1. We looked at Psalm 89:1-4 for inspiration to exalt our God.

    • I will sing of the mercies of LORD [YHWH] forever: with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. ... Mercy shall be built up forever: Your faithfulness shall You establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David My servant, Your seed will I establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.   Selah.

      Psalms 89:1-4

    • Lord, we thank You that You are a God of faithfulness and truth.

    • We take comfort in the fact that You are totally sovereign.

      LORD has prepared His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.

      Psalms 103:19

  2. This week Iran worked out a deal with Turkey and Brazil to deflect pressure from the world over the many questions that their nuclear program has raised. This is just another stalling tactic. Even if the UN Security Council passes another round of sanctions, it will not be enough to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Israel has not taken responsibility for their part in this situation. Israel's approach is that this is a threat to the world. While true, this is also an existential threat to Israel. And it seems that God wants her to deal with it, with or without the backing of the nations.

    • Lord, help the West to see that, at this point in time, sanctions are not enough. May they also see that military force is what is most likely needed to stop this global Islamic threat.

    • Let any further sanctions fail quickly - unless they really have a bite in them.

    • Confound Iran's leadership. Cause them to make many mistakes (Psalm 129:5).

    • Prepare Israel's Defense Forces - the IDF - to deal with Iran without any outside help.

    • The portion of Jacob... is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: LORD of hosts is His name. You are My battle axe and weapons of war: for with you will I break in pieces the nations, and with you will I destroy kingdoms...and with you will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

      Jeremiah 51:20-23

    • Anoint Israel's military leaders to have the wisdom to know what Israel needs to do, and the courage to do it.

      Do therefore according to your wisdom...

      1 Kings 2:6

  3. Although as of now, God has not chosen to deal with Iran sovereignly, since He often comes to Israel's rescue at the very last minute, we must continue to press Him to arise and scatter His enemies (Psalm 68:1).

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. Let them also that hate Him flee before Him ... scatter the people that delight in war.

      Psalms 68:1, 30

    • Lord, Iran sits on an earthquake prone region. Shake the very ground beneath all of their nuclear facilities.

      LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and the earth shall shake: but LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

      Joel 3:16; see also Isaiah 2:19, 21

    • We bless You for the spiritual shaking that You are doing in Iran - saving multitudes of Moslems. More Lord!

    • Yeshua, open up the eyes of our Iranian brothers and sisters to the place of Israel in Your kingdom purposes and give them an anointing to pray for their nation and its relationship with Israel.

    • Abba, please stir the embers of the political upheaval that had occurred in Iran last year and use that to bring down the current wicked Iranian regime.

  4. US sponsored "proximity talks" under US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell are underway here in Israel. The US is attempting to establish a Palestinian state as soon as possible on land that God has promised over 200 times in the Bible to give to the children of Israel. Obviously, Israel's leaders - especially Prime Minister Netanyahu - are under lots of pressure to give in to what America wants. We really need to keep Israel's current leadership surrounded by our prayers.

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

    • We bless You for PM Netanyahu and we bless him in the mighty name of Yeshua.

    • Lord, place Your red lines in the souls of Netanyahu and his security cabinet - and do not allow anything to cause them to cross over them.

    • We say amen to this truth:

      The king's heart is in the hand of LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it wherever He will.

      Proverbs 21:1

    • Anoint them with Your wisdom.

      For LORD gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

      Proverbs 2:6

    • Use Netanyahu's gift of communication to speak to both the Israeli and the American peoples about the dangers of creating a Palestinian State in the middle of Israel.

    • Remove any dissension from the cabinet (Psalm 133:1).

    • And remove Defense Minister Ehud Barak completely from all positions of authority.

    • Open up the eyes of Mitchell to be able to see the truth and communicate back to his boss - US President Barack Obama.

  5. September 2010 is lining up to be one very interesting month. Israel's 10 month settlement freeze will be over - although the US is already pushing her to continue with it. The Palestinians are only committed to negotiate with Israel via the proximity talks until then - at which time many expect them to ask the UN General Assembly to recognize "Palestine" as a nation. And this September will see all three of God's fall feasts being celebrated - Rosh Hashanah (10th), Yom Kippur (18th) and Succot (23rd-30th).

    • Lord, prepare us - Your Watchmen - to understand what You are doing and how we are to pray into all of these situations (Amos 3:7).

    • We declare concerning Israel:

      Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought! ... He [Israel] crouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you.

      Numbers 23:23; 24:9

    • Do not allow the world to prevent Israel from building in her land that You have given her.

    • Open up the way for the Gaza refugees to have their new neighborhood be built in Ariel, which is in Samaria.

      Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel... You shall yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

      Jeremiah 31:4-5

    • With the world, led by the current American administration, pressuring Israel to do that which is not in line with Your will, only You can give Israel strength and wisdom, courage and understanding, to resist.

      Ascribe strength unto God: His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are terrible out of Your holy places. The God of Israel... gives strength and power unto His people. Blessed be God.

      Psalms 68:34-35

    • Hallelujah for this promise:

      Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and everything that moves therein. For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of His servants shall inherit it: and they that love His name shall dwell therein.

      Psalms 69:34-36

  6. We next prayed for the security threats to Israel - especially the Gaza border.

    • Abba, protect Israel's southern communities who are still under a continual barrage of rockets from Gaza.

    • Give the IDF wisdom to know what to do and how to respond to any and all attacks.

    • Raise up the right man to take over the IDF's top spot - Chief of Staff - next year.

    • Raise up in the IDF men and women who really trust You.

      Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of LORD our God.

      Psalms 20:7

    • Unto You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

      Psalms 25:1-2

  7. We finished by praying for the Israeli Body to take responsibility for this nation - in prayer - recognizing that we have been called into His kingdom for such a time as this!

    • Lord Yeshua, bring Your Body into a unity in Your Spirit (Ephesians 4:3).

    • Not unity for unity's sake - but unity in Messiah - for Your glory (Ephesians 3:21).

    • Protect all the leaders You have raised up at this time in Israel.

      I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says LORD.

      Jeremiah 23:3-4

    • Watch over all believing families. Prevent the accuser from getting any kind of foothold.

    • Help the Israeli Body to discern in prayer what is on Your heart at this time.

    • Pour out an anointing for prayer.

    • Raise up more praying shepherds.

    • Help us also see in what areas we can agree to disagree and still walk in unity.

    • Make very clear the things for which there can be no compromise.

    • Continue to use and refine Intercessors For Israel - so that we can be all You want us to be - for Your glory through our Messiah Yeshua (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion,

The IFI team

To God only wise, be glory through
Yeshua the Messiah forever. Amen.

Romans 16:27