Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One A 24- Hour Prayer Guide for Israel God watches over us 24 hours a day (Ps.121) and in His Word He calls us to watch and pray with Him. Revelations 4-5 states that the angels and the 24 elders worship God literally night- and- day. The Bible teaches us to pray that God s will be done on earth as it is in heaven and in heaven there is only praise, worship and intercession, 24 hours a day. This is guide can assist your church or small group facilitate a one hour prayer watch for the people groups of Israel. In the Old Testament, the fire on the altar was kept burning: "And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning on it: it shall not be allowed to go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burnt offering in order upon it and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall be burning continually upon the altar; it shall not go out" (Lev.6: 12-13). The priest s two most important tasks were: a) intercession (through prayers and offerings); and b) praise and worship. The fire on the altar was a symbol of the continued praise, worship, intercession and reconciliation done by the priests. The Movement of Prayer section provides a guide for an individual or corporate prayer leader to pray through out one hour for the peoples of Israel. there are additional resources, which may be of use during the hour of prayer (see Appendixes). Our prayer is that many will be moved to gather often for one hour to worship and commune with the Triune God, interceding for the lost peoples of Israel that they might be reconciled to the Father, through the propitiating work of the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When you pray Considerations for corporate prayer Our vision is to pray fervently for the life transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ to reconcile the peoples of Israel to the Triune God! This document is designed to facilitate corporate prayer and assist groups or individuals that as they stand watch for one hour of intercession. Here are some considerations for corporate gatherings. Be sensitive to the numerous prayer traditions that people come from. As it's appropriate, use some of the following forms: 1. The leader can lead in prayer on behalf of the whole group. 2. Silent prayer to confess personal sin or offer personal requests. 3. Community Prayer: (Be sure instructions are clear; that everyone understands the style and procedure) 4. Cambridge Style - several people lead ending each prayer with "In Jesus Name", everyone joins in "Amen". 5. Conversational - usually better for small groups. Several people lead in short informal prayers, moving from one topic to another. 6. Scripture Prayers - many people lead out in short prayers of praise, confession, etc. 7. Liturgical Prayers - using the Lord's Prayer or written prayers to pray in unison; The Valley of Vision, The Book of Common Prayer, Christian Creeds 8. Divide Into Small Groups - this can encourage greater participation. Be sensitive to non- Christians and visitors. Don't put them in a situation where they are forced to pray.
The Major People Groups of Israel Israeli Jews Until 1948, Jews formed the largest non- Muslim minority in Iraq and Iran. The Jewish communities fared well over the centuries until Islam was declared the official religion. Since that time, they have been isolated and have experienced much discrimination and persecution. Sometimes they were forced to "convert" to Islam. With the formation of the Israeli nation in 1948 and the Iranian Revolution in 1979, large numbers of Jews have left Iraq and Iran. The few who remain continue to suffer from an anti- Semitic atmosphere. Israeli Arab Muslims Israeli Arab Muslims are Palestinians who remained in Israel in 1948. They live in villages, towns, and cities between the Negev desert in the south and the Lebanese border in the north. Most of them live in Galilee, the northern part of the country where Jesus himself lived and taught. Druze Druze refer to themselves as Mowahhidoon (plural) or Mowahhid (singular), which means "monotheistic". They are commonly referred to as "Druze", a name derived from el- Drzi, the name of one of the known propagandists of the Druze religion at its beginning. There are sources suggesting that the Druze were a people of their own even before conversion to the faith of al- Hakim, a Muslim caliph. Unsubstantiated theories say the Druze are descendants of Persian colonists, while another theory says they are of Christian descendant, from the time of the crusades. The latter is not very likely, because the first crusade came about 80 years after al- Hakim's disappearance. Druze do not seek their own country, but they are loyal to the country which governs their land. They can be found in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, and are said to be the best warriors because they are not afraid to die. Quick Facts About Israel Capital: Jerusalem Population: 6,352,117 Lostness: 97.9% Religion: Islam (16%), Judaism (76.4%), Christianity (2.1%), Other (5.5%) Land Area: 8,019 sq mi (slightly smaller than New Jersey) Languages: Hebrew, Arabic Major People Groups: Israeli Jews, Israeli Arab Muslims, Druze
Movement in Prayer: a one hour prayer guide A Call To Prayer Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 Praise & Worship Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 Begin with a time of Praise and Worship. Lift up your voices to the Lord. Worship God for who He is- the creator of all things: Give glory to the Father: Praise the Father who has promised to redeem the nations through His people. Psalm 2:8 Praise the Father who is gathering a people to Himself from every tongue, tribe and nation. Revelation 5:9-10 Praise the Father who is who He says He is and will do what He promises to do. Hebrews 10:23 Give glory to the Son: Praise the Son who is the light of the Nations. John 8:12. Praise the Son for being our hope and anchor. Praise Him that this hope is secure. Hebrews 6:19 Praise the Son that through Him we have our assurance. Hebrews 10: 21-23. Give glory to the Holy Spirit: Praise the Spirit who indwells and quickens the heart. John 14:15-17 Praise the Spirit who empowers our witness. John 16:7 Praise the Spirit for being our deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God s possession to the praise of His glory! Eph 1:14 Wait on the Lord Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:11 During this time, commune with the Father in a posture of contemplation, reflecting on the Names of the Lord. Corporately or individually, randomly read out loud some of the names of God and respond. (See Appendix 1) Confession I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25 [Leader may read out loud the following for reflection]
Confession is agreeing with God regarding our sin. It is our acknowledgement that our sin is an affront to God s holiness. God s response to our agreement and confession is to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 Reflect: Are we the church pouring our lives out for the unbelieving Jews as Christ did for Us? Respond: What actions, inactions, or sins are keeping me from responding to the call reach the lost people of Israel? Reflect: Have we abandoned the hope and assurance that Jesus Christ Himself is building the church of both Jews and Gentiles? Respond: In what plans, mission strategy, organizations, or ideas have I put my hope that Jews, Arabs, and Druze people may come to a saving knowledge of Christ? Reflect: Are we working to save that which is lost or trusting God? Are we working in His power to reach the nation of Israel or our own? Respond: Does my life reflect resurrection power? What areas do not? Are we living missional lives, pleading with the Father on behalf of the Israeli people, propagating the spread of the Gospel, and giving of ourselves for the sake of these people as Christ emptied Himself for us? [Enter into a time of spoken or unspoken confession] Leader: I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Leader: Now, O lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, We have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your Holy Hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people and object of scorn to all those around us. Leader: Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the
desolation of the city that bears your name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For you sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name. Intercession Brothers, my heart s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4 Intercession is the act of praying to God and petitioning Him on behalf of another person or situation. Intercession is modeled to us by the Godhead. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father always making intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 The Spirit intercedes on our behalf while we are praying to the Father. He intercedes with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 For the nation of Israel Pray that the chaos in Gaza specifically, will be brought into order. Pray that Hamas will be held responsible for the incitement they create which destabilizes and impoverishes the people. Pray for the nations of the world to stand with Israel: I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Pressure is mounting on Israel to make more concessions for peace. Pray that there will be resolve and dedication in the leadership to defend the people and the Land. Pray that the Lord will faithfully deliver the people from their enemies. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you (Psalm 20:1). Over a third of the families in Jerusalem (33%) and 56% of the children living in the capital are poor and live under the poverty line. Pray for the worldwide economic situation that is threatening recession. Pray for those who already struggle financially that they will be blessed by the faithfulness of the Lord. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! (Psalm 68:19). Pray that Bridges for Peace will be blessed by the Lord and by Christians around the world to minister love and comfort to those who suffer in Jerusalem and throughout the Land of Israel. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem (Psalm 51:18). For the Israeli Jews Pray for authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Jews bound. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send loving Christians to work among the Jews of Israel.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Jews towards Christians so that they might hear and receive the message of salvation. Pray that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to the Jews through dreams and visions. Pray that God will grant Jewish believers favor as they share their faith in Christ with their own people. Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Jews bound. Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Middle Eastern Jews. For the Israeli Arabs Ask the Lord to send willing laborers to live and work among these tribes. Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Palestinian Arabs. Pray that a complete translation of the Bible will soon be made available to each of the Palestinian Arab tribes. Ask God to give the few Palestinian Arab believers opportunities to share the love of Christ with their own people. Pray that their traditional Muslim culture will soften, creating ope n doors for the Gospel to be preached among them. Pray that God will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions. Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Palestinian Arabs. For the Druze Pray that the Druze would spiritually meet their Maker in a personal way, opposed to the esoteric mental exercise offered in their religion. Pray that the Druze will understand that Jesus offers them love and acceptance, and will gladly accept His loving embrace. Pray that they recognize their lost state and will come to see Christ as the Son of God and not just a prophet. There are several hundred Christian believers among the Druze. May God empower them with the vision to reach out to their people with the Gospel. Pray that just as God announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, that an announcement would be sent to the Druze of Israel. Pray for a revelation of Christ to those who have no revelation, and rescue them as the Good Shepherd that You are. For the Church in the West To gain a new and impassioned to reach the peoples of Israel. That churches may catch a vision for real and unceasing prayer for the Jews, Arabs, and Druze people. To release financial and people resources to further the mission of God in the nation of Israel. That we may not become complacent and inward focused while people perish.
For the Church in the Israel For the continued development of strong Biblical leadership so that the church may grow. Pray also for the national believers, that they will grow quickly in their faith and knowledge of the Triune God. For perseverance despite persecution. For rapid church planting through indigenous missionaries reaching their same cultures. For unity amongst the diversity of Christian believers. For the indigenous churches to be praying churches. Thanksgiving Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:18) Let us give thanks to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father thank you for communing with us your children. Jesus thank you for interceding on our behalf. Spirit thank you for giving us the words to pray. Holy God we pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts have been pleasing to you. Thank you for hearing your people. Amen. Sources: http://www.experiencename.com http:/www.ldolphin.org/names.htmlhttp://www.global- prayer- digest.org http://www.joshuaproject.org http://www.globaldayofprayer.org http://www.prayerguard.net Walter E. Houghton and G. Robert Strange, Victorian Poetry and Poetics (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1959), 27,
Appendix 1 The Names of God Old Testament (The Hebrew Scriptures, or Tanach) EL: God ("mighty, strong, prominent"). ELOHIM: God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs) EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." ADONAI: Lord in our English Bibles (Adonai is plural). JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh, YHWH is the covenant name of God. Note Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh'ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons. JEHOVAH- JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." JEHOVAH- ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" JEHOVAH- NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6. JEHOVAH- M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies". JEHOVAH- SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace". Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man. SHEPHERD. JUDGE. JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God". JEHOVAH- TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness". JEHOVAH- ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd". JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH: "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35). JEHOVAH- SABAOTH: EL ELYON: 'Most High". ABHIR: 'Mighty One'. BRANCH. "The Lord of Hosts". KADOSH: "Holy One". Isaiah uses the expression "the Holy One of Israel" 29 times. SHAPHAT: "Judge". EL ROI: "God of Seeing. The God Who opens our eyes. KANNA: "Jealous". PALET: "Deliverer". YESHA: (Y'shua) "Savior" Isa. 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Joshua." ("Christ", the anointed one is equivalent to the Hebrew Maschiah, or Messiah). GAOL: "Redeemer" (to buy back by paying a price). MAGEN: "Shield". STONE: Gen. 49:24 EYALUTH: "Strength".
TSADDIQ: "Righteous One". EL- OLAM: "Everlasting God". EL- BERITH: "God of the Covenant". Probably used originally to refer to the God of israel. EL- GIBHOR: Mighty God, God the Warrior (Isaiah 9:6) ZUR: "God our Rock". Malachi calls Messiah "The Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2). Isaiah calls Messiah "Wonderful Counselor (pele' ya'ats), Mighty God (El Gibhor), Everlasting Father ('ad ab), Prince of Peace (sar shalom)" (Isa. 9:6). 'Attiq Yomin (Aramaic): "Ancient of Days. MELEKH: "King". "The Angel of the Lord: " Seen in the theophanies, or pre- incarnate appearances of the Son of God in the OT (See I Cor. 10:3 NT). FATHER. THE FIRST AND LAST. New Testament Scriptures, (Greek) KURIOS: (kurios) "Lord". DESPOTES: (despotes) "Lord". THEOS: (yeos) "God" (equivalent to the Hebrew Elohim). In the NT all the persons of the trinity are called "God" at one time or another. I AM: "Before Abraham was, I AM," "I AM the Light of the world," "the bread of life," living water," "the Resurrection and the Life," "the Way, Truth and the Life". THEOTES: "Godhead". HUPSISTOS: "Highest". SOTER: (soter) "Savior". WORD: (logos) ALMIGHTY. JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew "Joshua" (Y'shua) or "Je- Hoshua" meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION. CHRIST: is equivalent to the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Meshiach), "The Anointed One." Other NT Titles for Jesus: Shepherd of the Sheep; Master; King of kings; Lord of lords; Bishop and Guardian of our Souls; Daystar, Deliverer, Advocate, Last (or Second) Adam, Ancient of Days, Branch, Chief Cornerstone, Immanuel, First Born, Head of the Body, Physician, Rock, Root of Jesse, Stone, Potentate; Chief Apostle; Great High Priest; Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (or Author and Finisher); Lamb of God; Lamb Slain before the Foundation of the World; Lord God Almighty. LOGOS: "The Word of God". SOPHIA: "The Wisdom of God," referring to Christ, refers back to Proverbs (I Cor. 1,2) ALPHA AND OMEGA: The First and the Last, The Beginning and The End. Names for the Holy Spirit: Counselor; Comforter; Baptizer; Advocate; Strengthener; Sanctifier; Spirit of Christ (not the same as the spirit of Christ); Seven- Fold Spirit (Rev.); Spirit of Truth; Spirit of Grace; Spirit of Mercy; Spirit of God; Spirit of Holiness; Spirit of Life. Symbolized in OT and NT by (l) breath or wind; (2) fire; (3) water; (4) oil; (5) light; (6) a dove.