1. As usual, we started by giving praise to our wonderful Lord and God.

   • "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause, Who does great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number: Who gives rain upon the earth, and sends waters upon the fields."

     (Job 5:8-10)

   • We bless You for the recent rain and all the rain that is forecasted for this weekend.
   • We thank You in faith for hearing our prayers about a godly government for this nation.
   • We recognize the truth of these verses and praise You for it:
     

     For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says LORD [YHWH]. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

     (Isaiah 55:8-9)

2. Although rain and snow are expected this weekend, we still pleaded with God that according to His mercy, this water will come.

   • "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

     (James 5:17-18)

   • Abba, open the physical heavens over Israel this weekend as a sign of Your faithfulness and mercy. "Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Your faithfulness reaches unto the clouds." (Psalms 36:5)
   • As the storm Israel had on election day was a sign of Your moving out this current corrupt government, let this weekend storm be a sign of You moving in a government more in line with Your will.
   • Let much snow fall on Israel's heights - especially Mt. Hermon (Job 38:22-23).
   • Miraculously raise the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee, to its fullness.

3. Today Israel's president Shimon Peres should announce to whom he is giving the job to form the next government coalition. Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud has the support of more Knesset members than Kadima's Tzipi Livni. Peres is pushing for a "unity" government.

   • This whole situation is fraught with great danger. Now is the time to intercede.
   • Lord, we are still believing You for a government through whom You can glorify Yourself.

   • "LORD has prepared His throne in the heaven; His kingdom rules over all."

     (Psalms 103:19)

   • We thank You that - apparently - Bibi Netanyahu will be asked to form the next government and be the next prime minister.
   • Give Netanyahu and his negotiating team the wisdom of Solomon.
   • Raise up a new government quickly (Isaiah 43:19a).
   • Create a government out of this political turmoil that will be much closer to Your will than any other one since the recreation of the State of Israel.
   • Give us leaders who will not make excuses for needing to defend Israel and it's citizens.
   • Hedge in Peres today so that he must make a decision in line with Your choice.
   • Since Kadima divided Your land, we ask that the results of the coalition negotiations will be a divided Kadima (Joel 3:1-2).
   • In all coalition negotiations, "Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail..." (Psalms 9:19).
   • Set up a government that makes Your priorities its priorities - the return of the Jews and security for them when they come home. Your land not being divided and righteousness in all areas of government and society. The ability to resist the pressure from the world and live as a nation alone.

4. The current government of Olmert, Livini, Barak are still trying to make a deal to free Israel's captive soldier Gilad Shalit - held somewhere in Gaza. Israel is refusing to agree to a cease-fire deal with Hamas and open Gaza's border crossings unless and until Shalit is released. Yet they may be willing to release around 1000 terrorist prisoners for him.

   • Thank You Lord for the current stance of no open borders without the release of Shalit.
   • Reveal Shalit's true condition. Is he even still alive?
   • Yeshua, set Shait free and let him know it was You.

     "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because LORD has anointed Me...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."

     (Isaiah 61:1)

   • Do not allow this - or any government - to release hundreds of terrorists for any reason.
   • Abba, we believe it would be better for Israel to do nothing - that act and commit a grievous error.

     "...Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of LORD...LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

     (Exodus 14:13-14)
     

     "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the land."

     (Psalms 46:10)

   • We ask for comfort and strength for Shalit's family. Reveal to them Messiah Yeshua.
   • Bring Israel back to its original policy of no negotiations whatsoever with terrorists.

5. Israel's security situation grows more dangerous with every passing day. We are literally surrounded with enemies on all sides. Yet, Israel's God reigns...!

   • "If it had not been LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us...then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of LORD, who made heaven and earth."

     (Psalms 124:1-8)

   • Raise up an Israeli government with wisdom and courage to deal with Iran.
   • Please hedge in the new US administration from their insistent meddling in Israel's affairs.
   • Stop them from using Israel to further their relationship with Islam and Arab regimes.
   • Do not allow their current talks with Syria have a negative impact on Israel.
   • Syria has become a real threat. Deal with Damascus in Your way and timing (Isaiah 17:1).
   • Abba, we ask that You watch over the Golan and not let it be divided from Israel. We also ask the same regarding Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria [i.e., the so-called "West Bank"].

   • "In the same day LORD made [lit: cut] a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."

     (Genesis 15:18; see also Psalm 105:7-11)

6. The incredible increase of anti-Semitism in the West is an opportunity that God can use to both wake up the Jews that they need to come home and also wake up the Church to the dangers that this is for them. As graffiti in Bethlehem says, "First the Saturday people - then the Sunday people." The Islamic holy day is Friday.

   • Abba, raise up prophetic voices in all the Jewish communities in exile declaring that now is the time to return to Israel.
   • Help multitudes of Jews release their grip on the so-called "comfort and security" of the Diaspora - the exile - and see through the lies that they have repeatedly told themselves.
   • Make 2009 a huge year for aliyah.
   • Press the next government to make aliyah a top priority.
   • Provide all that is needed for Your people to return - finances, transportation, open gates in Israel, itself, jobs, etc.

   • "...[Behold] they come to you: your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then...the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come unto you...they shall show forth the praises of LORD [therefore they must be gentile believers]...Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the islands shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of LORD your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you. The sons of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister unto you: for in My wrath I smote you, but in My favor have I had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually...that men may bring unto you the wealth of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted."

     (from Isaiah 60:4-12)

   • Lord Yeshua, raise up prophetic voices in the Church to wake them up to the deadly attacks against the roots of their faith - the cultivated olive tree of Israel.
   • Lord, remove from the Body the anti-Semitic spirit that resides in many born-again believers.

7. We finished by praying for protection for the Israeli Body.

   • Thank You Lord that there is a living, growing Body of Messiah in Israel.
   • Thank You for the good fruit that we have seen from recent persecution.
   • Strengthen Your Body to face the increasing persecution that is prophesied for Israel just before Your return (Matthew 10:23).
   • Increase our boldness in proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.
     

     "And [the apostles - the first Messianic Jews] departed from the presence of the council [the Sanhedrin], rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Yeshua the Messiah."

     (Acts 5:41-42)

   • Hedge in Satan that he can only do that which You permit and no more (Job 1:7-12; 2:2-6).
   • Turn the hearts of our persecutors - like You did with Rabbi Saul/ the Apostle Paul.
     

     "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? I answered, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Yeshua of Nazareth, whom you persecute."

     (Acts 22:7-8)

Blessings abundantly from Jerusalem, the city of the great King.

The IFI Team

"The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Yeshua the Messiah -
He is Lord of all." (Acts 10:36)