於2010-07-03發佈
2010年6月28日

1. 搭模斯月十七日─開始為期三週的『狹窄之地或在困境中』.
本週星期二─六月29日是守律法猶太人的『禁食日』(撒迦利亞書8:19說到四月、五月是禁食的日子),以紀念耶路撒冷城牆在西元前586年遭到巴比倫的破壞,從這一天一直到聖殿被毀的埃波月九日(今年是在七月20日),有時又稱為『狹窄之地』(記載在耶利米哀歌一章3節:追逼她的都在狹窄之地將她追上。)因為在歷史上的這段時間,有許多災難發生在猶太人身上。這段時期確實是呼召特別守望以色列與列國中猶太人的時候。

在這一天,守律法的猶太人會特別讀到妥拉─出埃及記32:11-14; 34:1-10提到神的憐憫,根據猶太傳統,摩西在同一天摔碎石版,也會特別讀到先知書─以賽亞書55:6-56:8,開頭說『當趁耶和華可尋找的時候尋找祂,相近的時候求告祂。惡人當離棄自己的道路;不義的人當除掉自己的意念。歸向耶和華,耶和華就必憐恤他;當歸向我們的神,因為神必廣行赦免。』

請禱告:
* 禱告以色列在這三週被保護,遠離一切尋找機會攻擊她的兇惡。

* 詩篇118:5: 『我在急難中求告耶和華,祂就應允我,把我安置在寬闊之地。』

* 為以色列的百姓禱告:能被帶到曠野,進入神為他們所預備的完全─要在窄地存活,她必須跨越。『引到永生,那門是窄的,路是小的,找著的人也少』(馬太福音7:14)。耶穌來是叫祂百姓的喜樂可以滿足(約翰福音15:11; 16:24)。

* 為以色列的土地禱告:能進入神所賜予的寬闊之地,目前地方太窄不夠照顧神從列國帶回的猶太人─她不斷在列國壓力下,要她的地更狹窄。『要擴張你帳幕之地,張大你居所的幔子,不要限止;要放長你的繩子,堅固你的橛子。因為你要向左向右開展。』 (以賽亞書54:2-3)。

2.  看哪,我與耶和華所給我的兒女,就是從住在錫安山萬軍之耶和華來的,在以色列中作為預兆和奇蹟(以賽亞書8:18)

對以色列的年輕人而言,下週有兩件重要的事。從週六(7/3)晚上到下週一(7/5)晚上,位於耶路撒冷的讚美帳幕事工(Succat Hallel)舉辦『歸於祂』特會,這是為這地年輕信徒一年一次所舉辦的特會。這一次是在特拉維夫中心非常熱鬧世俗的地點,今年的講員與敬拜領袖幾乎清一色來自以色列境內,目前已有二百位猶太年輕人與一百位阿拉伯年輕人報名,預期會有更多人報名。

接下來的一週,Katzir青年事工將在加利利舉辦為期十天的營會,今年的主題是來自以賽亞書62:1─我會如明燈發亮。預估會有一百位年輕人參加,其中有三十位是青年領袖,營會期間他們會每一天查考彼得的生命。

請禱告:
* 神的恩膏落在這兩個特會的講員與敬拜領袖身上。
* 讓所有參加的人與主相遇、生命改變。
* 與會少年、青年與講員的安全。

3. 為你祝福的,我必賜福與他 (創世記12:3)
我祈求你在這週為哈馬斯領袖謝赫.哈桑.約瑟夫(Sheik Hassan Yosef)的兒子莫撒.哈桑.約瑟夫(Mosab Hassan Yosef)禱告,他長達十年為辛貝(Shin Bet以色列國安局)工作,阻止無數在以色列的恐怖攻擊。他目前住在美國,在為以色列工作的期間成為信徒。上週一位曾與約瑟夫同工的辛貝幹員葛農.班以薩(Gonen Ben-Itzhak),公開身份懇求美國政府不要驅逐這位曾在哈馬斯當間諜的約瑟夫。

班以薩說:『約瑟夫為了防止暴行,每天冒著生命危險。我需要來到聖地牙哥的法院,告訴法官真相,真相是約瑟夫一直都在防止殺害發生。』

請禱告:
* 美國國土安全局會給約瑟夫恩寵,若他被遣返回迦薩,他會遭到殺害。
* 約瑟夫的見證會引起許多穆斯林的羨慕,使他們渴望認識真正的彌賽亞。

馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士(Martin & Norma Sarvis)
於耶路撒冷


PRAYER UPDATE FROM ISRAEL  (June 28, 2010)
 
1.  17th OF TAMMUZ—BEGINNING OF THREE WEEKS “BETWEEN THE STRAITS”.

This Tuesday, June 29th, is a “fast day” for observant Jews (the Fast of the Fourth Month in Zechariah 8:19) commemorating the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC.  The period between this day and the 9th of Av when the Temple was destroyed (30 July this year) has come to sometimes be called “Bein haMetzarim” (“Between the straits”, found in Lamentations 1:3: “All her persecutors overtake her between the dire straits.”) because of many calamities purported to have occurred to Jews through history during this period.  It is indeed a time calling for especial watchfulness over Israel and Jews in the nations.

On this day, observant Jews read in addition to a special reading from the Torah (Exodus 31:11-14; 34:1-10 related to God’s mercies after according to tradition Moses broke the first tablets of stone on this date), a special Haftarah :  Isaiah 55:6—56:8, which begins, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

PLEASE PRAY:
* Pray that Israel be protected from evil seeking occasion to be released against her during these three weeks.

* Psalm 118:5:  “Out of the strait (metzar) I called to Ya (the LORD).  Ya answered me in a wide-open place.” 

* For Israel—the People:  to be brought into the wideness, the fullness that God has for them—and to survive the narrows she must traverse until then.  “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life”(Matthew 7:14). Yeshua came that His people might come into fullness of joy (John 15:11; 16:24).

* For Israel—the Land:  to come into the wideness which God has ordained.  At present it is too narrow to adequately nurture the Jews God has brought from the nations thus far—and she is under constant pressure from the nations to become narrower still.  “Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.  For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left” (Isaiah 54:2-3).

2.  HERE AM  I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME! WE ARE FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS IN ISRAEL FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS, WHO DWELLS IN MOUNT ZION.  (Is. 8:18)

The next weeks bring two significant events for youth and young adults in Israel.  From Saturday night until Monday night, Succat Hallel ministry in Jerusalem is sponsoring ELAV (Unto Him). 
This is an annual event for the believing younger generation in the Body in the Land. 
This time it will be held in a very popular secular venue in the heart of Tel Aviv. 
This event is almost totally indigenous this year with speakers and worship leaders from Israel.  So far 200 Jewish youth are registered and 100 Arab youth.  More are expected.
The following week Katzir youth ministry is sponsoring a 10-day camp in the Galilee.
The theme this year is K’Lapid Ev’ar from Isaiah 62:1 (“I will burn like a torch”). 
One hundred youth will attend with 30 young adult leaders.  They will study the life of Peter each day.

PLEASE PRAY:
* Anointing on speakers and worship leaders for each of these two events.
* Life-changing encounters with the Lord for all who attend.
* The coming together of all details for both events.  Safety and protection for youth, young adults and speakers.

3. I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU. (Gen.12:3)
We ask that you pray this week for Mosab Hassan Yosef, son of Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yosef. 
He is credited with helping thwart countless terror attacks in Israel having worked with Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) for ten years. 
He has been living in the United States and became a believer while still working in Israel with Shen Bet. 
This past week Gonen Ben-Itzhak, a Shin Bet agent who worked with Yosef during his time as an informant, revealed his identity to plead with US authorities not to deport this former spy on Hamas.

Ben-Itzhak stated, “He risked his life every day in order to prevent violence.  I need to come to the courthouse in San Diego and tell the judge the truth…and the truth is Mosab always prevented killings.”  The hearing is scheduled for June 30th.

PLEASE PRAY:
* That the US Department of Homeland Security will rule in Yosef’s favor.  If deported back to Gaza, he could be killed.
* That Yosef’s testimony will provoke many Muslims to jealousy and cause them to hunger to know the true Messiah.