January 15, 2006

Israel Prayer Update -
January 15, 2006

THE PASSING OF
THE TORCH...

Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains in a coma after a
massive stroke and numerous surgeries. Although this morning he
reportedly opened his eyes, medical authorities hold out slim hopes
for recovery to any degree of normalcy of his faculties of
comprehension; no one entertains thoughts that he will ever return
to governing. The government is now led by acting Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert.

Ariel Sharon is the last of a breed of warriors who have led
Israel’s government since its existence as a modern nation. In an
article entitled “Israel’s Epic Generation Passes Torch”, Joshua
Mitnick quoted David Witzthum, “His generation was the heroic
generation. He is the last mythological founding father.” Israel’s
prime ministers have most often been its military leaders, its
heroes of past wars, its military strategists. Sharon was just such
a warrior (His autobiography is in fact entitled, “Warrior”. He was
left for dead on the fields of Latrun in the war for Independence,
but survived to lead in all four of Israel’s other major wars. The
photo of Sharon with a bloodied headband directing tanks through the
smoke in preparation for his incredible crossing of the Suez Canal
in the Yom Kippur War is etched into the historical memory of the
nation.

He has always been controversial. As a veteran Messianic leader in
Jerusalem wrote the day following his stroke: “One could say that in
Ariel Sharon there is the embodiment of the typical Israeli. Like it
or not, Israelis are impulsive and boisterous, courageous and soft,
they are harsh and sweet, and in fact they don’t so much care what
others think of them as long as they have a clear vision of what
needs to be done. This is the kind of man Ariel Sharon is, and now
we, the whole nation, his friends and his enemies, are praying to
God for a healing miracle for this powerful man….”

As Prime Minister, the controversy surrounding him of course
intensified. Many looked at his decisions as a doorway for hope—many
saw them as an opening for disaster. One thing is certain, they were
the decisions of a military man. For better or for worse, the Gaza
decision was based on what he considered the most effective
distribution of forces for maintaining the largest ultimate holdings
of territory—not, as many alleged, on an indifference to the land
and its historic Biblical boundaries.

When a leader of this legendary a record is stricken down, the
nation goes into a time of grieving, even by those who disagree
strongly with his views. That is the reason for the strong reaction
in Israel when a respected American Christian leader chose to
publicly attribute the stroke to God’s wrath as the Prime Minister
lay in hospital on life-support (an action for which the leader
later requested forgiveness).

Much has been written in the media about Sharon, the state of the
Israeli government, speculation about the future. The writer quoted
above commented about the change from warrior leaders to a younger
generation of “career politicians” . . . Ehud Olmert, Benjamin
Netanyahu (again), Amir Peretz. As one journalist commented, none of
these “is a DeGaulle, a Churchill…We are now swinging back to
life-sized politicians who are managers . . .”

Ariel Sharon had recently formed a new political party called
‘Kadima” – ‘Forward’. Although the people of Israel are still in a
state of shock and uncertainty, this has of course come as no
surprise to the LORD, who “ slumbers or sleeps”—who “changes the
times and the epochs; … removes kings and establishes kings.” He is
raising up a new breed of warrior to lead Israel ‘kadima’.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For Ariel Sharon, that God would have mercy on him; that before he
dies he would recognize in his spirit the Messiah and Savior of the
land and people whom he has sought to lead.

*For the nation as it is in this state of transition. Pray that
God’s leaders will arise to fill in the gap and to move Israel to
its next place.

*For a government to be established which will most allow the
furtherance of the Gospel of Truth to Israelis. The strongest factor
for Israel’s occupation of the Land promised her by covenant has
always been the presence of a godly remnant in that Land.

*For the Body in Israel to walk and talk in the wisdom and truth of
the Holy Spirit during these days. Pray they will be a strong
witness to God’s promise of Hope and a Future for His covenant land
and people.

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.”

This was the theme of the Israeli youth conference that was held
during this past Chanukkah holiday. Approximately 130 youth
attended, and 25 young adults were part of the leadership of the
camp. Quite miraculously, all the very formidable finances needed to
subsidize this were provided by believers both inside and outside of
Israel. A number of pastors participated and others have shown
interest in helping in the future.

It was a battle right to the end. Several crises arose. But the
battle was the Lord’s!! On the last day, the youth were on their
faces...crying out to the Lord to touch them and change them—to
empower them with His Holy Spirit to do exploits for Him. They
answered a challenge to be Light to Israel and to go “against the
flow” of the world. They spent time praying and ministering to one
another. Most of them left the conference encouraged and
strengthened. It is very difficult and lonely to walk with the Lord
as a young person in Israel. The Bible is taught in school as a
‘myth’ and often there may be only one youth in an entire school who
knows the Lord. These periodic conferences serve to unite them and
strengthen them throughout the year and their success is very
dependent upon the faithful prayers of the Body. We sensed the
prayers from AROUND THE WORLD during the preliminary stages and then
as the camp progressed. We are so grateful! Please pray that what
was loosed in these young Israelis will remain…and germinate and
bring forth much, much fruit!