Thoughts on Corporate Intercession - Intercessors for Israel

Shalom friends,

The following thoughts on corporate intercession are my own and while they obviously impact my position as director of Intercessors for Israel [IFI] the rest of the leadership team may not agree with all that follows.

I have been involved with Intercessors for Israel almost from the beginning of my time in Israel in 1989. Yet even before that God guided me to lead prayer meetings and teach on intercession. I have had the privilege of being mentored by, and sitting under the teachings of, many of the great modern-day prayer warriors – most of whom are now in glory – and have learned from them and from experience what corporate intercession can look like to be very effective in seeing His kingdom come on earth. May you be challenged by what follows, and be open to hear our Good Shepherd's voice if He is speaking to you.

Barriers to effective corporate intercession

There are certain things in life that are good in some areas but not in every area. "Individualism," which is a major issue for Westerners, is one of them. "Being my own man/woman," "being independent," "freedom to do what I want to do," "not needing anyone to tell me what to do" are the goals of many in the West, including followers of the King of Israel, Yeshua our Messiah.

Believers often think, as some have told me, "I have God's Spirit just like you. Why should I submit to your leadership when I pray?" This is a valid question – yet only if your walk with the Lord is all about you. In other words, if you are infected with or directed by a spirit of humanism because the Bible is very clear that we are to submit to the godly elders in the Body, as well as to each other (Eph. 5:21; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:5).

This is one of the barriers we often deal with when leading IFI corporate prayer meetings, which are run very differently from most "corporate" prayer gatherings in the Western church. In fact, churches in the West rarely have them, as so few people show up, and often the pastor and most of the elders do not attend.

In most of the West, a congregation's corporate prayer meeting is often the least attended meeting during the week. However, in most of the rest of the world, such as in China, midweek prayer gatherings are often the biggest of their weekly meetings, and in those places, both in and outside of the prayer meetings, people are getting saved!

Western believers rightly complain that intercession is extremely exhausting work with very little instant or even delayed gratification. When we worship, we feel great. When we hear an uplifting and edifying sermon, we are encouraged. But after we intercede for any length of time, we feel drained and wonder if anything was accomplished, or whether it has all been a waste of time. This is exactly what the devil wants us to believe so that we stop interceding and attending corporate prayer meetings.

Corporate intercession – IFI style

Yeshua said that if two or more agree in prayer – it will be answered (Matt. 18:19). Yet how can two or more individuals agree if they are not willing to submit to each other because they all see themselves as having the mind of the Lord for that specific topic? We deal with this issue by setting clear guidelines in our IFI prayer meetings – including who is the leader and who is part of the leadership team.

As leaders, we take the responsibility of listening to God for His goal, or goals, for that meeting and then we share those prayer burdens while making sure that everyone stays on the topic which is being prayed into at that time. While there is great freedom to pray within the topic, if someone starts praying about some other burden, we, as gently as possible, stop that and bring the group back in line with how God is guiding us corporately for that specific time in the meeting.

Intercessory prayer is spiritual warfare – whether we actually "bind" or "loose" anything or not. Most times we do not enter into direct "binding and loosing" warfare, and when we do it is not taken lightly as we have seen people get very hurt – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – when they flippantly wave their sword around trying to cut off the head of the devil. When specifically led by the Lord to do direct warfare, we make sure that at least the leadership team is in one accord and enter into it openly declaring that our protection is in the blood of the Lamb (1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 12:11). Spiritual warfare is war and not a game to glibly play by going beyond the authority that has been imparted to us by Yeshua, and that which is imparted to us is not a blank-check type of authority, but is given to us for a specific time and burden. It is imperative to understand that all authority in heaven and earth is now in the hands of our Lord Yeshua, (Matt. 28:18; cp. Dan. 7:13-14), but nowhere does it say that we possess it or can wield it as we chose.

Another thing to note is that it is hard work to concentrate on how our Shepherd is leading us today – and not to depend on how He led us yesterday. The best biblical example is King David fighting the Philistines. He got specific direction from the Lord and defeated them, yet when the Philistines gathered to attack again, David was careful to check with God as to whether he should deal with his enemy like he had before. But God directed him to do it differently the second time, resulting in another great victory (2 Sam. 17-25).

It is very easy – but very lazy – to put God in a box and think, "Hallelujah, this worked the last time, so I do not need to check with Him, for after all He does not change." That thinking is shallow and completely misses what God is saying in the Word about the truth of His unchangeable nature, while at the same time, seeing that His specific directions for His people usually do change for each individual situation.

He has at times miraculously healed me and at other times, He has healed me through doctors. He has also provided my financial needs often miraculously, and other times through the faithful giving of many of you who continue to support us here in Jerusalem. [We do thank you very much for that.]

An army of intercessors

Since we approach intercession as the warfare that it truly is, then it should be obvious that an army needs a leader and people directly under him who help him. But without an infantry, the main body of soldiers, there is no army. Yet the soldiers dare not run around fighting whoever and however they choose. They come under the authority of the leaders and fight as directed by them.

Effective corporate intercession requires a military type of discipline to stay the course and finish the battle. It is never easy to tell people to stop praying for this or that because the corporate prayers are being diluted by a request that is shifting off from the given objective, yet as leaders we have a responsibility to protect the army from distractions, diversions, dilutions, or anything else the enemy tries to throw at us.

So this is how we lead corporate prayer gatherings and the results encourage us to give God all of the glory (Psa. 50:15). Here are a few of the many answers that God has given to us: there is still no "Palestine" (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2), yet Israel now has genuine peace treaties with several Arab nations (Deut. 20:10-11, 15; Isa. 19:23-25); Jews have been, and are still, making aliyah – being regathered to Israel from exile among gentile nations (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:10); the IDF is an exceedingly great army today (Ezek. 37:10; Mic. 4:11-13); Israel's economy ranks as one of the world's strongest (Deut. 28:2-13; Isa. 60:11); Jews are returning home from exile (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:10); Jews are settling in Judea (Zech. 12:2, 5-7), Samaria (Jer. 31:3-5), and throughout the rest of God's Land (Jer. 32:41-44); more and more Jews are coming to salvation (Isa. 12:1-6); and Muslims are also being saved (Psa. 83:16-18; Isa. 55:5). Most importantly, by all of the above, our God through Messiah Yeshua is being glorified unto the ends of the world (Psa. 22:27; 67:1-7; 98:3; Isa. 52:10; Mal. 1:11; Acts 13:47; Rev. 15:4). These and many other topics are the focus of our prayers as we gather to intercede each week.

Why are many congregational prayer meetings not really effective?

After all, if these meetings had a track record of answered prayers like we just listed, they would be one of the highlights of the congregation's weekly gatherings – which they tend to be outside of the West, especially in places where believers are experiencing persecution. But the answer is not that simple, and enters into the non-politically correct realm, so please bear with me.

The obvious reason is that most believers are not taught this style of corporate prayer – including the pastors. Also, pastors, especially in Western churches, often get salaries from the people who make up the congregation. If in a corporate prayer meeting, the pastor tells a congregant to stop praying for a topic because that prayer, while good in itself, is at that time hindering the meeting from being in the kind of agreement that the Lord is looking for, there is a chance, no matter how polite the pastor is, of the rebuked person leaving the congregation and then pastor's salary, and his reputation, is at risk.

Then there is his advisory board, the elders, who might confront him because his leadership style in group prayer is costing the congregation members. Yet are they really members of the corporate Body of Messiah – or are they only individuals who insist on doing things their own way? "After all, God's Spirit directs me! Why should I submit to you?" By the way, Korah and Dathan tried that against Moses and Aaron, and ended being swallowed up by the very earth they took a stand upon (Num. 16:28-33).

Yet when we were holding our annual prayer conferences, most of the people returned year after year with many expressing to us how they truly appreciated the order, the clarity and the protection that they felt from the leadership team.

The goal – God's glory

Finally, IFI's corporate intercession is effective simply because God has shown us that there is only one ultimate goal for all prayer – whether for Israel, the nations, the Church or even for ourselves – and that goal is for God the Father to be glorified in and through His Son, Messiah Yeshua (Matt. 15:31; Luke 2:14; 7:16; John 1:14; 11:4; 12:28; 13:31-32; 14:13; 17:4-5: Rom. 16:27; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 1:20; 4:6; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 1:11; 2:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 3:18; Rev. 5:13; 19:1-2; 21:23).

There is a time coming when the knowledge of the glory of the God of Israel revealed in Messiah Yeshua (2 Cor. 4:6) will completely cover the earth (Hab. 2:14; cp. Isa. 11:9; Mal. 1:11). Yet for that to be fulfilled, the following prophetic events must take place. As you read this list, you will see why we at IFI pray for Israel in the way that we do.

Firstly, the full knowledge of the glory of the God of Israel revealed in Messiah Yeshua will not happen until Yeshua's return to Jerusalem from where He will reign over the whole earth (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Mic. 4:7; Zech. 14:9, 16; Matt. 16:27; Luke 1:33; Rev. 1:6).

Now for that to happen, Israel must be restored and saved (Jer. 32:37-44; Ezek. 36:21-30; Matt. 23:39).

In order for that to happen, Israel needs a strong army because God does not save dead people (Isa. 41:10-16; Jer. 51:20-24; Ezek. 37:10; Mic. 4:11-13).

Also Israel needs to have a biblical-leaning government that resists the world's constant pressure to divide God's land or to do anything else that is against God's revealed Word (Joel. 3:1-2; Zech. 12:2-9).

Israel must also have a government that emphasizes aliyah – and not a government that sees a restoration of Jewish enclaves among the gentiles in exile as something that should be supported or encouraged (Jer. 31:8-10, 15-17; Ezek. 39:27-28).

Of course, there will also need to be a local Body of Messiah in Israel who will pray and declare to Yeshua 'Baruch haba b'shem Adonai' [Blessed are You who comes in the name of YHWH] both before He returns and as His feet touch the Mount of Olives (Psa. 118:22-29; Matt. 23:37-39).

And Jerusalem must remain united until the very last moment when the nations divide it and thus trigger the return of Messiah to His prophesied landing spot – the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:3-4).

Finally, the gospel has gone to the ends of the earth – whether by missionaries or the internet, or in many other ways – so this which Yeshua said must happen before He returns is being fulfilled today (Matt. 24:14).

Linking God's glory with Israel in His Word

To expand on that last section, the following topics are those which we consistently intercede into in relation to Israel. Under each I have listed a few of the many biblical verses indicating that God will ultimately receive the glory as He answers our prayers. [Note: the additional words in brackets starting with the + sign indicate other valid translations for that word in the original language, either the Hebrew or the Greek.]

The Scriptural foundation for focusing our prayers on God's glory is seen in the following verses which come from both the Tanach and the New Testament.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for Your name's sake.Psa. 79:9

Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy and Your truth's sake. Why should the nations [+ gentiles] say, 'Where is their God?' But our God is in Heaven, and He has done whatever He has pleased.Psa. 115:1-3

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed [+ sanctified, glorified] be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is already done in Heaven.Matt. 6:9-10

Yeshua answered, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified…My soul is troubled, yet what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But I came for this hour. Father, glorify Your name!' And a voice came from heaven saying, 'I have glorified it and will glorify it again'.John 12:23, 26-28

[Addressed to God on His throne:] You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and for Your pleasure [+ Your will] they are and were created… [Addressed to Yeshua, the Lion of the tribe of Judah:] You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood… Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing… Blessing and honor, glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.Rev. 4:11; 5:9, 12-13
A righteous government is very important to God. With a godly government there is peace in the streets and an ability to share the gospel (see 1 Tim. 2:1-4 below). There is also justice as a godly government wars against terrorism and stands against all sorts of other anti-God and anti-biblical issues.

By Me [i.e., Wisdom personified; God's Son before His incarnation (See 1 Cor. 1:24, 30)] kings reign, and princes decree justice [+ righteousness].Prov. 8:15

I will restore your judges as at the first, and your advisors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called, 'The city of righteousness [+ justice], the faithful city'. Zion shall be redeemed with justice and her converts [+ those that return – either that repent or who make aliyah] with righteousness.Isa. 1:26-27; cp. Isa. 32:1

Let every soul be obedient to the higher authorities, for there is no authority but of God; the authorities that be are ordained by God. Whosoever therefore resists the authority resists God's arrangement, and they that resist take condemnation to themselves. For rulers are not terrors to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the authority? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise for he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: for He is God's minister, a punisher to execute wrath upon him that does evil.Rom. 13:1-4

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable before God our Savior who wills to have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Tim. 2:1-4

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For the will of God is that with well doing you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:1 Pet. 2:13-15

[Please note that the type of government to which we are to submit is defined in these verses. Authorities who pass laws against God's revealed will can be resisted, like the three children of Israel did before Nebuchadnezzar and the disciples did before the Sanhedrin. Yet we need to be sure in our minds and hearts that we are resisting because of what God states is His will in His Word, and we also need to be willing to be jailed or even put to death as a consequence of our choice. Modern day examples are Christians under the former Soviet Union and believers in China and Iran today.]
Aliyah is unquestionably linked with God's glory throughout the Word. In part, this is because it is a very obvious and open sign to the world today that God is watching over His Word to fulfill it (Jer. 1:12; 31:10), and also because when "all Israel" is saved, it occurs in His land (Ezek. 36:24-29; Zech. 12:10). As you read the following verses keep in mind that Jews have already returned from over 100 different nations and from six of the seven continents since the mid-1880s, when what is called the "First Aliyah" occurred.

Fear not: for I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, My daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him…This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise.Isa. 43:5-7, 21

Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath. I will bring them again to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for their good and for their children after them. I will make [lit: cut] an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they shall not depart from Me. And I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land in truth with all My heart and with all My soul. For thus says YHWH, Just like I have brought all this great evil on this people, so will I bring on them all the good that I have promised them, and fields shall be bought in this land… Men shall buy fields for money, and write deeds of purchase, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south – for I will cause their captivity to return, says YHWH.Jer. 32:37-44

[There are several things to note in these verses from Jeremiah. First is God's commitment to bring His people home (32:37), and then He commits to saving them (32:38-40). But the most amazing verse is 32:41 where God reveals how precious His planting of His people back on His land is to Him as this is the only verse in all of Scripture where God commits to do something with all of His heart and all of His soul! He then goes on to describe the regions of His land that His is talking about – and it turns out to be all of the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (32:43-44).]

Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord YHWH; I am not doing this for your sakes… Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you profaned [+ blasphemed] among the gentiles where you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles… and the gentiles shall know that I am YHWH… when I am sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes. For I will take you from among the gentiles, gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.Ezek. 36:22-24

[The verses immediately following are the clearest description of what it means to be born-again, or born from above, in one place anywhere in the Bible. They are listed under "Israel's salvation" below.]

The IDF is also an instrument which brings glory to the God of Israel today. As disciples of the Lord Yeshua, we are told to turn the other cheek when persecuted, yet nowhere in Scripture does it say nations should do that. And while we do not put our trust in Israel's Defense Forces – but rather in I-srael's D-ivine F-ather – God's Word indicates that in these last days He usually defends Israel by making out of its dry bones as a result of the Holocaust an exceedingly great army (Ezek. 37:10). Should it surprise us that when He says this, the end result glorifies Him?

Fear not; for I am with you. Be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteousness right hand. Behold, all that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded – they shall be as nothing. They that strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them but not find them… They that war against you shall be as nothing… For I, YHWH your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not; I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you', says YHWH, Your Redeemer, the Holy of Israel. [God then shares how He will do this.] Behold, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: you shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shall make the hills as chaff. You shall fan them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in YHWH, and glory in the Holy of Israel.Isa. 41:10-16

The portion of Jacob is not like them [i.e., the idols of the gentiles]; for He is the Maker of all, and Israel is the rod of His inheritance – YHWH of hosts is His name. You are My battle-axe [+ war club] and weapon of war: for with you I will break in pieces [+ shatter] nations; with you I will destroy kingdoms; with you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider… with you I will break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, says YHWH.Jer. 51:19-21, 23b-24

Now also many nations are gathered against you, saying, 'Let her be defiled, let our eye look upon Zion'. But they do not know the thoughts of YHWH, neither do they understand His counsel: for He shall gather them as sheaves unto the floor. 'Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs brass. You shall beat in pieces many people, and I will consecrate their unjust gain unto YHWH, and their wealth unto the Lord of the whole earth'.Mic. 4:11-13
Israel's salvation is also for the glory of God and Israel's Messiah. In fact, one of the main reasons God saves anyone – whether Jew or gentile – is in order that through His saints He will be glorified.

I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off. My salvation shall not tarry: I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory.Isa. 46:13

[God's righteousness is found only in Messiah Yeshua who is also His salvation (Matt. 1:21; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:21).]

Your people shall be all righteous [i.e., all saved]: they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.Isa. 60:21
[Note how salvation and inheriting the land both contribute to God's glory.]

I will accept you…when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries to where you were scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the gentiles. And you shall know that I am YHWH, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up My hand [i.e., I swore] to give it to your fathers. There you shall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you were defiled; and you shall hate yourselves in your own sight for all your evils…And you shall know that I am YHWH when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says Lord YHWH.Ezek. 20:41-44

For I will take you from among the gentiles, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. I will also give you a new heart and I will put within you a new spirit and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be My people, and I will be your God.Ezek. 36:24-28

[As mentioned under "aliyah" these verses are the best description of what it means to be born-again found in God's Word in one place. He cleanses us from our filth and idolatry; He gives us a new heart and a new spirit; He takes away our rebellious heart and places His Spirit within us and then according to Romans 8:4, as we obey His Spirit we walk according to His law – His teachings. Only the issue of dwelling in the land applies to Jews, and that should include Jewish believers (Isa. 35:10; 51:11). Also note that it is God who does it all – and that is what it means to be saved by grace.]
Gentiles are prophesied to see God's glory as He blesses Israel and fulfills His Word to His people. It appears that not many born-again believers understand – yet as it is proclaimed throughout the Tanach. But unfortunately many who are in Messiah view the Tanach as old and basically done away with. Yet listen as the Psalmist reveals this truth about gentiles and God's glory so beautifully in Psalm 67 below.

God be merciful to us [Israel], bless us and cause His face to shine upon us, so that Your way (John 14:6a) may be known on the earth, and Your salvation among the gentiles. Let the people [in context – Israel] praise You, O God; let all the people praise You. Let the gentiles be glad and sing for joy, for You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on the earth. Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us and all the ends of the earth shall fear [+ be in awe of] Him.Psa. 67:1-7

Sing unto YHWH a new song; for He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm [both "His hand" and "His arm" are often Tanach types of Messiah who sits by God's right hand today], has gotten Him the victory. YHWH has made known His salvation: His righteousness has He shown openly in the sight of the gentiles. He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation [yeshu'ah – feminine form of Yeshua's name] of our God.Psa. 98:1-3

Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that every knee shall bow unto Me, and every tongue shall swear to God, saying 'In YHWH alone do I have righteousness and strength'. Men shall come to Him, and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In YHWH shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.Isa. 45:22-25

Arise, shine; your light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen upon you [Israel]. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but YHWH shall rise upon you, His glory shall be seen upon you, and the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising… Surely the islands shall wait for Me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and gold with them, unto the name of YHWH your God, and to the Holy of Israel, because He has glorified you.Isa. 60: 1-3, 9
Yeshua is closely linked with God's promises to Israel and as God has given to Israel's Messiah a name above all names, so God also glorifies Himself through His chosen nation.

Listen O islands to Me; hearken you people from far. YHWH has called Me from the womb; from the womb of My mother He has made mention of My name [Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31]. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hid Me, and made Me a polished shaft… and said to Me, 'You are My Servant Israel [Yeshua] in whom I will be glorified'. Then I said, 'I labored in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing… yet surely My judgment is with YHWH, My work with My God'. And now, says YHWH who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob again to Him [Luke 1:32-33], Though Israel [the nation] be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of YHWH; My God shall be My strength. He said, 'It is a small thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give You for a Light to the Gentiles, that You may be My Salvation unto the end of the earth' [Luke 2:32].Isa. 49:1-6

…Messiah Yeshua was a minister [+ servant] of the circumcision [i.e., the Jews], for the truth of God, to confirm [+ to establish; to make sure] the promises made to the fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob], in order that the gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written, 'For this cause I will confess to You among the gentiles and sing unto Your name [Psa. 18:49]'. And again He said, 'Rejoice, you gentiles, with His people [Deut. 32:43]'. And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you gentiles; and extol Him, all you people [Psa. 117:1]'. And again, Isaiah says there shall be a Root of Jesse, and He shall rise to reign over the gentiles; in Him shall the gentiles trust [Isa. 11:1, 10].Rom. 15:8-12

For all God's promises in Him are yes, and in Him amen, unto the glory of God by us.2 Cor. 1:20
[When Paul wrote this truth there was no New Testament, so he must have been thinking about all of God's promises found in the Tanach – which include all of His promises to Israel about its destiny, as well as His over 200 promises, including 40 plus times He swore to them, that He would give them His land.]
Water, especially when it comes as precipitation from heaven, is a sign to Israel of His favor. On the other hand, drought is a sign of His judgment and as we see what is happening in many Western nations today we see Him dealing with those that deal with His nation in ways that are not a blessing to Israel (Num. 24:9b).

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I YHWH will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness… [many different trees]: That they may see, and know, consider, and understand together, that the hand of YHWH has done this, and the Holy of Israel has created it.Isa. 41:17-20

Are there any among the vain idols of the Gentiles that cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are not You He, O YHWH our God? Therefore we will wait upon You: for You have made all these.Jer. 14:22

Lord YHWH of hosts is He who touches the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. It is He who builds His stories in the heaven, and has founded His troop in the earth. He calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth: YHWH is His name.Amos 9:5-6

Conclusion: When we stand with Israel – whether in prayer or biblical teaching, financially or in any other way – we should make sure that we are doing it for God's sake, and not for the sake of the Jews. The Jewish people and the nation of Israel will disappoint us again and again – but if we are doing it for the sake of God's glory, for the furthering of His Kingdom on earth, then we can persist in our support and prayers knowing that eternal realities are at stake. Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. (Col. 3:17) Amen!

Some basic questions concerning intercession

Whom does God seek?

In the Bible we read of only two types of people God actively seeks for, and they are not evangelists, apostles, prophets or pastor-teachers. These ministers are given as gifts by the Lord Yeshua to His Body in order to help the Body mature (Eph. 4:11-12) so that the Body, and not these ministers alone, can then do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:13-16).

When we look in the Tanach, we see the same thing. God Himself provided anointed priests to minister before Him and to stand between Him and Israel, making atonement for His people (Ex. 30:30; 40:13-15; Lev. 16:32). He also gave prophets to pray for (Deut. 9:26; Psa. 106:23; Isa. 37:2-4) and speak to Israel (1 Kin. 19:16; Isa. 61:1), and gave them teachers (Ex. 24:12; 35:34; Lev. 10:11; Deut. 17:9-11; 1 Sam. 12:23; Ezra 7:10; Isa. 30:20) as well as gifted them with anointed kings (1 Sam. 2:10; 9:16; 16:12-13; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3; Psa. 2:6).

Still, there are two categories of people for whom God does seek. The first are those who worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24). [The word "worship" in the Hebrew can at times be translated as "serve". So to worship God we need to serve Him and if we are His servants – we can worship Him.]

The second type of person God is looking for is an intercessor. It is quite shocking to read in Isaiah 59:16 that God Himself was stunned when He could not find anyone interceding.

When God is on the verge of judging a nation, He seeks for an intercessor who will plead with Him to turn Him away from His righteous and just judgments and plead with Him to manifest His divine mercy instead (Ezek. 22:30-31; cp. Hab. 3:2).

Most nations today are either under His judgment or are facing the threat of it coming soon. Is God finding intercessors that are standing between Him and their nations, pleading for mercy? Only members of the Body of Messiah can do this as we alone have access to God through Messiah Yeshua (Heb. 4:16). Yet it seems that in the Western Church most believers think they must be doing something rather than "just praying" in order to better serve their nations. And while many do that, if the works they are doing has not been directed by God, then they are part of the problem as opposed to being part of God's revealed solution.
What impact do our prayers really have on God and His kingdom?

Who would be bold enough to say, or even to think, that our prayers delight God, yet that is exactly what He has revealed. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to YHWH: but the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Prov. 15:8) He goes on to say in Proverbs 15:29 that He hears the prayers of the righteous, and since we are part of Messiah Yeshua's Body, we are righteous in God's sight (Isa, 45:23-24; 2 Cor. 5:21).

In the Hebrew and the Greek, the concept of "hearing" usually implies listening with intent to obey – or in the case of God – with intent to do that which is asked of Him. This is why John tells us that when we ask anything that is in line with God's will, we can have confidence that He will "hear" our requests and so we know that He will also answer them – of course, His answers are always in His way and timing (1 John 5:14-15).
Our prayers also impact the kingdom of God as they "release" Him to do His will.

This truth must not be taken to extremes as God can do whatever He wants whenever He wants – with or without man's assistance (Psa. 103:19). Yet certain verses seem to indicate that God has set up His kingdom so that while He can do whatever He wants, He normally fulfills His will only when He finds someone to ask Him to do it.

The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-10 is a perfect example. It should be clear that Yeshua is not teaching us to do religious exercises as if He were some type of religious priest. So would He ask us to pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is already settled in heaven unless there really was a reason for us to do this?

God is training us to co-labor Him so that we can rule with Him in glory. Consider a verse from the Tanach. Surely the Lord YHWH will do nothing except He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7). Prophets and intercessors are linked together in the Tanach as the very first time the world "prophet" is used it is connected with prayer. …restore the man [Abraham] his wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live… (Gen. 20:7)

Also we need to note the connection between God's expressed will about Jerusalem and what He expects His watchmen whom He has set on Jerusalem's walls to pray about. First, God declares: For Zion's sake will I not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until its righteousness goes forth as brightness, and its salvation as a burning torch. And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of YHWH shall name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of YHWH, and a royal diadem [lit: turban] in the hand of your God. (Isa. 62:1-3)

Then we read, I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day nor night. You who are YHWH's reminders [The Modern Hebrew word for "secretary" comes from this word's root], keep not silent, and give Him no silence, until He establishes, and appoints Jerusalem a praise [obviously unto Himself as per Isaiah 62:3] in the earth. (Isa. 62:6-7) That which God declared He would do in verses 1-3, He now expects His watchmen to remind Him of while in prayer.

He does not need us to remind Him of His will but He wants us to because He wants us to work together with Him – just like a father taking great pleasure in his child working with him – whether he needs it or not, and in fact whether it slows him down or not. God does not need us – but by teaching us to ask Him to do His will, this becomes another way of Him drawing us closer to His presence and training us to rule with Him when He returns.

Also, by telling us His will beforehand, we do not need to invent something new, but simply to ask Him to do that which His Word reveals is His will (1 John 5:14-15).
Our prayers can change God's mind about a situation.

It is imperative to understand that while God's essential nature never changes, as He says in Malachi 3:6, yet whether He deals with a situation by His judgment/justice, which is one aspect of His nature – or whether He has mercy, which is another aspect – often depends on Him finding a person interceding. For example:

In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham stands before God asking Him to spare Sodom if there are even ten righteous in that city. God agrees – but as there are not ten He ends up destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.

Exodus 32 tells the sad story of the children of Israel who built a golden calf to lead them since Moses had been up with God on Mount Sinai for many days (32:1). Then God tells Moses that He will destroy this stiff-necked rebellious nation and make out of Moses another nation (32:7-10).

One of the most fascinating verses in all of Scripture is Exodus 32:10, where the Creator of all, the Lord God Almighty, says to a mere man, Now therefore let me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them… The Rabbis think that God told Moses not to interfere with Him because He knew that Moses' intercession could turn His hand from judgment to mercy – which is exactly what happened.

As you read Moses intercession (32:11-13) note that he does not even mention Israel's sin but instead stands before God reminding Him of His promises and of what destroying Israel would do to His name, His reputation, among the Egyptians. Moses even tells God to "repent" (v. 12), that is to change His mind, not His nature, and then reminds God of His promises to Israel's fathers. In verse 14 we read that God did "repent" and did not destroy His people.

Psalm 106:23 refers to this incident: Therefore God said that He would destroy them [the Israelis], had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them.

Also, in Ezekiel 22:30-31 it is clear that intercession has an impact on what God will or will not do: I sought for a man among them, that should repair the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I might not destroy it – but I found none. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: I have recompensed their own way upon their heads, says Lord YHWH.
Lastly consider what Messiah Yeshua focuses on concerning the last days (Luke 18:8).

To know what Messiah was asking about at the end of the parable in Luke 18, it is important to recognize that parables were usually told to make a point – not to be torn apart so that this little detail means this and that little detail means something else. In a way, rabbinic parables in Yeshua's day were like Aesop's fables – a story with a specific goal in mind to teach the listeners.

Luke tells us what this parable of the widow and the unjust judge is all about – which is persistence in prayer. Yeshua taught His disciples a parable that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1) The rest of the parable is to make this one point, so at the end when He asks, But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? (18:8b), He is not considering the great apostasy – which we are already seeing today – but in the context of the parable, He is wondering whether His people will still persist in prayer for His kingdom purposes even in the midst of that great apostasy and the ever increasing chaos of these last days.

Some basic concepts of corporate intercession

The following concepts are very useful to bear in mind as people gather together in prayer as a corporate body.

Intercede by praying both in the Spirit and with the understanding (1 Cor. 14:14-15). It is easier to pray being led by the Spirit about an issue if we have an understanding from God's Word concerning His will about that specific issue (1 John 5:14-15). This leads us to the next concept.
Intercede based on the revealed Word of God (Psa. 36:9; 119:105). Since His Word reveals His will and since He watches over His Word to perform it (Jer. 1:12) and says that His Word does not return to Him empty (Isa. 55:11), why pray based on anything other than His Word. Yes, we can make suggestions to God – such as asking Him to shake all of Iran's underground nuclear facilities with earthquakes – yet even those suggestions are based on what we know about God and His character as revealed in His Word (Job 9:4-6; 38:12-13; Psa. 18:7; Isa. 2:21; 13:13).
Intercede having faith in the One who answers prayers – and not in our ability to pray. This can eliminate praying long prayers or prayers that are not prayers but are explanations about what we are going to pray about, letting both God and those with whom we are praying know exactly why we are praying that way. We need to train ourselves to focus on Him, knowing that He knows everything already so we can get right to the request.

This also releases us from thinking we need to pray using a special language – like King James English. We can actually pray using normal words just like we would if we were speaking to another person, which is what prayer is in the first place.
Intercede by asking God as specifically as possible. Remember that James says we do not have what we are praying for because we do not ask (Jam. 4:2b). There are times when I am listening to a brother or sister pray and I realize they are not really praying because they are not asking for anything. Praising God is fantastic – but it is not praying. Praying is asking – period (Matt. 7:7-8, 11; 21:22; John 14:13-4; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26). How can God answer our "prayers" if we have not asked Him for anything? And when we do ask specifically, then we have a better chance of knowing, and giving Him the praise, when He does answer (Psa. 50:15).
When we come into His throne room of grace as a corporate Body, let us intercede boldly. Hebrews 4:16 says specifically, "Let us" come into His presence. Yeshua tells us to pray, "Our Father." Corporate intercession is very powerful and God is waiting for two or three to agree in prayer so that He can answer (Matt. 18:19-20).

I hope that many of you will be more encouraged to get involved with a corporate prayer group - or even start one yourself. It is definitely a challenge, but well worth it, especially if His glory is our goal.

Be exalted O God above the heavens; let Your glory be over all of the earth.Psa. 57:11

Blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen