July 27, 2023: Tisha B'Av - Time Of Teshuvah (Repentance) and Healing!
Today is Tisha B'Av. It's an annual fast day in Judaism, on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem.
The 9th of Av, Tisha B'Av, commemorates a list of catastrophes so severe it's clearly a day set aside by God to bring us back to Him in repentance.
Here are a few historical events that took place on Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day of mourning:
1) The spies return on the eighth day of Av and report that the land is unconquerable. That night, the 9th of Av, the people cry. They insist that they'd rather go back to Egypt than be slaughtered by the Canaanites. The LORD is highly displeased by this public demonstration of distrust in His power, and consequently that generation of Israelites never enters the Holy Land. Only their children have that privilege, after wandering in the desert for another 38 years.
2) The First Temple was also destroyed on the 9th of Av (423 BCE). Five centuries later (in 69 CE), as the Romans drew closer to the Second Temple, ready to torch it, the Jews were shocked to realize that their Second Temple was destroyed the same day as the first.
3) When the Jews rebelled against Roman rule, they believed that their leader, Simon bar Kochba, would fulfill their messianic longings. But their hopes were cruelly dashed in 133 CE as the Jewish rebels were brutally butchered in the final battle at Betar. The date of the massacre? The 9th of Av.
4) In 1492, the Golden Age of Spain came to a close when Queen Isabella and her husband Ferdinand ordered that the Jews be banished from Spain. The edict of expulsion was signed on March 31, 1492, and the Jews were given exactly four months to put their affairs in order and leave the country.
The Hebrew date on which no Jew was allowed to remain any longer in Spain, where they had enjoyed welcome and prosperity? The 9th of Av.
5) World War II and the Holocaust, historians conclude, was actually the long drawn-out conclusion of World War I that began in 1914. And yes, amazingly enough, Germany declared war on Russia, effectively catapulting the First World War into motion, on the 9th of Av, Tisha b'Av.
And TODAY, we are calling ALL WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS for an EMERGENCY TIME OF PRAYER for the Israeli government and parliament!
Israel is experiencing a coup attempt led
by former prime minister Ehud Barak and his team of ex-generals. This is something that was in the making for a few years now and the judicial reform was just the excuse.
While the internal political chaos intensifies, the enemies from OUTSIDE are preparing themselves for the right moment to attack.
Israel is in the most dangerous situation since it was established in 1948.
The next three days are critical for Israel! Pray that the worst does NOT happen, where we may be attacked from several fronts, all at the same time.
As we stand in the gap for Israel during this critical time, in the midst of Tisha B'Av, we pray that our prayers would "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Causing ISRAEL to TESHUV (REPENT)!
We also need to pray for the PROTECTION of our IDF SOLDIERS; For ADONAI to grant them wisdom and discernment in navigating through these perilous times, and that they would always be ahead of the enemy's tactics, in YESHUA'S MIGHTY NAME!
Last Shabbat's HafTorah Portion (July 22, 2023), was based on Isaiah 1, which essentially reflects exactly the same political and spiritual issues the nation of Israel is dealing with today!
And yet, ADONAI's message for His people to repent remains the same:
Isaiah 1:18-20
“18Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; 20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
THIS IS OUR CALL TO PRAYER: May Israel realize that our VICTORY comes only from our REDEEMER, YESHUA ADONAI TZEVAOT!
Father God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, we come humbly before Your throne room of grace, in accordance to Your Word in Numbers 10:9, which says, "When you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then blow an alarm with the trumpets (Shofarot), that you may be remembered before the Lord Your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies."
Abba, we stand in the gap and pray for the Shalom of Jerusalem and all of Israel, at this time. We blow the shofar by proxy for the war that is being waged in Israel. Her enemies surround her on all sides, both within and without. They are like animals smelling death, coming and taking little bites, testing the waters to see how far they can go. Abba, they think that they are so smart, so strong, and so cunning, BUT GOD!!! "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19), Praise be the Name of the Lord!
We know that the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and we praise You, Lord God, that You keep Israel upheld in your Righteous Right Hand.
So we seek Your face today to praise you and thank you for fighting for Your Nation and Your Children. We ask for supernatural speedy recovery for PM Netanyahu, as well as wisdom and discernment in all the decisions he has to make. We ask for UNITY in the government, parliament parties and amongst the entire nation of Israel. We ask that You confuse the minds of those in the enemies' camp--both internal and external--just as You have done so many times in Scripture, to bring about victory and repentance for your people! We give You all praise, honor and glory through MESSIAH YESHUA, Amen and Amen!
As we take the time to humble ourselves, it's important to allow ADONAI to also search
our own hearts and make sure we are cleansed and purified with the precious Blood of YESHUA, as King David prayed:
"Search me, God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
We need to remember that REVIVAL and REPENTANCE BEGINS WITH US!
Choosing to live for the LORD, dying to self daily, repenting daily, taking up the cross and following YESHUA, working out our salvation with fear and trembling, is vitally important, for the LORD to move on our behalf!
"12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13
By living a life of OBEDIENCE to ADONAI, this enables us to come to a place of authority in order to RECEIVE COMPLETE HEALING, not only for the nation of Israel, but for our own personal lives and communities as well!
As it is stated in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and WILL HEAL THEIR LAND."
CLAIM THE HEALING!!
There is a powerful inheritance that was granted to us in the very high price that YESHUA paid for us: "By His stripes we were healed!" Isaiah 53:5. And it's His will that we exercise the authority He has given us so we can take possession of our portion that is only given to us by YESHUA'S finished work on the Tree of Sacrifice.
Just as Jacob had to fight with the Angel of the LORD, until he was blessed, we also need to take hold of the blessing intended for us, like the woman with the issue of blood who took hold of the TzitTzit (Fringes of the Garment) of Yeshua!
With such FAITH, that even YESHUA felt the power go out from Him, and she was healed immediately!
"And Yeshua, perceiving in Himself that power had gone out from Him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” Mark 5:30
We too need to fight the good fight of FAITH and take hold of the promises set for us and not let go, until we receive it completely!
Just like Jacob wrestled all night long until he received his blessing and his name was changed to Israel. Sometimes, we need to fight in prayer, just like Daniel did for those 21 days he fasted, waiting for the answer to come through! There were strongholds trying to stop and delay the angel with the answer that had been sent the first day Daniel had begun praying!
12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 10:12-14
Regardless, we need to remember that even though ADONAI operates in His time, which may be different than ours, He always causes everything to work out together for our good!
Even though at times, it may be difficult to wait, this cannot cause us to give up! Because it's always His will to heal us!
"...But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3
Therefore, we need to persevere, taking our position of authority in declaring ADONAI'S Word over our lives, because He watches over His word to perform it!
As it says in Matthew 11:12:
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."
May we take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of ADONAI, and wield it, for the advancement of His Kingdom, in our days and in our lives! In YESHUA'S MIGHTY NAME, Amen and Amen!
Watch the video below where Elihana declares Scriptural Declarations of Healing, corresponding with the written Word of God, that she listed out on the Frontlines.info Blog Post, which you can refer to here:
ELIHANA HAS JUST RELEASED ANOTHER BRAND NEW SONG:
This is Elihana's third single release of the year, in English! (2023)
Please SHARE this song, if it has blessed your life!
SUBSCRIBE to Elihana's YouTube Channel for more worship songs: www.YouTube.com/ElihanaElia
THE NEW SONG: "HEAL ME NOW" is also available to stream and download in all major online platforms! Purchase ALL of Elihana's albums and singles at the online STORE today!
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