AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the State of Israel in Asia

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Home > Jul 21: Israel

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Jul 21: Israel

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Israel

State of Israel

Asia

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Geography

Area: 20,700 sq km
A further 7,540 sq km of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights have been controlled by Israel since 1967.
Population: 7,285,033    Annual Growth: 1.71%
Capital: Jerusalem
Urbanites: 91.7%
HDI Rank: 27 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 53 (75% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Hebrew, Arabic. Numerous immigrant languages from all over the world are spoken    Languages: 48 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Jewish

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	148,615	2.04	0.5
Evangelicals	31,045	0.4	5.6
Jewish	5,492,915	75.40

Prayercast

Challenges for Prayer

Jews of the dispersion (those outside Israel) are declining in numbers through a lower birth rate, emigration to Israel, mixed marriages, secularism and conversions to other religions. There are now an estimated eight million Jews outside of Israel. The largest concentrations are in the USA (5.3m), former USSR (1m), France (500,000), Canada (370,000), Britain (280,000), Germany (200,000) and Argentina (180,000). There are 1.6 million Jews just in New York. In the USA, there is much openness, elsewhere less so. More workers are needed in places such as France. Pray for the ministry of JFJ (216 workers globally), CPM (161), MT, CWI, CMJ, Caspari Center and others; their work involves long hours of patient, loving ministry to individuals and families. Pray for a greater sensitivity on the part of Gentile churches toward problems of Jewish survival and for the Jewish remnant within the Church.
Supportive ministries:
a) Christian literature and Scripture are of great importance in spreading the gospel due to the multiplicity of languages – Jews have returned to Israel from scores of nations. In addition to humanitarian work, The Bible Society distributes over 110,000 Bibles, NTs and Scripture portions annually. OM is also highly involved in literature distribution. HaGefen Publishing and Keren Ahvah Meshihit are both publishers that translate and produce literature into Modern Hebrew, including children’s and digital media. Pray for Christian publishing houses and for increased production of Christian literature and Scripture in Hebrew, Russian, Arabic, Amharic and other languages. There are four Messianic Jewish periodicals, some having a readership beyond the Messianic Jewish community. Many homes have a NT. Pray for the fruitfulness of God’s Word in the land of Israel.
b) Student work has grown, but the need for ministry to teenagers and young adults is still keenly felt. The IFES-linked student movement Fellowship of Christian Students in Israel has 10 groups with 150 students. Hearts to Serve is another ministry for students; both focus on reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian students.
c) Films on the life of Jesus. The JESUS film is completed in 10 languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Romanian, Modern Standard Arabic, English, Polish, Hungarian, Amharic and Adygey). Other Christian films are also having an impact. Pray for widespread distribution, and pray for effective follow up to inquiries generated by such films.
d) Radio. TWR, FEBA, IBRA and Netivyah together broadcast many hours in Hebrew, Russian, Arabic and other languages by radio and Internet.
e) Websites with material, resources and discussions about the nature of Jesus as Messiah are available in many languages. The Internet is widely and heavily used in Israel and has massive ministry potential. Pray that the Spirit may draw seekers to these sites.
     For an additional 8 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Israel.

Revelation 14 NIV ~ Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Revelation 14 (New International Version, ©2010)

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
The Three Angels

6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
8 A second angel followed and said, "'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,'[a] which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name." 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[b] with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

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Revelation 14 NIV ~ Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter 14

Those faithful to Christ celebrate the praises of God. (1-5) Three angels; one proclaiming the everlasting gospel; another, the downfal of Babylon; and a third, the dreadful wrath of God on the worshippers of the beast. The blessedness of those who die in the Lord. (6-13) A vision of Christ with a sickle, and of a harvest ripe for cutting down. (14-16) The emblem of a vintage fully ripe, trodden in the wine-press of God's wrath. (17-20) Verses 1-5 Mount Sion is the gospel church. Christ is with his church, and in the midst of her in all her troubles, therefore she is not consumed. His presence secures perseverance. His people appear honourably. They have the name of God written in their foreheads; they make a bold and open profession of their faith in God and Christ, and this is followed by suitable actings. There were persons in the darkest times, who ventured and laid down their lives for the worship and truth of the gospel of Christ. They kept themselves clean from the wicked abominations of the followers of antichrist. Their hearts were right with God; and they were freely pardoned in Christ; he is glorified in them, and they in him. May it be our prayer, our endeavour, our ambition, to be found in this honourable company. Those who are really sanctified and justified are meant here, for no hypocrite, however plausible, can be accounted to be without fault before God. Verses 6-13 The progress of the Reformation appears to be here set forth. The four proclamations are plain in their meaning; that all Christians may be encouraged, in the time of trial, to be faithful to their Lord. The gospel is the great means whereby men are brought to fear God, and to give glory to him. The preaching of the everlasting gospel shakes the foundations of antichrist in the world, and hastens its downfal. If any persist in being subject to the beast, and in promoting his cause, they must expect to be for ever miserable in soul and body. The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us. Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such as die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follow them: do not go before as their title, or purchase, but follow them as proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord: the remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services and sufferings. This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit, witnessing with their spirits, and the written word. Verses 14-20 Warnings and judgments not having produced reformation, the sins of the nations are filled up, and they become ripe for judgments, represented by a harvest, an emblem which is used to signify the gathering of the righteous, when ripe for heaven, by the mercy of God. The harvest time is when the corn is ripe; when the believers are ripe for heaven, then the wheat of the earth shall be gathered into Christ's garner. And by a vintage. The enemies of Christ and his church are not destroyed, till by their sin they are ripe for ruin, and then he will spare them no longer. The wine-press is the wrath of God, some terrible calamity, probably the sword, shedding the blood of the wicked. The patience of God towards sinners, is the greatest miracle in the world; but, though lasting, it will not be everlasting; and ripeness in sin is a sure proof of judgment at hand.

Romans 4 (NIV)

Romans 4 (New International Version, ©2010)

Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."[b]

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

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Psalm 87 NIV

Psalm 87 (New International Version)

Psalm 87

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: Selah

4 "I will record Rahab [a] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[b]— and will say, 'This [c] one was born in Zion.' "

5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."

6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." Selah

7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you."

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