An Alarm Sounding for Israel .....

Dear Sir

Shalom from Jerusalem, where we have returned after a busy month in the United States. We are so thankful for the time we were able to be with you - it was definitely the highlight of our week of meetings in and around Washington DC. Thank you again for your courtesy and graciousness in hosting us.

As we prayed in your office, and have prayed since - including today: May the Lord continue to use you mightily for His purposes for your nation, and may He bind us together as, like you, we seek to stand on His Word concerning this crucial relationship between Israel and the United States.

We would like to share the following points regarding the recent developments in Gaza, and in the light of tomorrow's meeting between Prime Minister Olmert and President Bush. I know you have a great deal of insight into these issues already, but if our perspective from "closer to the ground" can add to yours as you seek to alert your countrymen to what is happening in the Middle East, then we'd certainly want to send you some pointers as critical issues develop.

We believe Israel and America's apparently instinctive reaction to Hamas' coup in Gaza - to rush to the aid of Abbas and his emergency PA government in order to bolster them against a Hamas takeover in the "West Bank" - is the wrong move. The following reasons show why it is short-sighted and extremely dangerous for Israel.

The Palestinian Arabs in the PA areas in Judea and Samaria will NOT have been repulsed by what Hamas did – they will be impressed. This is the traditional Arab response to those who demonstrate strength, even brutality. This means that Hamas will now enjoy even greater support on the "West Bank" (we believe this will be shown to be true in the coming months), and it is a support base into which the Islamist group will tap when the time is right, in order that Hamas can do in Judea-Samaria precisely what it did in Gaza.

Olmert and Bush may believe they will be bolstering Abbas, but it is Hamas that will finally benefit – as it did in Gaza – from the weapons and other equipment that will now be sent to flood the "West Bank."

If this flood of aid to Abbas includes a fast track towards handing him the entire "West Bank" in order to jumpstart the "peace process" because Israel "now has a partner" – which is how Olmert and US administration officials have indicated they see this – then that vital territory will soon be lost to Israel, in political terms – forever. The high ground overlooking Israel's populated coastal plain will be in the hands of the Palestinian Arabs who will then have de facto achieved every goal in this phase of the PLO’s multi-stage plan to destroy Israel- whether “Hamastan” in Gaza and “Fatahstan” in the "West Bank," or “Hamastan” in all those areas.

The United States will then have played an active and direct role in "dividing up God's land" and gravely endangering Israel – the consequences of which, we know as Bible believers, will be fearful for the nation you – and we – love so much.

As we watched the Gaza Strip implode last week, our thought was that God was fighting for Israel by allowing that situation to unfold. From where we stand, it certainly does seem as if He is giving Israel reason after reason for fully justifying its need to abandon the whole land-for-peace process.

Israeli leaders can already point to the failure of the unilateral withdrawal approach – last summer's war with "Hizballahstan" in southern Lebanon, and the incessant Kassam attacks from "Hamastan" in Gaza. Now the Hamas coup has provided an extremely sound reason for halting all cooperation with the implementation of President Bush's "two-state solution."

We need to strengthen the hands of Binyamin Netanyahu and any US senators or congressmen who have recognized the bankruptcy of this whole approach and who can see that it is gambling with the very existence of Israel.

May God help us,

Yours for Zion's sake
Stan Goodenough, Assistant to Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ZIONIST CENTER
Sha'ar Binyamin
Israel

ISRAEL – 40 DAY COVENANT LAND PRAYER

THIS IS A CALL to Jews and Christians throughout the world to cover Israel, and its borders, in prayers of blessings for 40-days beginning with Passover (April 2 through May 12) to seek God’s (Elohim’s) protection and intervention in Israel by praying over the Seven Districts of Israel. The Seven Districts can be seen at: www.prayisrael.com/home.php

Praying the 13 Mercies of the Lord over Israel week by week: (see www.jewishgates.com)

Based on Exodus 34: 6, 7: “God passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, ‘Adonai, Adonai God Merciful and Kind, slow to anger, with tremendous love and truth. He remembers deeds of love for thousands (of generations), forgiving sin, rebellion and error. He does not clear but keeps in mind the sins of the fathers to their children and grandchildren, to the third and fourth generation.”

THESE MERCIES ARE CLAIMED DURING THE WEEKS BELOW
AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF EACH DAY

Week 1: #1 & 2 for Morning and #3 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #1 & 2: Adonai (YHVH) #1 God stooping down to His child in love. We remember His love for Israel. #2 He saves us from the suffering we deserve when we repent from our sins. We return to and acknowledge His love for Israel.
-Mercy #3 God (EL) God’s Omnipotence. (All Powerful to defend and perform miracles)

Week 2: #4 for Morning and #5 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #4 Merciful (rachum) His protection from destruction. (Deut. 4:31)
-Mercy #5 Kind (chanun) - Denotes free gift (grace), the goodness of God

Week 3: #6 for Morning and #7 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #6 Slow to Anger (erech apayim) - He is patient for repentance to come forth.
-Mercy #7 Tremendous Love (rav chesed) - He tilts the balance of judgment by adding His Love and mercy on the scales of justice.

Week 4: #8 for Morning and #9 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #8 Tremendous Truth (ve-emet) - He makes His Word come true. He is faithful.
-Mercy #9 Commands His Blessings (notzer chesed la-alafim) - His blessings are reserved for our descendants. (Exodus 20:5)

Week 5: #10 for Morning and #11 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #10 Forgiving Deliberate Sin (noseh avon) - He forgives deliberate sin when we repent. His mercy brings about repentance.
-Mercy #11 Rebellion (va-phesha) - A sin done to spite God. He forgives rebellion when we turn to Him.

Week 6: #12 for Morning and #13 for Evening Prayer
-Mercy #12 Forgiving the Sin of error (ve-chata’ah) - A sin done inadvertently.
-Mercy# 13 He cleanses (ve-baketh) - God cleanses those who repent of sins done in hidden places. (Ps 19:13)

God made a covenant regarding the 13 Attributes in Exodus 34: 6-7, 10. The Jews believe that in this covenant, whenever the Israelites would recite these Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in a time of trouble, God would come to their aid.


Daily Areas to cover with Mercy Blessings:

(One Mercy claimed in the Morning and one in the Evening as shown above)
Sunday - Jerusalem District: Old and New Cities of Jerusalem.
Monday - Northern District: City of Nazerate (Golan Heights)
Tuesday - Haifa Region: City of Haifa
Wednesday - Tel Aviv District: City of Tel Aviv
Thursday - Central District: City of Rishon Le Ziyyon City
Friday - Southern District: City of Be’er Sheva (Nevev Desert)
Saturday - Judea/Samaria District: City of Annummim (West Bank)
(Pray the West Bank will not be traded away)

“For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation: ‘This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will shout aloud for joy’.” (Psalms 132: 13-16)

“The Word which He commanded for a thousand generations; the covenant which He made with Abraham to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Cannaan as the allotment for your inheritance’.” (Psalms 105: 8-11)

“You have set a boundary that they may not pass over. You send forth Wine that makes the heart glad, Oil to make his face shine, and Bread which strengthens man’s heart.” (Psalms 104: 9,15)


JEWS AND CHRISTIANS DEMONSTRATE THEIR AGREEMENT USING BREAD:
The symbols of bread used by Jews in the Passover (Matzot bread) and Christian (Communion bread) are suggested as visible demonstrations of our desire stand together in covenant agreement to invite God to restore the land of Israel for an inheritance for the children. This visible union is to invite the God’s Mercies upon the whole nation of Israel and those nations who join to bless Israel.

Prayer Application for Jews
1. The Matzot bread is left out for 40 days following Passover in agreement with other nations praying for a visitation of God’s presence for Israel and for the mercies of God to cover the land of Israel to restore the covenant land and restore stability in the Middle East. (Symbolism explained below)

2. Daily prayers for 40 Days with Christians for God to bless Israel on a daily bases using the 13 Mercies of God mentioned in Exodus 34: 6, 7 which were given on Mount Sinai when the Lord stood by Moses.

Key Symbol: Matzot bread
The Matzot bread is used at the Seder dinner which is a Passover meal to remember Israel’s deliverance by God from slavery in Egypt. Its spiritual application points to release from bondage from sin. The (flat) bread is put in a stack of three pieces. The top and bottom pieces are used for “hamotz” or blessing over the middle piece. The middle piece is broken in half and put aside. Half of it is hidden for the children to find. Once they find it they can redeem it for a reward symbolizing (among other things) an inheritance from the Lord to the children.

Suggestion for Jews during the 40 Days
Following the Seder celebration on April 2nd and 3rd It is suggested Jews show their solidarity with Christians by:

-Putting out a stack of the Matzot bread for the reminder of the 40 days agreeing with the calling forth of God’s presence and blessings to protect and restore Israel for all of His divine purposes as the place of His dwelling for future generations.

-This includes praying for God to protect the borders of Israel and to preserve the land for future generations. We are praying there will be no more giving of “land for peace” to break the covenant agreement God made with Abraham.

-This covenant agreement for Jews and Christians over the borders of Israel will help prevent any further breaking covenant with God’s promise to Abraham and his future children: “On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants (children) I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates.”

- Daily prayers using the 13 Mercies of God for 40 Days with Christians for God to bless Israel on a daily basis. The 13 Mercies were given on Mount Sinai when the Lord stood by Moses. (Exodus 34: 6,7)

-We are also praying for a restoration of purity in the land which is called “The Holy Land.” May the Commandments of the Lord be written on the door posts of every home and in every heart!

-We need to pray for the “Passing over of Destruction” that the enemies of Israel have planned. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob protect, defend and preserve the land of Israel.


Prayer Application for Christians
1. The Matzot bread is put out by Christians to identify with Israel for 40 days following Passover in agreement with other nations. We are praying for a visitation of God’s presence in Israel and for the mercies of God to cover the land of Israel to restore the covenant land and the stability of the Middle East. (Symbolism explained below)

2. Daily prayers using the 13 Mercies of God for 40 Days with Jews for God to bless Israel on a daily basis. The 13 Mercies were given on Mount Sinai when the Lord stood by Moses. (Exodus 34: 6,7)


Key Symbol: Communion Bread and Matzot Bread
-Christians realize that their use of the communion bread goes back to the Passover meal.
-Each time we use the bread we are reminded of our heritage and connection to the Jewish people and to the promises God made to Abraham and the Patriarchs.
-We remember it points back to deliverance from bondage.

Christians are invited to partake of communion daily during the 40 days and to bless Israel by praying the promises of God’s blessings over the Seven Disticts of Israel. Other nations in the Middle East will be asked to join us in blessing Israel. Those who bless Israel will be blessed.

“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you that all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) This is how true security and stability will be restored in the Middle East.


Many Christians desire to stand with Israel as a blessing front and back (as in the use of the Matzo Bread) to pray for the covenant land to be a blessing to the children and to future generations. The Seder is celebrated on the 15th and 16th days of Nisan or April 2nd and 3rd. In the Holy Place in the Torah the bread was called the Bread of the Presence. We need to pray for the presence of God to be manifested in the Holy Land for divine protection. Since Passover was a celebration of God’s pass over of destruction, we need to pray for the “Passing over of Destruction” that the enemies of Israel have planned. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob protect, defend and preserve the land of Israel.

Christians may also want put out a stack of three pieces of Matzot (flat bread) to identify with Jewish brothers and sisters to use as a visible symbol of agreement for God to bless the children in Israel. As we do so we are praying for God to honor His covenant to Abraham that the land will be preserved for future children:

“You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, and told them to go in to possess the land which You had sworn to give them.” (Nehemiah 9:15)

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving of seven and also to an eighth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2)


Preparation for the Passover season and this 40 Day Call to Prayer
Begin the day before Passover which starts April 2nd

Before celebrations start, in biblical Israel the house must be cleaned from top to bottom to remove any traces of chametz (leaven) from the home. (NO LEAVEN or SIN CAN COEXIST WITH THE LAMB's sacrifice. It can be NO WHERE NEAR the house that is being passed over. REPENTENCE OF SIN IS CRITICAL - This commemorates the Jews leaving Egypt who did not have time to let their bread rise, but also symbolizes removing 'puffiness' (arrogance, pride) from their souls. The day before Passover begins there is a ritual search for “chametz” in every home. A Jew may not eat chametz or derive benefit from it during Passover. He may not even own it or feed it to animals.

Any chametz in his possession, or utensils used to prepare food with chametz, have to be temporarily 'sold' to non-Jews.

There is a need for those participating to prepare by consecrating their hearts and homes. We need to search our hearts and homes for “chametz” or sin and do a cleaning out of all sin so we can be prepared to seek the Lord during these 40 Days of Blessing for Israel.


Sponsored by Pray California International and Canopy of Prayer International
Comments or questions?: Rev Jerry Bowers at: praycalif@yahoo.com
www.praycal.org

“Securing the Borders of Israel with a Canopy of Prayer”