Dear Praying Friends,
Our recent trip to Israel was very encouraging, but also
challenging. There are some physical issues that are ongoing, so please keep us in prayer.
The time there was mostly spent praying at a prayer house which Rick and Patti Ridings began several years ago, in sight of the walls of the old city (present day walls are not the original ones, but are a good prayer focus).
The time spent in worship there often intersected spiritually with what we felt to be our prayer "theme" in Jerusalem. The scriptures we brought were often used by one or another of the intercessors at the prayer house, which encouraged us in our prayer times later, in and around the city.
The verses we used were primarily these:
Is 60: 1, Psalm 24; Ez 43: 2, 4, 5; Ps 102: 16; Psalm 18.
These verses reference the glory of God, specifically being revealed to and within Israel. Since this is Israel's celebration of her 60th year as a nation, Is 60:1 has been adopted by other ministries, to declare the year of God's revelation to the Jewish people. We would ask that those who feel led use these verses to declare the release of God's glory in Israel this year, especially at the Eastern Gate (see Ez 43).
We do not understand all implications of this, but we know that when we used these verses in New York City earlier this year, when the U.N. building was used to host the Israel birthday celebration at which Christians and Jews came together to pray for Israel, there seemed to be confirmation that this was God's purpose. We pray that
there will be further revelation and fulfillment of His word.
There was a prayer time at our church before we left to go to Israel, and we were blessed by that, as well as the prayers of those who participated in the event by "e-connection."
Every day seemed to be a special day for us, and the last day we had two encounters with ministry heads which had to be divine appointments. One was on a "high place" (someone prophesied over us that we would have our feet on high places); the fourteenth floor prayer tower of King of Kings church facility. The head of the prayer ministries there (who commutes from Canada four times a year) facilitates connections with 60 on-site ministries (interesting
number!), providing prayer cover and financial help for them.
The other ministry leader is someone we have known for years, who is teaching about Jewish roots, and especially the restoration of Jerusalem as the city which will receive the returning Messiah. We were very impacted by what he is sharing, and since he is planning a tour of the U.S. next summer, we trust there will be ongoing connection (if anyone is interested in his ministry, please let us know).
The whole trip had a sovereign air about it, from the inflow of funds, unanticipated and unsolicited, to the provision of a place to stay and people with whom to worship and pray. Please pray with us that any next steps will be clear to us. We want maximum fruit from this, and every outreach in the Spirit.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayer.
Blessings,
Dave and Dorothy Barkley
