Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre

 

 

Below are notes from the latest prayer meeting held at the Israel Prayer Centre in Jerusalem. You might find them helpful as a prayer guide when praying for Israel or for our nations in these unprecedented times. You can hear Ofer on the latest Olive Tree podcast, OT501, with Julia Fisher.

 

Politics or the Kingdom of God?

Throughout Biblical history, God warned Israel and Judah not to look to the superpowers of the day.

Psa. 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

 

Is. 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

Is. 30:2 Who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

Is. 30:3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.

 

There is fear and uncertainty in Israel! Our newspaper headlines reflect the country’s tension, especially in our government, while everyone waits with bated breath for the results of the US elections.

“Israel must be ready for November 4“…. Ynetnews Nov. 3, 2020

“The Mideast is waiting with bated breath” Ynetnews Nov. 3, 2020

“Likud officials worry Biden victory could damage Netanyahu, Israel’s UN standing” Times of Israel, Nov. 4, 2020

While it may be excusable for our government to look to the world’s political systems and the superpowers of the day, it is inexcusable for us as believers to trust in Man. It would be most wrong in light of scriptures to limit our faith and prayers and hang our destiny as a nation based on an election. It would be most wrong of us to expect systems and governments and politicians to do what only God can do and will do!

 

Our God is sovereign

God is in no way limited by man, or by the resistance of man, to His plans and purposes on the earth. Chapters 40 to 46 of Isaiah are filled with God’s expression of His sovereignty on the earth in the affairs of man. They were meant to encourage His people to trust in Him, even though difficult days were ahead. Indeed, these scriptures should do the same for us.

Is. 40:22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Is. 40:23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.

Is. 40:24 Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

Is. 40:25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

Is. 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

Is. 40:27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God”?

 

Is. 41:8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.

Is. 41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, “You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

Is. 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

 

We declared before the Lord:

“You are sovereign, O’ God.”

“You alone are God; there is no other.”

“You do what you please and all that you please on the earth.”

“Our destiny is in your hands and your hands alone O’ God.”

“The world is looking to the US; we look to your throne, O’ Lord.”

“The world looks to Man, we wait upon you, O’ Lord.

The world is seized by fear; we trust in You.

“The world will pass away; Your word shall be established forever.”

“The nations’ promises will blow in the wind. Your promises are all yes and amen in Messiah.”

“Some nations are powerful; you are sovereign.”

“Men plot many schemes; your will is supreme.”

“Man wants power, but all authority (power) in heaven and the earth, has been given to you.”

 

We prayed:

For God’s purposes for Israel to come to fullness,

For God’s counsel to sovereignly unfold in the coming days regarding Israel’s destiny,

We prayed for Israel’s restoration to God Himself,

We prayed for the salvation of Israel.

 

Lord, we may be in the Land, but are in exile from you spiritually!

Break the resistance to Yeshua in the Land,

Rise in great grace to save us O’ Lord.

How long will we be a nation dwelling in darkness and ignorance?

How long before you come to rescue captive Israel O’ Lord?

Reveal Yourself to your people — when shall we see you again, when shall we know the sweetness of your presence?

When shall we see your face again, dear Lord?

When will we love Your Son again?

When will we know you as our savior and God?

Wait no longer Lord, come, o’ come Emmanuel.

When will we worship you again, dear Lord, and know your love in Messiah?

Withhold no longer dear Lord the revelation of Your Son.

Withhold no longer the sight of the one whom we have pierced.

Let us taste, dear Lord, of the bitter/sweetness of repentance.

O’ that we may be relieved of our sins.

O’ that we may know the joy of salvation.

O’ that we may be a nation whose God is her King!

 

We prayed for our leadership

Lord, our leaders cannot trust you in this way, but we can as we know your Son. Strengthen our leaders in their vision for the nation.

Ignite in our leaders a vision fueled by the word of the prophets of old, for this nation.

Keep our leaders from throwing all their faith and trust in any leader of any nation.

 

We prayed for our leaders in the management of the current Corona crisis

We pleaded with God that our leaders would handle the crisis not out of politics but genuine care for the welfare of the nation.

Lead our leaders we pray dear Lord; You are the true head of this nation. Intervene in all their decisions and give special wisdom to them.

Help them to work collectively instead of being so bitterly divided.

Lord, you spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, you gave Pharaoh dreams, you can speak to our leaders even if they do not know you or believe in your existence.

 

We prayed into the crisis itself

Have mercy, dear Lord, and intervene in this plague,we remember your intervention through Aaron while the plague began to kill the people.

We prayed for the old who are in isolation and who are alone, for the medical staff and those who are giving their lives to save lives.

 

This is how we prayed. May this be of help to you in your own praying.

 

Blessings in Yeshua,

Ofer

 

 

Title: A Prayer guide for “ Such a time as this”
Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre
Date: 13th November 2020