July 2011 Prayer Guide

 Download the 'Isaiah 62' prayer guide for July 27th »

Over the course of the past few weeks I have been meditating on some passages in the book of Daniel. In chapter 10 we read about a unique segment in Daniel’s life when he decided to engage in a special fast abstaining from any “desirable food,” wine and meat. It is important to understand the main purpose behind this season of his fasting and prayer.

In the prayer of Daniel in chapter 9, he sought the Lord for the specific fulfillment of the promise to return his people back to the land of Israel from their exile in Babylon. Two years later, however, Daniel prayed in chapter 10 for “understanding, wisdom and truth” (Dan. 10:1,12). While in chapter 9 the angel arrived ‘swiftly’ to answer Daniel’s prayer (Dan 9:21), this time his prayer continued for three weeks without any apparent answer. Finally the angel of God arrived and informed him that while his petition was heard on the very first day, “the prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days…”(Dan. 10:13) When the angel finally did arrive, he did so in order “to tell what is noted in the scripture of truth.”(Dan. 10:21)

Put simply, it was a battle for truth. Powerful demonic principalities tried to keep God’s messenger from reaching Daniel to give him understanding of the truth. But it was Daniel’s perseverance in prayer and fasting which enabled the messenger of truth to fulfill his mission.

Daniel’s experience teaches us an important lesson: for truth to win, we need to pray. It also teaches us that the battle for truth is taking place in heavenly places. The book of Revelation tells us that in the last days powerful lying spirits will be released in order to deceive the government leaders of the world to battle against Israel (Rev. 16:12-16). Even today we see that powerful lies and fables are being created in order to undermine, endanger and question the very existence of the state of Israel. During this summer there are three major challenges confronting Israel and each one of them has to do with truth.

1. The Flotilla Lie
The ‘Gaza flotilla’ movement, which thankfully lost significant momentum during recent weeks, represents a public relations assault on Israel’s arms embargo on the Gaza Strip. The flotilla organizers have tried to blame Israel for forcing a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ upon the people of Gaza. The truth is that so much aid reaches the Gaza Strip each month that local merchants complain it is driving down prices. The naval blockade is not about ‘punishing’ the people of Gaza, but merely preventing Hamas and other terrorists groups acquire weapons to kill Israelis.  

2. The Durban Lie
The upcoming Durban III conference due to be held in New York in September was originally planned as a summit to combat racism and xenophobia. But the previous two Durban conferences (held in Durban, South Africa in 2001, and Geneva, Switzerland in 2009), have both turned out to be little more than hate fests against Israel. The agenda is simply to portray Israel as a racist, apartheid state and, as such, the central obstacle to world peace. The truth is that Israel is the only free and democratic nation in the Middle East and the United Nations’ Durban movement has become a summit of lies. (Learn more at www.icej.org/apartheid)

3. The Statehood Lie
This coming September will also see the Palestinian Authority attempt to bring a unilateral declaration of Palestinian Statehood to a vote in the United Nations General Assembly. This vote is being presented as an essential step for peace in the Middle East, when in reality it will simply reward the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to negotiate with Israel, its persistent support of terrorism and rejection of Israel’s right to exist. In fact, the Israeli government warns that not only would such a vote contradict previous agreements and harm future negotiations, but it could provide the pretext for the launch of another Palestinian intifada. This has become a major issue and a matter for urgent prayer. 

I strongly feel that this summer is a crucial time for us to be on our knees for Israel. If you never considered fasting, this may be a unique opportunity to do so. We need to make this summer a summer of prayer and fasting for Israel. Please gather your churches and your friends, your prayer groups and Bible study classes in order to pray with us for these important matters.

It is interesting to note that I am sending out this letter at a time when the Jewish people are entering a season of introspection and fasting which culminates in the ‘Days of Awe’ – the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in late September, early October. This long dry summer season begins two weeks from now on Tish B’Av – a day of mourning associated with the destruction of the First and Second Temples, and a day when the Jewish people traditionally cry out to God to save them and heal their land.

So again please stand with us in particular during this summer in the battle for truth and for the peace of Jerusalem.

May the Lord bless you out of Zion

Download the 'Isaiah 62' prayer guide for July 27th » 

Yours in Jesus,

 
Dr. Jürgen Bühler
ICEJ International Director