A Guide to Intercessory Prayer for the month of April 2020 ~ Jewish Year 5780
`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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“Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:10-11).
Netanyahu: “I Believe in the Bible!”
In February, Bibi Netanyahu expressed his personal faith in the Bible. It is said he may well be the most Bible-believing Prime Minister in the modern history of the State of Israel. During the recent election campaign, he said: “Every Shabbat I read the weekly Torah portion many times ... And I don’t just say the words. I live it. I breath it! I believe it!” (Israel Today, 10/2/2020).
When a leader professes they believe in God’s word in today’s world, it ruffles the feathers of their opponents, even in Israel. Most Israelis were very happy about the fact that more of the nations of the world are finally recognising the Jewish state’s sovereignty over the whole of the Holy City. That’s why our Israeli Prime Minister was singing “the praises of Jerusalem.” Kings in ancient Israel had to write their own copy of God’s word (the Torah Scrolls) and to know the word of God.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all nations would learn God’s word and God’s ways? One day in the Coming Kingdom of God, it will be so, when “the law (Torah) will go forth from Zion” (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2).
Let us pray for Israel’s Bibi Netanyahu, a world leader who professes God’s holy word and is not ashamed to say so. Bibi has spoken before the whole world, and several times in the United Nations has admonished them for castigating Israel. The nations have been warned not to touch Israel in the wrong way ... or they will pay the consequences. Let us pray for Israel’s leader, and if it is God’s will, that he be allowed to remain in office.
NOTE: You can listen to the Prime Minister sing the praises of God here: ‘Netanyahu Sings Psalm 147.’
Prevailing prayer is prayer from the heart, which is sometimes loud and emotional, but at other times is quiet and confident that what God has promised will come to pass.
Watchmen who are standing strong at their positions with the flag of intercession in their hands, are the hidden ones whom God will reward one day for the sweet incense of love and their care for the welfare of his chosen people; these are those whom he will, without a doubt, reward.
Thank you for praying for the beloved nation of Israel and her people, whether in the morning, at noon or in the evening; and especially for those chosen to lead. And please teach your children to pray for Israel!
In God’s service together,
Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem (UK edited version)
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In Israel and the UK, as well as most countries of the world, the coronavirus also known as Covid-19, has taken hold. In an effort to control its spread, a range of measures are in place, with increasing restriction on movement depending on its severity at a given point in time.
In the first instance, we want all of you, our supporters in prayer, to be assured of our prayer and care during this unusual time. Please contact us should you feel we might be in a position to help.
It has inevitably affected our own activities and opportunities to communicate. Some staff, regular and occasional volunteers in the high risk category are at home, with staff working remotely as we are able to facilitate this. At time of writing we are maintaining a reduced staff in the office and arranging tasks somewhat differently, including this mailing. Please pray that we get the right balance in providing information to supporters that will be helpful for prayer and encouragement, especially those restricted in their excursions. In this connection, we are pleased to enclose a new pamphlet which is being added to the range of free literature we make available to attendees at Christian festivals. Pray as we also refresh the full range of our existing material.
Various events have been cancelled or postponed, including: the CFI UK Prayer Conference in March, the San Remo 100 Celebration events in April, and the Big Church Day Out Christian Festival in May, as well as the CFI Jerusalem Conference. Please pray for the events we wish to reconvene, that the right time will be found for them, including venue availability and speakers.
We are pleased to report that following the recent interviews, two excellent new members of staff will be joining the team – one to cover for maternity leave. Thank the Lord for what we see as his answer to prayer in this, and continue to pray as the office prepares for their arrival and they settle-in.
We have been upgrading our computer systems for some time and just about at the stage where we are able to facilitate remote access for working from home. Thank the Lord for this and pray as some adjust to the new software required to enable home-working as appropriate.
Pray too as we consider how best to continue our work, to include new means of communication should a degree of physical self-isolation continue for people. Thank the Lord for new technology that exists to enable this, but we are mindful that some will not be able to access it, or find it easy to do so.
We hope to still go to print with the second quarter ‘In Touch’ magazine for our end-of-April mailing. Pray that we will be able to collate the various articles and regular features in good time and can set these out well in the forthcoming issue.
Thank the Lord for an excellent Lobby Day before the virus took hold. Pray for the MPs who received information about the Palestinian education curriculum textbooks which promote hatred of Israel and not peace with Israel. Thank the Lord for the recent Westminster Chamber debate led by one of those who addressed our lobby group. And ask that, despite the current focus on tackling the virus, the lobby, the debate and the material provided will not get lost, but move up the Government’s priority list to be dealt with in due course and particularly before the next academic year, so that real change can be made.
We have had several opportunities now to speak in universities, the last of which was in the South West. Thank the Lord for his enabling and pray for many more similar opportunities. There were good conversations with individual students afterwards, but the vast majority follow the prevailing ‘Palestinian’ narrative. This is of real concern for our upcoming generation in the electorate and potential leadership stream, both secular and for our own Christian constituency. This needs persistent prayer, including for those of us at CFI UK looking at our future activities in reaching this age group.
So, till next time, as in “a song of ascents”, Psalm 121,
“The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore” (Psalm 121:8).