Before we look closer at the timely prayer points, we wanted to address a handful of critical issues. Global Catalytic Ministries originated in Iran and Afghanistan. Majority Muslim regions across the entire Middle East including Israel. Today we are in 73% of all Middle East and North Africa regions. We are impacting 53% of what is known as the 10/40 window. That is 5.37 billion individuals, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhist. In total, we are seeing disciple-making movements in 71 countries. Our disciple makers share a unique perspective serving as underground believers in Christ in Israel and the surrounding nations like Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Egypt working with Muslims, Arabs, and Israelis every day.
Whose side are you on? All believers in Christ are having to answer this question since the October 7th infiltration of Hamas terrorist and massacre of 1200 Israelis. And now over 300 days (about 10 months) of war in Israel.
Some praise the attack. Some deny the atrocities. Some respond in protest. Some respond with boycotts and divestment. Some respond in rage. Some respond with substance abuse to numb the pain. Some stand with Israel. Some stand with Palestine. Some burn Israeli flags. Others burn Hamas flags. Some ignore it. There is immense polarization. (Biblically foretold polarization see Joel 3 and Zechariah 12:3 “On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.”) How does Jesus expect us to respond?
Our brothers and sister in Christ serving across the Middle East, come together under one banner and one mission. In Joshua 5:13-14, Joshua encounters the angel of the Lord while spying out Jericho which is modern-day Palestinian West Bank territory. Joshua questions the angel’s allegiance, asking if he is with God’s people (the Jews) or the enemy (ancestors of modern-day Palestinians)? Jesus’ response was, “neither”; he is for Himself. To be Christ-like is to have His opinions, not ours. We must be on the side of Jesus as we navigate these challenging conversations.
The call is to be sheep among wolves. That is to be at great risk as prey among predators. That is to rely on God fully and completely. For the sake of the Gospel. The gospel tears down the walls of separation. There are no sides with the Gospel. Only Christ. That is why the Gospel must go forward. We stand with Christ, and we stand with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He is the Root of Jesse, the Son of David, and the Son of Abraham, and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
We have written extensively addressing this critical issue here. We highly recommend digging a little deeper into this question.
Together we contribute to the peace in Israel by transforming the Middle East through reaching the lost with strategic underground disciple-making.
Since the October 7th attack underground disciple makers both Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs are ministering together, sharing meals together, and reaching the lost Arabs and Israelis alike. That is an extraordinary supernatural wonder. Something only God can do.
The leaders of the underground churches’ response is a profound reminder that the mission of the Church transcends national and political boundaries. It calls for a unified stance in Christ to minister through the love and sacrifice that only He can provide.
Please take a moment to read the full-length story here.
In a recent article on Israel 365 News by Jonathan Feldstein, an Orthodox Israeli Jew; he proposed the solution for long term peace could only be through Christianity, through Christ. “I responded that if it were up to me, Billy Graham would come back and hold months of crusades throughout Gaza.” As Christians, we must act as agents of reconciliation and peace, extending love to all parties involved in this conflict.
We have seen remarkable stories just this past month of former ISIS members coming to Christ. Remember Saul in Acts 9:4, “And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’” Where we see terror God sees a future catalytic disciple maker. Let us not forget Saul was present at Stephen’s martyrdom and made it his mission to persecute those of the Way. See Acts 22:4, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.”
There is a foretold Middle East revival that is to sweep both secular Israel and the surrounding Muslim nations. Isaiah 19 details an incredible move of God among Egyptians and Assyrians. The ancient Assyrian territory encompasses parts of Iran, Iraq, Türkiye and Syria. We are seeing the first fruits of this movement today. The ultimate restoration of the sons of Abraham side by side Ishmael and Isaac serving the Most High.
Isaiah 19:16-26
In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts shakes over them. And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the LORD of hosts has purposed against them.
In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.
In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.”
Matthew Henry summarizes Isaiah 19 in a concise and unique way. Take a look.
“The Gentile nations shall not only unite with each other in the gospel fold under Christ, the great Shepherd, but they shall all be united with the Jews. They shall be owned together by HIM; they shall all share in one and the same blessing. Meeting at the same throne of grace, and serving with each other in the same business of religion, should end all disputes, and unite the hearts of believers to each other in holy love.”
We are seeing a vast disillusionment with Islam and an underground mass exodus of Muslims finding Christ. This is truly revolutionary. It is happening in Iran now sweeping across Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the entire Middle East. The first 6 baptisms recorded in history in Mecca (the heart of Islam). Hundreds of baptisms throughout Iraq!
Our faith is supernatural. Our faith is spiritual. Often because we cannot physically see with our eyes the darkness at work, we tend to minimize their influence in the world. Remember in Daniel 10:13, “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia…”
In Daniel 10 God heard his prayer on day one. But the messenger faced supernatural, unseen resistance for 21 days and even had to enlist the help of Michael to overcome the prince of Persia and deliver the message to Daniel. (Persia is modern day Iran). See supernatural activity in the New Testament in Acts 5, 8, 10, 12, and 27.
Israel has a supernatural enemy. Believers in Christ have a supernatural enemy. Arab Christians have a supernatural enemy. Jewish Messianic Christians have a supernatural enemy. This enemy sole’s purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. This enemy is the accuser of the brethren. This enemy will do anything and everything in his power to oppose and resist the purposes of God.
“Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
Revelation 12:17
This enemy, the dragon, has sworn perpetual war against Israel and all those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. This is much bigger than Hamas, Khamenei, and Hezbollah. We do not wrestle against men. But we do recognize a supernatural influence behind them. Review this essential passage in Ephesians.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Ephesians 6:11-13
There is truly a dark spiritual battle fueling the crisis in the Middle East. We must remember the Biblical passages that have detailed the contention in this region. Not only the contention but also the abundant promises of restoration and peace to the region! Zechariah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah 30, Daniel 9, Revelation, Matthew 24, and Luke 13.
For example, Jeremiah 30:3, ”For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”
Yet there is a delicate and an immensely complex dynamic. Amos 2-9:10 are extremely intense passages detailing the Lord’s discipline for Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel. In Hebrews 12: 3-11, we know the Lord disciplines those He loves, and discipline is ultimately a revelation of sonship.
The prime example is perhaps the prophet Jonah and Nineveh. Jonah preferred to be right and see Nineveh destroyed than to see God have mercy and by default nullify Jonah’s prophecy. The response is true repentance. That is the mission; for all. Joel 2:13, “and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
Our call is to follow the pattern Moses laid out for us in Exodus 32:10-14. An appeal to God’s mercy by way of intercession for Israel and Gentiles alike. We all fall short of God’s glorious standard. This is the essential cornerstone of the Book of Romans. Romans 3:9-11, What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”
Now that we know what we are up against. How can we pray? Like the Angel of the Lord challenged Joshua. We are on Christ’s side. Christ’s mission is making disciples of all nations. This is our Biblical command. This is the strategy to see the Middle East transformed. One soul at a time. Hearts that are filled with rage can become hearts full of love. As Ezekiel 11:19 says, hearts that are made of stone will be turned into hearts of flesh.
The greatest prayer we can pray, the greatest humanitarian act we can perform, and the greatest social justice movement is the gospel. The good news that tears down all walls of enmity. Galatians 3:28-29 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” The gospel transcends borders, boundaries, and cultural customs.
Join us in making a tangible difference by spreading the message of peace and providing vital aid where it is most desperately needed. – IMPACT NOW
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The Underground Church (GCM) Responds To The Israel, Gaza, And Iran Conflict
GCM Speaks Out: The Underground Churches Perspective on the Ongoing Israel-Hamas Tensions
