February 1999

MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE UPDATE (International Day of Prayer and Fasting for Israel)

International Day of Prayer and Fasting for Israel

********** Esther's Fast ******************

The Messianic Action Committee, in cooperation with the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel and the National Israeli Pastors Fellowship, is calling for a Day of Prayer and Fasting on Monday, March 1, 1999.

This date corresponds with the date on the Jewish calendar for "Ta'anit Esther", Esther's Fast mentioned in the Biblical Book of Esther.

As Orthodox Jews around the world will be praying and fasting for the national redemption of Israel and the coming of the Messiah, even so we are calling for Messianic Jews and Christians around the world to intercede through prayer and fasting as God's salvation history is moving toward the fullness of the Gentiles and the salvation of Israel.

We believe that there are many Messianic Jews and Christians around the world who love Israel and desire to see the redemption of the Jewish people. There are many who pray regularly toward this goal, and there are many prayer groups and prayer cells who also intercede for Israel. We see this day of Prayer and Fasting as an opportunity for a coordinated effort for all these groups.

Would you please put this date on your calendar and let other intercessors and prayer groups know about the date. Following is a list of priorities which will serve as general guidelines and topics for prayer.

********** Prayer Topics *********************************

* Revival in Israel among the Jewish people

When Daniel the prophet read the Book of Jeremiah the prophet and understood that the time was come for God's purpose to be fulfilled, he turned his face toward Jerusalem and began to pray for God's fulfillment (Daniel Chapter 9). Pray with us that God would pour out His Spirit upon Israel in a revival that would remove the veil He has sovereignly placed upon the minds and hearts of the Jewish people. Pray that God would lead Israelis by His Spirit into a revelation of the person of His Son, the promised Jewish Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach. We believe that the time has come that God is removing the veil of blindness in a greater measure than ever before during the past 50 years.

We believe that this promised revival will even be greater than the revival during the first century recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. ( Zechariah 12, Revelation 11, Romans 11:25-27)

* Strengthening the local Messianic Congregations in Israel

In 1998 we witnessed the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel. The ingathering and restoration of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) in this century represents the beginning of the miraculous resurrection of the "Dry Bones" of Ezekiel 37. We have also witnessed the establishment of a small but significant remnant of Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua. We estimate that there are approximately 6,000 Yehudim Meshichim (Messianic Jews) scattered throughout the cities, villages, and kibbutzim of Eretz Yisrael. There are approximately 50 congregations and 70 independent home groups of Jewish believers in the Land of Israel today. The local body of Messianic Jewish believers in Israel continues to grow each year especially in the last decade, when Israel absorbed about a million new immigrants. While the numbers of believers are still relatively small, the growth has been significant.

We request your prayers to help strengthen the local body, that we would walk in faith working through love and that we would be able to stand firm and endure the pressures in the midst of harassments, threats and future persecution coming against us by extreme Ultra-Orthodox organizations in our society. Pray that the burden of the Lord's prayer for love and unity also become a reality. (Romans 11:1-5, John 17)

* Freedom of Religion in Israel

There is a spiritual war being waged against Messianic Jews by certain elements among the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who are endeavoring to gain a monopoly over all religious and cultural affairs in the country. The Pinchasi Bill passed preliminary reading in the Knesset. It contains a prohibition on calling for a change of religion: "Anyone who preaches with the goal of causing any other person to change his religion is liable to three years imprisonment or a 50,000 Shekel fine ($12,500)."

Let us pray to preserve freedom of religious expression in Israel and to resist fanatical religious persecution against Messianic Jews in the Land of Israel. God has raised up Messianic congregations to be a witness to the Jewish people to the ends of the world and to be a part of His great plan of world redemption. Please pray with us that God would intervene and overule to cancel any legislation in the Knesset that would hinder the Lord's work of evangelism among the Jewish people. (Matthew 24:14, Acts 1:8, Romans 1:16-17)

* Israeli Youth

Many young Israelis today are searching for answers to spiritual questions, but in many ways they have lost their bearings, and there is a great spiritual vacuum. This has led many of them into sin, the lusts of this world, drugs, promiscuity and the eastern religious cults. There are youth gangs an increase in crime and violence related to drugs.

On the positive side, many Israeli youth have departed from their preconceived prejudices against Yeshua and the New Testament. The new generation associated with the new youth culture is inwardly seeking for spiritual truth. Let us pray for the youth, the young Israelis to be protected from the lusts of this world and to find real spiritual truth and eternal life in Yeshua the Messiah (Psalm 102:13, 18).

* Revival Among the Arab Peoples

Let us pray for a breakthrough in evangelism to the entire Moslem world and to the Arabs living in Israel, and the territories in particular. Let us pray for God to strengthen those who are currently preaching the Good News to the Arab peoples and other Moslems, and that He will help them share the Good News with love, power and in a way that is appropriate to the Middle Eastern Arab culture. (Matthew 28:18-20)

* Reconciliation between Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs

In Yeshua we have reconciliation, first between God and man, and also between man and man. Only through Yeshua is there true hope to heal the wounds and remove the hatred between Jews and Arabs. The peace that exists between Messianic Jews and Arab Christians is an essential part of our testimony as the body of Messiah in Israel. Let us pray for the continuing development of true fellowship and spiritual unity between Jewish and Arab believers in Israel based on the atoning death of Yeshua at Golgatha. (John 15:13)

* Relationship between Messianic Jews and Christians

The unity of the greater Body of Messiah is an important burden of prayer for all believers in the Messiah. In particular, the relationship between Messianic Jews and Christians will build an important model and example of unity for the Jewish people. Building relationships throughout the Body of Messiah is key for the Jewish people who have suffered persecution in the name of Jesus for centuries. Please pray with us to promote mutual understanding, cooperation and brotherly love. It is written, "He is our peace. He has made the two to become one...He is our reconciliation." (Ephesians 2:14-15).

* Practical Help for New Immigrants

Many of the Messianic Jews in Israel are immigrants --formerly from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, the U.S.A., etc. They are struggling with a variety of difficulties connected with getting established and integrated in Israeli society. Anti-semitism is spreading throughout Russia, and the Jews are being blamed for the current catastrophic economic conditions in that nation. It could possibly cause mass immigration to Israel this year. Please pray that new believing immigrants will be able to find adequate jobs, learn the language, obtain an apartment, and for their children to adjust to the new Israeli society. (Romans 15:25-27)

* Prayer for the Israeli Government

The political situation in Israel in 1999 appears to be the most critical in modern Israel's 50 years of history . . . "a year of uncertainties". The uncertainty is first being expressed in early elections on May 17, 1999. We are at the end of the 5-year period of the Oslo Agreements, and the collapse of the "peace process" has led to increasing political turmoil. Yasser Arafat is planning on declaring a Palestinian State on May 4, 1999, with Jerusalem as its capital. Benjamin Netanyahu says that a declaration of statehood would annul the Oslo Agreements and he would then be forced to annex the remaining land of Judea and Samaria. In addition, there is continuing political uncertainty in our neighboring Arab countries.

Although there are differing viewpoints among us regarding the Israeli political situation, it is our responsibility to pray that God would sovereignly resolve the issues of the peace process, peace and security for Israel and her neighbors, the destiny of Jerusalem, and other matters, that His Will "will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Pray that God would give wisdom and integrity to all political leaders, both Israeli and Arab (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

* Yeshua the King of Israel

Yeshua of Nazareth is the promised Messiah of Israel, the One who fulfilled the prophesies concerning the first coming of the Messiah (Deut. 18:18, Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:24-27). We are all looking forward to the return of Yeshua to Jerusalem as King of Israel, Saviour of the World, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Pray that His Kingdom be established over all the earth, and that God would hasten the day when all Israel will repent and believe in Yeshua with cries of "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:37).

MESSIANIC ACTION COMMITTEE
P.O. Box 5462, Herzliya 46100 Israel
Telephone/Fax: 972-9-951-6118
E-mail: themac@netvision.net.il

See also:

AMFI's Religious Liberty in Israel Update Page

==========================================

Return to AMFI HOME PAGE