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The Welcoming the King of Glory conference in Jerusalem/Israel was a unique historic event.

Below is an article published by a Jewish believer from Israel. If you are interested to see some images and videos please visit my FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/ioan.peia.7

Welcoming the king of glory - ground-breaking sukkot conference

Joni Koski

Conference speaker Benjamin Berger, said that of all the many great conferences he has attended since his 1971 aliya, this year's Sukkot – Welcoming the King of Glory conference was the most significant.

For the first time it was initiated by local Messianic leaders - and led by Avi Mizrachi. Other speakers included EitanShishkoff, Asher Intrater, and Reuven Berger.

The conference was marked by both great local unity and the purposeful alignment of visiting nations to Israel.

Visitors came from the ends-of-the-earth and most notably the Pacific Islands, presenting themselves before some local leaders with gifts and colorful song and dance.

When one of the Pacific Islanders was offered Asher's new Alignment book for free, he was reminded that on his way to the conference God had told him to go back home and bring his plumb line. On receiving the book, he understood the prophetic meaning of the plumb line in its alignment function.

Poignantly, at the climax of the Solomon Island's presentation, one man with an existing heart condition tragically died. Their leader, Father Michael, had actually warned the group that this might happen in the tangible presence of God, and the conference was filled with the fear of the Lord.

For Revive Israel's Ariel Blumenthal, assistant MC, the highlight was when a group from Africa came and opened their hearts about the poverty and failure of Africa, tracing it back to Ham and the curse of his father Noah. In response, descendants of Noah's other sons, Shem and Japeth, got together and in faith reversed that curse of Ham.

The conference, unwelcome in Jerusalem's Kosher hotels, took place in a basketball arena in the largely Israel-friendly, Muslim town of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem – where Obed Edom looked after the Ark of the Covenant for three months (2 Sam 6:11). While the first rains fell after Israel's long, hot summer, the conference highlighted clear prophetic parallels between bringing the ark back to Jerusalem and preparing the way for Yeshua's return.

Shalom
Ioan Peia

A second report from Martin and Norma Sarvis:

“My bow I set in the clouds, so that it may serveas a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”(Genesis 9:13; See Torah section below)

1. “WELCOMING THE KING OF GLORY”

This season of the Fall Feasts in Israel, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets on September 20th and ending with Simchat Torah, at the close of Tabernacles on October 12th, saw what may well have been the largest inpouring of believing visitors from the Nations in Israel’s 69-year modern history.  And there were many wonderful events within which the visitors could celebrate the feasts corporately—the All Nations Convocation in southern Jerusalem from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, the Feast of Tabernacles gathering sponsored by the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, to name only two.  SuccatHallel—the 24/7 house of prayer and praise of which we are a part, and other houses of prayer across the city saw an almost continuous stream of visitors come to worship the King of Kings in Jerusalem. So much blessing was released into the city through the presence of our visitors.

Last week we wrote of a very special and unusual event scheduled to take place during the last half of Succot, the “Welcoming the King of Glory” gathering.  We are so grateful for the prayers which went up on its behalf from around the world.  Thank you!  This amazing event is unlike anything we have ever experienced in Israel.  It began Tuesday night and was over early afternoon on Friday.  We plan to share more in the future; we are still trying to process what took place.  But something divine and historical has occurred.

As mentioned last week, at the initiative of our brothers in the islands and far reaches of the South Pacific, a number of Messianic and Believing Arab leaders in Israel took up the challenge to host a gathering in Israel inviting the Nations to join us in welcoming God’s glory back to His land and people. They have been praying regularly about this.  We are reminded of Exodus 25, where the LORD invited the children of Israel, “every one whose heart moves him” to take part in preparing a place for Him to come and sho’ken—dwell among them, in their midst.  This year, a number who heard the call and “whose hearts moved them” responded, and over the months a unity and focus and longing grew amongst them.  Last Monday a delegation of Israelis and visitors travelled to the port of Jaffa, from which the Holy Spirit was released through Peter to Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts 10:23)—and from thence to the nations.  There they did a number of prophetic acts, welcoming the return from the furthest reaches of the world to Israel and Jerusalem. The opening meeting the next evening took place in an Arab village west of Jerusalem called Abu Goash.  For months we had been searching for a venue—but even after reserving places in a hotel, once it was discovered that Israeli Messianic Jews would be involved, the welcome was withdrawn from fear of repercussions from the Orthodox (There was literally “no place in the inn”).

Finally, the Lord in a remarkable way, opened a community arena in Abu Goash, just west of Jerusalem.  In fact, the welcome came from the city fathers and the Mayor.  Abu Goash is the only Arab town on the road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which refused to side with the Jordanians against the Israelis in the 1948 War for independence.  In fact, the community has remained remarkably friendly to Jews to this day.  It also lies in the vicinity of ancient KiryatYe’arim—the place where the Ark of the Covenant rested for several years after being returned from the Philistines, and before being brought by David into Jerusalem.  Hundreds of believers from abroad descended there last Tuesday evening, many bringing gifts they had brought to give to the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.  The worship was in Hebrew and English, led by different Israeli worship leaders and groups.  Except for special ethnic praise and worship songs released by the Islanders; there were 180 from New Caledonia, hundreds from Samoa, Island-Breeze from Hawaii…many others.  Many entered into special “protocol” in bringing their gifts and worship to the King, and in honoring His “first born.”  There were anointed messages from the Israelis, there was an all-afternoon Elav celebration by Israeli Jewish and Arab young people from Israel, Judea and Samaria and Jordan—and when they came together with the adults in the evening, the fire and intensity of praise and worship had an anointing over it which we have not experienced before. On Friday morning the gathering moved up to conclude in Jerusalem.  Something new has come into place—God has visited us in a new way. Things will be different from here on---

Some Impressions from the Welcoming the King of Glory Gathering

By Norma

"They shall bring your sons in their arms; And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;  Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth…Then you will know that I am YHVH."
Isaiah 49:22b-23

These verses are such a picture to me of the gathering of the nations with Israel last week.  There are weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, conferences in Jerusalem.  Those from the Nations invite those from their and other nations to gather there.  Often, in the course of the meetings, an Israeli speaker may have been invited to speak; a few Israelis might attend.  But this past week, Israel scheduled the gathering, and then invited the nations to join.

As we met and prayed with the leaders daily during these days, we observed such humility in the Israeli pastors; such holy love and respect among them.

One thousand people attended!  Over six hundred from the Pacific Islands alone!  This is a very large conference for Israel!

He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel:  all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." (Psalm 98:3)

Many of these from the "ends of the earth" had saved their money for years in order to come, but they did not come to speak or offer their ideas, nor to sight-see—they came only to honor Israel and her believing Remnant, and to bless her, and to be a part of welcoming the King of Glory to return.

I have attended many believing events here and in other nations.  Most have been "speaker-driven".  This was "honor-driven".  The Nations came to honor the "elder brother"—Israel.  And Israeli pastors took their place as the "first-born".  We are a Body which is often insecure.  Because of our faith, we often are not accepted as Jews by other Jews.  We are sometimes even fearful that we might be expelled from the Land.  Many here have waited and hoped for revival for years and years.  But something shifted in these three days!  Most who attended left saying:  "I have no words to describe this, but it was historical!"  "A bridge has been crossed."  "A shift has happened!"

I sense in the coming six months we will see evidence that the King of Glory was indeed welcomed to Jerusalem.  And that the "elder brother in Israel has indeed taken his rightful place there…and in doing so has opened the way for world-wide shifts to take place in the Body!

PLEASE PRAY:

• Praise and thanksgiving with us for the visitation of His Spirit in Abu Goash and Jerusalem this past week.
• For illumination in the Spirit into the NEW for the Body of Messiah—both in Israel and in the countries of those who came here.  That God clarifies what He has done, and guide us in walking forward in it.
• That the Body in Israel will step by faith into the New Season which is upon us
• That the Gateway which has been opened will stay open—and that that for which it was opened will flood into the Land.  We believe that a new measure of the Glory of the Lord has been released—which will prepare the way for much, much more!
• For signs and wonders, healings and miracles, and a new boldness in Love in sharing the Good News with Jews and Arabs in the Land.
• For a rear-guard of protection over all who attended the Gathering—especially those who took part in organizing and facilitating it.
• That the new degree of love and trust which is shining among the leaders will continue to warm and spread!
• For the Light of Jesus (Yasuah) shine in Abu Goash –that this place which welcomed His coming be blessed with a supernatural revelation of salvation and prosperity.

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

Germany is still in a tense period politically as Angela Merkel, who represents the CDU/CSU “party-union”, seeks to negotiate a coalition agreement with the FDP and Greens parties in order to form a new Federal Government for the next four years. Meanwhile the political challenges from outside of Germany and within the European Union still have to be faced.

The Call of the Watchmen Prayer Network was formed to be like “Watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 62:6), who are called to intercede day and night for the nation, its government and society, and to pray for the fulfilment of its calling in accordance with the purposes of the God of Israel.

As we remember and celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Luther Reformation in Germany, let us continue to pray for a “new reformation” and spiritual revival in Germany and in Europe, and indeed in all our nations, .

Thank you for praying for Germany!

Your Call of the Watchmen Team - International

English Translation by Phil and Margaret Daniell
http://www.waechterruf.de

Call of the Watchmen

I do not know how you reacted to the election. For me, I sensed no immediate need to judge the outcome, whether the election was a success or a failure for this or that party, but to be still and listen to God. In Psalm 46:10, God calls out from great turmoil (...the earth giving way, mountains falling into the sea...): “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” This is not about passively keeping quiet and saying nothing, but about taking time to be aware of who God is. He is the unchangeable one whose love for this world (and our country) is without end.

Shortly before the election at a meeting of board members, the Holy Spirit gave us a vivid picture to show us what the essential nature and purpose of the Call of the Watchmen Prayer Network should be like. Jesus was holding a precious bowl (which represented our prayer network) in his hand and it began to glow from inside. As the glow finally filled the bowl, it radiated great warmth into the land of Germany. God was making it clear to us that he wants us, as watchmen-intercessors, to be filled with his love and then through our prayers to radiate this love into areas of our land where such love is certainly not an important part of life – as in politics.

God wants the warmth of his love to fill our land. -RS

Answer to prayer

In 2018 the Federal Government will only support projects of the Turkish Islamic Institute for Religion (Ditib) with a mere 300,000 Euro instead of 1.5 million as in the past. The support for other Islamic institutions has also been substantially reduced. There is overall suspicion of control from outside Germany, and with Ditib strong influence comes from the Turkish government. -RS

Working with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party

Now that the AfD has become the third strongest party with 12.6% in government after the CDU/CSU and SPD, all the other parties as well as the media have to think again about how to work with the AfD. So far the AfD has been mainly marginalised and generally denounced as radical and leaning too far to the right - a tactic that has now in fact led to the AfD being elected for the first time by many who, amongst other reasons, wanted to lodge their protest against the policies of other parties.

In the German Basic Law it is stated that: “Parties play a part in forming the political will of the people”. (GG §21,1). They are a desired, important factor in giving people of different opinions and interests a channel through which to express their views politically. No party can therefore claim: “We are the people”. There is an internal struggle within the AfD as to which forces and opinions will eventually take hold – the conservative voices which no longer find a home in the CDU, or those who want to see an end to the “guiltculture” and “purge” the country of certain people.

In the meantimeFraukePetry has left the AfD party and founded a new party: “The Blue Party”.

After the election people in Germany are asking: “What’s going on in our country?” “What’s the matter?” “Where is the worry and fear coming from?” We do not need more marginalisation, but rather the readiness to listen to others. Much has been lost in Europe and Germany because of unbelief and rejection of God. We cannot be restored by a political party or ideology – we need humble repentance before God, prayer for His solutions, and faith in His saving power. Let us station ourselves as intercessors on the ramparts like Habakkuk and trust in His promises.
(Habakkuk 2:1-4).

Prayer:

• For a new readiness to listen to others and ask for godly solutions. (James 1:19-20)
• For the AfD party: that it will clearly distance itself from radical right-wing forces.
• That the media and all political parties will discuss the needs and concerns of the people without a spirit of judgment and condemnation. (Luke 6:37) -RS

Coalition talks

The federal election result marks a clear break in German politics. Nearly all parties have had to accept a loss of support. Now a governmental coalition has to be formed. The possible coalition partners, CDU/CSU, FDP and Greens, could scarcely be more different politically, and yet there is a chance for a new beginning to emerge from the current coalition talks. Politicians must once again listen to the people more and develop clear ideas that they take away and can relate to their own situation. Here there is general agreement. The most contentious issues are immigration, family support, security and tax legislation, energy and education.

The negotiations can only be successful when none of the parties lose face and in the end party members and voters can be convinced. In the wide range of possible approaches politically, there is the potential for creative thinking and innovative solutions.

Quick and easy compromises will no longer suffice, we need divinely ordained solutions. For this we need the release of new ideas through the Holy Spirit and men and women who are open to be led by the Holy Spirit. If there is no agreement to form a coalition, most likely new elections will have to be held. Let us pray that God will grant us a stable coalition with many new ideas, pleasing to Him, and that it will be the foundation for fair and constructive work in government over the next four years. We need a new start!

Prayer:

• For cleansing and a new start within German politics. (Psalm 51:12)
• For fair dealing between the parties and among the politicians, and that God sheds “light and truth” on all the various political perspectives. (Psalm 43:3)
• For the release of godly answers to difficult political questions. (Isaiah 11:2-3)

Europe and the German federal election result

After the shock of Brexit in June 2016, Europe had again been gaining favour since the beginning of the year 2017. The elections in Holland and especially in France were clearly won against the critics of Europe. At the same time the economies of the countries in the European Union again grew overall, while one could see the consequences of nationalism in England. Everyone in Europe was then counting on a continuation of the grand coalition in Germany with a strengthened chancellor. Therefore the results of the German federal election came as a great shock: Merkel weakened as never before, refusal by Schulz to form a grand coalition, a victory for the AfD, and the only option to form a government was an uncertain “Jamaicaflag coalition” (Black(CDU) - Yellow(FDP) - Green). Suddenly the land which was the source of stability in Europe was no longer a secure factor, with Angela Merkel effectively isolated politically and her days in office numbered.

France’s President Macron was particularly affected. His vision was and is the growth of the EU countries together into a federal entity (like the Federal Republic of Germany) with its own parliament, budget, and a finance minister who would work for an improved financial balance between the north and south in the EU. But Christian Lindner (FDP) who is in line to be Germany’s next finance minister has already clearly spoken out against this concept in the interests of Germany. The role of Germany in Europe under a black/yellow/green “Jamaica” government must now be newly established. Because of the German election result there is no simple “business as usual”, even for Europe!

Prayer:

• God is building something new in Europe. Let us pray along with His “higher thoughts”. (Isaiah 55:8ff)
• For a good and constructive understanding concerning the future of Europe. (Jeremiah 29:11)
• Pray that the “spring of hope” for Europe continues to grow amongst its citizens. -OS

German politicians in Israel

Shortly before the end of the legislature period a request of the chairman of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Group (Volker Beck) to the Foreign Office was answered. He wanted to know with which citizens’ organisations German politicians have had meetings in the past four years when they were in Israel for discussions concerning specific issues. The answer showed that SPD politicians (Gabriel, Steinmeier, Nahles, Hendriks) had one-sidedly met only with left-wing NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations). Among 27 NGOs, only one could be counted as beingrelated to the mid-right political spectrum in Israel. This was a contact that Angela Merkel had. Therefore most of these politicians obviously had no interest in getting a comprehensive picture of civil society in Israel. It indicates rather an interest only in organisations that are criticising Israel. This behaviour can be directly linked to the SPD’s own political outlook, as well to those who prepared the specific purpose for such visits. What political persuasion will the next foreign minister have? He will be able to replace those in strategically important positions in the foreign office (state-secretaries, department heads, etc.) accordingly with new people who share his convictions concerning Israel.

Prayer

• For a foreign minister who has an open heart for Israel. (Isaiah 66:2b)
• For the strategically important positions in the foreign ministry: that people will be appointed who with God’s help decisively advance and improve the relationship between Germany and Israel. (Isaiah 60:10a)
• That politicians in all parties will be ready to discover the strength and diversity of Israel. (Isaiah 62:1-3) -RS

Think tanks

What influences and determines our thinking in this land? How do we get new ideas? And who decides what is discussed in the public arena and in the media? So-called “think tanks” – privately or publically financed – work behind the scenes in politics and in our social and economic system. They provide knowledge and information, develop ideas and encourage people to think in different ways. Politicians are dependent on their advice and expertise. But think tanks systematically follow the set agenda of their sponsors and lobbyists. Their goal is to promote issues, initiate public discussion and to influence public opinion accordingly. In this way they mould the norms and guiding principles in our society. Worldwide there are as many as 6800 think tanks, with some 165 in Germany. Known think tanks are the Bertelsmann Trust, the party sponsored organisations and the Max-Planck-Institute. At the German Prayer Conference we were concerned mainly with the roots of Marxism. We saw how the thinking in our western culture is influenced by humanism, liberalism and nationalism. These ideologies form the intellectual basis for many think tanks.

Today more than ever we need the Holy Spirit to break into our thinking in Germany and Europe in power. We need creative thinkers who together with the Holy Spirit develop Bible-based ways to influence our thoughts and to make room for the Kingdom of God in our society.

Prayer:

• For Biblical truth to enlighten our society and for ungodly, ideological thoughts to lose their influence. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
• For a powerful influence of the Holy Spirit in think tanks. (Acts 2:17)
• For creative thinkers to rise up and come together to make room for a Biblical thoughts. (Daniel 1:17+20) -AS

Dates for your diary

15.11 “PrayDay” for schools by SMD (Student Mission Deutschland) http://prayday.smd.org/de/prayday/
22.11 Prayer and Repentance Day. (Holiday in Saxony)

God’s blessings from Rosemarie Stresemann and Team

The Pavilion, Jerusalem, Israel

The Holy Convocation in Jerusalem to Welcome the King of Glory!

Shalom from Jerusalem, the City of the Great King!

Two thousand years ago our Lord and Messiah, Yeshua, commanded his disciples to take the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20).  Six hundred years before this, the prophet Isaiah saw that the glory of God would reach even to the islands from the rising of the sun (east), and also to the “ends of the earth” (Isaiah 24:15, 41:5, 42:10). 

In our generation, these prophecies of the Great Commission are being fulfilled. The Gospel has reached to the distant islands of the Pacific, exactly on the other side of globe from Jerusalem.  And now, peoples from every tribe, tongue and nation, are desiring to bring the Good News and the Glory back to Jerusalem - all in preparation for His glorious return!

We are a group of Israeli, Messianic leaders who have come together to “Welcome the King of Glory.”  King David was the first to welcome the King of Glory when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.  He did this both as an individual worshiper, but also on behalf of his people, Israel. 

For many reasons, we believe that this year of 2017 is prophetically significant.  Together with a remnant of believers from many tribes, tongues and nations, we desire to welcome the King of Glory into Jerusalem once more.  We believe we are on the cusp of a new season of His glory residing in His Body worldwide - according to Isaiah 60.  We also believe that this will mark a new season of God’s presence among His people in Israel, and the beginning of a season of the fulfilment of many End Times’ events. (We are not necessarily declaring this season as the time of His Second Coming!)

We want to invite you, your family, your tribes and nations, to come up to Jerusalem for this special gathering during Sukkot 2017.   The Lord is about to arise over Jerusalem to mark the beginning of the Day of the Lord and the End Times.

Arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and great darkness shall cover the peoples. But the LORD will arise with His glory upon you, the Gentiles and their kings shall come to your light (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Let us gather in Jerusalem, to welcome the King of Glory, who is strong and mighty! Lift up your heads, O you gates…and the King of Glory shall come in!  (Psalm 24) 

The “Welcome the King of Glory” (WTKOG) gathering will take place at the Pavilion from October 9-13.  You can find details at www.wtkog.com    

We look forward to seeing you in Jerusalem, in the Name of our Messiah Yeshua!

Avi Mizrachi Israel Coordinator                                                                                                

Welcome the King of Glory

Pray that this not be just another conference. Instead, like the original Day of Pentecost, may the King of Glory visit Jerusalem in a unique and mighty way and may those Messianic Jews and Gentiles taking part in this event be endued with power from on high for the mission He has for them at this time in history.                                            

On 30 August the Israel Rescue Coalition sent members of a psychotrauma and crisis response unit to Houston, to aid those who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. ‘People need help on the ground,’ said Dov Maisel. ‘They need to be able to wrap their minds around what was lost, and they need assistance figuring out how to cope and where to go from here.’ Maisel’s previous experience includes serving in Haiti in 2016 following Hurricane Matthew, and in Nepal in 2015 after a devastating earthquake. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's administration has not yet decided whether to accept assistance from Mexico to help the victims. The Mexican government expressed its ‘full solidarity’ with the people and government of the US, and said it had ‘offered to provide help and cooperation’ in the wake of Harvey. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Mexico provided soldiers to help serve meals, distribute supplies, and conduct medical consultations.

Metal detectors placed outside a holy site in East Jerusalem brought long-existing tensions to a boiling point. Viewed as an Israeli attempt to assert control over the site, Palestinians responded with protests, boycotts, and even deadly clashes. This all came after the killing of two Israeli policeman by Israeli-Arab gunmen. Israel's compliance in removing the detectors will not bring lasting peace. There is no end in sight to the conflict. Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and Iran continue to threaten their existence. Every human attempt at reconciliation in the region has failed. Yet God is moving on both sides of this conflict. He loves Israeli Jews and Arabs and is actively drawing them to Himself. The number of Messianic Jews is rising dramatically, and the Christian Church in Israel is largely Arab. The peace and reconciliation Jesus offers transcends any man-made division. Peace in Israel rests in Him alone.

The UK Government is being tested on the issue of whether or not to stand with Israel. With terror threats on every side, the Jewish state is potentially in as great a peril now as its people were under the Nazis. An estimated 120,000 missiles are aimed at Israeli cities by Iran-sponsored, Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah, while their supporters have been allowed to march through London streets waving flags featuring an assault rifle and calling for Israel’s destruction. To date 11,177 people have signed a petition calling on the UK Government to ban Hezbollah. On 22 June, in the House of Commons, Amber Rudd said she would look into banning the annual demonstration and proscribing Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. Conservative MP John Howell believes that no lasting peace is possible if Palestinians continue to be indoctrinated to hate Jews, while Scottish MP Ross Thomson called for a full ban on Hezbollah, adding Israel was a beacon of democracy in a troubled region. See also

Dr Daphne Burdman, a psychiatrist, pathologist and lieutenant colonel in the US army, says that in both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas-ruled Gaza, there are carefully planned and widespread campaigns to incite children to hatred. This process of incitement has had totally inadequate coverage in the international media, and these deeply ‘successful’ programmes - based on both old and new techniques of persuasion and indoctrination - are being ignored by the west. There is mounting evidence that some techniques are similar to, and been inspired by, those used by totalitarian regimes such as the Soviet KGB and Chinese intelligence services. This incitement of Palestinian children has led to widespread hatred and a propensity for violence among them. Palestinian leaders urge them to carry out violent acts against Israelis, even though they are likely to be wounded or killed. They are promised that they will become martyrs.

Ramadan is a time of increased security tensions, particularly on Fridays when hundreds of thousands of people gather on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for prayer. Lord, give wisdom to Israel’s security forces during this month to know how to handle the emotions of multitudes of Muslims, often stirred up against Israel by the preaching of their leaders. Give alertness to those who are guarding against people intent on doing evil acts of terror, especially after many days of high alert during President Trump’s visit. Protect security personnel from murderous attacks against them. Guard them against ‘alertness-fatigue’, tiredness, hot weather, and mobile phone distractions. Give police, government and security guards discernment of danger and decisiveness to act when needed. Pray that Jerusalem, ‘the city of the Great King’ (Psalm 48:2), will be kept safe. ‘Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem’ (Isaiah 31:5).

A Christian agency in Israel said, ‘We see a great deal of fear among vulnerable members of our Eritrean community,’ after a new law, known as the Deposit Law, was implemented by the government. It deducts 20% from the earnings of African asylum-seekers, and their employers must also make monthly payments equivalent to 16% of the person’s salary. This law impacts the 40,000 Eritreans (mainly Christians) who fled to Israel hoping to find freedom and security in a country where they could worship without fear. The funds - from employee and employer - will be set aside by the Israeli government and released to the individual asylum-seeker when they agree to leave the country permanently. No Eritreans wish to return to the brutal communist regime which hounds Christians, imprisoning them for years in atrocious conditions just for meeting together to pray. Eritreans trying to go to Uganda or Rwanda have sometimes ended in the hands of human traffickers or been killed by IS.

A recent wave of terror has brought fear to people in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Many are fearful of exposing their families to danger. Tourism is in decline as many people cancel holidays, causing negative effects on the Israeli economy. This damages small businesses and the families they support. The attacks, which many have called the ‘third intifada,’ have worsened a major ongoing problem. Recent reports show that almost one third of Israeli families live below the poverty line. Thousands of babies frequently miss meals or have their feed portions diluted, causing an increased likelihood of experiencing significant problems in their physical and mental growth. If this continues, one-third of Israel’s population will enter adulthood under these circumstances. Pray for underprivileged families to receive enough support from government programmes and NGOs to enable them to manage their basic living expenses. May the children and babies receive the food, clothing and education they need.