1. Praise: We used the following verses to inspire our praise to God.

    • Thus says LORD [YHWH], the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of LORD who is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and He shall choose You. Thus says LORD, in an acceptable time have I heard You, and in a day of salvation have I helped You: I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

      Isaiah 49:7-8

    • Thank You that You have fulfilled this through Messiah Yeshua, the perfect representative of the nation of Israel.

    • Lord, You are watching over Your Word to do it (Jeremiah 1:12) and we thank You for Your faithfulness and Your power and ability to do that which You have said.

  2. Watchmen: We prayed for the Lord to raise up more intercessors - both in Israel and worldwide - based on this week's prophetic portion which includes these verses: I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day nor night. You that make mention of LORD, keep not silence, and give Him no silence, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isaiah 62:6-7)

    • Abba, raise up more intercessors/watchmen in Israel - especially at this critical time.

    • Thank You for all those who have responded to Your call and are standing in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30-31).

    • Place Your burden for more intercession on the hearts of more leaders in the Israeli Body.

    • Help them to be intercessors - and then teach on intercession (Ezra 7:10).

    • Raise up more corporate prayer both in Israel and the West.

      Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father which is in heaven.

      Matthew 18:19

    • Release the spirit of sacrificial prayer to stick with the burden until the answer comes.

    • Make Intercessors For Israel more effective in being part of the answer to these prayers.

    [The brochure announcing the 2010 January International Prayer Conference was sent out last week. By the middle of next week, if you have not received your copy - and you want one - either see our website (www.ifi.org.il), or e-mail our administrator at sonia@ifij.org]

  3. Iran: The Iranian situation is a cause of deep concern for the world - yet Israel seems to be the only nation to really be worried - and willing to do something - about this.

    • Lord, we thank You for shaking Iran - politically and spiritually.

    • We humbly ask that You would also shake her physically - with earthquakes that swallow up her weapons of mass destruction facilities. Do it in such a way that the Iranians, and all Moslems, will know it was You - the God of Israel.

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him... Rebuke the company of spearmen... till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter the people that delight in war.Psalms 68:1, 30

    • Concerning Iranian President Ahmadinejad's continual proud boasts - You seem to be hardening his heart as You did with Pharaoh. Now use him for Your glory.

      For the scripture says to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.

      Romans 9:17

    • Please give godly wisdom to the Israeli government to know how to respond to this threat.

    • Every purpose is established by counsel: with good advice make war.

      Proverbs 20:18

    • Do not allow Israel to be deceived by Iran's delaying tactics.

    • Do not allow the Church to be deceived by Iran's smooth words (Psalm 55:21).

    • Bless You that You are the Protector of Israel and utterly reliable.

      My help comes from LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to be moved: He that keeps/guards you will not slumber. Behold, He that keeps/guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

      Psalms 121:2-4

  4. Lebanon: PM designate Hariri quit his efforts to form a new government. This throws Lebanon into major confusion - and could impact Israel's northern border.

    • Recently, Hariri was very critical of Israel, and You have removed the scepter of authority from him. Raise up Your person to lead Lebanon at this time.

    • Raise up a government in Lebanon through whom You can glorify Yourself.

    • Watch over this word at this time:

      Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

      Isaiah 29:17

    • Keep the IDF alert guarding all of Israel - especially the Lebanese and Gaza borders.

    • Shine a huge spotlight on all of Hizbullah's activities in Lebanon - especially near Israel's southern border.

    • Lord, please prevent any more successful kidnapping attempts,

  5. The UN & Obama: There is a good chance that at the September 23rd UN General Assembly meeting, US President Barak Hussein Obama will present to the world a "peace plan" for the Middle East, thus becoming another world leader who cries "peace, peace," but still no peace. Only God's will can brings peace to this region. Still, as intercessors, we are told to watch and pray.

    • Thank You Lord, for Your protection over Israel - from both outside and inside pressures that are pushing this nation to do things against Your will.

    • We reject any "land-for-peace" plans as against Your will as revealed throughout Your word, especially in Leviticus 25:23 and Joel 3:1-2.

    • Please anoint Netanyahu when he is at the UN to speak Your word to a deaf world.

    • And please protect him from all the demonic spirits that will be in attendance there.

    • Continue to harden the hearts of Israel's enemies to not compromise at all to anything that would place Israel in a precarious situation with You.

    • Lord, have mercy on America by waking up the Body there to see that if Obama goes ahead with declaring his ME peace plan, it will be another step deeper into the valley of Your judgment for that nation (Joel 3:1-2).

    • Use the current situation between the US and Israel to topple the altar to America that too many Israelis worship at.

    • We declare this over all those who would speak at the UN GA against Israel and her right to inherit her God-promised land:

      LORD is righteous: He has cut asunder the cords of the wicked. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

      Psalms 129:4-5

  6. PM Netanyahu: He has done a good job putting together a coalition to represent the majority of Israelis. Although some of his decisions are not theologically correct, still he is a politician/statesman and not a theologian. While we agree theologically with some of his critics on the right - he needs our support to remain in office and walk through the minefield that is the current Israeli reality.

    • Thank You Lord for PM Bibi Netanyahu.

    • We believe that You have raised him up for just this time (Esther 4:14b).

    • Please give him wisdom from on high to know how to govern this nation at this time.

    • Surround him with godly advisors, like the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do... (1 Chronicles 12:32).

    • Continue to use this government to glorify Yourself (Psalm 115:1-3).

  7. Aliyah: The immigration of the Jewish people back to the land of Israel, has increased this year. Hallelujah!

    • Abba, we thank You especially for the increase in aliyah from the Western nations.

    • Continue to bring Your people home.

    • Thus says LORD of hosts; I was zealous for Zion with great zeal; I was zealous for her with great fury...I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus says LORD of hosts, Old men and women shall yet dwell in the streets of Jerusalem...[and] the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof...If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes?...Thus says LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country; I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

      Zechariah 8:2-8

      Amen!

    • Give grace to Messianic Jews to be able to hear Your voice when You speak to them about coming home (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11).

    • Thank You for Nefesh b'Nefesh and the great work they are doing in carrying back many Jews from the West.

    • We bless Natan Sharansky and his new work as head of the Jewish Agency in encouraging Jews to make aliyah - especially from the former Soviet Union.

    • Give the Church worldwide an understanding of how You desire for them to aid the Jews to come home (Isaiah 49:22).

    • Remove obstacles in Israel which could prevent any Jew, regardless of what he believes, from making aliyah (Isaiah 62:10).

    • Specifically bring back all of the Iranian and Ethiopian Jews.

    • From this week's Torah portion:

      If any of you be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from there will LORD your God gather you... LORD thy God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers. And LORD thy God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.

      Deuteronomy 30:4-6

We finished by praying for Israel's water situation. Please believe God with us that He will give Israel this fall, winter and spring rainy season, all of the water that Israel needs and more. May He do this for His holy name's sake.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none,
and their tongue fails for thirst, I LORD will hear them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys:
I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water...
That they may see, and know, consider, and understand,
that the hand of LORD has done this,
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

(Isaiah 41:17-20)

Thank you. Shabbat shalom,
The IFI Team