Watchman’s Prayer Letter

A Guide to Intercessory Prayer for the month of July 2020 ~ Jewish Year 5780

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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The Inner Room

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). 

The battle between the forces of evil and the Kingdom of God continues to rage.  Sometimes the power of darkness moves stealthily in secret, and other times rears its head striking in blatant violence; but it is no match for the supremacy and might of Adonai-Tzva’ot, the Lord of Hosts.  He will always prevail because he is unequalled!

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.” (Isaiah 40:25-26).

In biblical times, the king of Aram prepared for battle against Israel.  He summoned his officers to a secluded inner chamber to devise war strategies.  It was here that he divulged military secrets to trusted officers who he thought would help carry out his mission.  The thing that the king did not realise was that the God of Israel, against whom he was fighting, could see and hear even into the hidden places (see Psalms 139:1-12).  The Lord continually revealed the king of Aram’s intentions to the prophet Elisha; so his battle plans were thwarted (see 2 Kings 6:8-12).

Today God is sending out a clarion call to the faithful!  He is drawing worshippers and intercessors to their inner room.

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6). 

It is here in this secluded, secret place that God will give us his divine combat strategies for this unique time.  Like Joshua, we must first meet with the Lord of Hosts to get tactics for each battle because not every encounter with the enemy will be fought with the same methods.  As we spend time in the inner room, we gain wisdom, strength and ultimate victory.

Are you willing to enter this inner room, so we can pray fervently for Israel?  May we echo Daniel’s testimony: God answered because we prayed!

“Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind
to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God,
your words were heard, and I have come in response to them’” (Daniel 10:12).

Thank you for praying for Israel

• Praise the Lord for his faithfulness to Israel.  Now that some of the COVID restrictions have been lifted, many residents have returned to work, so the economy can begin to recuperate.  “Give thanks to the LORD; for he is good; his love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).

• Thank God that Prime Minister Netanyahu is willing to annex territory that God promised to the children of Israel, despite international pressure and criticism.  “Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighbouring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and to their descendants after them” (Deuteronomy 1:7-8).

• Ask the Lord to halt the COVID resurgence that has taken place in recent weeks and send healing, especially in schools.  Some schools closed again after reopening, and many families were forced to go back into quarantine.  “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).

• Appeal to God on behalf of the many Palestinians who are trapped in darkness and are unknowingly fighting against the God who wants to deliver them.  “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live’” (Ezekiel 33:11).

• Proclaim that as we contend with forces of wickedness in the spiritual realm on behalf of Israel, the redemption of Jewish people will come soon, and the True Light will shine through Zion.  “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Matthew 4:16).

Thank you for taking your place among the ranks of the watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem.  Across the entire world, God has given us this charge:

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

In God’s strength,

Linda McMurray

Coordinator, International Prayer Department, Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem (UK edited version)

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CFI UK News and Prayer items

We give thanks to the Lord for his sustaining over this last month in answer to much prayer, in which we are privileged to have fellowship with you.  With God’s help we have continued to move purposefully through these restricted times and are thankful that all staff have maintained good health.

We have been able to introduce several measures to ensure best practice in the office, including reducing the paper flow between front and back-office tasks, and improving some staff work locations, reducing people-movement.  Thank the Lord for his enabling to implement these and staff adjusting to new working procedures.

The 16-month calendars, which start in September, have arrived from Israel and with this mailing there should be an order form enclosed for you.  The photographs are centred on Jerusalem of Gold, which fits well with the final exhortation following CFI Jerusalem’s prayer points.

We have circulated some informative online seminars to those who receive our ‘events’ email (to sign up go to www.cfi.org.uk/mailinglist.php ).  Jacob was privileged recently to chair a lecture by Shadi Khalloul on ‘Christians in Israel from a Christian Aramaic perspective’, on behalf of the World Zionist Organisation and the Zionist Federation, with over 170 registered to view.  We have recently begun uploading a series of documentary-style audio presentations entitled ‘Annexation or Restoration’ to the CFI UK website and social media pages.  Pray the Lord guides and provides in these new ventures and helps as we seek to develop the skills to excel.  Pray such moves reach a wider audience of UK Christians to encourage their understanding of Israel in context - biblically, historically and currently.

Finally, we thank the Lord for the safe arrival of our first CFI UK baby, Rose Joy, to Lucy and Dema.  Pray for them with the new demands this will bring, and that Rose Joy will grow up in the way of the Lord and follow Jesus her whole life through.

The CFI UK Team