Watchman’s Prayer Letter

A Guide to Intercessory Prayer for the month of October 2019 ~ Jewish Year 5779

Click here for PDF copy

`I will stand upon my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer.` (Habakkuk 2:1)

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Watching the Miraculous Hand of God

“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth …” (2 Chronicles 6:4).

“Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 30:12).

“… The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way” (Ezra 8:31).

Writing to share the ‘dunamis’ (the power) of God over Israel is such a blessing for me.  His miracles can be seen so clearly from here, which shows God’s strength, his ability, his potency, his might and capability, as he truly is able to do miracles.  We read about God’s hand being seen during the 1948 Arab-Israel War, the 1956 Suez Crisis, the 1967 Six Day War, the 1967-70 War of Attrition, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1982 Lebanon War, the 1987-1993 First Intifada, the 1985-2000 South Lebanon Conflict, the 2000-2005 Second Intifada.  Furthermore, during our own lifetime we have seen God’s mighty hand in the Gulf War, the Iraq war, Operation Magic Carpet, Operation Nehemiah, Operation Ezra, and much more.  There is no doubt that there is a God watching over Israel!  And watchmen on the walls are watching with God over his beloved nation and people.  Here are a few more recent signs that God is with us!  We must praise him for it!

Last autumn it was reported that a bus was hit by a missile in the Shaar Hanegev Region, near the Gaza border, badly injuring one soldier.  But a much greater disaster was narrowly avoided, with World Israel News reporting that it was being called a miracle.  50 young Israeli soldiers had exited the bus just minutes before the Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missile

struck the back part of it and exploded.  That particular attack set off a wave of violence in which Hamas launched 100’s of mortar shells and rockets at Israel.  Israel’s air force responded with heavy strikes in the Gaza Strip, knocking out Hamas military and political installations ... so it goes in Israel.

Another miracle, reported by the Israel News Network, took place a few months back when the IDF revealed that a bullet had struck an IDF officer’s helmet but did not penetrate it – thus he narrowly escaped death.  It turned out that terrorists had broken through a security fence, sabotaged military equipment and returned to the Gaza Strip.

Amid growing anti-Semitism, more French Jews have made Aliyah, according to a report by ‘United with Israel’ in August 2019.  They were met by Israel’s Chief Sephardic rabbi and other dignitaries, as well as family and friends.  The flight passengers burst into applause and song upon landing in Israel.  (I remember the days when all Israelis on our El Al flight sang upon landing in Israel).  They were waving flags and many of the French Jews cried and bent down to kiss the ground that their ancestors only dreamed of touching for 2,000 years.

One man told the Jerusalem Post: “It’s hard to be saying goodbye to my family but I hope they will follow me ... I’m confident they will”.  “I know life in Israel will be better – I will be more free to be Jewish, and that’s what I’m looking so forward to.”  Making Aliyah from the nations is a big decision, but they are fulfilling a biblical commandment (a mitzvah, in Hebrew).  “I can’t believe we finally made it. I’m here. I’m here. What a dream come true!” (French immigrant upon arrival in Israel).

Let us enter our place of prayer

• Pray that the 43% of French Jews yet to come home, around 200,000 people, will make the decision to come soon.  “For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24).

• Thank God for a reminder of biblical truth when foxes were seen recently walking near the Western Wall.  The Book of Lamentations is read on Tisha B’Av, with verse 18 of chapter 5 predicting that Mount Zion, where the temples once stood, would lie desolate and foxes would prowl on it.  Jewish history reveals that the prophecies of destruction were fulfilled.  So too, some expect that Zechariah’s prophecy regarding the Third Temple’s construction will also be fulfilled (Zechariah 6:11-15).

• Pray for the Jewish people who wish to walk on the temple platform but experience even Jewish police preventing them from doing so.  Recently, when a small Jewish boy who was walking there bent down to pick up his phone, he was nearly arrested for ‘prostrating himself’ on the temple platform that Muslims have taken away from the Jewish people – the holiest site in Judaism.  May God stop the lie that it is the Jewish people mistreating the Arab people, it is not true.  The Arabs have taken away Jewish sovereignty and the freedom to pray on the temple platform, the holiest place in the land of Israel.  But new legislation in the Knesset is working toward allowing Jewish people to worship there. “For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land the entire house of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices” (Ezekiel 20:40).

• Thank God that in July, Israel welcomed over 200 ‘olim’ (Jewish immigrants) from three continents in just one day.  Rabbi Yosef, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, blessed these ‘olim’ and reminded them that making Aliyah is a great mitzvah and that once they have lived in Israel, all mitzvot, all righteous deeds, grow in value and in the light they spread.  He then reflected on Isaiah 2:3 and asked them to be strong and faithful (report from Mr Danielle, Jewish Agency). “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

• Thank the Lord that the IDF has been preparing for the possibility of an escalation of hostilities in the south of Israel, in the “Negbah” (southern) part.  Getting ‘ready’ is a process the army has undertaken for some time ... increasing the breadth of staff goals, empowering intelligence, linking field units with real-time intelligence, improving regional organisation, and extensive logistical effort.  This is so different from previous wars.

• Beseech the Lord for an easy shift from routine to emergency situations in the region – it can happen so quickly here. “On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.’ The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:16).

Serving him with gladness,

Sharon Sanders

Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem (UK edited version)

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CFI UK News and Prayer items

Give thanks for the success of our annual conference in Eastbourne on 6^th and 7^th September – and the help of many volunteers, which was essential to that success.  Dr Calvin Smith spoke powerfully about Israel’s continued role in God’s purposes, and Jonathan Farrell presented a very clear picture of the challenges faced by Jewish university students in the UK.  Please continue to pray that what we all learned will be shared with many other Christians.

The Eastbourne office was privileged to host HE Mark Regev, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom last month, where he was interviewed by our Chief Executive Jacob Vince.  His honest and courteous advocacy for Israel was a great example.  Thank the Lord for this opportunity to express our friendship with Israel.

Robin has been invited to speak to the Lion of Judah fellowship in Deal on Saturday 12^th October.  Ask our gracious Lord to give him the right words to say to that group, to encourage them in the faith and in their support for Israel during these uncertain times that we are experiencing in the UK.

Appeal to God for his guidance with final preparations for the Christian Resource Exhibition at Sandown from 15^th to 17^th October, and to grant us many meaningful conversations with our fellow Christians so as to help them develop their understanding of Israel.  We continue to desire a better perception of the work of CFI; that it is not all about Israel, but that Israel is an important part of the story of God working with all peoples on earth.

Pray for strength and clarity of speech for Jacob when he speaks at the annual Jersey ‘Feast of Tabernacles’ weekend Friday 18^th – Sunday 20^th October.  He is due to give four talks on Israel and the Church during Saturday 19^th.

David and Julia Soakell plan to lead another evening Call to Prayer for the UK and Israel on 24^th October.  Pray for the precious help of the Holy Spirit for everyone who attends, so as to express things too difficult for words.

And do continue to pray for the Lord to bring us a new member of staff to support us in making changes at the Eastbourne office.  A specific calling to the work of supporting Israel is most important.

Bless you for supporting us in prayer.

The CFI UK Team