Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas from Jerusalem!


No, we’re not there today, but we wrote this while in Jerusalem recently.

While at the Garden Tomb, We had a glorious time of prayer for you and for Jerusalem. As seen here, we are on top of the Mount of Olives beholding the sunset over the Temple site. It was here that heaven and earth met, and will meet again; where prophets, priests, and kings were given divine instruction and changed the destiny of the world.

Our morning began very early. We walked through the old city before the sun rose. The Dome of the Rock was open, and Muslims were praying. The Western Wall is always open, and Jews are praying. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is open, and Christians are praying in many languages. At 2:00 AM the orthodox begin their prayers with eight priests chanting in Greek around the tomb. Next are the Armenians with their badarak service in Armenian. Meanwhile, the different groups are singing their matins. Only one Copt is allowed to stay the night, praying alone in ancient Coptic Egyptian. I can see the Garden of Gethsemane where our Lord interceded until His perspiration became as drops of blood.

Shortly after 4:00 AM, the Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz, begins his daily routine of prayer and reading the Torah as he walks through the Jewish Quarter to the Wall. He wraps the tefillin around his arm, recites the morning prayers—the Shacharit—which ends with “God bless the nation with shalom, peace.” To think that this tiny, 48-square miles spot called Jerusalem is the apocalyptic center of gravity where the spiritual battle of the world is being fought. It is here that Satan wages his war, and angels battle demonic spirits.

All roads lead to Jerusalem. How blessed we are to be part of prophecy and the Jerusalem Prayer Team which is greatly loved by the people of Jerusalem.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Walking Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death

Seventeen years ago, I was in Cambodia for a nationwide crusade at the invitation of two denominational leaders following the “killing fields” massacre where the bloody Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot had murdered more than 2 million people. They had nearly wiped out Christianity; when I went to Cambodia there were less than 2,000 professing believers still alive. One dear pastor only had six members of his church survive.

Through the miracle power of God’s Spirit, the leaders agreed to allow me to come and preach, thinking that nothing would happen. They were wrong.  Twenty-three hundred pastors from across Southeast Asia came for a pastors’ school. The fire of God fell on that place, and the Olympic Convention Center was packed. A new Church was birthed in that miracle moment…but the murderous regime was furious.

Night after night, demon-possessed men lunged at me, trying to stab me with AIDS-infected needles. I was warned that I would be shot. Then one night, the army surrounded our hotel and refused to allow us to go to the service. They went to the stadium and told the crowd there were bombs ready to go off and forced everyone to leave.

I didn’t sleep a wink.  All night long, I paced the floor of my hotel room, quoting Psalm 23 and praying for God’s will to be done. I was willing to die for the church to be reborn in Cambodia, but I wanted to return home to Carolyn and my family. I missed celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary while I was in Cambodia. 

About 5:30 in the morning, there was a loud knock at my door. Looking through the peep hole, I saw soldiers standing there. I was convinced it was the Khmer Rouge come to kill me…but when I opened the door, I found an American special forces team. They took me and our entire evangelistic staff to the airport. We hunkered down in the floorboards of the cars so no one would see us, and we flew out of the country.

As we celebrate Christmas in just a few days, I thank my Lord that seventeen years ago, as I quoted Psalm 23:1, He spared my life. More importantly, lives of tens of thousands were born into the Kingdom of God. Whatever your need today, I want to encourage you to fear no evil, for the Lord is your Shepherd. And I want to encourage you to continue standing in the gap for Israel. 


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

What does Hanukkah mean?

The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word which means to dedicate. The Feast of Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights, commemorates the Jews regaining control over Jerusalem and rededicating the Temple. The temple had been desecrated by the invading Seleucid armies of Antiochus in 167 BC. A Jewish priest, Mattathias, and his five sons (known as the Maccabees) led a revolt and called the nation back to God. He said, "If all the nations of the king's dominion harken unto him, yet I and my sons will walk in the covenant of our fathers."

After the invading armies were driven out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated the Temple and rededicated the Holy of Holies. There wasn't enough oil to keep the Temple menorah burning throughout the week-long dedication, but somehow the candles never went out. To me, this story is symbolic of you, God's covenant saint and your commitment to keep the light of the Holy Spirit shining brightly in your life. May that light burn brighter than ever for God's glory during this next year.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The war has begun

Here is a thought God laid on my heart last week in Israel that I wrote down to share with you today: I was in Galilee where Jesus called His disciples and where he lived. Nazareth is not far from Capernaum where I was staying. There is a Hebrew word bayit which means “house.” It has a wide range of meanings; it refers to a house, a temple, a family, a lineage. King David wanted to build a bayit for God.

The Lord declares to you, “The Lord himself will establish a bayit (house) for you.” The Apostle Paul talked about Jesus who would build God’s true house (bayit), which is the family of God (Ephesians 2:21). May God’s light shine in you, His house, today.

I have received a phone call from a top military source in Israel confirming that the war with Iran has already begun. The “accidental” explosions that have rocked Iran in recent days, one near the nuclear enrichment facility in Isfahan and another at a missile base, are the initial salvos in the war to stop Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. These beginning stages are being carried out by specially trained covert ops teams with high-tech equipment; full-on attacks with planes and missiles will follow. As you can see from the pictures below from the Iranian missile base, serious damage is being done to Iran’s military capability by these strikes.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving from Dr. Mike Evans and the Jerusalem Prayer Team

From the Holy City of the Great King, I give thanks to God and pray a blessing on America and on you. I am so thankful that America has been a refuge for my people. Without America, my entire family would have perished in the pogroms of Russia and the Holocaust of Europe. America helped birth Israel and has been Israel's best friend since that miraculous rebirth in 1948.

But the links between America and the Jewish people go much further back into history. Columbus began his voyage to the New World on August 3, 1492, just three days after the last Jews were forced to leave Spain. As Columbus witnessed ships filled with Jewish people leaving the port of Palos (which delayed his own departure), he noted in his log book that the expulsion deadline was Tisha B'Av—the date Jews mourn the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. Columbus referred to the Second Temple as the "Second House” (Bayit Sheini in Hebrew), a term used only in Jewish sources, leading some historians to conclude that Columbus himself was of Jewish origin. His voyage of discovery laid the foundation for what would become the great friend of Israel, the United States of America.

The Jewish prayer of thanks begins "Baruch Atah Adonai”—"Blessed are you God” and then goes on to list the things for which you are thankful. I want you to know that I have been praying for you repeatedly here in Jerusalem, and that I give thanks to God for you and your love for His Chosen People.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Peres: "Time for diplomacy is 'nearly over'"

Israel’s President Shimon Peres told Israeli reporters “It seems Iran is moving closer to having a nuclear weapon. In the time that remains, we need to turn to the nations of the world and tell them that the time has come to fulfill their promise and their responsibility, which is about more than imposing sanctions. We must do what should be done to stop Iran.” This statement followed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report detailing the scope and purpose of Iran’s nuclear program. Peres long viewed as opposing war with Iran, now says the time for diplomacy is “nearly over.” Peres' words reinforce the belief among most analysts that Israel is in the final stages of preparing to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent Iran from completing work on its atomic weapons program. If and when war comes, the consequences to the Jewish people will be dire—but the consequences of doing nothing would be even worse.

You and I must not, under any circumstances, close our hearts of compassion to this huge storm cloud that is gathering. I am asking you today to join with us as we stand in the gap and blow the trumpet in Zion.

I have seen firsthand that in the south of Israel great numbers of Russian Jewish refugee children do not have bomb shelters in which to seek safety. I can tell you that there will be an enormous need for food, medicine, and blankets.

In Arab countries, Jews will be hanged, shot, and blown up when the war comes. This is especially true in Iran. We must do everything in our power to “blow the trumpet in Zion.”

This is the Word of the Lord for you and me today. Can you imagine what you would do if you knew your children and grandchildren were in harm’s way and a missile would hit their home? I know you would do everything humanly possible to protect your loved ones.

God wants us to do everything humanly possible to protect His loved ones—your brothers and sisters in Israel. Will you stand with me today in support of the Jewish people?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A Special Update In New York City


I was in New York City yesterday for an interview on Glenn Beck TV promoting the airing of the movie The Hiding Place with the wonderful story of Corrieten Boom and her family which is scheduled for this Friday morning. I can’t think of a better time for us to share this story with the world than right now when Israel is facing such grave threats.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to join Glenn at the “Restoring Courage” Rally in Israel which was broadcast on satellite literally around the globe. We had the chance to spend some time together and discuss the crisis facing Israel and the Jewish people. One of the things that made the biggest impression on him was the story of Corrie ten Boom.

He told me that he had been searching for a great summer read for his family that modeled courage, integrity, and honor…and he found it in The Hiding Place. Since I oversaw the restoration of the ten Boom clock shop in Holland and am Chairman of the Board of the Corrie ten Boom Foundation, I was delighted to be able to share this wonderful story with the world at his Restoring Courage Rally.

Now God has provided an amazing opportunity to share Corrie’s story with the world. This Friday, Glenn Beck TV (GBTV) is planning a global airing of the movie The Hiding Place instead of their regular programming.

But we want to make sure as many people as possible take part in this event. We are producing advertising to alert people of this opportunity. Your gift today will allow us to place ads in a variety of places online, including news sites like Fox News, and to encourage people to watch the movie and visit the website for the virtual tour of the ten Boom home and museum.

We need to raise $100,000 this week to purchase books, pay for the production of the ads, and run them as widely as possible. I believe God has presented us this opportunity for this moment in order to prepare for the coming war against Israel. Will you take your stand in the gap to defend God’s Chosen People with your gift today?

With your gift of any amount, we will send you a copy of Corrie ten Boom’s wonderful book The Hiding Place. This is a special edition of the book; you can’t get it anywhere else. This story will warm your heart and build your faith.

If you are able to send a gift of $50 or more, we will send you the book, as well as a copy of our special Corrie ten Boom notebook, which includes pages from Corrie’s own journal, as well as a DVD of the virtual tour of the ten Boom home and museum. Featuring much of the information found in our interactive online tour, this is a rare glimpse inside Corrie’s world.

Finally if you are able to give $500 or more, we will send you all of these gifts as well as a special commemorative clock. Honoring the ten Boom family’s heritage as clockmakers and designed especially for members of the Jerusalem Prayer Team, this clock will be a treasure you will cherish and a constant reminder to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the protection of God’s Chosen People.


Thank you so much for being part of the Jerusalem Prayer Team. Your support makes it possible for us to continue to build a worldwide prayer movement on behalf of the Jewish people and meet their urgent needs. We are completely supported by our members in this vital effort, and we are so grateful for your generosity and your love for Israel. God bless you.

Your ambassador to Jerusalem,

Dr. Michael Evans

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Hiding Place in Glenn Beck's Show 11th November


It is with great joy that we are given the opportunity to share the story of Corrie ten Boom with the rest of the world. I will be flying to New York City next week for an on-air interview with Glenn Beck on Tuesday. He and I share the same admiration for Corrie ten Boom’s heroism. He is planning to air “The Hiding Place" on his program next Friday November 11th 5p ET on the Fox News Channel. 


Pray that the message of love and sacrifice the Ten Boom family showed to save Jewish people will spread around the world and touch many hearts.

Don't forget to join the Corrie Ten Boom Museum in Facebook!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Jordan’s King Abdullah Warns Egypt On Verge Of Breaking Peace Treaty With Israel


Jordan’s King Abdullah sounded the alarm about an impending war between Egypt and Israel. In an interview with the Washington Post, Abdullah said there was “a very, very strong possibility” that Egypt would break the peace treaty and that in situations like this, “there is usually a war.” The blunt remarks highlighted the escalating tension across the Middle East.


 
The king noted that his country was the “last man standing” in maintaining a good relationship with Israel. But Jordan is not immune to the “Arab spring,” and protests against the government in Amman continue to boil. Objections to Jordan’s good relationship with Israel are at the heart of many of these protests against Abdullah. The Jordanian king said he was “very pessimistic” that the Israeli-Palestinian situation could be peacefully resolved. The threat is more serious than ever, and we must stand with the Jewish people right now.