Israel at War: What Happens When You Pray

I am sharing with you another dream of a war in Israel which was around the time of Operation Protective Edge in 2014. This dream shows us what happens when we pray and intercede for Israel.

Before going to the dream, I remember well how the 2014 war with Gaza all started. While the tension was heating up between Hamas and Israel, I was praying alone in broad daylight when I saw Israel’s flag in red. You can imagine the flag of Magen David Adom, and rightly so because MDA is Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service. However, what was impressed to me as I saw the vision was not the MDA but that Israel was about to go to war. On the third day after the vision Israel declared war with Hamas.

In one of those days of the war which lasted about 7 weeks, God gave me a vivid dream. In this dream I was in Israel’s war room. I was there to pray for two IDFs who I knew in the dream. As I began praying, others who saw us came forward, wanting to join and be prayed over. I saw fear and apprehension in the faces of those young soldiers. They were on edge, anticipating bad report, anticipating whose name it was they would hear next. I told them to come and join hands as I led them in prayer. We prayed fervently amidst the background noise of sirens and explosions.

After praying, most of them were summoned to the frontline. I went out with them. I could see missiles and rockets lighting up the sky and falling with no letup. I could hear loud sounds of explosions. One rocket was coming towards us. Though we tried, there wasn’t much time to run from it and it exploded right in front of us. Miraculously, none of us was hurt. We were supernaturally protected.

Hamas missile hits army jeep, killing soldier; IDF strikes group’s top leaders | The Times of Israel

There are two things I see in this dream that I want to point out to you. First, when we pray for Israel in their battle, we are not only in the war room with them but we also accompany them in the battlefield as I did in the dream. As we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, it is not difficult to see that we are spiritually in the war room and battlefield with Israel. Praying is engaging in a spiritual warfare; and warfare is fierce when it comes to Israel. Second, when we pray and intercede, being in the frontline with them, miracles take place just like in the dream.

Keep praying for Israel for such labor is not in vain.

Psalm 122:6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.

Isaiah 62:6-7

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
    they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
    give yourselves no rest,
⁷ and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes her the praise of the earth.

Love in Christ,

Cynthia

How to Pray for Israel- Regardless of Israel’s Political Situation

Psalm 122:6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.

Isaiah 62:6-7

⁶ I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
⁷ And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

This is from the Intercessors for Israel (IFI):

1. Introduction: Considering that the current crisis and the headlines in and about Israel change very rapidly, how can we consistently intercede and know we are hitting God’s target?
2. First, here are two basic foundations for effective intercession:
   1. We pray according to God’s Word because it is only as we pray according to His will that we are confident that He hears and answers – in His timing:
      

      And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. [The Greek “hears” indicates listening with an intent to act on what is said.] And if we know that He hears us… we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

      1 John 5:14-15

      Why can we have this confidence in His Word? Because, God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Num. 23:19)

      God also states, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isa. 55:11). See also Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, etc.

   2. Our goal is the sanctification of God’s name. In Hebraic/biblical thought, name equals essential nature or reputation. This is the foundation for what the Lord is doing today in Israel, in the Church and in our personal lives.Tanach [Old Testament] saints had this as one of the basic goals of their prayers. After Israel sinned by demanding a human king, Samuel exhorted the people saying, Fear not. You have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart…For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you… (1 Sam. 12:20,22-23a).The Psalms use this foundational concept frequently.
      

      Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name. Deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Your name’s sake. Why should the gentiles say, Where is their God?

      Psa. 79:9-10a; cp. 115:1-3

      The most important and relevant chapter relating to Israel’s restoration today is Ezekiel 36. Concerning Israel’s return, God says, I am not doing this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the gentiles, where you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the gentiles shall know that I am the LORD…when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes (Ezek. 36:22-23).

      Messiah Yeshua undrstood this biblical concept of seeking God’s glory first, so He commands us, After this manner therefore pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed [sanctified] be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). Yeshua is saying that one of the ways in which God’s name will be sanctified/glorified is by His will being done on earth. And that is what we see in the situations concerning Israel today.

3. As we see what God is accomplishing in and through Israel, then we can accurately pray about current issues.What is God’s ultimate goal?
   

   For the earth [to] be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

   Hab. 2:14

   When will that happen? When Messiah Yeshua returns. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels… (Matt. 16:27a; see also Psa. 24:7-10; Zech. 2:5,8; Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Luke 2:32; Rev. 5:13, etc.)

   What is needed for Messiah Yeshua to return? First, the gospel must go from Jerusalem (Acts 1:8) unto the ends of the earth.

   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

   Matt. 24:14

   This has taken place and is continuing to occur today as multitudes are being saved in throughout the world – except in affluent “westernized” nations.

   Then from the ends of the earth, the scattered Jewish people need to be regathered. For I will take you from among the gentiles, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezek. 36:24; see also Psa. 147:2; Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 32:37-41; Amos 9:14-15; Zech. 8:7-8, etc.)

   Their return to the land will result in all Israel being saved. Many prophetic verses say that the Jews return in unbelief – then God opens up their spiritual eyes to see Yeshua, their Messiah and Lord. In Zechariah 12, nations come against a people already in Jerusalem and Judea. Then God says, I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me [in Hebrew: “look to Me”] whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zech. 12:10; see also Deut. 30:3-6; Jer. 33:7-8; Ezek. 36:24-28; Zeph. 3:14-20, etc.)

   Israel’s salvation occurs before the physical return of the Lord because Yeshua is returning to Jerusalem (Zech. 14:3-4; Acts 1:10-12). And Yeshua said He will not return until He is invited back by Jerusalem as Messiah. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem [He is talking to the people, especially the leaders of Israel.], you that kill the prophets and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together…and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, You shall not see Me henceforth until you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. (Matt. 23:37-39) Blessed is he that comes in the name of YHWH [God’s personal name in the Tanach] is quoted from Psalm 118:26. Many in Judaism see this verse as what they will say to their Messiah. Until a significant remnant in Israel says this from the heart, Yeshua will not return.

   For Israel to be saved, they need to be alive. God is not in the business of saving dead people (Heb. 9:27). For the Jews to remain alive – especially in Israel’s neighborhood – they need a strong army. This also is a fulfillment of the prophetic word. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. (Ezek. 37:10; see also Isa. 41:10-16; Jer. 51:19-24; Mic. 4:11-13; Zech. 12:6, etc.)

   For Israel to be saved, they need a land to return to. In Ezekiel 36 and Zechariah 12, God deals with Israel once they are back in the land.

   For Israel to be saved and remain in His land, they need a godly government. This is also a prophetic promise from God. I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds…And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them…saith the LORD. (Jer. 23:3-4; also Isa. 1:26; Jer. 3:14-15; Zech. 12:6, etc.).

   In other words, for God’s Kingdom to come, that is for Yeshua to return, all Israel needs to be saved. For that to happen, she needs to be in the land of Israel (although we bless God for every Jew who has met Messiah while in exile). The land needs to be here for the Jews to return to it. Israel also needs to be able to protect her people, which requires a strong army. All of this entails having a government that – as much as possible – lines up with God’s will.

   Anything that hinders this is not God’s will. With this outline in mind, it becomes easier to pray into Israel’s current situation.

4. We can now pray for Israel, regardless of her current situation. Here are just some areas for intercession that are always in line with God’s will.
   • Cry out for Israel to cry out: Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shalt glorify Me. (Psa. 50:15; also 2 Chr. 7:14)
   • Plead for mercy in the midst of God’s righteous judgments: LORD, I have heard Your speech, and was afraid. LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known. In wrath remember mercy. (Hab. 3:2; also Psa. 85:4)
   • Pray for aliyah: For thus says the LORD, Sing with gladness for Jacob, shout among the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together. A great company shall return there. (Jer. 31:7-8; also Psa. 147:2; Isa. 43:5-7; Ezek. 36:23-24)
   • Pray against any “Land for Peace” process: For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land. (Joel 3:1-2; also Lev. 25:23; Ezek 35:12-13)
   • Intercede for the salvation of Moslems through the destruction of Islam: Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Your name, LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever. Yes, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that You, whose name alone is YHWH, are the most high over all the earth. (Psa 83:16-18; also Zech 14:16)
   • Pray for Israel’s salvation:
     

     And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

     Rom 11:26-27

     Turn us again, O God, and cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved…
     Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved…
     Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

     Psa 80:3,7,19

     See also Psalm 44:4 and Zechariah 12:10.

   • Intercede for the Church to awake to her responsibility and relationship to Israel:
     

     Ruth said, Do not beg me to leave you, or to turn from following after you, for where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God:

     Ruth 1:16

     I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

     Rom. 11:11

     Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root [God’s covenantal promises to Israel], but the root you.

     Rom. 11:18

With a biblical foundation for our intercession, we are better able to hear the leading of God’s Spirit as He places on our hearts His burdens for the nation of Israel – and the Church – in these days of great shakings. (IFI)

Love in Yeshua,

Cynthia