Prayer Points: March 2020

Consider these prayer points as springboards into deeper prayer and intercession.

“They shall dwell in the land I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children and their children’s children, forever.”  Ezekiel 37:25

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President Donald Trump releases his peace plan for the Middle East

• The plan has been awaited with much fanfare and has finally been released. It is different from previous plans, but also suffers from many of their faults. There is much confusion and uncertainty and concerns over Israel’s security if the plan was to be implemented as it stands. Many consider the plan to be ill advised but it has been welcomed by many Israeli politicians. It has been rejected outright by the Palestinian leadership and thereby most Palestinians. However, it has received a cautious welcome by some neighbouring Arab States. Ask for God's will to be done in the way that He might want to use the Trump plan. There is an interesting comment in one of the regular newsletters (Intercessors for Israel) which we quote here:

“And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing.”  Zech 8:13

Israel's ever present threat of conflict

• As always, the situation in the Middle East remains unsettled. The Trump plan has triggered a wave of terrorist attacks.
• Over 23^rd/24^th February Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fired around 100 rockets at Israel after a PLJ member was killed trying to plant a bomb at the Gaza perimeter fence. 90% of the missiles were intercepted and destroyed by Israel’s defence systems. OUR OVERIDING PRAYER CONTINUES TO BE THAT GOD‘S SOVEREIGNTY WILL OVERRULE ANY PLANS OF SATAN.
• Gaza Truce holding - the truce implemented with Hamas in Gaza following the two days of PIJ rocket attacks appears to be holding (28Feb).
• 12 Israeli soldiers wounded, 1 seriously, by Palestinian terror car-ramming in Jerusalem. A Palestinian man slammed his car into a group of soldiers before fleeing the scene. The next day a Police officer and an IDF soldier were lightly injured in a shooting attacks in the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank.
• Israeli aircraft carried out airstrikes targeting PIJ facilities in Gaza and Syria in response to the PIJ rockets that were fired into Israel.

• Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Palestinians to wage jihad against Israel and said it was the duty of Iran to keep funding terrorism. He made his remarks in a Tehran speech marking the 41st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. This comes in the wake of the Trump administration releasing its peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians.
• The Syrian Civil War seems to be in its last stages after immense loss of life and enormous damage to infrastructure. Pictures of the conflict in Idlib province remind us how awful this has been for the civilians and conscripts over the last nine years. The war started in March 2011 and is nearly half as long again as the Second World War. The dangers for Israel are that forces like Hezbollah and a revitalized Assad regime can now turn their attention back to fomenting trouble in the north of Israel.
• Give thanks that no one was killed in the recent terror attacks. Pray that the 12 soldiers will recover quickly and especially the one who was severely injured.
• Pray that Hamas and Islamic Jihad will be thwarted at every turn and that Israel's latest laser weapons will be able to destroy all incoming rockets from whichever direction.
• Pray that the targeted assassination of the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani will jolt the Iranian regime into realising that the United States is a serious opponent, and any attack on Israel will precipitate a response, not only from Israel but also from America.
• Call upon the Lord to open the eyes and the ears of the world to Iran’s sinister nuclear ambitions to establish hegemony in the region. Pray that the admission and the clear commitment to forge ahead with nuclear testing will serve as a wake-up call to rally world leaders behind Israel to ensure that Teheran’s ambitions are not realized.
• Intercede that the Islamic Republic’s regime will crack and fall. Pray that the United States sanctions against Iran will be really effective. (Unfortunately this affects the civilian population, but there is evidence that people are protesting, despite the risks attached to this and it may be the only way to bring down the regime.)
• Pray that Hezbollah will be thwarted in any attempt to re-open its build-up and threats against Israel.
• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that God will post his angelic host around the borders of Israel.
• SPIRITUAL REMINDER: we are seated with Christ in the Heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6) and we should pray against the plans of the enemy, conscious of our authority in Christ.
• Continue to pray that God will sow confusion among the satanic principalities and powers in the Middle East so that they fight among themselves as to how to manage their forces ranged on earth. (This was a tried and tested technique in the Old Testament. See Jehoshaphat's battle against the armies of Moab, Ammon and Edom in 2 Chronicles chapter 20, especially verse 22. The significant thing is that Jehoshaphat first sought the Lord.)

Knesset Elections on 2^nd March

• This is the third election in a year and one report says the authorities are even getting ready for a fourth! Polling suggests that the people of Israel now want a coalition between the two largest parties, Likud and the Blue and White coalition. One of the problems hanging over the stalemate is that Benny Gantz the Blue and White leader is unwilling to enter into a coalition with Netanyahu while he is under indictment. (The trial is due to start on March 17^th.) This is another issue where we really need to ask the Lord to have his way and sort things out. Benjamin Netanyahu has been a strong leader on the international front, though he has been criticized for not giving enough attention to the social problems in Israel. Benny Gantz is a former chief of staff to the IDF and so will be fully aware of Israel's defensive and security needs.
• Pray that through all the confusion of elections in Israel with its multi-party proportional representation that God's choice for leader and government will prevail.
• Pray that whatever government comes into power, that it will remain steadfast in its military preparedness and resolve.
• Pray that it will continue to build links with the Arab nations who are now fearful of Iran.
• Pray that it will not be necessary to hold a fourth election.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Ethiopian Jews to make Aliyah

• The Likud party has pledged to promote immigration to Israel for all the remaining eligible Jewish Ethiopians. The plan announced in February awaits approval. By the end of 2020 more than 7,500 Ethiopians are expected to have made Aiyah. This is in addition to the 400 Falash Mura Ethiopians being brought over in the coming weeks.

Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism is on the increase: Anti-Semitism is rising all across Europe, including Britain and the United States. The recent travails of the British Labour Party show how easy it is for a civilised nation to fall into this evil trap, just as Germany did in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Ask the Lord to awaken the nations—especially the European nations—to the threat that anti-Semitism poses to the Jewish people and the world at large. Pray that leaders and laymen everywhere will take a stand for God's Chosen People and fight against anti-Semitism. 
• While we want to oppose this wicked outlook, we can also ask God to lead those whom he wants to make Aliyah to Israel, to make that decision now.
• Thank the Lord that the Jewish population in Israel continues to rise.

“He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness.”   1 Corinthians 4: 5

Rainfall and the level of water in the Sea of Galilee

• After the rainiest January in 80 years, the level of the water in the Sea of Galilee is now (23^rd February) only 99 Centimetres below its maximum level and is rising by 1 Centimetre a day. It is likely that during March the floodgates will be opened to allow more water into the River Jordan and the Dead Sea.
• Give thanks to the Lord for this abundance of winter rain.
• Pray that Israelis will recognise that God is in charge of their rainfall just as he was in the days of Elijah.
• Pray that more rain will arrive until the dry season starts in April.
• Pray that Israelis will be wise about their water usage.

The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

1 Kings 18:44

Acknowledgement: These prayer points have been consolidated from a number of sources including Prayer Letters and Newsletters originating in God’s Land.