From the Desk of James W. Goll

Praise the Lord! What an honor it is to know and experience the love of God! I just had the honor of doing a seminar at New Life Tabernacle in Aruba on “The Pursuit of God”. They love to worship there! This week I will be in Toronto at Catch the Fire ministering over the weekend. Perhaps I will see some of you then!

In A View from My Chair this week I am bringing you a message on Modern Day Mordecais. This goes along with the burden of the Lord for our Global Prayer Storm of Purim. Purim is officially this week! Instead of a time of feasting, I always call for a time of fasting for 3 days as did Esther. I invite you to watch the videos, read my materials, and join me and thousands of others in a special time of seeking the Lord.

If you really want your heart impacted on this subject, join Matt Sorger and I for our Israel Awakening Prayer and Glory Tour this September 3-11. 2011. We will visit and pray at key sites, meet with leaders in the land, have special times of ministry, and much more! See the details below or click here to visit our web site for the full details.

In your time in intervention prayer for Israel during Purim, please also remember the nation of Japan and the devastation that has taken place as a result of the recent 8.9 earthquake – the 5th largest in recorded history. Have mercy!

Remember to register for our Compassion Acts Conference in San Antonio, Texas entitled Light Belongs in Darkness which will run from May 19-21, 2011. Click here for more information. These are not just another event to attend, these are times when your heart is changed and destiny is released! Come and join us this May!

It’s not too late if you would like to vote for me as the Author of the Year with Destiny Image Publishers. You must vote during the month of March. It would be an honor if you took the time to put your vote in for me. You can see the promotional ad below and can follow this link to cast your vote.

Yes, together in Jesus, we make a great team!

Standing in the Gap in the Days on Purim!
James W. Goll

If the ministry of James W. Goll and the combined ministries of Encounters Network • Prayer Storm • Compassion Acts have blessed you, please consider giving a financial contribution so that we may continue to serve you and others. Checks can be made out to Encounters Network and sent to our office address, P.O. Box 1653, Franklin, TN 37065, or contributions may be made online by clicking here or call 1-877-200-1604. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law and a receipt for your donation will be mailed to you.

Thanks, for your consideration.

Modern Day Mordecais
With James W. Goll

In the Spirit of Esther and Mordecai

It is time for us to pray, read, and live out the book of Esther again.  God is raising up new Mordecais who have His grace upon them to prepare the corporate Esther (the Body of believers) to do radical exploits in His name on behalf of God’s purposes amongst the Jewish people worldwide and in Israel particularly.

The Holy Spirit wants to inject the burden of the Lord for the purposes of God among the Jewish people into the global prayer movement - like a nurse with a fully loaded needle. We need a potent injection of God’s heart into our heart! That is why God wants to raise up a Mordecai anointing to prepare Esther for a time of intervention.  We know what Esther accomplished, but what was Mordecai’s task? What was his divine assignment?

Mordecai’s job was to raise up and prepare Esther for her hour of influence before the king. Mordecai raised Esther as his own daughter. He did not bow down or pay homage to Haman, who sought the destruction of the Jews, but worshipped the one true God only. He intercepted Haman’s scheme of the enemy and revealed it with wisdom to those in authority. He walked in prophetic counsel and instilled courage into Esther.

Esther, properly tutored and mentored by the counsel of Mordecai, seized the moment through prayer and fasting. Esther was anointed to intervene and stand in the gap, yet she had to walk in cooperation with the preparation of Mordecai, the spiritual authority God had placed in her life.

God chose to work through Mordecai to alert Esther to her destiny and timing of her intercessory acts on behalf of the Jews. God is looking for modern day Mordecai’s to prepare corporate Esther - His people for such a time as this!

The History of the Days of Purim

The celebration of Purim originated out of the decrees of Mordecai and Queen Esther (Esther 9:29-32). It was a time when intervention arose through desperate acts of prayer and fasting led by Queen Esther to overturn the decree for the annihilation of the Jewish people inspired by Haman. Haman’s evil plot was revealed, the tables were turned, and he was hung on his own gallows. The events took place historically roughly between 483 to 471 B.C. 

According to the Jewish calendar, Purim is held in the month of Adar, which usually falls in February or March.  Purim as a Jewish holiday is observed in celebration of God’s supernatural deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s genocidal plot to destroy them in the time of Persia’s King Artaxerxes. The commemoration was held the 14th day of Adar in the un-walled cities and the 15th of Adar in the cities that were walled in the time of Joshua.

Moses was born in Adar. It is also the month when the Jewish leader of the Maccabees defeated the Syrians and the month when the orders were given to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem preceding the reconstruction of the Temple and first return of the Jewish people to Israel. Redemptively, the period of time known as Adar has been a time when intervention comes out of crisis.

Although Purim was founded in biblical times, its observation is not commanded by God as are the holy convocations mentioned in Leviticus 23. But, the Holy Spirit is prophetically calling believers today to participate in this special time of sacrifice in this generation.   Even as Esther called for a nationwide three-day fast preceding her intervention on behalf of the Jewish people, so I am trumpeting a sound for crisis intervention through prayer in these days. Let’s intercede once again on behalf of the Jewish people from deliverance from plot of Haman (who represents the enemy of God and His people).  Every year I call on Christians to sacrifice our time, our comfort and our agendas to undertake a three-day Esther Mandate Fast at Purim. This spiritual investment of the Worldwide Prayer Movement in the global body of Christ will not fail. It will bring about nothing less than “God’s will on earth as it is in heaven” for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

The Cry for Israel’s Sake

In the name of the Lord, I boldly and humbly call for The Cry, a yearly, three-day time of prayer and fasting corresponding with Purim. May this time of crisis intervention prayer and fasting for the purposes of God among the Jewish people and the nation of Israel arise “until Jerusalem is established as a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

I have a challenge for all who read this: Whose supplications will be heard? Who will lift up their voice to fill up a golden bowl in heaven (see Revelation 5:8)? Will you join me and hundreds of others?

On the Walls for Jerusalem’s Sake!

James W. Goll

The Strategic Timing of the Days of Purim
With Lars Enarson

The Feast of Purim and the Salvation of Israel "’Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’

Queen Esther before the King

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’" (Esther 4:13-16)

There are two annual Jewish Biblical feasts which are celebrated that are not included in the feasts of YHWH in Leviticus 23. They are the feast of Chanukah and the feast of Purim. Both are celebrated in memory of victories over attempts to annihilate the Jewish people.

Purim is an annual reminder of the failure of the Persian Empire to exterminate all Jews and Chanukah commemorates the victory over the forces of the evil Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. Both of these feasts have end-time significance. We read in the Book of Daniel that the main end-time entities in the enemy’s camp will be the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece.

“Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come, but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)” (Daniel 10:20-11:1)

Persia is called Iran today. Iran represents the force of fanatical Islam, whereas the prince of Greece is representative of the power of the West and their globalist agenda. Both are sworn enemies of the state of Israel and God's plan for the Jewish people.

There is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies right now. Just like Daniel’s prayers cooperated with angelic forces and brought victory over the prince of Persia and the return of the Jewish people to Zion, we must also pray for Israel today.

The Prince of Persia

Yitzchak Rabin, who served as Prime Minister in Israel between 1974 and 1977, as well as between 1992 and 1995, declared after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 that Iran would eventually become Israel's most dangerous enemy. Since 1979 Iran has spearheaded a distinctive Islamic strategy to wipe out the State of Israel, different than the one practiced by the Arab world in the four wars that they lost against Israel. Iran declared that the reason the Arab world had lost all of these wars was because they did not serve Allah wholeheartedly. They also said that it would require patience and a long-term strategy to defeat Israel.

For 32 years Iran has slowly but methodically built up their military strength. The leaders in Iran, and especially President Ahmadinejad, have a clear religious eschatological vision to unite the Muslim world, destroy Israel, and then set up an Islamic world empire. As opposed to the remainder of the Arab world, which has lost at least four wars to Israel, the Iranian Islamic agenda has so far not suffered one single defeat (with the possible exception of Israel´s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza). This is a serious challenge for prayer.

In 1983, it was Iran through Hezbollah in Lebanon who introduced suicide bombings into the Middle East conflict. It is an expression of the kingdom of death and darkness on a level that so far has not been defeated in prayer.  We have not yet seen the crest of this wave.

When Israel pulled out of Southern Lebanon in 2000 and Hezbollah took over the area, it was heralded as the first Islamic victory over Israel in over 50 years of conflict. Hezbollah means "the party of Allah" and after the Israeli withdrawal Arafat shouted in Ramallah "We are all Hezbollah!" Immediately afterward he made the decision to launch the Second Intifada, which erupted four months later.

The Israeli defeat in Lebanon in the summer of 2006 boosted Iran's Islamic agenda even more. It greatly emboldened both Hamas and Syrian thinking that Israel could indeed be defeated. Both are presently working feverishly to build up an arsenal of weapons with fortifications such as those of Hezbollah in Lebanon, preparing for a new round of conflict with Israel.

The Middle East is changing very quickly right now and Iran’s influence is growing every day. For the first time since the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, two Iranian war ships were allowed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea on February 22. This has opened up a new front from the west against Israel. The two ships will be stationed in Syria, where Iran has received permission to build a vast naval base.

This recent maneuver by Iran was made possible because of the recent turmoil in the Middle East. The war ships were initially allowed to dock in Saudi Arabia and then permitted by Egypt to go through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea. Israel is viewing this significant strategic shift towards a new alliance in the Middle East with great concern.

Esther brought deliverance for the Jews in Persia two thousand five hundred years ago. In the same way God has brought us into the kingdom for such a time as this in order to stand in the gap before the King of kings and pray for Israel’s salvation. This year the Feast of Purim is on March 20 and 21 and the traditional Fast of Esther is on March 17. We encourage all of you to fast and pray that day for Israel!

The Battle Against Amalek

Haman, who devised the plan in Persia to wipe out the Jewish people 2500 years ago, was a descendant of Amalek. Amalek attacked Israel when they came out of Egypt. We read about him in Exodus 17:14-16:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’ Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, ‘For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’" (Ex 17:14-16)

Based on this passage the Jewish sages say that there will be an Amalek in every generation who will try to destroy the Jewish people. Less than one year after Yasser Arafat died in 2004, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the President of Iran and immediately began declaring his intention to "wipe Israel off the map."

The passage in Exodus 17, tells us that as long as Moses held up his hands in prayer, Israel was victorious in the battle against Amalek. Today there is definitely another Amalek/Haman on the loose again. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is driven by an apocalyptic vision to prepare the way for the Muslim "Messiah," who will conquer the world for Islam. Part of this preparation is to destroy Israel. We must continue pray for Israel daily in the battle they are facing with their enemies. Psalm 94:16 says, "Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?"

This is a spiritual battle and Paul tells us, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Israel's Salvation

Here are nine powerful “I will” promises by God from Ezekiel 36 regarding Israel’s end time salvation:

"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

"The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, 'This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;' Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'" (Ezekiel 36:24-28, 34-36)

Nine times in this powerful passage, God says, "I will help" In the previous two verses he also explains, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:22-23)

Jesus, our Master taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10). Our Father says nine times in the passage from Ezekiel "I will help" He has promised that he will do it! It is our job to cooperate with him in prayer and pray until his will is done!

God’s name will be hallowed and sanctified in the earth through the salvation and restoration of the people of Israel. "Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:23)

This was the prayer of Hezekiah when Assyria threatened to conquer Judah and God heard his prayer:

"And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 'O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.'” (Isaiah 37:16-17,20)

Esther fasted and went before the King on behalf of the Jewish people, risking her own life. Let us go boldly before the throne of grace and pray for Israel holding on to God’s mighty promises!

We encourage all of you to fast and pray on the Fast of Esther, March 17, especially for deliverance from the death threats over the Jewish people from today´s Haman: Iran and its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Let us also pray for Benny Gantz.  He has been chosen as the new General Chief of Staff in Israel. He is the son of a holocaust survivor and his mother weighed 28 kilos [62 pounds] when she was released from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Let us continue to pray for Gantz that he will lead the Israeli Defense Forces with courage and wisdom and be able to give Israel's political leadership sound counsel.

Prayer points for Esther intercession against the threats from Iran:

* Accept the challenge to rise up and pray against the plans of Iran and fanatical Islam to destroy Israel!
“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” (Psalm 94:16)

* Confess and renounce all sin and disobedience!
“Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.” (Psalm 110:3)

* Pray for humility before God with fasting that will lead to effective intercession!
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." (Daniel 9:3, 10:12-13)

* Pray for strength and protection to stand in the battle!
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

* Pray the prayer of Hezekiah against the threats of Iran and the Islamists!
"And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 'O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to all the words [Iran and the Islamists] has sent to insult the living God. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.'” (Isaiah 37:16-17,20)

* Lift up holy hands before the throne of grace and pray that God will defeat Iran’s agenda just as Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses lifted his hands in prayer!
"For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’" (Exodus 17:14-16)

* Pray that God’s name will be sanctified and glorified in all the earth!
"It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes." (Ezekiel 36:22-23)

* Pray for Israel’s salvation based on God’s mighty promises!
"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

"The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, 'This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;' Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezekiel 36:24-28, 34-36)

* Pray for wisdom and courage for the new General Chief of Staff over Israel’s army Benny Gantz!
"I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a man from among the people. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him.” (Psalm 89:19,21-22)

* Praise God for the victory!
“Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them — this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the LORD.” (Psalm 149:1,6-9)

God Bless You as Watchmen on the Walls of Jerusalem!

Lars and Harriet Enarson
epa@thewatchman.org
The Watchman International

Light Belongs in Darkness – May 19 – 21, 2011 in San Antonio, TX

Click to Play PrayerStorm DNA by James Goll