February, 2007

Shalom from Brunswick,

We’ve just recently returned from Israel where we served as delegates to the International Prayer Conference in Jerusalem, and then participated in a very intense and powerful Prayer Tour of Israel’s borders. 

The Prayer Conference was held at the Ramat Rachel again this year, and we were very well received there. We have found the folks on that Kibbutz to be very warm and hospitable people.

Prior to our arriving in Israel, the Lord told me that it would be different this year. He said to expect to see a change, which we certainly did. Also, as more than two hundred delegates arrived, it was obvious that they knew they were called by God to be there as warriors, for the situation in Israel is extremely serious. There was no nonsense, and everyone was focused and remained so throughout the conference. The Israelis repented for the sins of their nation and a delegate from each of the nations represented repented for all that our nations have been doing to Israel which can only bring about destruction.

The first topic that was tackled was Iran. Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s threats to annihilate Israel are to be taken seriously as words truly spoken from the intent of his heart. We were reminded that in the 1930s and 1940s most of the Church ignored Hitler’s promises to destroy the Jewish people, as well as the reports indicating that he was actively pursuing that goal. Today most of the world, as well as the Church, are ignoring the Iranian threat. 

The leadership had a list of every threat Ahmadinejad has made concerning his intentions to annihilate Israel. We prayed in to this basing our prayers upon Hezekah’s response to Sennacherib’s threat to destroy Israel (II Kings 18:17-19:37 and Isaiah 36:1-37:38). Then on the 25^th we went by buses first to Gihon Springs and then to the Temple Mount where we split up in to four groups of 50 each and spent an hour praying and making prophetic declarations on the Temple Mount, each one individually. Then we all walked to St. Anne’s where we gathered on that lawn to enter in to a time of intense warfare as the leadership spread out the list of Ahmadinejad’s threats before the Lord, and we all   petitioned God to act defending His Name and His people.

I want to thank all of you who answered our call to join us in prayer as we prayed on location January 25^th.   The Lord said He put fire under our feet as we walked all over the Temple Mount that day. Praise His Name!

We as Watchmen on the Walls need to be a prayer army that is disciplined, strong, and wise, knowing how to use the weapons of our warfare, and how to hear and obey the voice of our Lord, Yeshua, who is Captain of the Hosts of the Living God.  There are some who would say that we are extremists, but in truth these are simply extreme times.  

We prayed much for the Israel Defense Forces who have been terribly demoralized. There is much discontent among them. We were told of four soldiers who were so depressed that they tried to burn themselves so they could be released from the army. They want to leave the country. All Israel is concerned for their soldiers right now and rightfully so. We were also reminded of the dear soldier who threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades.

Because of Dan Halutz’s resignation as Chief of Staff of the IDF, we prayed concerning a replacement who would have the strong and clear mind needed to shape and rebuild the IDF.  One who would be trustworthy to lead the men and women in to battle. 

Of the three whose names were brought forth, Ashkenazi was the one who was not involved in the war with Lebanon or in putting the Jews of Gaza and Northern Samaria out of their homes and communities.  He was the one finally appointed.  

Let us continue to pray much for him and all of the IDF leadership. Pray that the Lord will send the ‘spirit of burning’ to remove all politics and corruption from the Israeli military.  Let us pray that the weak compromised and manipulated military leaders in Israel be transformed into awakened, delivered, mighty men of valor, with the Lord as their Commander or be replaced by warriors who are led by God. Pray also for the funds needed for the military, as well as the release of the captive soldiers. Israel does not know if they are alive or dead.

The Leadership in the Body of Messiah in the Land is extremely heavy upon the heart of Ofer Amitai.  He shared his heart with all of us for there is so much confusion within the Body of Messiah, as well as compromised Word, and even Replacement Theology that has crept in from the West.

Humanism is a very real problem within the Body of Messiah in the Land and because of it many of the true believers have been neutralized from true prayer and pressing on in faith. Most of the Body of Messiah hardly believes in prayer. Still others don’t even believe that Israel has a right to the Land.  Some of them will not accept the words of the Hebrew prophets regarding the Land of Israel. They believe that the Words of the prophets are only for educational, therapeutic, and community purposes. He shared that the Messianic believers in the Land desperately need revelation from the Lord. As he said, “God has given us the Land and we must stand in the gap for the Land.”  Let us make the Body of Messiah in the Land of Israel a priority as we pray.

It was just a couple of months ago when the Lord said to me, “There is a false shepherd in Israel, and I will run him out of the Land.” Since that time, we have seen many in the government exposed and some brought down. It is interesting to note that each one of these was involved in throwing the Jews out of their homes and communities in Gaza  and Northern Samaria. Lance Lambert said, “The situation we face here in Israel is incredibly dangerous with our present government.”

Corporately we prayed for the standing government in Israel to be replaced with those who acknowledge the reality and claim of the God of Israel upon the Land and upon the Jewish people.  I heard the Lord say, “I will expose those who are enemies of My people and uncover all those who have worked in secret for the demise of My people. There will be much demonstrating, and there will be political change!”  

He went on to say that there will be great responsibility fall upon Jerusalem. She will have to take up her defense. “Speak strength to her gates!”  He said that she will go forth to root out the hidden works that her enemies are seeking to establish. He said, “I will rekindle the fire that has been snuffed out! The eternal flame shall once again be ignited, and that which I had begun I will complete in this season. The work that ceased will once again be accomplished.”  He said that we should pray for a continual release of the Spirit of Truth to combat the flood of lies. 

Aliyah was another topic that we prayed in to.  In Yemen the Jews have been told by the government to “Get Out!”  If they don’t they say they will be killed. China’s Jews have been legally erased.

 Many of the Jews who had made Aliyah from Russia, and some from America, have returned to the nation from which they came. Many were discouraged because of the economic bottleneck. The average income in Israel at this time is about $1,000 shekels per month. Also, there are road blocks in Israel at this time and they are hindering many from making Aliyah.

We must pray for the economy of Israel so that the people can make an honest living. Also, pray that the road blocks be removed to clear the way for the Aliyah. The hunters spoken of in Jeremiah 16:14 are being released. Let us pray that God will open the gates for all of His people to come home to Israel while there is still time.  

The borders of Jordan are opened now and more than 3.000 people a day (Bedouins) are coming in to the Negev. Lawlessness abounds! It is being called “The Wild South”. The Jews are losing calves and sheep. One farmer was shot because the government is refusing to protect them.

Let us pray that God will impart to the Jewish people courage, boldness, wisdom and   strategy in how to deal with such attacks, terrorists, and their corrupt government. Pray that they will begin to rise up and say, “Enough is enough” and demand an end to the wicked injustice and threats that they have had to deal with for so long. Pray for the protection of all those who are demonstrating against the corrupt government of Israel. 

Concerning the present government in Israel, the Lord said, “They have profaned My Holy Name!”  

The Coming War

We prayed much about the coming war in Israel. Everyone is terribly burdened because the present government is doing nothing to prepare the Israeli people, and the IDF are not being prepared and made ready.  All the while Israel’s enemies are making preparations as money, weapons, missiles, rockets, and supplies of all kinds have been flowing in to   their coffers from the nations, including our own, and including Israel. Unbelievable but true!  

Let us begin to pray that the katyusha rockets, kassams and all other projectiles explode before leaving their launching sites. Let us pray that they supernaturally rust and corrode into dysfunction while they wait in the tunnels, hidden rooms, and weapon storage facilities.

Let us pray for visual blindness, confusion, and the fear of God to overcome the terrorists who are about to launch missiles, rockets, or enact violence intended to bring death to the Israelis.

Let us pray for angels to knock every rocket and missile off course, even visibly, so the Israelis will know they have a Protector.
 

Prayer Tour on the Borders

 The first day of our second week ninety of us set out for the Jordan Valley, and we prayed all along the Jordan border. We prayed from a hill which overlooks Jericho and then headed north to pray along both the Lebanon border and the Syrian border. We stayed overnight on the Sea of Galilee.

The second day took the team to the Golan Heights, praying from the top of snow covered Mount Hermon, the Benias Nature Reserve, and Mount Bental, OZ77 (Armored Corps Memorial). That evening we stayed again along the Sea of Galilee at Ramot Holiday Village.

On the third day we prayed at Tel Faher, Metulla, Kibbutz Misgav Am, Kiryat Shamona, Tel Hai and stayed overnight in Kfar Gilado Guesthouses.  On our next stretch we stopped at Rosh Hanikra, then Nahariya and then overnight at Hofit Hotel in Moshav Shavei Zion.   

The last day on the road we were in Haifa, Mount Carmel, Megiddo, traveling the west coast and stayed overnight on the Mediterranean in Tel Aviv. We arrived in Tel Aviv just in time for a lovely Shabbat Dinner.  

As we traveled those five days we met a lot of interesting people, and saw a lot of interesting sights. We visited military bases and stood to pray on the very ground where the Israeli soldiers were abducted and another unit was murdered. I must tell you that at times it was a very chilling sight to see only a barbed wire fence separate an Israeli flag from a Hizb’allah flag. From one site we could see the Hizb’allah flags on houses.  Israel’s enemies are right on the borders, and there are skirmishes, yet PM Olmert says that no one has told him there will be war.

As we arrived on one military base we were told the soldiers were sleeping through the days for they are crossing over the borders under the cover of night to remove road side bombs and land mines the enemy has planted along the border. Needless to say the UN International Peace Keepers are not doing their job, with the exception of the Norwegians. We were told that they are the only ones who are doing what they were sent to do. The Lebanese Army is not on the South Lebanon border as they are supposed to be either. The only flag showing is Hizb’allah.

We will probably never know what all was accomplished in the spiritual realm on this prayer tour, but we came away feeling that God was pleased, and that is all that matters. My prayer was that His plan and purposes for the conference, the prayer tour and our being there to stand in the gap for Israel and her people would be accomplished with all glory to God.

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  Devorah writes:  “It appears as though Hizb’allah is preparing for round two.  Up our way, Moshav Avivini, the entire border is now dotted with Hizb’allah flags and moving figures. There is not a single Lebanese Army flag in sight! In my opinion, that is not okay.

“A flag is not only a symbol that represents concepts and ideals, but it is also used to stake claims. While driving home from work one evening, will I encounter terrorists who have infiltrated through tunnels they have dug under the border beneath the noses of the UN base that lies opposite my home?  For years these UN troops have been observers. They observed the way Hizb’allah prepared for the last war, arming themselves to the teeth, so why should anything be different now? And by the way, where is the Lebanese Army that was supposed to keep the border clean? Perhaps it was comprised of Hizb’allah in disguise!

“Oops, sorry! If I don’t keep quiet we’ll never see peace with Syria! It looks as though we can all stay tuned to the same channel and same program for a repeat broadcast of the last war, coming soon to a neighborhood near you.”

  Stan writes: “I have information I am not supposed to have, but it is urgent that I pass this on to you. Please pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem. War preparations are now under way. This is not a drill, limited fighting has already begun. Skirmishes are happening every night of the week along the borders.

“The major plan is as follows: Hamas in Gaza attacks Israel from the South. Israel responds.  Hizb’allah in Lebanon attacks Israel from the North. Israel responds.  Syria attacks Israel from the East. Israel responds.

“The only weapons the Hamas does not have are tanks and airplanes. Other than that they are totally re-supplied. Thanks to the USA for the money, and Egypt for the weapons. Hizb’allah is fully re-supplied with the protection of the UN forces.

“Syria is planning a chemical attack while Hamas and Hizb’allah are planning to use conventional weapons. The timeline is early spring, any time after March 1^st, 2007. Israel has a plan called the Samson Plan. Perhaps you can imagine what it is.

“Please pray for the safety and lives of everyone here. Pray that Yeshua would intervene and rout the enemy. I cannot emphasize this enough. My sources are very reliable. Please bring this before all who are in your realm of influence. This is going to be a tough fight with a lot of lives lost! Please pray now and continue to pray!” 

Here We Go Again!

US pressure has dashed the hopes of new homes for the Gaza refugees. They have been waiting for more than eighteen months for housing promised them after their own government dragged them out of their homes in the beautifully developed and established Gaza Strip communities and dumped them in caravans and tent cities. 

A site in the Jordan Valley had been earmarked for the construction of their new homes which was scheduled to be underway a couple of weeks ago.  However, the US, who strongly supported the uprooting that made refugees out of the Gaza Jews, disapproved  of the plans because the Jordan Valley is part of the Land the US and the rest of the world want to give to the Palestinian Arabs.  

Washington has applied pressure on the Olmert government, and so Defense Minister Amir Peretz informed the waiting Jews that they would no longer be given homes in Maskiot. US Ambassador Richard Jones said that President Bush viewed Maskiot as a “new settlement” construction which is in breach of Israel’s agreements under the “Road Map”.

Note:  Over the past few months, the US has been shipping weapons to the Palestinians. Ten trucks filled with US weapons arrived just a couple of weeks ago, right on the heels of a shipment that was ambushed and taken by Hamas. The shipment contained assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, bullet proof vests and 500,000 rounds of ammunition. The first shipment included generators, tents, and medical equipment, which fell in to the hands of Hamas when ambushed. President Bush is also granting $86.4 million to strengthen the Fatah forces and Force 17, Abbas’ security detail. It is unreal to think that these weapons will not be used against the Israelis.  You can be sure that the money will find it’s way in to the hands of Hamas as well. Unbelievable, but oh so true!

Neil writes: “As I was praying the other day, I felt the Lord asked me a question.  He said, “Do you know why I hate the lukewarm Church, and why I will spew it out of My mouth?”  Before I could answer, He revealed to me, “Because I died for them, I loved them and gave them My Word and My Truth, I have protected them and provided for them, and I asked them to walk in faith and proclaim My Gospel to a dying world, yet they have built themselves fortresses to lock out the untouchables in society.

“They have created places of comfort, and gone inside and fallen asleep to the sounds of music. They have created a false religion of works, judging each other by appearances and affluence, and they have soothed themselves with well spoken words. All the while, outside their walls, they have ignored the world that I love and shed my blood to forgive. The world that I came not to condemn but save, the people that I sent them to in order that the lost might see Me in the earth just as they did when I was walking the Land of Israel. I gave them MY very Spirit, and like Esau, they have despised their birthright.   

“Brothers and sisters, this sent me to my knees asking the Lord not to allow me to become a part of the lukewarm Church. I need Him to keep the fire burning so that I don’t become comfortable and complacent. It is in my human nature to do so. I ask God to help me to serve Him by serving the needs of other people. I asked Him to help me not to confuse the works of my human understanding with the Holy Spirit blessings that flow from a surrendered and humble heart. There is a monumental difference. Let us be alive in Him, and Him be alive in us.”  

Note: Let us pray for a spirit of humility, conviction and repentance to fall upon the Church. Pride has been our downfall! Let us pray for a revelation of His Truth within the Body of Messiah.

Let us pray for a revelation of His Truth all across this country. May it fall upon President Bush, Condi Rice, and the US State Department, as well as all others who are making decisions in this country.

Americans have been blinded, the Church in particular, to the role and significance of Israel. They are also blinded to our responsibility to Israel and her people. Let us pray that the Lord will awaken America, especially the Church, before it is too late.

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 I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support Fair Havens Missions with your prayers and your finances. Please know that we are grateful! I want to thank all of you who help me personally as well.  I thank God for all of you each and every day.