“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:10-11
“And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch (and said to those listening). “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:23, 27-28
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves… “Behold the world is gone after him.” John 12:19
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Dear Intercessors for Israel:
Greetings from Jerusalem. The whole city and the nation is filled with tourists this month. It seems as if people from the uttermost parts of the earth have suddenly “dropped in” to visit. I and others have never seen so many tour buses on the roads. I have recently met pilgrims from Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, Canada, Norway, and Alaska. Pastor Joel Osteen had a large group here as well as Joseph Prince. All the city’s shopkeepers are smiling and all the holy sites are “choc-a-bloc” full. There is just something (His Spirit) here that continues to draw all men and women to see where the Savior walked and where the prophets spoke. Jerusalem is the center of our faith.
I have been visiting the “holy sites” for the past two weeks, including Caesarea where the Holy Spirit fell on the gentiles, the Jordan Baptismal site, the Temple Mount where Jesus once taught, the Garden Tomb, the Upper Room, and today Lazarus’s empty tomb as well as the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ field. No matter how many times I have visited these sites, they continue to build my faith up. I can hear my spirit man shouting “He is risen,” “He is alive”, “He is coming back” and He cares for you. Reading my Bible tonight, I was particularly drawn to Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John: “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (Jn. 10:27-28). What a precious, divine promise! Perhaps you are not sure that you have eternal life. Meditate on Jesus’s words in John. We are the sheep of his pasture, forever!
And then I was reading the Book of Acts and saw His word to us that we shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon us and we shall be his witnesses “both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” You possess right now the gift of His power and light to speak boldly anywhere of His love, His life, His gift of eternal salvation, His healing, and much more. He has given us His Dunamis power. This word is used in this passage and in another 119 times in the New Testament. The word refers to “inherent strength, power, or ability.” It is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo and dynamic.
Marylois had a vision and a word during this week’s prayer meeting at the House of Peace. She saw/felt a fireball coming out of the mouths of the intercessors as they spoke in tongues! It was as if the LORD was sending His Dunamis fire into the lives of people everywhere they went to ignite His Harvest Fire! Pray in the Spirit, Saints, in the grocery store, at the Bank, and where ever the LORD leads you to release His Harvest. Let those who would seek to extinguish the light of Christ now proclaim “The world has gone after him” (Jn. 12:19).
Israel’s Fragile Coalition Government
The modern nation of Israel is governed by a 120 seat Knesset or Parliament. The Prime Minister is chosen by the President of the nation from the ruling majority or if needed a simple majority of 61 seats. Often, the ruling party such as PM Netanyahu’s Likud party does not have the required 61 seats and must invite other parties to come alongside to form a government. Sometimes, a small group of even 3 seats can indicate that they will join, if “their goals are met.” These minor parties are labeled “kingmakers” and wield immense power, for if they pull out, the coalition falls apart and new elections are required. Often promises are made in back rooms and secret agreements are made, so as to ensure a coalition is formed.
The following information on the current government of Israel is taken from Light of Zion’s News report:
This is why one of the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas (“Religious Guardians”), which brings just 7 members to the coalition, is vested with control over Israel’s powerful Ministry of the Interior (MOI). The MOI determines who may enter or remain in the country and what they may or may not do. The gatekeeper of Israel, it decides who may or may not acquire or lose citizenship. Shas is vehemently, even viciously, anti-Messianic and anti-Christian. It is not representative of the general public. Yet, historically, the MOI is the favored bargaining chip of Shas. Netanyahu knows that if he ever removes the MOI from their control, they will take their 7 seats and destroy his coalition. Sadly, he has steadily increased their power in many ways over the past few years for the sake of political compromise.
Netanyahu’s current coalition government consists of 6 parties, giving it 66 members. However, two of these parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism (which is also extremely ultra-Orthodox), together contribute 13 members. They violently oppose military service for their own people, and seek to destroy the lives of those within their own religious community who wish to volunteer for service in the IDF.
As of this date, these religious parties are threatening to leave, unless a law is passed to exempt religious Jews from military service. This religious exemption is opposed by other Israelis who dutifully either serve in the IDF or send their sons and daughters to serve. The very idea that a growing percentage of the population refused to pay the price for citizenship infuriates many Israelis.
Another party in the coalition, the centrist Kulanu (“All of Us”), represents 10 seats and is headed by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon. He has announced that his party will leave the government if the 2019 budget is not passed within the next few weeks, or 9 months before it is due. The ultra-religious parties, however, have said they will not vote on an early budget without assurance of their military exemption law. These types of manipulations place the Israeli government, and stability of the country, in constant jeopardy.
Current polls show that if elections were held now, Netanyahu’s Likud party would likely gain the most seats. Unless a different party can replace Shas and United Torah Judaism in a coalition, however, the political situation after an election would not differ from what it is now. The ultra-Orthodox have become Israel’s so-called kingmakers.
Please Pray: Pray and proclaim regularly, “The government rests on His shoulders.” (Isaiah 9:6). Pray for a revival of the reality of Psalm 133:1 among the Jewish people: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” The fact that Israel as a nation is comprised of almost 40 political parties, most of which could never work together, does not attest to great unity. Rather, this current era is similar to the time in the Book of Judges when it was said “there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
We believe the collective Israeli soul cries out not so much for new governors as for their Messiah, King, unrecognized though He may be. Therefore, our ultimate focus in prayer is Israel’s salvation. “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1). If Netanyahu’s coalition temporarily collapses and new elections are held, such a turn of events could possibly serve as an answer to that prayer”. (www.lightofzion.org)
More Nations plan to move their Embassy’s to Jerusalem
Following announcements by the United States and Guatemala, Paraguay and Honduras have declared that they are ready “in principle” to relocate their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The countries have conditioned their moves on an official visit to their countries by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Jimmy Morales announced that Guatemala would move its embassy to Jerusalem “two days after the United States moves its embassy,” tentatively scheduled for May 14. President Milos Zeman has also expressed his desire to move the Czech Republic’s embassy to Jerusalem. Romanian Parliament chief Liviu Dragnea also stated that he thinks his country “should seriously consider moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.” (www.worldisraelnews.com)
The long-standing protest by the nations against Israel declaring Jerusalem as its capital is crumbling. Let us continue to pray that the nations will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
ETH Intercessors Prayer Team
Sharon and Philip Buss arrive next week from Berlin as well as other intercessors from the United States and Canada. They will be here in the land for the next two weeks. Pray for the Lord’s covering and safekeeping while they are here on this assignment.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gene and Marylois
House of Peace, Jerusalem