1. Today at sunset starts the 8th day of Sukkot which in Israel is also Simchat Torah - the rejoicing of God's Word, a day of great rejoicing in Israel.

    • O clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with a voice of triumph. For LORD [YHWH] most high is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout, LORD with the sound of a trumpet [shofar]. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations: God sits upon the throne of His holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.

      Psalms 47:1-9

    • We are so encouraged in You God, because we recognize that there are no emergencies in heave. Nothing takes You by surprise - hallelujah!

    • We confess that our God, the God of Israel, reigns (Isaiah 51:7).

    • Nothing is too difficult for You (Jeremiah 32:17,27).

    • Thank You for being able to come boldly into Your presence through Messiah Yeshua.

      Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

      Hebrews 4:16

  2. The Iranian threat continues to hang over this nation like the sword of Damocles. For all Israel to be saved, the Jews must be alive, and must be on the Land of Israel. In a very real way, an Iranian nuke is one of the Adversary's best ways of trying to prevent that. So far, we have been less than impressed by the response of the nations to this global threat. So we first were led to pray for the nations - especially the West - to wake up.

    • Lord, awake the nations to the danger of an Iranian weapon of mass destruction [WMD].

    • Raise up many voices of concern, of warning, even prophetic voices.

    • God of heaven and earth, hedge in Iran and prevent her from having any success in her attempts to obtain WMD.

    • Let the Iranians make a major mistake that shows the world their true heart intent.

      Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

      Psalms 129:5

    • LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yes, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies.

      Isaiah 42:13

  3. We prayed for intercessors to have great wisdom on how to pray into this situation.

    • Give intercessors supernatural insight on how to pray into this situation (James 1:5-7).

    • Help us to see what You are doing and/or allowing so that our prayers are not against Your perfect will and timing.

    • Raise up intercessors in the nations to see through all the political correctness into the existential danger facing Israel - whom You are restoring for Your glory (Ezekiel 36).

    • We bless our brothers and sisters in the Iranian Church and ask that You would place on them an understanding of Israel as well as a burden to pray for their nation.

    • Reveal to them the danger their country faces by threatening Israel and the Jewish people.

      And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

      Zechariah 12:9

    • Although the context is Israel, we apply these verses to us as we intercede: Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded - they shall be as nothing... For I LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying...Fear not; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:10-14)

    • Lord, reveal to US intercessors all of the stumbling blocks in the Obama administration which prevent him from seeing what Iran is really doing, and to pray for them to be removed.

  4. We next interceded for Israel's government and Prime Minister "Bibi" Netanyahu in two specific areas.

    1. Iran and the threats coming out of there.

      • We bless You for this government and PM Netanyahu.

      • We thank You for Bibi's challenge to the world at the UN about the Iranian threat and may You continue to use him to sound this trumpet of warning.

      • Please give to Israel's decision makers wisdom on what Israel should do re: Iran. Should Israel attack? If so when? If not, then what?

        For by wise counsel you shall make war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.

        Proverbs 24:6

      • Speak into Bibi's heart and mind Your will.

        Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself...[Q]uicken us, and we will call upon Your name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

        Psalms 80:17-19

        [Note: In Hebrew, Benjamin = son of the right hand.]

      • Bring real and needed intelligence to the Israeli decision makers and help them to interpret and use it in the most effective way possible.

      • Give the IDF wisdom and new weapons and tactics against any Iranian threat.

    2. Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and the dangers of the Arab/Islamic incitement and riots that have rocked this capital for the past week.

      • We proclaimed Nehemiah 2:18-20 which ends with this: The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we [Jews who have returned from exile] His servants will arise and build: but you [the surrounding nations] have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:18-20)

      • Lord, move from heaven in this situation and hedge in all the plans of the enemy so that only that which You have ordained for this city and the Temple Mount will come to pass.

      • Give Israel's security forces, especially the police, wisdom, courage and strength.

      • We know that Jerusalem is the ultimate target of the nations in the last days - but if this is an attempt by the Adversary to hasten that which is not Your timing yet, stop it.

      • Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all people of the earth be gathered together against it.

        Zechariah 12:2-3

      • We will give You no rest unto You make Jerusalem a global praise unto Your name (Isaiah 62:6-7).

      • Allow Israel's leaders exercise wisdom and sovereignty over this city of Jerusalem.

      • Do not allow Israeli security forces to be distracted by what is happening in Jerusalem that they drop their alertness on her borders or in the Palestinian areas.

      • We ask for a host of angels to protect this nation over this weekend.

      • Like the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, and he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall LORD of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it.

        Isaiah 31:4-5

  5. Jews will be celebrating Simchat Torah - the rejoicing of God's Word - this evening and all day tomorrow. We prayed for God to give His people a real hunger for His word - not the words of rabbis or men - but the pure word of God.

    • Give Your people a deep hunger and longing for the pure water of Your word.

    • Lord, You are restoring the Tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11). Please restore as well, David's heart of love for Your word.

    • Give this people - and Your Church - the heart attitude of the writer of Psalm 119. God, open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law. (119:18); And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved. (119:47); Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (119:105), etc.

    • Urge many rabbis to dig deepen into Your word - and not just their commentaries.

    • Capture the hearts of many young people with the beauty of Your written word.

    • We bless You Lord for giving us Your Word - both the Old and New Testaments.

  6. This last day of Sukkot, is a wonderful time to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people - whether home in Israel or still in exile.

    • In the last day, that great day of the feast [of Sukkot/Tabernacles], Yeshua stood and loudly proclaimed, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.

      John 7:37-38

    • Lord, may all those who thirst - find You during these days.

    • As concerning the gospel, they [the unbelieving Jews] are enemies for your [gentiles'] sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

      Romans 11:28-29

    • Father, turn some the these gospel enemies into our family.

    • We specifically lift to You all of Israel's security forces this weekend. Save some.

    • Please pray for other specific groups that the Lord places on your hearts.

We ended our time this morning briefly touching two other vital areas for intercession: Israel's water situation - especially as the end of Sukkot is a time when Jews start praying for rain - and aliyah, the immigration of Jews in exile back to the land of their forefathers.

We want to express our deep appreciation for you - knowing that regardless of what you see in the mostly biased media, you are willing to pray in faith in line with God's Word. You are the kind of intercessors who thrill the heart of God (Proverbs 15:8b;29b).

Shabbat shalom, and hag sameach,
The IFI Team

"Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name.
Your kingdom come and Your will be done - in earth - as it is in heaven."

Matthew 6:9-10