Post-Fast Thoughts

:: HISTORIC :: STRATEGIC :: PROPHETIC ::

The Isaiah 62 Fast was truly HISTORIC and unprecedented! Surely the Lord has made manifest His zeal for Zion and directed the attention of the global Body of Christ to the apple of His eye.

As Houses of Prayer and prayer ministries in Southeast Asia, we too have done something together that was unprecedented. By the grace of God, non-stop worship and prayer arose for Israel out of this region (specifically in Singapore) for 21 days!

Thank you, Jason and Burning Hearts for leading the charge in gathering the Body of Christ in SEA for this historic 21-days!

More than being historic, this fast is also STRATEGIC. It will SHIFT the focus and conversation of Gentile believers to God’s zeal, heart and plan for Israel.

I can see a 3-fold result of this historic fast:

1. The AWAKENING of Gentile believers to understanding the mystery of Israel (Rom. 11:25),

2. The ALIGNING of the global Body of Christ to the Romans 11:11 call,

3. The ARISING of 100 million intercessors for the fullness of Jerusalem in accordance with Isaiah 62:6-7.

Certainly, a God-engineered momentum has been created! So the question will be WHAT NEXT? (Not so much another project but what is the Spirit saying?)

Just yesterday morning, I had a sense that there are embers still burning on the Isaiah 62 altar as a result of this global fire for Israel that burned for 21 days.

The thought and question that came to my mind is: with the embers still burning on the altar of our hearts, and Israel being so dear to God, how can we keep this fire burning before Him?

While it is unlikely to continue in the same way as the Isaiah 62 Fast (i.e. 24/7 non-stop prayer), as a region of Southeast Asia, we must continue to give God no rest for the fullness of Jerusalem in whatever capacity that we have, so that it is not a one-off initiative but the continuation of a move that the Spirit had initiated globally!

It is the set time of God (Psalm 102:13) for the awakening of Gentile believers in the region, especially the young generation, to the mystery of Israel, and for many of the 100 million intercessors for Israel to arise from the region of Southeast Asia.

May 7–28, 2023 was truly historic and unprecedented. Yet it is not the end of a journey but the continuation of a PROPHETIC STORY that began 40 years ago!

Day 1 | 7 May 2023

There is only one way to eternal life, and that is through calling on the name of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The Jewish people are not automatically saved for being the physical descendants of Abraham. Their zeal and their righteous acts cannot lead them to salvation. Salvation for them too is only by grace by faith in Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

The Jewish people’s rejection of their Messiah led to the Gospel going to the Gentile nations, but this blindness is neither final nor complete (Rom. 11:25). When the fullness of the Gentiles happens, all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:25–26).

It is critical to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people because the return of Jesus is dependent on the nation of Israel turning to Yeshua as their Messiah (Matt. 23:37–39, Acts 3:19–21).

Consequently, the return of Jesus, together with Israel’s national salvation, is critical for the fullness of God’s redemptive plan for all mankind to unfold across the nations, and for His glory to cover the earth (Hab. 2:14). Thus, Paul says that their national salvation will be “life from the dead” for the world (Rom. 11:15).

Pray for the salvation of the Jewish people today!

How To Pray:

• Pray that the Jewish people will know that there is only one way to salvation — to call on the name of Yeshua (Col. 1:9–11).
  • Salvation is by grace by faith in Yeshua alone.
  • He is the way, the truth and the life.
• Pray for the Jewish people to be convicted of their need for Jesus as Saviour, that He is the Passover Lamb that was slain for their sin and He is the One who reconciles man with God through His work on the cross (Eph. 1:17–18).
• Pray for the removal of the partial and temporary blindness that has been upon Israel for the past two millennia.
• Pray for the awakening of many through personal encounters and miracles that will point them back to the God of Israel (Joel 2:28–32; Eph.1:17–18).
• Pray for many to be provoked to jealousy by Gentile believers (Rom. 11:11–14), that they would return to Yahweh and to Yeshua as their Saviour.

Day 2 | 8 May 2023

A majority of Jewish people are proud of their heritage and follow the traditions and feasts of their forefathers. Whether they know it or not, these traditions that they follow, like the Feasts of Passover (Pesach) and Tabernacles (Sukkot), all point to God’s salvation for them in Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

The writer of Romans highlights the issue of the Jewish people — they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They are still looking to attain righteousness through works and do not acknowledge Jesus as God’s way to righteousness (Rom. 10:2–3).

A majority of the Jewish people are waiting for their Messiah to come and restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). They do not acknowledge that Yeshua is the Messiah because in their understanding, their Messiah cannot die. Instead, He is to come and establish His kingdom through Israel as in the days of David (1 Chro. 17:9–14).

While Jesus will eventually establish His Kingdom through Israel after His return, they need to see that their Messiah had to first come and be pierced for their transgressions so that they can be saved. In fact, this is hidden in the very name of “YHWH” where the third Hebrew character, “vav”, signifies a hook or a nail.

May their eyes behold Yeshua — the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8)!

How To Pray:

• Pray for revelation of Jesus as the Passover Lamb that was provided to them by Yahweh from before the foundations of the earth, so that they will call upon Him as their Messiah (Eph. 1:17).
• Pray for God to give the Jewish people spiritual understanding of how their feasts point towards Yeshua, who fulfilled all that was written in Isa. 61:1–3.
• Pray that as they read the Torah, the Holy Spirit will enlighten their eyes to see who Yeshua is and His work of salvation from the Name of God and from the Scriptures.
• Pray for the enlightening of their eyes to see that the Son of God became the Son of Man, so that He could take away their sin.
• Pray for the Spirit of grace and supplication to be poured on them, so that they will repent of their sins and call upon the name of Jesus unto salvation (Zech. 12:10).

Day 3 | 9 May 2023

There is only one city explicitly mentioned by name in Scripture that God calls us to pray for — Jerusalem. In Psalm 122:6, God’s people are exhorted to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Indeed, throughout her history and even in modern times, moments of peace and rest have been few and far between. The reality is, Jerusalem will never have true, complete, and lasting peace until the hearts of the Jewish people turn to the Prince of Peace — Yeshua their Messiah, and He returns to establish His throne in Jerusalem, and His Kingdom here on earth.

In the meantime, we are called to pray for her and bless her until her namesake, “Yerushalayim — the possession/foundation of peace”, comes to pass in reality.

How To Pray:

• Pray from Numbers 6:24–26 the Aaronic blessing upon Jerusalem: that God would bless her, keep her, make His face shine upon her, be gracious to her, lift up His countenance upon her, and give her peace.
• Pray for the manifestation of her namesake “Jerusalem” to be a reality.
• Pray for Yahweh Shalom to manifest His Presence in her midst.
• Pray for the fullness of her destiny as God’s chosen and holy city for His throne.
• Speak peace and bless Jerusalem with the peace of her God Yahweh Shalom.

Day 4 | 10 May 2023

The Biblical definition of peace is not just about an absence of war, conflicts, or tensions, but “wholeness, fullness, and completeness”. Peace comes from the word “shalom”, which means being safe in mind, body or estate.

Psalm 122 tells us to pray for Jerusalem’s peace and protection, but there’s more. It speaks of praying for the completeness and fullness of God for the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is God’s chosen city from where He will manifest His shalom.

We need to pray for many to encounter Yeshua, the Prince of Peace, who will give them true peace and stability in their hearts amidst increasing darkness and conflicts, and for the fullness of God’s will and purposes for Jerusalem.

How To Pray:

Psalm 122:6–9 gives us four aspects on how to pray:

• “The peace of Jerusalem” (v6) — Pray for protection from attacks and war, and for wholeness;
• “Peace within your walls” (v7) — Pray for unity and harmony within the Jewish people and the people groups in Jerusalem; pray for peace within her walls in the midst of the turmoil within and without;
• “Peace be within you” (v8) — Pray for God’s supernatural peace upon the hearts of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and for divine encounters with Yeshua, the Prince of Peace;
• “I will seek your good” (v9) — Pray for the fullness of God’s will and purposes for Jerusalem, that she will be the city of the great King Yeshua.

Day 5 | 11 May 2023

Through the cross, God reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to Himself and created in Himself one new man out of the two. The cross put to death the hostility between both groups, thus making peace (Eph. 2:11–22).

As Gentiles, we who were once separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and the covenants, are now heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together of the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:6).

We as the Gentile Church have not replaced Israel! The truth is that we have been grafted into the “commonwealth of Israel” (Eph. 2:12) and are now heirs together with Israel in Christ and through Christ, we are able to share in the promises given to them (Gal. 6:16).

While some Biblical promises are specific to national Israel and Jewish believers only (e.g., Aliyah, the Promised Land, Zech. 13 and 14), this does not make Gentiles second-class citizens. Both groups have our own distinct callings and roles. Yet, we both have the same position before Him — we are His beloved children, with Israel as the firstborn.

In this hour, God is bringing restoration of this one new man unto its fullness between Messianic and Gentile believers. He is “undoing” centuries of the Gentile Church’s disconnection from our Jewish roots and heritage, so that as we walk together as One New Man in Christ, we will see the fullness of His Kingdom here on earth.

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to bring understanding and renew the minds of both groups — Jews and Gentiles, in accordance with His Word that we are one in Christ (Col. 1:9).
• Pray for both groups to align and hold fast to God’s truth, resist the narrative from the Replacement Theology and endure the persecution that comes with it.
• Pray for the breaking down of the walls of hostility between both groups and God’s healing upon hearts to walk worthy as the One New Man, the Israel of God, fully expressing God and His kingdom here on earth (Jn. 17:21–23, Eph. 2:14–18).
• Pray for the Gentile Church to be reconnected to our roots and heritage and so stand with and pray for our brethren to be restored as the firstborn and inherit their Promised Land.
• Pray for the Messianic believers to embrace and love their spiritual younger brother just as we were called to one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Day 6 | 12 May 2023

If one were to take a look at Israel’s history on the surface, it would seem that she has been forsaken and forgotten by God. Her history is rife with turmoil and persecution, which have left the nation and the land desolate on multiple occasions.

However, this is not the case! The Lord has surely not forsaken nor forgotten her. In fact, He delights over her. Israel is His firstborn. Israel is His beloved. God says that whoever touches her, touches the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8).

Isaiah 62:3–5 gives the truth of Israel’s identity before God and is also a promise of what is to come for the nation of Israel. We can speak and declare this promise over Israel, so that even in the midst of the increasing antisemitism and hatred towards her, her heart will be reminded of how God sees her and His promises for her future.

Of course, this does not excuse her sin and rebellion towards God, but God’s heart and faithfulness towards her has never changed, and we can speak this over Israel in confidence.

How To Pray:

• Speak and declare over Israel her identity and destiny from Isa. 62:3–5:
  • She is a crown of glory and a royal diadem in the hand of God;
  • She is not forsaken nor desolate;
  • She is Hephzibah (the Lord delights in her) and Beulah (her land shall be married);
  • Her God rejoices over her with singing and gladness (also Zeph. 3:16)
• Pray for Israel to encounter the heart of Yeshua, her Bridegroom God, and how He sees her.
• Pray for Israel to be confident in her prophetic destiny as a crown of glory and royal diadem in God’s hands.
• Pray for Israel to hear the God who rejoices and sings over her.

Day 7 | 13 May 2023

The term “holy seed” is relatively unknown to the Gentile Church, but is really what the Lord desires to produce in His nation Israel. All of the Lord’s work upon the nation of Israel throughout history has been for the purpose of producing the “holy seed” (Isa. 6:13) that will be worthy to advance the Kingdom with Him in partnership during the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:6).

In Isaiah 6:9–13, God prophesies about the refining that Israel will go through via the judgments that He will send upon her. These judgments will be sent in response to her rebellion towards Him. Through the judgments, He will produce humility and gratitude in her, so that she will be able to carry the glory that will be given to her in the Age-to-come. This is because God is zealous for Israel’s fullness and glory that will be unsurpassed by any other nation.

While the prophecies of the judgments towards Israel are severe and seem devastating, they are not without redemption or hope. God likens Israel to a tree that keeps being cut down (through persecution, discipline, and judgment), but promises that a “stump” or remnant will remain (v13). Through God’s refining, this remnant will ultimately emerge as that “holy seed” that will walk in humility and gratitude, and be set apart for her call to govern nations with Yeshua her Messiah in the Millennial Kingdom.

Let us agree with the Lord’s sovereign hand and work over His beloved nation unto her arising as the “holy seed”!

How To Pray:

• Agree with God regarding His ordained preparation process for Israel to be made ready as the holy seed who will partner with Him to rule in the Millennial Kingdom.
• Pray for God to refine and purify her with His fire and judgments in accordance to His infinite wisdom (1 Thes. 5:23–24).
• Pray for His mercy in the midst of the judgments.
• Pray for God to produce and work humility and gratitude in the heart of Israel.
• Pray for Israel to come forth as the “holy seed” and light to the nations at the End of the Age that will be worthy to step into the fullness of her call in the Millennial Kingdom.

Day 8 | 14 May 2023

One of the main ways that God will cause rebellious Israel to turn back to Him is through His severe mercy towards her. God will divinely engineer crises and circumstances that will cause Israel to return in deep repentance (Isa. 26:9) as they realise their own sin and rebellion towards God.

Why “severe”?
To come under the discipline and judgement of the Uncreated God and Sovereign King is not something to consider casually and lightly. Hebrews 10:31 rightly says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Zechariah 13:8–9 tells us that before the return of Jesus, Israel will face her greatest crisis that is divinely engineered by God.

Why “mercy”?
God’s judgements and discipline come from a heart of unchanging mercy and kindness. He does not give to Israel what she deserves (Ps. 103:8–10) but instead keeps His covenant and does not write her off.

Instead, God judges Israel to deliver her from her sin and to remove everything that hinders wholehearted love for God, so that she can live out the fullness of her high calling in God. His judgements are meant to be redemptive.

Ultimately, God uses the least severe means to produce the greatest amount and deepest level of voluntary love from His people. This means that in God’s mercy, Israel’s “greatest crisis” (Zech. 12:8–9) is already the least severe.

How To Pray:

• Pray that in the midst of God’s discipline and judgement, Israel will consider the goodness and severity of God (Rom. 11:22) which will lead her to wholehearted repentance.
• Pray for Israel to encounter the severe mercy of God through:
  • God-engineered troubles and crises to discipline and deliver Israel from her spiritual enemy of sin and rebellion;
  • Seeing the way God deals with Gentile Nations (Isa. 19; Hag. 2:6–7);
  • God’s people showing her mercy in the midst of her severe troubles.
• Pray for the raising up of voices who will help the Jewish people to make sense of God’s dealings towards them in His severe mercy.
• Pray for Gentile Believers to have understanding that God’s discipline and love are not contradictory, so that we can agree in prayer with His dealings towards Israel that are for her utmost good.

Day 9 | 15 May 2023

The Jewish people were exiled from their land with the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions (721 BC and 586 BC) and the destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in AD 70.

“Aliyah”, which in Hebrew means to “go up”, refers to the return of the Jewish diaspora from all over nations to the land of Israel. Since Israel’s re-formation as a state in 1948, we have seen a progressive return of the Jewish people back to their homeland.

Some have returned with the help of strong support and assistance in their return. Others have returned because antisemitism or crises have forced them to flee from danger back to the promised land. An example is the recent Russia-Ukraine war where many Jewish people were forced to return to Israel.

Whether through assistance (organisations, leaders or individuals assisting their return) or through crises, God will bring His people back (Jer. 16:16).

God will keep His covenant to Abraham to give his descendants the land of Israel (Gen. 15:18–21). In His zeal for His name, God will bring the Israelites back to their homeland from the lands they have been scattered to (Isa. 11:11–16; Ezek. 36:24).

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to stir the hearts of many Jewish people to return to the land.
• Pray for the directing of their hearts to His zeal for the land (2. Thes. 3:5).
• Pray for the hastening of the work of Aliyah even in the midst of tensions in Israel (Hab. 3:2).
• Pray for the raising up of people of authority and influence who will help facilitate the migration of the Jewish people back to Israel.
• Pray for the Jewish people to be strengthened with God’s grace to return despite the difficulties they may face in making Aliyah (Zech. 4:7).

Day 10 | 16 May 2023

For many Jewish people, Aliyah would mean leaving behind comfortable careers, lifestyles, and relationships, to start over in a land foreign to them. One of the reasons that deter Jewish people from returning to Israel is the lack of resources, such as a lack of finances or educational qualifications necessary to help them settle down in Israel. Getting a new home and finding a new job are some of the practical needs and concerns that Jews face after they return to Israel.

Returning Jews may also face prejudice amongst the Israeli Jewish community, depending on which nation they have returned from. These Jews are discriminated against and may be treated poorly — such as having their homes located at the forefront of potential war-prone areas in Israel. They may also not be readily accepted by the community around them, and face challenges in adjusting to a new language and fitting in in an entirely new society.

God promises Israel in Isaiah 61:7 that she will have a double portion of prosperity and fruitfulness in the land. He promises her permanent habitation in the land and manifold blessings upon them. Let us pray this promise over the Jewish people as they heed the call to return to Israel.

How To Pray:

• Pray that the Jewish people will experience the Lord’s mighty hand of supernatural provision, protection and power as they return to the Land, just as Israel did as the Lord led them out of Egypt (Heb. 13:20–21; Hab. 3:2).
• Pray that after they return to the land, God would release His abundant grace and provisional blessings over them so that they would have no lack.
• Pray that the Jewish people will experience the promise from Isaiah 61:7 in these different aspects in Israel (Jude 3):
  • Ministries and agencies helping them to settle in;
  • Assistance in learning the language and settling into society;
  • Communities that will welcome them as fellow Israelis;
  • Aid from Gentiles who help without expectation of anything in return (Isa. 60:10, 14);
  • The supernatural hand of God from barrenness to fruitfulness (Joel 3).

Day 11 | 17 May 2023

Jerusalem is the Holy Land, yet it is a far cry from God’s glory for her as the Holy City. Israel is currently no different from any other secular nation. Yet, God is zealous for her and will not leave her as she is (Zech. 1:14; 8:2). Zechariah 5 reveals God’s heart to cleanse Israel of her unrighteous ways and wickedness. God will orchestrate a divine removal of wickedness from her in the End Times (Zech 5:8–11).

The cleansing of the land of Israel refers to cleansing from her immorality, idolatry,
disobedience, unfaithfulness and wrong value system that has been embraced over time.

God will cause a fountain of cleansing to spring up for sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1). He will set His standard of holiness in the land of Jerusalem and amongst the people of Israel so that once again, they will be called out of the world and set apart for Him.

While the fullness of this cleansing will take place right at the End of the Age, God can and will progressively cleanse her even as we pray.

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to cause the fountain of cleansing to spring up in Jerusalem, and cleanse the hearts of many from idolatry, immorality, impurity and sin (Zech. 13:1).
• Pray for God to refine Israel to bring her into alignment with His heart and His values (Col. 4:12).
• Pray for the Spirit of conviction to fall on the Jewish people that will lead them to repentance and cause them to turn away from their false idols and back to God.
• Pray for the fear of the Lord to be put in their hearts so that they will return to Him (Jer. 32:40).

Day 12 | 18 May 2023

God promised through Jeremiah that He would restore the Jewish people back to the land of Israel and rejoice in doing them good “with all His heart and with all His soul” (Jer. 32:41). Such is the zeal of Yahweh! This is what the God of Israel will do to fulfil the covenantal promise He first made with the forefathers of the nation — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Throughout her history, Israel has often departed from fearing God and walking in His ways. The nation often worshipped other gods and turned her back on Yahweh. Nevertheless, God has been long-suffering in His relationship with her.

Even though God would send her into exile, He promised that there would come a time in the future when He would put the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the Jewish people so that His people will not depart from Him anymore (Jer. 32:39-40).

This is that hour in history where His zeal will accomplish this promise for Israel. She is back in her land, and He, with all His heart and soul, will put the fear of the Lord back in her heart.

Let us pray with confidence for this promise of God to come to pass.

How To Pray:

• Pray for the Spirit of the fear of the Lord to be poured out upon the hearts of the Jewish people that they will once again fear the Lord, turn to Yeshua and turn away from all other gods and idols (Jer. 32:40; Isa. 11:2–3).
• Pray that God will do a supernatural work to give the Jewish people a singleness of heart to fear His name (Ps. 86:11–12).
• Pray that the Jewish people will have the true fear of the Lord in their hearts, not one of outward religion having “fear taught by the commandment of men” (Isa. 29:13).
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach the Jewish people to fear the Lord whenever the Word of God is read and taught.
• Pray for the secular Jewish people that they may encounter the fear of the Lord and return to the God of Israel through His Son Yeshua (Isa. 29:23–24).
• Pray for God to raise up God-fearing men and women in Israel who will teach and call the Jewish people back to the fear of the Lord and to walk in His ways (Deut. 31:9–13; Josh. 24:14–15; 1 Sam. 12:23–25).
• Pray that the Jewish people will delight in walking in the fear of the Lord in both good and difficult times (Isa. 11:3; Neh. 1:11; 5:15).

Day 13 | 19 May 2023

In the early Church in Acts 15, the Messianic Jewish apostles and elders met in response to the growing number of non-Jewish people who were being added to the faith. Issues of Jewish practices and customs (such as circumcision) were discussed in light of the growing Gentile Church. This gathering of people was called the Jerusalem Council.

God is once again restoring the Jerusalem Council in this crucial hour of human history we are in. As God reveals the mysteries of Israel, and as His sovereign plan unfolds, He will give us greater clarity on the role and responsibility of the leaders and elders in the Messianic Jewish community for this generation.

One of the many promises for the Jewish people in the Torah is found in Deuteronomy 28:13. It tells us that the Jewish people will be the head and not the tail if they walk in the commandments of God. In this hour, this will include God using the Messianic Jewish community to provide leadership for the Jerusalem Council as we have seen in Acts 15.

How To Pray:

• Thank God for the foundation that has been laid thus far.
• Pray for God’s strength to be upon the re-establishing and restoration of the Jerusalem Council unto God’s fullness for it in this hour (Col. 1:11).
• Pray for the Zechariah 4 grace to empower them and for the removal of every obstacle (Zech. 4:6–7).
• Pray for those (e.g. Dan Juster, Marty Waldman, Don Finto) who are providing leadership to have wisdom to walk worthy of this call (Col. 1:9–10).
• Pray for the provision of resources in the re-establishment of the Jerusalem Council.
• Pray for His ordained plan and purpose to be revealed with greater clarity, understanding, and direction to both Messianic and Gentile believers.

Day 14 | 20 May 2023

As we see increasing political turmoil and uncertainty in Israel, we need to realise that the issue is not just about politics and the formation of coalitions. Spiritual warfare is going on and thus, we need to pray.

Even though Israel’s ultimate confidence is not in its governmental leaders, they still play a critical role in making decisions, establishing laws, and governing the land of Israel. Our prayers move God’s heart and thus, His hand. He is able to establish righteous boundaries and stir the hearts of the leaders to make decisions that are right, just, and lawful in the eyes of God.

In fact, God’s heart is always for the governmental leaders of Israel to govern the nation with righteousness and justice, which are the foundations of His throne (Ps. 89:14).

Similarly to how God used various kings in Israel’s history to establish His plans and purposes, we can pray for God to do the same today so that God’s fullness for Israel will come to pass.

How To Pray:

• Pray for the leaders to be aligned with God’s hearts and plans for Israel.
• Pray for godly wisdom and counsel upon the leaders in the midst of increasing pressures and tensions.
• Pray that the decisions will be executed from a place of humility, righteousness and truth.
• Pray for the fear of the Lord to be upon them.
• For the raising up of Josephs and Daniels in this hour who have understanding and wisdom in influencing and guiding the leaders and their decisions over Israel.
• Pray for God to direct their hearts to put their confidence in Him, and not in their own military might or political alliances.
• Pray that God will bring to remembrance His faithful leadership over Israel in the past that they would turn to Him as the Shepherd of Israel.

Day 15 | 21 May 2023

Prophetic voices are spokespersons of God who proclaim His heart and plans to His people. They are also ones who are able to interpret what God is saying and doing through different times and seasons.

As we approach Jesus’ return, God will raise up many voices among the Messianic Jewish people who will understand God’s heart and instruct their Jewish brethren (Dan. 11:33), so as to turn their hearts back to Yeshua and the God of Israel.

As Israel will face unprecedented troubles (Jer. 30:7), there is a greater urgency and necessity for voices to arise in the Messianic Jewish community to make sense of what will happen at the End of the Age. These voices will be set apart as the Zechariah 4 “sons of oil” (Zech. 4:14) and the ultimate fulfilment will be seen at the End of the Age in the ministry of the two witnesses (Rev. 11).

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to raise up voices among the Messianic Jews who have understanding of His heart and who will instruct many (Dan. 11:33)
• Pray for prophetic voices to be directed to eating the Revelation 10 “little book”, that they would be equipped with spiritual wisdom and understanding to prophesy to their people.
• Pray for God to enrich His voices with all utterance and all knowledge, that the testimony of Christ will be confirmed in them as they speak (1 Cor. 1:4).
• Pray for God to give these voices boldness and courage to speak forth His word.
• Pray for God to raise up Zechariah 4 “sons of oil” who will wait on Him and carry His glory.
• Pray for God to raise up prophetic voices with godly character, who will speak and live in righteousness – humility, integrity, purity of heart and a total devotion to God’s truth.
• Pray for voices to arise who walk in great power and authority, that the Spirit will make Himself manifest as they speak.
• Pray that God would continue to strengthen those who have already risen up (e.g. Michael Brown, Asher Intrater, Dan Juster etc.) to continue witnessing of Yeshua their Messiah.

Day 16 | 22 May 2023

In John 17, Jesus prays fervently for His people to be one in Him and with one another, the same way that He and the Father are One. While He prays this for all believers both Messianic and Gentile, the most striking manifestation of this oneness will be seen between Messianic and Arab believers, especially at the End of the Age.

Isaiah 19 prophesies about the fullness of oneness — when Israel, Egypt and Assyria will together bring forth God’s glory to the nations in the Millennial Kingdom (Isa. 19:24–25). Oneness among Messianic and Arab believers will be the first fruit of this future oneness of their nations in God.

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, God divinely accelerated the John 17 oneness between Messianic and Arab believers through an online Passover gathering. As this work of God grows, it will astound the world as two groups with ancient grudges and hostility towards each other come together as one in the name of Yeshua.

Let us pray for the perfecting of this oneness as we race towards the Second Coming of Yeshua.

How To Pray:

• Pray for Messianic and Arab believers to be one with God through intimacy in their relationship with Yeshua (Jn. 17:21–23).
• Pray that God will supernaturally impart the glory of Oneness of the Trinitarian God onto the Messianic and Arab and Jewish believers (Jn. 17:21–23).
• Pray for the fullness of the breaking down of every wall of separation, and for the cleansing and removal of every ancient hostility through His blood (Eph. 2:14–15).
• Pray for God to direct both groups to release forgiveness and to bring healing and reconciliation between them.
• Pray that God will empower them with the greater love so that they will lay down their lives for one another, and not love their lives even unto death (Jn. 15:13).
• Pray for the mind of Christ to be upon both groups, that each group will, in humility, esteem the other better than themselves (Phil. 2:3–4).

Day 17 | 23 May 2023

Egypt and the Arab nations (Assyria) play an important role in the Biblical End-Time narrative (Isa. 19). In line with the John 17 oneness, God’s call is especially for Egyptian and Arab believers to stand with Israel as she undergoes the greatest persecution she will ever face.

Scripture prophesies that they will stand with Israel and provide places of refuge for her when she is scattered by the Antichrist in the End Times (Zech. 10:9–10, Matt. 24:15–16). Isaiah 19 states that Egypt will specifically contain five cities of refuge for fleeing Jewish people, together with an altar to the Lord where incessant intercession for Israel will arise (Isa. 19:18–19).

Indeed, God will prepare believers in these nations to be vessels of His mercy by showing them His mercy in the midst of discipline, pressure and persecution. They will then arise to show the mercy and greater love of the God of Israel, to the people of Israel, in their greatest trouble. They will do so even at the risk and cost of their own lives.

Let us pray for the Lord to prepare and strengthen our Egyptian and Arab brothers and sisters for them to walk worthy of their call!

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to fill the Egyptian and Arab believers with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding of their role to stand with the Jewish people (Col. 1:9–10).
• Pray for love to abound in their hearts for the Jewish people (Phil. 1:9).
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to divinely reveal and lead many Egyptian and Arab believers to prepare cities (or communities) of refuge for Israel.
• Pray for wisdom, resources and strength upon the building of the cities of refuge (including the 5 in Egypt).
• Pray for believers in Egypt and the Arab nations to be established and strengthened in their intercession and worship for Israel.
• Pray for God to bring them through His preparation process of refinement and for Him to fashion them into vessels of His mercy to Israel (1 Thes. 3:10).

Day 18 | 24 May 2023

In Genesis 12:3, God made a covenant with Abraham, and told him that He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Matthew 25:31–46 tells us that at the Second Coming of Jesus, Gentile nations will be judged by the Lord on whether we align with His heart concerning Israel and whether we stand with her.

With antisemitism on the rise as we head towards the End of the Age, it will be increasingly unpopular for nations to stand with Israel. There will likely come a time when standing with Israel will result in those nations being at economic or political disadvantages on the world stage.

Hence, there is a need for us to pray for our nation to stand with Israel. Furthermore, Scripture commands us to pray for the city (or nation) that we dwell in (Jer. 29:7).

Whichever nation we are from, pray that our nation would align with God’s heart and stand with Israel regardless of external pressures and global circumstances. It is only when our nation is aligned with the Lord that she can fulfil the destiny that God has for her!

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to put the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the governmental leaders of our nation with regard to the issue of Israel, that they will not give in to political pressures, but will fully align with God’s heart with regards to our nation standing with Israel (Col. 4:12).
• Pray that God will turn the hearts of the kings like He turns rivers of waters (Prov. 21:1), directing them into full alignment with His heart and plans for Israel (Col. 4:12).
• Pray that God will release understanding upon the leaders and the people of our nation regarding the necessity to stand with Israel (Col. 1:9–10).
• Pray that He will show the leaders that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.

Day 19 | 25 May 2023

Joel 2:28–32 prophesies of a time when God will pour out His Spirit in an unprecedented measure on “all flesh”. The passage’s original context is for the nation of Israel, where God promises that “in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance” (v32). It is certainly on God’s heart to visit Israel with His Spirit and bring them salvation and deliverance!

God spoke to many around the Body of Christ over the past few years that in this decade, He will send an unprecedented outpouring of His Spirit upon the Jewish people. This is something that we want to contend for as His Gentile church! It is truly His Sovereign Appointed Time of visitation for them.

Psalm 80 is a passage of Scripture that we can use to contend for God to visit the Jewish people unto revival and restoration. In it, the psalmist cries out for God to return with His favour upon Israel and shine His face upon them once again, so that they may be saved.

As Shavout begins this evening, let us contend for a mighty visitation of the Spirit of God once again upon Israel.

How To Pray:

• Pray for God to visit Israel with His Spirit unto revival and restoration (Psalm 80):
  • “Return, we beseech You” (v14) — Pray for God to turn His face and favour back on Israel and pour out His Presence upon Israel;
  • “Visit this vine” (v14) — Pray that God would visit His people with a mighty move and outpouring of His Holy Spirit;
  • “Revive us” (v18) — Pray that God would revive them as a nation and that their hearts would turn back to the Lord;
  • “Restore us” (v19) — Pray that God would restore His people back to Him in their hearts and for the nation as a whole;
  • “Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved” (v19) — Pray for God to shine His light into her midst and bring salvation to her.
• Pray for the Joel 2 outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the nation of Israel.

Day 20 | 26 May 2023

Ezekiel 37:1–14 speaks of God’s promise to revive Israel from a valley of dry bones into an army that is alive in God and in the Spirit. Without the God of Israel and without Yeshua, the Jewish people are spiritually dead. God graciously promises that He will revive her and deliver her from her condition of hopelessness and lifelessness without God.

God will once again pour out His Spirit upon the Jewish people (Joel 2:28–32, Ezek. 39:29), for it is His heart and zeal to revive her. Ezekiel 37:9–10 mentions that God will put breath in them. This means that He will put His Spirit in them.

Just like the mighty rushing wind that suddenly fell upon the apostles of Jesus in Acts 2, we can pray for an even greater outpouring of the Spirit in this time of Shavout.

May the valley of dry bones come alive and may Israel find life in the one true God alone!

How To Pray:

• Pray for the Ezekiel 37 breath of the Spirit to come like a mighty rushing wind upon the Jewish people.
• Pray for God to direct Israel to see her true condition, that she may humble herself before God and find favour in His sight.
• Pray for the outpouring of the Spirit unto various groups in Israel:
  • Empowerment of Messianic Jewish believers with life and an upgrade in moving in signs and wonders.
  • Revival and restoration of unbelieving Jewish people unto Yeshua.
• Speak and prophesy for the breath of life to fill Israel once again.

Day 21 | 27 May 2023

In God’s sovereign plan, Israel’s rejection of Yeshua at His First Coming has resulted in the Gospel going to the Gentiles, and partial and temporary blindness has come upon her until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. This is a mystery that Paul warns us not to be ignorant of (Rom. 11:25).

As Gentile believers, we need to understand God’s heart and plans for Israel and our role as the Gentile Church, so that we do not end up resisting Him, but align ourselves fully with Him. This includes the restoration of Israel’s role as God’s primary vessel to bring the Gospel to the nations in the Millennial Kingdom, which has been entrusted to the Gentile Church for a season.

Ultimately, God’s grand plan is to provoke Israel to jealousy (v.11) through the fullness of the Gentiles (v.25), which will result in her spiritual blindness being lifted, her national salvation, and her stepping into her leadership role in the Millennial Kingdom.

“The fullness of the Gentiles” (v.25) includes the full number of Gentiles saved, and us walking in the fullness of godly character and power. God calls us to provoke Israel to jealousy through signs and wonders, moving in the prophetic spirit, and sacrificially standing with her, thus bearing witness to the very God of Israel in our midst.

Five practical ways for Gentile believers to provoke Israel to jealousy are through:
(1) Godly living;
(2) Performing miracles like Elijah;
(3) Proclaiming God’s purposes for Israel;
(4) Providing refuge and shelter (like what Corrie Ten Boom’s family did for the Jewish people during the Holocaust);
(5) Living with an eternal perspective and standing with Israel even unto death.

How To Pray:

• Pray for Gentile believers to have a Biblical perspective and understanding of what the “fullness of Gentiles” entails and our role in provoking Israel to jealousy.
• Pray that believers will walk worthy of the Lord, in full agreement and alignment with Him regarding Israel (Col. 1:9–10).
• Pray that God would magnify the ministry of the Gentile Church (Rom. 11:13–14).
• Pray for God to bring a hastening of the fullness of Gentiles — in terms of the ordained number as well as maturity in character and the fullness of demonstration of God’s power.
• Pray for the Jewish people to be provoked to jealousy as they see the evidence of the God of Israel in the lives and works of Gentile believers

Day 22 (Theme 1) | 28 May 2023

This Isaiah 62 Fast was merely a downpayment of God’s zeal and promise to set watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem until she reaches the fullness of her destiny. God’s purpose is not for a one-time event that generates a momentary buzz, but to raise up watchmen who, out of love for Yeshua, will stand with Israel until He returns.

On this Pentecost Sunday and the last day of this fast, even as 100 million intercessors worldwide join in to pray for Israel, let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to mark the hearts of young people, especially in Asia, and set them on the walls of Jerusalem.

These will be prophetic intercessors who will stay steady not through their own commitment or might, but through a divine impartation of God’s own zeal and love for Israel upon their hearts. They will be strengthened with love, and live radically and fearlessly for the Lord and His purposes. They will love Israel because they love Jesus.

Even as we end this fast, it is only the beginning of the fulfilment of the prophetic word from 40 years ago about the End-Time prayer movement for Israel that will labour in prayer until Jesus returns.

As we pray for God to complete this work He has started, may each of us enter into this labour ourselves — praying for Israel, for His purposes and for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

How To Pray:

• Pray that even as 100 million intercessors pray in unison for Israel today, God would mark and ambush many hearts, especially the young generation in Asia, with His heart and zeal for Israel.
• Pray that God would “download” His burdens concerning Israel to many hearts, and bring an understanding of His heart and plans.
• Pray for the hearts and minds of the young people to be deeply re-fashioned and transformed by God’s love for Israel so that many will come into complete agreement and alignment with Him.
• Pray that God will perfect and establish the young generation in conviction, faithfulness and perseverance, so that they will stand with Jerusalem until Jesus returns, even in the midst of persecution, facing reproach and suffering loss (Col. 1:9–11; Isa. 62:6–7).
• Pray for young people to arise to the maturity of loving Jesus expressed through loving Israel.

Day 22 (Theme 2) | 28 May 2023

Pentecost Sunday is a day when the Gentile Church commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. What many of us often forget is that the 120 in the upper room upon whom the Holy Spirit first fell were all Jewish believers. As they gathered in one accord, in one place, suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind and divided tongues of fire rested on each of them. In that moment, the Holy Spirit empowered the 120 with boldness, courage and utterance to speak the Word of God.

Upon the outpouring of the Spirit, the witness of Yeshua went forth in various tongues and with demonstrations of power to other Jewish people who had gathered in Jerusalem from across the nations for Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.

The message of repentance cut the hearts of many, resulting in many Jewish people turning to Yeshua. On that day, three thousand were added to the early community of Messianic believers.

Today, on Pentecost Sunday, as we join in as part of the 100 million intercessors in a global upper room standing in the gap for Israel, let us contend for a re-enactment of the Acts 2 outpouring for the Jewish people, but in an even greater measure in our day!

How To Pray:

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to come as a sound, a mighty rushing wind, and tongues of fire upon the Jewish people (Acts 2:2–4) in an unprecedented measure.
• Pray that Messianic believers would be empowered by the Holy Spirit, like Peter in the book of Acts, to preach the Gospel to their brethren with apostolic grace and signs and wonders.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction upon unbelieving Jewish people and to direct them to Yeshua their Messiah.
• Pray for a mighty and unprecedented visitation of the Holy Spirit upon Israel.