A reader of yesterday’s entry wrote:
What CAN ordinary Christian Zionists like me, like the people whose churches you speak at, and the people who comment on your blog, do - in practical ways - to stand up for Israel’s God-given right to her land? We know of the importance and power of prayer, but I think of those who rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall with Nehemiah: everyone building “worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other handâ€. Neh. 4:17.
Our weapon is prayer. What is our work?
My immediate response:
We take a leaf out of the enemy’s book. He leaves no stone unturned; he doesn’t miss an opportunity to push forward with his effort to take the land. We shouldn’t miss any opportunity to thwart him. The harder he grasps for the land, the harder we embrace it to ourselves. Every time he, through our political leaders and our media, declares the land the Arabs’, we declare it the Lord’s, and proclaim that He has given it to the Jews. He insists on using politically-correct terms - we only use biblically-correct ones.
Every time the world refers to the land as the “West Bank” or “Israel-occupied Arab lands,” we challenge this and call it by its God-given designation: the Land of Israel.
In response to every politicians’ visit aimed at prying the land out of Israel’s fingers we commit to coming up here from our nations and declaring our belief to all who will hear us that this Land is the Jews, that the Arabs have no national inheritance here.
We challenge our leaders, the reporters/editors that promote the enemy’s line, and our neighbors who swallow those lies and regurgitate them. We fight lies with truth, propaganda with facts, arrogance with direct challenges, political power with the power of prayer.
We put our money where our mouths are; As sons and daughters of the God of Israel and heirs with Israel of all the promises God made to the fathers, we place our feet on this land, walk through its length and its width and claim it for Him.
We ask the Lord to lead us every step of the way - to be our Commander-in-Chief in this war - He has tactics and strategies that far outsmart the devil’s.
Each of us has different abilities, different resources, different strengths and gifts. We need to identify what we can do, and do it.
You want to plan an effective and committed response? In three complimentary ways here’s how you can:
Pray daily: Lift Israel up in prayer before the Throne, reminding God of His covenant promises to the people and the land; praying that no weapon formed against Israel will prosper; that God, who as He pledged to do is indeed bringing the Jews back from the four corners of the earth, will indeed keep this nation “as a shepherd keeps his sheep” and will bless Israel and Jerusalem with His shalom.
Give monthly: Sow your finances into Christian organizations that are involved in the battle for the land. The International Christian Zionist Center is the only such organization in Israel. By supporting us you help us to carry on this fight, in a very tangible and often sacrificial way adding your effort to ours. Make your checks payable to the “ICZC” and send them to: ICZC-USA; PO Box 680787; Franklin; TN, 37068; USA or to the International Christian Zionist Center; PO Box 49063; 91490; Jerusalem; ISRAEL.
Come yearly: It has been 28 years since the move of God’s Spirit that began to bring Christians to Jerusalem annually to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles - God’s appointed time for meeting with believing Gentiles in His land. We come together from the nations of the world to again proclaim the truth of His Word regarding the ownership of this Land, lacing our feet upon it, walking through its length and its width, and in our praises, proclamations and exploits preparing, we believe, the way for the coming of the King.
Veteran Christian Zionist leader and ICZC Director Jan Willem van der Hoeven was there at the start, and for the last 10 years we have sought to keep the Feast in accordance with the original vision. We heartily invite you to come, join us, for this incomparable, prophetic event! For more information see the ICZC website at www.israelmybeloved.com. The 2009 Feast of Tabernacles program, with registration information, will be up on that site soon.
No comments? How come? Where are all those who have been so vocal in their stated support for Israel and her “God-given” right to her land? Is the prospect of actually doing something concrete a frightening one? Or is it that we’re all thinking deeply and praying about which of your suggestions, Stan, the LORD wants us to follow? I pray it’s the latter.
Give us time Emmie, I have been offline.
This is powerful, Stan, and we all need to be reminded the step-by-step process that works BEST!
Multitudes of Americans, Emmie, are shaken to the core—reeling, as Barack HUSSEIN Obama has been elected 44th President. America is about to reap the harvest that the wicked and the “lukewarm” have sown……It is the calm before the storm.
We, who are faithful prayer warriors on behalf of Beloved Israel……we will faithfully HOLD Israel up…..We will give as we can…..many, many are struggling just to survive.
Yes, Emmie - give us a chance to respond!
I still haven’t had a chance to respond to the last two of Stan’s commentaries, but I will take a moment now to respond to this one…
Stan, I was so excited to read this commentary - But What Can We DO? The simple truth of it made me both laugh and cry! You have outlined here the very things that God has called me to do, and which I seek to do in my daily life. Some of these things, like actually coming to Israel and “physically” placing my feet on His Land and claiming it for HIm, I have not yet been able to do, but that does not stop me from “spiritually” placing the soles of my feet on His Land as I pray, and claiming it for Him with tears and groanings!
Stan, yesterday as I read your words, I knew you had just given me the perfect outline to take back to my small Israel Prayer Group, to help teach them what God is calling them to, so right then and there I took the time to make multiple copies of this commentary so I would have them ready to take along when Nov. 16th comes. We are sort of a motley little crew which the Lord has brought together to pray for Israel on a monthly basis, but I have seen that although the Lord has brought us together for this purpose, some among us do not really understand the depth of what this is all about and my desire is to do what I can as a part of this group, to help bring them from a position of “having an interest in Israel”, to haivng “hearts that are broken for her”. I have been asked to lead this next prayer time, so lead I will! With the help of the Ruach HaKodesh! And I will also be using this commentary to help me. Last spring I aslo had an opportunity to lead, and I used that opportunity to introduce to them the concept of “Praying the Word for Israel”, and the depth of power there is in reminding God of His own heart and His own promises to and about Israel. At the time I used the most current “Praying the Word for Israel” as a tool to teach them, and it was amazing the impact this seemed to have on the group. My prayer is that the Lord would again open the way for me to touch their hearts for Israel, on a deeper level than they may have yet experienced, and that their interest in Israel would not just be a once a month, Sunday afternoon hobby, but that they would recognize and receive what God is calling them to and that it would affect the way they live every moment of their lives.
Bless you Stan, for your faithfullness, and I still hope to comment on some of your other more recent commentaries - if I get there before you close comments on them.
Yes I do understand about the US Christians being shellshocked by the election results. And yes, I guess I was just a bit impatient there. My apologies to everyone.
And yet, in spite of it all OUR GOD REIGNS! Through the storm, through the night… He reigns. Come hell or high water… He reigns. In the teeth of all the Godless machinations of men…. He reigns. The purposes of His heart stand.
I realise the economic situation is hitting many hard, making it difficult to think of giving. But the LORD spoke to me in this regard some years back when personal finances were dodgy. He said to me:
“You look after My Family, and I’ll look after yours.”
And has He ever come through on that promise!
May He bless with abundance all of you who love His Family.
Patience, Emmie… Well said, Marsha.
Election night up here in Alaska was like a funeral.
We voted 61 per cent for McCain/Palin and only 36 per cent for Obama.
In a restaurant, we all watched the emotional celebrations at the Obama victory rally in silence… Many people are stunned that Obama won the election.
It looks like Obama will bring change to America… sadly it will be change we don’t want and cannot afford… but we will have to endure it anyway.
It is the calm before the storm… At least some of us have some idea what to expect from America’s new, popular and false ‘messiah’… and the subsequent
severe judgement that will fall on Obama’s utopia will be no surprise to us either.
What exactly each of us needs to do needs careful consideration.
Since America as a nation is facing unavoidable disaster, the most important thing may now be to make sure we are ready as individuals to deal with what is coming… to ensure we are right with God… and to try to reach our friends and neighbors before the coming darkness covers our land.
And it is not impossible that between now and January 20th, when Obama is due to be enthroned, ’something’ might happen to prevent the seemingly unavoidable disaster that is facing us. With God all things are possible.
But if God has hardened the hearts of all those Americans who voted for Obama,
then maybe President Obama IS the first phase of God’s judgement falling on America. In that case, we are all going to face a very difficult 2009 and beyond.
Thanks for yet another informative article. Must say I was stunned at how the WHOLE world embraced President elect Obama. Driving in the streets of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, and reading the signposts that the daily newspapers have on the lampposts, one in particular caught my attention - “World hails Obama”. Also just visiting his Facebook page. The things people were commenting was crazy, they were basically worshipping him, from ALL over the world, looking to him to save the world’s problems. Have to admit he’s a compelling orator, but there are just too many red flags which are difficult to ignore. No doubt, interesting times lie ahead.
Anyway back to the article.
Pray daily: thats goes without saying.
Give monthly: I sow into “Bridges for Peace”, on a monthly basis as they have a South African office and I can easily send the money to them, is there any serious redtape involved in transferring money to the International Christian Zionist Center? Do they have a South African office? Is the Bridges for Peace organisation not doing the same thing, should I still support them? Any advice would be appreciated.
Come yearly: Would so much love to visit Israel for a Feast of Tabernacles, but the costs or organised tours from South Africa are excorbitant, so may have to wait until retirement or until my financial situation improves dramatically. Will visit the Land before I die, G-d willing.
Keep up the good work Zion Warrior…our prayers are with you.
I have been thinking of the request made to Samuel “Give us a king…!” and I see Obama as that ‘king-figure that so many have called out for but they don’t know what they have done.
I believe Stan’s advice is the only way- to pray and keep alert to the Word of God and to realise that “God is still the throne..”- a little chorus I sang as a child.
“God is still on the throne
Ande he will remember His own
His promise is true He will not forget you
For God is still on the throne.”
Regarding Israel, Let the people cry out to God as in Isiah 30v119.. He is waiting to gracious when He hears their cry-just as He did when Israel was in Egypt- we will see Yeshua David’s greater Son. Even so come Lord Jesus!
I will pray for Jerusalem
We can do all these things and will prayerfully seek our special different part. The most difficult is the ‘come yearly’ part, as that is a growing expense in difficult times, but we can sell things and do without a lot to save the airfare and the cost… isn’t Tabernacles when those who live in the Land are supposed to live in booths so those of us who are visiting can stay in their homes as their ‘ushpizim’ (guests)? That would ease the expense and keep it from being the “Feast of Hotel Rooms” .
Stan, How is ICZC affiliated (if at all) with the WBZ, headed by Joel Bell, and what is the news of how that is going. I know they are there now, leaning if their dream can become a reality. Any news would be appreciated!
Shalom!
Learning, not leaning.
Oh, Emmie, busy offline on 11/7 and 11/8 was Sabbath, so now’s the first to view this…
Shalom Stan
Yes indeed, well spoken Stan. . And as distasteful as it is, we in the US must also pray for Barak Hussien Obama. We must pray that he makes the right decisions in spite of his worldview . My prayers for Israel have never and will never cease until the Day of the Lord when all will be well. One thing that has happened that may be in Israel’s favor is Obama’s appointment of Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff . here is what Wikipedia says about him….
Rahm Israel Emanuel (Hebrew: ×¨× ×¢×ž× ×•×ל‎) was born in Chicago, Illinois. His first name, Rahm, means “high” or “lofty” in Hebrew, while his last name, Emanuel, means “God is with us.” According to his father, his son is the namesake of Rahamim, a Lehi combatant who was killed. Rahm’s surname was adopted by his family in 1933, after Rahm’s paternal uncle, Emanuel Auerbach, was killed in a skirmish with Arabs in Jerusalem. His father, the Jerusalem-born Benjamin M. Emanuel, is a pediatrician and former member of the Irgun, a Zionist militia active in the British Mandate of Palestine between 1931 and 1948. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Emanuel’s father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son’s appointment would be good for Israel. “Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel,” he was quoted as saying. “Why wouldn’t he be? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to clean the floors of the White House. “His mother, Martha Smulevitz, worked as an X-ray technician and was the daughter of a local union organizer. She became a civil rights activist; she was also once the owner of a Chicago-area rock and roll club. The two met in Chicago in the 1950s. Emanuel’s older brother, Ezekiel, is an oncologist and bioethicist, and his brother Ari is a talent agent in Los Angeles who inspired Jeremy Piven’s character Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage. Emanuel himself is the inspiration for the character Josh Lyman on The West Wing. Emanuel is a first cousin of Howard Stern Show writer Benjy Bronk. Emanuel also has a younger adopted sister named Shoshanna, 14 years his junior.
When his family lived in Chicago, he attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, a Jewish day school. After his family moved to Wilmette, he attended public school: Romona School, Wilmette Junior High School, and New Trier West High School. He and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel. At some point during his high school years, while working at an Arby’s restaurant, Emanuel severely cut his right middle finger. He sought medical attention only after suffering severe infection as a result of the wound, resulting in the partial amputation of the finger.
He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981, and went on to receive a master’s degree in Speech and Communication from Northwestern University in 1985. While still an undergraduate, he joined the congressional campaign of David Robinson of Chicago.
Emanuel was a civilian volunteer in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, repairing truck brakes in one of Israel’s northern bases.
Emanuel’s wife, Amy Rule, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, converted to Modern Orthodox Judaism shortly before her wedding. They are members of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel, a Modern Orthodox congregation in Chicago. They have three children, son Zachariah and daughters Ilana and Leah.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin of Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation is quoted as saying: “It’s a very involved Jewish family”; “Amy was one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays two years ago.” Emanuel has said of his Judaism: “I am proud of my heritage and treasure the values it has taught me.” Emanuel’s family lives on the North Side of Chicago, in the North Center neighborhood.
Emanuel trains for and participates in triathlons.
Shalom Jeremy
To those who asked whether the International Christian Zionist Center is in any way connected to Worldwide Biblical ZIonists, the answer is no.
Stan, thank you for outlining this in a very real and tangible way. I can’t believe how many people believe the “church” has replaced Israel, even when presented with Romans 11 and all that God has said in the OT. I pray daily for Israel…and now for America!!
blessings,
mid
What is difficult for me to understand is Christians who believe Obama’s win was from God. I saw a news report this morning about an African-American church service praising and thanking God for Obama’s win; the pastor saying it was God’s blessing and will that finally an African-American was elected president of the U.S. I believe this to be a good advancement for the African-American community and I understand their excitement and what this means to them. But at what cost. What do we say to believers who actually believe this. We set aside the sanctity of life, of marriage as ordained by God and other Godly issues in order to make “history.” It is very sad to see how mesmerized people are by Obama. In the midst of desperate times some put their hopes in a human being offering “hope” and “change” instead of the ONE who is our hope — Yeshua. Time will tell and only God knows how this will turn out. One of my many prayers is for God to guard our hearts and minds so that we may not be deceived. It’s easy to be deceived; especially in desperate times. As all this keeps sinking in, I am sad and kind of baffled. As strange as it may seem, I have also been led to pray for Obama’s TRUE salvation in Yeshua.
Wanted to respond to AR’s comments. Sharing some of your thoughts and concern as I watch how all races are mesmerized by Barack.
I am a white man with an African American wife and we’ve been discussing this phenomenon in the last week. Neither of us supported Barack but truth be known, there was not a righteous man on the other side either - let’s be truthful about that. The Republican party pandered to the evangelical populace by selecting Sarah Palin - because they want our vote, not necessarily because of righteousness.
Also, let’s keep in mind that the black vote traditionally goes to Democratic party in big numbers anyway - in ‘04 Bush got 10% of the black vote and McCain got 4% last week.
I live in California and in the ironies of irony, Proposition 8 which would prevent gays from legally marrying (and this being taught in school no matter what the media is telling you) narrowly passed (52% vs 48%). It was overwhelmingly supported by the black community (70% of blacks voting in support of Prop 8 - while only 48% of whites supported Prop 8). And because of the huge increase in blacks voting (because of Barack) - the black vote played a crucial role in getting this all important Proposition passed - and they would not have came out in the same numbers without Barack being on the ticket . And the irony of it all is that Barack DOES NOT support Prop 8.
At the end of the day, it is God who places those in authority over us. I think these elections are a shot over the bow, so to speak, at Christianity. We long to be recognized (we get upset when our guy or girl doesn’t get in office), and we live far too much like the world (similar divorce rates, early pregnancy, runaway kids, overleveraged homes, watching American Idol, etc). It is well within God’s character to strengthen our enemies against us to get our attention.
Jdg 3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
We need to be a holy people and we know that judgement begins with the House of God. There is a tidal wave of liberal thinking coming our way and we need to press in like never before to our God, ask him to cleanse us as individuals from the world, and help us to keep our eyes totally on him, and to have mercy on our land.
“The Lord is my portion, therefore my soul hopes in Him” Lam 3:22
Just like AR, I’m praying for Barack & Michelle and his cabinet that God would give them a revelation of who He is and how they should be leading and governing our country.