Displaying items by tag: Europe

Austrian far-right Party, FPO is talking with conservative party, OVP, and people have been protesting against the administration including FPO. FPO had led in the polls for two years - then Mr Kurz became chairman of the ÖVP and his charisma kept FPO (with neo-Nazi roots) from running the country. To govern Mr Kurz needs a coalition partner, and the FPÖ, was his first choice. Coalition talks began three weeks ago but nothing has yet been agreed. In Germany, coalition talks collapsed after a deadlock on migration and energy caused the FDP to quit negotiations. Angela Merkel faces either forming a minority government, or fresh elections. Many are wondering, ‘Is Europe fending off a populist uprising?’ see https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/19/german-coalition-talks-close-to-collapse-angela-merkel

This year, 2,800 refugees and migrants have perished in the Mediterranean, while countless others died crossing the Sahel desert. The UN Secretary General said there is displacement, and discrimination against refugees and increasing xenophobia that needs addressing.    There is a need to re-establish the integrity of the refugee protection regime on both sides of the Mediterranean. Challenges facing the region include illicit trade in narcotics, weapons and petroleum products, refugees and migrants managed by smugglers, traffickers, and maritime pirates. (The Mediterranean Sea provides economic resources of hydrocarbons, fish stocks and invaluable trade routes.) But its benefits depend on stability and security cooperation.

If we want to pray for all in authority over Europe we should look at the CoE. It is an institution of 47 nations separate from the EU with headquarters in Strasbourg, France. It’s a parliamentary assembly of delegates from national parliaments and has its roots in being one of the first attempting to reconstruct Europe after WWII. It has the oversight of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and through the work of their Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) it oversees subjects as diverse as non-discrimination, protection of children's rights, election observation and upholding freedom of expression. Our nation’s delegates to the PACE can be found at http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/AssemblyList/AL-XML2HTML-EN.asp?lang=en&XmlID=NationalDelegation-uk

One meaning of ‘canopy’ is a gold interwoven piece of silk, which can be used as a roof over a royal throne for the glory of the King. Jewish couples are married under a chuppah (canopy). Imagine the image of the Bride of Christ in Europe meeting her Beloved Lord and King under this canopy of prayer. Intercessors with a heart for Europe have been receiving a regular email containing up-to-date information on events and situations that need God's attention. People from all European nations, all denominations, churches, ministries, and age groups are invited to join them and stand in prayer for Europe. The commitment is to pray for Europe for fifteen minutes each week. They will be guided by an online prayer letter as they join with many others. The vision is for a 24/7 canopy of prayer, intercession, and blessing over Europe.

Muslims have been praying outside in the streets of Clichy since the closure of a place of worship in March. Now a Muslim association is taking legal action against French lawmakers after clashes with worshippers on Paris streets. The lawmakers want to stop street prayers, saying it is an unacceptable use of public space. Carrying a giant banner and singing the national anthem, the protesters tried to push past a police cordon. The president of the region said the state must face its responsibilities and help to find a solution, but not at any cost. France needs decent places of worship for everyone, but at the same time people must live in a respectful manner with each other. The growth of Islam in recent decades has prompted calls for limiting its public visibility.

A mysterious radioactive cloud that passed over 28 European countries recently was first detected over Italy. France’s radioprotection institute has now detailed its findings, saying the origins of the cloud came from ‘somewhere in South Russia’. The area in question has nuclear facilities, including one that converted nuclear fuel into weapons during the Cold War. Even after the location was identified, it is unclear how the radioactive cloud appeared, as there was no apparent accident at any of the nuclear facilities and it was not an ‘authorised release’. Meanwhile, on 16 November, Russia and the USA failed to resolve a dispute over extending the mandate of a UN-backed investigative team which blamed Syrian forces for a chemical weapons attack in April that killed over 80 people. See

At the time of writing, ambassadors from the 27 other EU member states have been discussing how to negotiate the transition that will start when Britain parts with Brussels in 17 months’ time. Insiders say the opinion is that London will fail to meet the EU conditions for opening further talks on 14 December, with Germany and France insisting Theresa May must first agree in principle to pay a multi-billion-euro exit bill to Brussels. We can pray for clarity in all decision-making, and for Godly decisions which will turn the situation around. We pray for those who work in government, finance and the law to work towards practical solutions according to God’s instructions ‘to acknowledge bills that need payment, to fulfil all financial commitments and use honest scales and weights’ (Proverbs 16:11).

(Linda Digby, Prayer Alert)

In Britain, we see chaos and confusion surrounding government. It is not just in Westminster; Brussels has many political, legal, commercial and ideological ‘unknowns’. Throughout Europe there are signs of growing discontent and dissatisfaction with policies and attitudes that have been followed by traditional leaders for decades. In Catalonia, independence protesters brought areas to a standstill as they objected to the incarceration of former nationalist ministers and vice-president Oriol Junqueras. Young people are rising up to challenge traditional authority. France, Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic have all voted for young leaders. Austria voted in October for 31-year-old right-wing Sebastian Kurz, who is talking to the far-right Freedom Party about forming a government. 30% of the Czech Republic voted for anti-establishment leader Andrej Babis, and Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 94 seats in the Bundestag.

Half the electorate in the wealthy north-east region of Catalonia oppose secession from Spain, but recent events have brought the long-running debate to a head. A poll showed unionist parties winning 43.4% support and pro-independence 42.5%. Madrid called the situation ‘the country’s worst political crisis in four decades’. The chaos has caused an exodus of businesses, about 1/5th of Spain’s economy. Tourism has dropped and markets go up and down, reflecting fast-moving developments. After the Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont held an independence referendum despite Madrid's opposition, the constitutional court declared the vote illegal. Spain's central government has now taken direct control of Catalonia. Many believe that it might look over, but the Spanish region’s independence bid has long-lasting repercussions. See

The Welcoming the King of Glory conference in Jerusalem/Israel was a unique historic event.

Below is an article published by a Jewish believer from Israel. If you are interested to see some images and videos please visit my FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/ioan.peia.7

Welcoming the king of glory - ground-breaking sukkot conference

Joni Koski

Conference speaker Benjamin Berger, said that of all the many great conferences he has attended since his 1971 aliya, this year's Sukkot – Welcoming the King of Glory conference was the most significant.

For the first time it was initiated by local Messianic leaders - and led by Avi Mizrachi. Other speakers included EitanShishkoff, Asher Intrater, and Reuven Berger.

The conference was marked by both great local unity and the purposeful alignment of visiting nations to Israel.

Visitors came from the ends-of-the-earth and most notably the Pacific Islands, presenting themselves before some local leaders with gifts and colorful song and dance.

When one of the Pacific Islanders was offered Asher's new Alignment book for free, he was reminded that on his way to the conference God had told him to go back home and bring his plumb line. On receiving the book, he understood the prophetic meaning of the plumb line in its alignment function.

Poignantly, at the climax of the Solomon Island's presentation, one man with an existing heart condition tragically died. Their leader, Father Michael, had actually warned the group that this might happen in the tangible presence of God, and the conference was filled with the fear of the Lord.

For Revive Israel's Ariel Blumenthal, assistant MC, the highlight was when a group from Africa came and opened their hearts about the poverty and failure of Africa, tracing it back to Ham and the curse of his father Noah. In response, descendants of Noah's other sons, Shem and Japeth, got together and in faith reversed that curse of Ham.

The conference, unwelcome in Jerusalem's Kosher hotels, took place in a basketball arena in the largely Israel-friendly, Muslim town of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem – where Obed Edom looked after the Ark of the Covenant for three months (2 Sam 6:11). While the first rains fell after Israel's long, hot summer, the conference highlighted clear prophetic parallels between bringing the ark back to Jerusalem and preparing the way for Yeshua's return.

Shalom
Ioan Peia

A second report from Martin and Norma Sarvis:

“My bow I set in the clouds, so that it may serveas a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”(Genesis 9:13; See Torah section below)

1. “WELCOMING THE KING OF GLORY”

This season of the Fall Feasts in Israel, beginning with the Feast of Trumpets on September 20th and ending with Simchat Torah, at the close of Tabernacles on October 12th, saw what may well have been the largest inpouring of believing visitors from the Nations in Israel’s 69-year modern history.  And there were many wonderful events within which the visitors could celebrate the feasts corporately—the All Nations Convocation in southern Jerusalem from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, the Feast of Tabernacles gathering sponsored by the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, to name only two.  SuccatHallel—the 24/7 house of prayer and praise of which we are a part, and other houses of prayer across the city saw an almost continuous stream of visitors come to worship the King of Kings in Jerusalem. So much blessing was released into the city through the presence of our visitors.

Last week we wrote of a very special and unusual event scheduled to take place during the last half of Succot, the “Welcoming the King of Glory” gathering.  We are so grateful for the prayers which went up on its behalf from around the world.  Thank you!  This amazing event is unlike anything we have ever experienced in Israel.  It began Tuesday night and was over early afternoon on Friday.  We plan to share more in the future; we are still trying to process what took place.  But something divine and historical has occurred.

As mentioned last week, at the initiative of our brothers in the islands and far reaches of the South Pacific, a number of Messianic and Believing Arab leaders in Israel took up the challenge to host a gathering in Israel inviting the Nations to join us in welcoming God’s glory back to His land and people. They have been praying regularly about this.  We are reminded of Exodus 25, where the LORD invited the children of Israel, “every one whose heart moves him” to take part in preparing a place for Him to come and sho’ken—dwell among them, in their midst.  This year, a number who heard the call and “whose hearts moved them” responded, and over the months a unity and focus and longing grew amongst them.  Last Monday a delegation of Israelis and visitors travelled to the port of Jaffa, from which the Holy Spirit was released through Peter to Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts 10:23)—and from thence to the nations.  There they did a number of prophetic acts, welcoming the return from the furthest reaches of the world to Israel and Jerusalem. The opening meeting the next evening took place in an Arab village west of Jerusalem called Abu Goash.  For months we had been searching for a venue—but even after reserving places in a hotel, once it was discovered that Israeli Messianic Jews would be involved, the welcome was withdrawn from fear of repercussions from the Orthodox (There was literally “no place in the inn”).

Finally, the Lord in a remarkable way, opened a community arena in Abu Goash, just west of Jerusalem.  In fact, the welcome came from the city fathers and the Mayor.  Abu Goash is the only Arab town on the road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which refused to side with the Jordanians against the Israelis in the 1948 War for independence.  In fact, the community has remained remarkably friendly to Jews to this day.  It also lies in the vicinity of ancient KiryatYe’arim—the place where the Ark of the Covenant rested for several years after being returned from the Philistines, and before being brought by David into Jerusalem.  Hundreds of believers from abroad descended there last Tuesday evening, many bringing gifts they had brought to give to the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.  The worship was in Hebrew and English, led by different Israeli worship leaders and groups.  Except for special ethnic praise and worship songs released by the Islanders; there were 180 from New Caledonia, hundreds from Samoa, Island-Breeze from Hawaii…many others.  Many entered into special “protocol” in bringing their gifts and worship to the King, and in honoring His “first born.”  There were anointed messages from the Israelis, there was an all-afternoon Elav celebration by Israeli Jewish and Arab young people from Israel, Judea and Samaria and Jordan—and when they came together with the adults in the evening, the fire and intensity of praise and worship had an anointing over it which we have not experienced before. On Friday morning the gathering moved up to conclude in Jerusalem.  Something new has come into place—God has visited us in a new way. Things will be different from here on---

Some Impressions from the Welcoming the King of Glory Gathering

By Norma

"They shall bring your sons in their arms; And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders;  Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth…Then you will know that I am YHVH."
Isaiah 49:22b-23

These verses are such a picture to me of the gathering of the nations with Israel last week.  There are weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, conferences in Jerusalem.  Those from the Nations invite those from their and other nations to gather there.  Often, in the course of the meetings, an Israeli speaker may have been invited to speak; a few Israelis might attend.  But this past week, Israel scheduled the gathering, and then invited the nations to join.

As we met and prayed with the leaders daily during these days, we observed such humility in the Israeli pastors; such holy love and respect among them.

One thousand people attended!  Over six hundred from the Pacific Islands alone!  This is a very large conference for Israel!

He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel:  all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." (Psalm 98:3)

Many of these from the "ends of the earth" had saved their money for years in order to come, but they did not come to speak or offer their ideas, nor to sight-see—they came only to honor Israel and her believing Remnant, and to bless her, and to be a part of welcoming the King of Glory to return.

I have attended many believing events here and in other nations.  Most have been "speaker-driven".  This was "honor-driven".  The Nations came to honor the "elder brother"—Israel.  And Israeli pastors took their place as the "first-born".  We are a Body which is often insecure.  Because of our faith, we often are not accepted as Jews by other Jews.  We are sometimes even fearful that we might be expelled from the Land.  Many here have waited and hoped for revival for years and years.  But something shifted in these three days!  Most who attended left saying:  "I have no words to describe this, but it was historical!"  "A bridge has been crossed."  "A shift has happened!"

I sense in the coming six months we will see evidence that the King of Glory was indeed welcomed to Jerusalem.  And that the "elder brother in Israel has indeed taken his rightful place there…and in doing so has opened the way for world-wide shifts to take place in the Body!

PLEASE PRAY:

• Praise and thanksgiving with us for the visitation of His Spirit in Abu Goash and Jerusalem this past week.
• For illumination in the Spirit into the NEW for the Body of Messiah—both in Israel and in the countries of those who came here.  That God clarifies what He has done, and guide us in walking forward in it.
• That the Body in Israel will step by faith into the New Season which is upon us
• That the Gateway which has been opened will stay open—and that that for which it was opened will flood into the Land.  We believe that a new measure of the Glory of the Lord has been released—which will prepare the way for much, much more!
• For signs and wonders, healings and miracles, and a new boldness in Love in sharing the Good News with Jews and Arabs in the Land.
• For a rear-guard of protection over all who attended the Gathering—especially those who took part in organizing and facilitating it.
• That the new degree of love and trust which is shining among the leaders will continue to warm and spread!
• For the Light of Jesus (Yasuah) shine in Abu Goash –that this place which welcomed His coming be blessed with a supernatural revelation of salvation and prosperity.

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem