Fixing Our Eyes In Jesus

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Watchman’s Prayer Letter August 2026 - Jewish Year 5786

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5 NKJV)   It has often been said, both of the suffering of the Jewish people, and of the need for Christians to remain strong in the face of adversity, that the darker the darkness becomes, the stronger the light will shine.  This is certainly true of our common situation today, as increasingly, Jews and Christians are joining together in support the world’s only Jewish state, even as some established churches turn against her.   As we go to press, the Jewish nation worldwide is entering its saddest day, a solemn fast, Tisha B’Av.  On this date in the Hebrew calendar, some of the worst events happened, such as the destruction of both temples, the first murderous crusade launching across Europe, and the expulsion of the Jews of England.   In England today, supposedly far more advanced and sophisticated than in 1290, just a few days prior to this solemn date, the established Church of England agreed to ‘hear’ a dangerously anti-Israel and anti-Zionist motion, Kairos II.  The majority in the house of bishops present voted in favour giving credence to a text which can only inflame tensions between communities, at a time when the UK Jewish community is already under attack.  A few bishops spoke against but then abstained.   Evoking some of the statements of the Early Roman Church in the 3rd/4th centuries AD, such as the need to separate from the Hebraic heritage of the faith, support for Kairos II puts the Church of England at odds with the Bible and the God of Israel.  The text condemns Christian Zionism (including the faith of the Puritan intercessors) as the launching pad of the restoration of the Jewish state.  It moves along a slippery slope towards deconstruction of anything mentioning Jews, Judea, Zion or Israel, within the Scriptural texts (which could ultimately lead to the erasure of the words of Jesus himself).   Some of the statements in Kairos II include inflammatory language such as the following:   “Israel is a colonial, settler, and exclusionary entity”; “Zionists do not want us to remain on our land. Their plan for us is displacement, death or submission. The genocidal war on Gaza is the continuation of the Zionist project to seize all of Palestine, emptied of its Palestinian people… This genocide has been carried out by Israel after decades of apartheid, settler colonialism, political repression and the deliberate policy of killing any possibility of a political solution”;

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“We see creative resistance embodied in the popular Palestinian movements confronting occupation, settlement expansion, settler terrorism and apartheid…”; and, “In addressing ourselves, we say: ‘We are the sons and daughters of the first Church — descendants of the apostles and the saints of the first Christian centuries…’”.   Let us pray that the enemy has overstepped himself so severely that this will lead to exposure of this anti-biblical movement which, falsely wearing the cloak of true Christianity, is a politicised Palestinian-ism.   Last year, CFI Jerusalem published an article about Beit Lechem (Bethlehem).  From the ancient prophecy, “But you Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler, who will be the shepherd of my people Israel” (Micah 5:2), through to its fulfilment with the Saviour’s birth, and right up until the present day, the ‘little town’ is a source of both great joy, and sadly great deception.   The Kairos movement began at Bethlehem Bible College (BBC).  While many well-meaning teachers and students have passed through its programmes, some are known to have had an historical grievance with Israel.  While certain individuals who have genuinely suffered loss may graciously speak lovingly and seek to progress on the path of forgiveness, others are unfortunately obsessed with dehumanising Israel.

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Pray for truth to prevail… and act accordingly

•Thank the Lord that the land of Israel is his.  Praise him for his plans, promises and his unfailing word. (see Isaiah 40:8) [Book by the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission available via CFI UK resources or pdf link below: https://www.cfi.org.uk/Gods-unfailing-word https://www.jcrelations.net/article/gods-unfailing-word.pdf   •Give thanks that there were those, including CFI UK’s Jacob Vince, who spoke against the Kairos II motion, with various amendments passing, and that a fair number voted against the final amended motion with others recording abstentions. (see Psalm 71:16)   •Pray that those contending in the Church of England know the right strategy going forward to encourage understanding of Israel and Jewish people in this key part of the wider and historic church.  For those favouring Israel standing in the upcoming elections for the General Synod governing body - where policy is decided upon. (see Genesis 24:40a)   •Pray for all theological deception, which in the 1930s and 40s, helped enable the Holocaust, to be fully exposed to the true God-seekers in both the Church of England and wider Anglican communion, and in Arab communities. (see Proverbs 6:16-19).   •Thank God for the strengthening of Jewish-Christian partnership in the UK and beyond.  May God turn this awful situation for the good of Israel and the nation where we reside. (see Genesis 50:20)   •Pray for the UK Jewish community as some consider making Aliyah, for all the support that they need. (see 2 Chronicles 36:23)   •Pray for provision, protection and courage for true Arab/Palestinian believers living under unjust and corrupt governance, that the Lord will reveal his word in truth, and deliver them from all evil. (see Philippians 4:19)

Thank you for joining with us in prayer to our Father in heaven, who hears and answers as we bring our petitions before him in Jesus’ name, Ruth Richmond - CFI Jerusalem   Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem

prayer@cfijerusalem.org

PO Box 1813 Jerusalem 9101701 Israel Phone: 02 623 3778

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA