1. We used a verse from this Shabbat's prophetic portion (Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23) as a springboard to praise the Lord our God.

    • He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

      Isaiah 27:6

      Amen.

    • We thank You Lord for literally fulfilling this verse before our eyes.

    • If You are doing this with an Israel that is mostly unsaved, how much more will You fulfill Your promises to those who know You through Messiah Yeshua.

    • We bless You for those promises to us and thank You for redeeming us.

      Giving thanks unto the Father, who has enabled us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

      Colossians 1:12-13

  2. Using that same verse, we prayed about Israel's desperate water situation.

    • Abba, for Israel to fill the face of the world with fruit, requires lots of water. Therefore, provide what Israel needs so that You can continue to do as You have said.

    • We ask based on You being a God of mercy and not because Israel deserves it.

      ...your Father in heaven...makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

      Matthew 5:45b

    • We remember that even in the wilderness wanderings, when Israel was in rebellion and experiencing both Your presence and judgment, You still provided all of her water needs.

    • 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.

      Isaiah 41:18

    • Lord, You said in Ezekiel 36, that You would bring the Jewish people back to Your/their land and then save them - for Your holy name's sake. You are doing that and we bless You.

    • You then said, And this land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; the... desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the gentiles that are left round about you shall know that I LORD [YHWH] build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. (36:34-36)

    • For this to happen, Israel needs new water sources, or a very wet winter, or a desire to conserve water, or new desalinization techniques - or all of the above. Whatever way You choose, we are pleading with You to intervene and provide all the water for this nation to be an example of You speaking and doing in the earth today.

    • Give Your Body an anointing to intercede into this situation - and a specific word or verse to use in prayer. Then answer us for Your glory.

  3. We reported last week that Israel's two Chief Rabbis said that abortion is delaying Israel's redemption, and that they asked synagogue rabbis and teachers to share on this. Yet the day to speak on this is this Shabbat, not last week. Why? Because the Torah portion for tomorrow includes the story of how the Pharaoh ordered infanticide against Israel's new born sons and how God intervened through two godly midwives.

    • We bless You for the report that abortion rates are dropping in Israel.

    • Yet we grieve that abortions are not only still being preformed, but are legal.

    • Anoint those who will teach against this sin tomorrow and use their words to wake up many Israelis to the killing of our children by their parents.

    • Use religious Knesset [Israel's parliament] members to overturn the legalization of abortion in Israel.

    • Cause all those who have been involved in abortions - whether as mothers and fathers or doctors and nurses - to be convicted of their sin and cry out to You for forgiveness and healing. Then lead them to Your Son, who alone can bring them the comfort they need.

    • Make more of Israel's doctors and nurses to be like the midwives in Exodus chapter one.

    • May Your fear come upon all who are even considering having an abortion.

    • From Shabbat's prophetic portion:

      Therefore thus says LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob - Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

      Isaiah 29:22-23

  4. Iran continues to develop weapons of war - including nuclear weapons - and so far, all the world has seen fit to do is threaten sanctions. We see this as similar to when Hitler was building his army and the world went into appeasement mode. Yet Iran continues to threaten to wipe Israel off the map.

    • Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not Your peace, and be not still, O God. For, behold, Your enemies make a mighty noise, and they that hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, [saying]...Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be remembered no more. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate [lit: have cut a covenant] against You:

      Psalms 83:1-5

    • Lord, continue to confound those who hate Zion (Psalm 129:5).

    • Arise God. Shake the very ground under all Iran's nuclear facilities.

      LORD reigns. Let the people tremble. He sits between the cherubims. Let the earth be moved.

      Psalms 99:1

    • We thank You for the continual shaking of Iran's political situation.

      Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

      Psalms 55:9

    • We bless You for all the Iranians who are coming into the Kingdom of Yeshua. Continue to save multitudes in Iran.

    • Give Iranian believers wisdom on how to intercede for their nation and its' very dangerous attitude towards Israel - the apple of Your eye (Zechariah 2:8).

    • Deal with Iranians nuclear scientists. Either save them or remove them.

      Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Your name, LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever. Let them be put to shame, and perish, that men may know that You, whose name alone is YHWH, are the most high over all the earth.

      Psalms 83:16-18

      Amen.

    • We really prefer if You deal with this threat supernaturally as You so often have done in the past - which resulted in Israel's enemies recognizing that You are defending this nation for Your holy name's sake.

      Let us flee from the face of Israel; for LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.

      Exodus 14:25

    • Yet if you want to use Israel to deal with Iran - provide her with all the intelligence she needs to do the job with as much precision as possible.

    • May the results of an Israeli military strike be the complete destruction of Iran's nuclear program and may Your fear strike into all of the surrounding Arab and Islamic nations.

  5. Over recent days, the Gaza border has been heating up - with numerous rockets again being fired into southern Israel.

    • We thank You that with our current government, every time Israel is attacked from Gaza, Israel's army - the IDF - responds.

    • Cause Israel's response be more pro-active instead of just waiting until we get attacked.

    • Lord, do that which You have promised:

      Thus says the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob. They shall dwell there safely, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards. They shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am LORD their God.

      Ezekiel 28:25-26

    • Lord, cause the people in Gaza to rise up against the Hamas leadership - just as You are causing the Iranians to rise against their wicked leaders.

  6. Faced with intense pressure from both inside and out, this current Israeli leadership - especially Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Lieberman - seems to be saying, Enough. No more!

    • Lord, we thank You for giving us a government through whom You can be glorified.

    • Continue to harden this government's position against any appeasement.

    • Remove the spirit of Neville Chamberlin and raise up the spirit of Winston Churchill in all Israel's government ministers.

    • Concerning Israel's captive soldier, Gilad Shalit, we ask that You stage a prison break like You did in the book of Acts - setting him free by sending an angel (Acts 12:1-11).

    • Meanwhile, protect Gilad in his captivity from any and all lions - as You did with Daniel (Daniel 6:18-24).

    • Comfort and save all of the Shalit family - including Gilad. May this terrible situation turn out to be part of their testimony and bring You much glory.

  7. The US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, is being sent back by President Obama to push forward a "peace process" that has gone nowhere - thank God! Yet there is a push by the Saudis, Egyptians and Jordanians to get Israel to agree to a Palestinian State on the pre-1967 borders. This is very dangerous and most of Israel's current government rejects this.

    • Lord, support this government as it resists the pressure to pull back to the '67 borders.

    • Abba, hedge in Mitchell and the whole Obama administration, so that they cannot bring undue pressure on Netanyahu and government to do that which they know is wrong.

    • Lord, You can draw the nations' attention elsewhere at this time, unless it is 101% Your will to fulfill Zechariah 12:2-3 now.

      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. And in that day will I 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

    • Continue to harden our enemies hearts and cause them to make outrageous demands.

    • LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing: He makes the thoughts of the people of none effect. The counsel of LORD stands for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

      Psalms 33:10-11
    • Give us as intercessors the anointing that You gave to the children of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do... (1 Chronicles 12:32)

We appreciate your prayers for the team at Intercessors For Israel, especially as we move closer to IFI's International Prayer Conference which is being held January 25th-February 1st here in Jerusalem.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion,
The IFI Team

In that day shall LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory,
and for a diadem of beauty,
unto the residue of His people,
and for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment,
and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Isaiah 28:5-6