The funeral of Shimon Peres is being held in Jerusalem today. As that means many street closures and extraordinary security measures, we cancelled this morning's prayer meeting. Some of the prayers below are from this week's midday prayer burdens, as well as some other issues that are on our hearts.
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Praise
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I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from YHWH, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps/guards you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps/guards Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:1-4 -
Thank You, Lord, that You do indeed keep watch over Israel – all the time (Deuteronomy 11:12).
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We bless You because nothing takes You by surprise (Psalm 103:19).
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You are faithful in watching over and completing that which You have begun in us (Philippians 1:6).
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And the very God of peace sanctify you completely. I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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The death of Shimon Peres. While we do not agree with much of Peres' later politic stances, we do not deny that this man has had a great impact on this nation. His death comes as a significant marker, as he was the last of the original founding fathers of the modern Jewish State to remain alive. It is also a challenge for pray. Many world leaders will gather in Israel for today's funeral. This presents security risks both in the physical and spiritual arenas. We expect a few days of severe disruptions and delays on the roads in and around Jerusalem.
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Thank You that it is You, and not Peres, who has been, and remains, Israel's Guardian (Jeremiah 31:10).
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We praise You as the One in control of the timing of Peres' death.
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) -
Bring Your comfort to the members of Peres' family and use his death to bring the life of Yeshua in some of their hearts (Isaiah 40:1).
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In some respects, Shimon Peres has been held up almost as an idol to some Israelis. With his passing, let the idol be removed from their hearts, and may an altar to You be raised up instead (Judges 6:25-27).
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Abba, protect Israel from this gathering of the world's leaders to Your city and land.
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Rein in those who will be coming with a desire to push forward their own (and Peres') agenda of "land-for-peace" and who will try to put pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel's government.
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Show Israel and the world that You and Your ways are the only guarantee of true security.
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You will keep him in perfect peace [Heb: shalom shalom], whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in YHWH forever: for in Yah YHWH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 26:3-4 -
Give wisdom to all involved in the security operations surrounding the funeral.
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Close all security loopholes.
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Security around Israel's borders: With the huge security operations surrounding the funeral, as well as plans being made for the biblical holy days beginning this Sunday evening with the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah – New Year), there is a danger of neglecting the security of Israel's borders. Also, the Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza has called for a "Day of Rage" today to mark the 1st anniversary of the outbreak of the wave of stabbings and other attacks that Israel has experienced this past year.
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Lord, give wisdom to the leaders of Israel's security forces and let them really communicate with each other (Proverbs 20:18; 24:6).
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Impart a readiness to make any difficult decision that is required, and if needed, to restrict leave over the holidays for both soldiers and police (Joshua 1:6-9).
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Bring the wicked plans of Hamas to nothing and let any evil planned against Israel be turned back on their own heads (Esther 7:10)!
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Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
Nehemiah 4:4 -
Set Your angels to guard over all our borders, particularly in the north against Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hizbullah and Iranian forces in Syria (Psalm 34:7; 35:4-8).
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Lord, use Russia in Syria for Your end-time purposes and frustrate all man's plans of man.
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YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the people of none effect. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.
Psalms 33:10-11
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Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu is always in our prayers. The fruit of this is having him become one of the few Western leaders who sees and speaks truth in today's increasingly dark world. He is back home after an intense visit to America and the UN and now faces the prospect of all the world's attention and diplomatic pressure focusing on Israel in the light of Peres' death.
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Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand [Binyamin = son of my right hand]; upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
Psalm 80:17 -
Give Bibi Your refreshment and the ability to sleep well.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.
(Psalm 127:2; cp. 3:5) -
Bless him with "shalom bayit" – peace in his home, and freedom from strife from his own household and personal staff team.
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Impart to him wisdom in using opportunities presented by the funeral and gathering of foreign leaders.
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The king's heart is in YHWH's hand. As rivers of water, He turns it wherever he will.
Proverbs 21:1 -
Protect Bibi from all assassination attempts and from all health issues (Psalm 3:3).
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The US Elections. While ministering in America, Chuck felt a heaviness on many believers about the November 8th Presidential elections. In reality, neither candidate has any kind of track record that draws godly voters to trust in. Yet Chuck encouraged them to stop focusing on what is best for America, and to focus instead on God's glory, asking Him how to pray and vote for His kingdom's sake. After hearing this, there was often a tangible sense of relief that yes, this is how we must approach this election. Here in Jerusalem, we continue to pray for the American Church to wake up, to pray and to vote – in line with the leading of God's Spirit. Please join us as the results of this election will definitely impact the globe.
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Not unto us, YHWH, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and Your truth's sake.
Psalms 115:1 -
Yeshua, make it very clear to Your Body in the US as to what Your will is for this election.
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You are the One who raises up and pulls down kings and all in authority (Daniel 2:20-21). We ask for nothing more, yet nothing less, in the results come November.
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May Your Body be less influenced by the media and more influenced by Your Word in making their decision on who to vote for (2 Corinthians 5:7).
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We plead with You to reveal truth about both candidates. That which is hidden in dark places, bring out unto the light (Job 12:22).
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Bring to light all that needs to be revealed for godly votes to be cast (Daniel 2:22).
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Lord Yeshua, who but those in Your Body can see that the most important issue in this election – for America's sake – is to have a leader who truly blesses Israel and not one who only talks the talk like Obama (Genesis 12:3; 27:29; 30:27; 39:5; Numbers 22:12; 24:9; Isaiah 60:12; Jeremiah 30:16).
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May the US Church – in fact all of Your Body worldwide – have eyes to see the times we are living in.
But of the times and the seasons…you have no need that I write to you. For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, 'Peace and safety', then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman in childbirth, and they shall not escape. But you… are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober-minded.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)
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Rain: Thank God, Israel has enough water for drinking and most of its agriculture because of its cutting-edge desalinization technology, but great damage can result to its ecology, especially to the Sea of Galilee, as a result of no rain from heaven. There was some rainfall in parts of Israel last weekend and there are signs of change in the weather.
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Thank You for the rain You have already given us!
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The land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which YHWH your God cares; the eyes of YHWH your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.
Deuteronomy 11:11-12 -
Thank You for Your passion for Your land, that You want it to be fruitful with abundant provision which gives honor and glory to Your name (Ezekiel 36:8-11; 28-32; 35-36).
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Cause Your land to bring forth provision which will meet the needs of all Your people who are yet to come home.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of YHWH, for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd. Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all.
(Jeremiah 31:12) -
Thank You for all the technologies Israel has developed to provide and make better use of the water – drip irrigation, desalination of sea water, recycling methods, etc. Inspire our scientists and engineers toward further improvements.
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God, please protect Israel's water infrastructure against any terror attacks.
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What a blessing to see Israeli water technology breakthroughs helping many nations worldwide – from Arab countries, to African nations, India, China and even the state of California!
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We give You the glory for using Israel to bless the world – even in the face of so much of the world's hatred (Genesis 12:2; Ezekiel 34:26).
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This coming Sunday evening the fall feasts of the Lord begin, as Rosh Hashanah enters in at sundown. The basic instruction in scripture is to have a gathering and blow the shofar. The Rabbis have added the excellent themes of honoring God as both Creator and King. In Leviticus 23, these feasts are called moedim – which indicates that God wants to use these special set-apart times to meet with His people. May you meeting with Him be all that He desires for it to be.
Shabbat shalom, Shanah tova and blessings from Zion
The IFI Team