying for Arab Christians. We especially need to pray protection over those Arab Believers who do stand with Israel and who do serve the Lord with Jewish Believers as "one new man" in Christ. We also need to remember Lebanese Christians, who also pay dearly for standing with Israel. One example is of a Christian Lebanese who fought alongside of the Israeli army against Hezbollah in 2000 and sought refuge in Israel because of death threats upon returning home.
Other verses: Psalm 33:20-22; Psalm 34:15-17; Psalm 61:1-3; Psalm 10:17-18; Ephesians 2:14, 15; Colossians 2:8 (Deception on Replacement Theology); James 2:15-17 (Meeting the needs of Christian Arabs).
8. Pray Against Terror in the Land
Israel lives with the equivalent threat of September 11th every day, most notably known by the constant barrage of katushka rockets on Sderot and surrounding communities. The toll of continuous terror is not just a physical one, but also an emotional and psychological one that affects young and old alike, particularly children. Everyone has been touched by the reality of terror and each one needs to find the place of rest and safety in The Lord.
Psalm 91:4-6, "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday."
Other verses: Psalm 17:13; Psalm 18:46-48; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 33:20-22; Psalm 34:15-18; Psalm 35:9-10; Psalm 55:9-11, 16-17; Psalm 57:1-3; Psalm 59:1-2; Psalm 62:7-8; Psalm 82:4; Psalm 91:2-5; Psalm 140:1-2, 4, 6-8; Psalm 142:1, 3-5; Isaiah 30:19; Proverbs 3:25-26; Jeremiah 15:20–21.
9. Pray for Fair and Honest Media Coverage
Israel battles not only with Arab armies and radical Islamic Jihadists, but also with over-zealous, biased media focus that creates international scorn and criticism. Pray for fair and honest media coverage and for moral clarity for the media, particularly when covering Israel and the Middle East. Pray that the God of Truth would reveal all truth and that He would not rest until He makes Jerusalem a praise of all the earth! (See Isaiah 62:7.)
Psalm 25:4-5, "Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."
Other verses: Isaiah 62.
10. Pray Against Anti-Semitism
Jewish anti-Semitism is growing at an alarming rate. This is evident not only in Muslim countries, but in Europe, Canada, Hispanic countries and on college campuses both here and abroad. Most statistics point to a level of anti-Semitism that is at the level found in Europe right before World War II. The increase of hate crimes against Jewish people, as well as their homes, schools, synagogues, cemeteries and community centers comes not only from radical Islamic forces but also from the rise of Neo-Nazi groups, "Skinheads," White Supremacists and those who hate the political actions of the state of Israel. In addition, traditional anti-Semitism has been replaced by the more "politically correct" anti-Zionism and anti-Israel activism. We dare not be fooled - they are still one and the same.
Amos 9:15, "I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God.
Other verses: Psalm 10:8, 12; Psalm 17:3; Psalm 83:1-3; Psalm 86:14-16; Proverbs 24:1-3; Psalm 140:1-2, 4, 6-8; Jeremiah 9:3.
11. Pray for the Redemption of Israel
"In Ezekiel 36:22-28, God tells of His plan to bring the people back. He didn't say that the people were being brought back because of their own righteousness; rather, He says that He is bringing them back for the sake of His Name. In Hebraic thought, a name stood for the character of a person. When God says He is doing something for the sake of His name, He is saying that His reputation is at stake. He promised to do certain things and He will fulfill them so that the nations will know that He is God." ("For Zion's Sake I will not be Silent," by Rebecca Brimmer, page 101, Bridges for Peace.)
Isaiah 45:17a, "Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation."
Ezekiel 36:26-28, "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a right spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people and I will be your God."
Romans 11:26-27, "And so all of Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.'"
Other verses: Psalm 130:7-8; Isaiah 33:24; Isaiah 35:8-10; Isaiah 44:3-5, 21:3; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 62:1, 10-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 33:7-9; Jeremiah 50:20; Ezekiel 11:18-19;
Joel 2:28-29, 32; Joel 3:21; Micah 7:18-20; Zechariah 12:10-12; Zechariah 13:1-2; Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16–17.
12. Pray for Leaders
The leaders in Israel today have a wonderful legacy from Biblical times that they would be wise to study and from which to draw. Abraham, Moses, Joshua and David were mighty men of God who led Israel to victory and blessing because they "inquired of the Lord" and they obeyed their God. Pray that today's Israeli leaders would not trust in their military might or in their friendship with the United States, but instead put their trust in the Lord. Pray for moral clarity among leaders and Biblical wisdom.
Pray for Godly wisdom for upcoming elections in Israel and that the new Prime Minister and the administration would know how to handle Iran, Syria, and other countries with radical Islamic policies. May Israel fear no one, but rather have the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil."
Other verses: Proverbs 8:12-17; Proverbs 16:10, 23; Proverbs 21:1; Proverbs 28:3-5; Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 13:17.
13. Pray for Pro-Israel Initiatives and Leaders on College Campuses
Throughout the United States, Europe and other countries, the battle for Judeo-Christian values is being fought on the college campuses, where rampant anti-Semitism takes many forms. For instance, Middle Eastern debates often lack representation of a pro-Israel voice, especially as an increasing number of Islamic scholars receive teaching appointments. In addition, college campuses reflect the growing job loss of pro-Israel professors and the growing harassment of Jewish and pro-Israel students.
A steady stream of anti-Israel protests, rallies, demonstrations, petitions, books, and articles bombard the hearts, minds and spirits of those within academic communities and beyond. Some professors have even included a complete denial that the Holocaust ever took place in their course curriculum. Those who speak out on behalf of truth, justice and equity on college campuses for the sake of Israel and Jewish students or teachers need our prayers for protection, wisdom, courage and empowerment.
Pray also for the edification of effective, strategic campus leaders and outreach; for Biblical wisdom for university leadership (especially in regards to the funding of Islamic Studies departments and chairs); and for protection, wisdom, and Biblical unity for students, universities and communities involved in pro-Israel initiatives. Pray for an increasing prayer network that would provide prayer cover for students, leaders, professors and staff on campus.
Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the Lord our God."
Ephesians 1:17-19, "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe."
Other verses: Psalm 33:20-22; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 62:7-8; Psalm 121:1-4; Psalm 145:17-20; Proverbs 3:5–7.
14. Pray for the Youth of the Land
(Note: "Youth" in Israel – according to the youth – would include ages 18-35.)
The youth in Israel are unlike the youth in any other country. They have experienced war and terror since the day they were born, because Israel has experienced war and terror since it was born. Because all 18-year-olds, male and female alike, are required to join the army – the IDF – the awareness of life and death responsibility and sacrificial service for one's country comes at an early age. To offset the seriousness of survival, Israeli youth also know how to have fun, which can sometimes lead those without a strong religious faith into a lifestyle of immediate gratification and worldly pleasures. (The abortion rate is high in Israel.)
Almost every young person in Israel has lost someone they know or love to terror or to war; they value relationships deeply. Many need the healing love that only God can give in this uncertain hour. Israeli youth also need the assurance that those who share their democratic beliefs and Judeo-Christian values will not desert them, as did many Christian countries some 65 years ago.
Exodus 15:2-3, "The Lord is my strength and song. And He has become my salvation; He is my God and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name."
Exodus 15:13, "In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling."
Other verses: Exodus 15:13; Ecclesiastes 11; Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 25:7; Psalm 91; Psalm 119:105; Daniel 1:17, 20; Joel 2:28a; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17.
15. Pray for the Coming of Messiah
For thousands of years, the Jewish people have looked and longed for the coming of the Messiah – the "Anointed One" – the Deliverer. We who worship Jesus Christ know that the Messiah has already come. Let us now join with the Jewish people in their fervent prayers, that the Messiah will reveal Himself to them and come dwell in their midst.
Isaiah 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."
Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."
Other verses: Jeremiah 23:5, Luke 2:32.
16. Pray for Rain in the Land
Water is a vital lifeline in Israel. Israel again is in need of "rain and more rainfall. Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), which provides roughly 25 percent of Israel's drinking water, dipped to the lowest level in five years. The Israel Water Authority demarcates three thresholds – the Upper Red Line, the Lower Red Line, and the Black Line – and the Lake Kinneret levels are just below the Lower Red Line. Low water levels may be too low to reach Deganya dam water pumps, thereby leaving Jordan Valley communities 'high and dry.' Israel's plans to erect a new dam will create an artificial reservoir that will artificially raise water levels inside the reservoir." (Eli Ashkenazi, "New dam planned as Kinneret water level drops," Haaretz, June 23, 2008).
Pray for rain in the land and that God would continue to give Israel strategies on water conservation and stewardship.
Psalm 65:9, "You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so You have ordained it."
Isaiah 41:17-18, "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs."
Other verses: Deuteronomy 28:1, 12a; Job 5:9–10; Job 36:27-28; Job 37:5-6, 11-13; Isaiah 43:18-21; Isaiah 55:10; Jeremiah 5:24-25; Zechariah 10:1
17. Pray for Aliyah – for the Jewish Return to their Homeland
In his book "Let My People Go," Tom Hess writes that there are over 700 verses of Scripture where God promises the Land of Canaan to His chosen people and commands or encourages them to return to the Land of Israel which He gave to them as an everlasting inheritance. When God repeats His Word in Scripture, we know that it is vitally important that it be obeyed no matter how things may appear in the natural.
With the present level of anti-Semitism continually growing under a politically correct guise of "anti-Zionism," it is becoming increasingly evident that we are quickly approaching the day when Zechariah 14:2 can be fulfilled. As only God could foreknow when He inspired the writers of Scripture, the ONLY safe place for Jewish people worldwide is the special homeland that God has given to them for such a time as this. ["I will gather all nations to Jerusalem to fight against it."]
Jeremiah 29:14 - Released from Captivity, "I will be found by you," says the LORD, "and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you," says the LORD, "and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive."
Jeremiah 16:14-16, "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that it shall no more be said, 'The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,' but, 'The LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.' For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the LORD, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks."
Other verses: Deuteronomy 30:1-5, Psalm 126:1, 2; Isaiah 11:11-12; Isaiah 14:1-2; Jeremiah 30:3, 31:8-9; Ezekiel 39:26-28; Amos 9:13-15; Zechariah 8:7-8; Zechariah 10:8–9.
18. Pray for a Strong Alliance between America and Israel
Scripture teaches us that God blesses those who bless Israel (see Genesis 12:3) and prospers those who pray for her peace (see Psalm 122:6). Many believe that America has been blessed as a nation not only because it was founded upon Scriptural principles and values, but also because America has been a strong ally and friend to Israel since its birth in 1948.
The erosion of Christian values among politicians, the dependence upon fossil fuels from Arab countries, the desire to be seen as a "tolerant" nation, and the pressure from the international community, the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank all work together with the spiritual ruler of this world, to undermine the continued solidarity and support of America for Israel. If America is not to be found among the nations judged by God because they opposed Israel, the Church must pray fervently (see Jeremiah 30:16, Joel 3:2 and Zechariah 12:9).
Pray also for upcoming elections in America and that the next American President to have a heart for Israel.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who stands alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
19. Pray for Caring of the Needy, Elderly and Homeless in Israel
In addition to Israel having to use so much of her resources for defense purposes, welfare recipients have increased because so many Jewish families now find themselves without a major wage earner because of either death or disability due to the bombings. Pray for the caring and healing of the brokenhearted and those in need.
Romans 15:27, "They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings."
Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
Psalm 82:3-4, "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Matthew 25:40, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me."
Other verses: Psalm 10:17-18; Psalm 41:1; Psalm 102:13-14; Isaiah 30:19; Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 14:31.
Blessings,
Rev. Robert Stearns
Co-Chairman, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Email: office@eagleswings.to
