Matt and Daniela Escobar Update December 2011 11/28/2011 - What a wonderful year this has been! Many of you know that my wife and I have spent September 1st to December 1st in Jerusalem, Israel working in the Jerusalem Prayer Tower. Originally planning to stay for six months, and invited by the staff to stay even longer, the Lord sovereignly directed us to stay for the three month visa we already had and not apply for a longer stay. Our time in the Prayer Tower consisted in leading prayer watches, providing worship for other prayer watches, manning the prayer tower reception, helping in the worship teams for Sunday Congregation, and participation in discipleship. We made many friends and networking connections that we can utilize in the future to enhance effectiveness for ministry in Israel. We feel that God positioned us in Israel on specific intercessory assignment. Let me first say that we don’t believe that intercession should be a grueling process of screaming at demons and begging for God to do something until we puke. The intercession we participate in is 70 percent worship, 20 percent declaring God’s Word, 5 percent tearing down strongholds (wrong mindsets, usually through declaring the Word), and 5 percent asking. Effective intercession is found in agreeing with the heart of the Intercessor, our Mediator Jesus. And that is just what took place in the Prayer Tower. With this agreement, we found not only joy in his presence but an active shaking in the natural realm. I stated earlier that I believe we were on specific assignment. In our arriving, we were aware that the U.N. was preparing to hold talks for a Palestinian State Bid, which, if approved, would divide Israel and Jerusalem. As we believe that God has given this land to his people, we agreed with his heart that this Palestinian State Bid would come to nothing. As we prayed through the U.N. session, we felt a release prior to any decision being made. This is critical, because it is important to rest when the release comes. Our friend Marj had an inner witness of the Holy Spirit, that a critical turning point would occur on the date 11/11/11. So from the time where we felt the release up until that date, we praised the Lord and knew that the situation was in his hands (personally, the whole thing just went to the back of my mind, as if it were already done!) And sure enough, on 11/11/11, the news reported that the U.N. decided to throw out the Bid, because of lack of support. Though many nations on the Security Council were pushing for the Palestinian State, it seemed that the Lord did not even allow it to go to vote! What a victory! And it was not insignificant that 11/11/11 was also a Friday, the beginning of Shabbat or Sabbath. What a peaceful rest, knowing that God had kept his land once again from division. There were three other intercessory assignments to which God had directed us while in Israel. The first was in helping with the transition of the Prayer Tower leadership, as a seasoned intercessor in the Land went on to an apostolic role, helping plant other houses of prayer around the world. The second was in praying for the “cleansing the gates” of the shopping center where the congregation and prayer tower is sited. There are three pornographic shops in that shopping center, two located right at the entrance of the Congregation’s meeting place. Many prophetic and natural victories were seen and are being seen in that project. The third “sub-assignment” we had was in praying for the rumors of war between Iran and Israel. I had received a prophetic word during an evening prayer watch on November 14 that there would be a preemptive strike on Iran, south of Tehran. I prayed a short prayer of agreement that there would be as few casualties as possible and that God’s purposes be done. On November 28th, two weeks later, news reports said that there was an explosion at a top nuclear missile facility in Isfahan, about 5 hours due south of Tehran. When our friend Marj shared this news with us, and I showed the prophetic word I had received, we both looked at each other and said, “God did it!” inferring that it was he who preemptively struck Iran to protect Israel. Later, a top Israeli Major-General, while denying that Israel had anything to do with the explosion, commented that “…there is probably some sort of guiding hand, though perhaps it’s the hand of God*.” What a testament to the ways and protection of the Lord! Though our part in these specific assignments has been completed, it is by no means the end of our dealings with Israel. Please rejoice in God’s victory with us and pray for our time and travels. Visit our website often: www.lightafire.org. In Christ, Matt Escobar
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| * Article on Iranian explosion can be found here: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-11-30/news/30460779_1_nuclear-weapons-nuclear-facility-uranium-enrichment-facility | |
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