1. We thanked God for answering our prayers for Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's trip this past week to the USA.

    • And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

      1 John 5:14-15

    • Abba, it is so awesome to think that we can move heaven by our prayers.

    • Thank You for hearing our intercessions for Netanyahu this past week and for answering them by enabling him to - at least publicly - not compromise on any number of vital issues - such as an extension of the settlement freeze.

    • We bless You for giving Bibi an anointing to deal with the American mainstream media.

    • Whether Obama was serious or not - thank You for hedging him in and not allowing him to manipulate Netanyahu or speak negatively about Israel.

  2. Netanyahu is back in Israel. We need to continue to lift him up before God's throne.

    • Lord, refresh him and his wife Sarah.

    • Give him much wisdom in dealing with the current Israeli coalition.

    • Give him much wisdom in dealing with the Palestinian leaders - especially Abbas.

    • Draw Bibi closer to Yourself and Your will for this nation at this time.

      I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you.

      Jeremiah 31:3

  3. As incredible as it seems - even with all of the world, and a majority of Israelis willing to see a Palestinian State created - there is still no "Palestine!"

    • LORD [YHWH] 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

    • Lord, help Israel to possess all her possessions (Obadiah 1:17).

    • Open up the hearts of Israelis to see that the real peace they are searching for is only to be found through Messiah Yeshua.

    • Behold, I will bring it [Jerusalem] health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

      Jeremiah 33:6

    • Bring the inner cabinet in this government into complete unity concerning the "peace" process.

    • Continue to harden the stance of the Palestinian leadership so that there is no possibility of Israel being able to agree to a Palestinian state on Your land.

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

      Psalms 129:5

    • Lord, as we see the animosity between Abbas' Fatah and Hamas in Gaza, so bring division on all those who want to divide Your land!

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

      Psalms 55:9

  4. There is only one Israeli left in Gaza - the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. His family, joined by thousands of Israelis, have marched to Jerusalem to demand that Bibi obtain his release. But although Netanyahu has offered a thousand terrorist prisoners in trade for Gilad, Hamas is demanding much more.

    • Abba, do not allow emotions to sway what this nation should or should not do in this - and in all other - situations.

    • We ask for Gilad to be set free - but not at any cost.

    • Since the final decision rests with Netanyahu, please strengthen him for this task and lead him to make the godly decision.

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

      Proverbs 21:1

    • Pour out Your grace and mercy on the Shalit family and reveal to them Your Son.

    • Save Gilad even while he is in captivity.

      The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because LORD has anointed Me to preach good news unto the meek. He has sent Me to... proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

      Isaiah 61:1

    • Release him in other ways and not by trading a thousand terrorists for him.

      Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name...

      Psalms 142:7

    • Lord, hedge in the Israeli media - especially the Hebrew press - from blaming and bashing Bibi over this affair.

  5. There is some good news concerning Iran as it appears that the sanctions are putting pressure on the Iranian leadership. How they handle that is the big question.

    • Thank You for this positive news.

    • Continue to place tremendous pressure on Iran's leaders so that they have no choice but to stop developing weapons of mass destruction.

    • Use this to bring the Iranian leadership down and step the Iranian people free.

    • Give boldness to Israel's leaders. Make them like the sons of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do... (1 Chronicles 12:32a)

    • Bring to Israel a wave of new intelligence about Iran and their plans.

    • Let Arab nations who are really frightened about the prospect of seeing Iran go nuclear, work more fully with Israel to stop this from becoming the new Middle East reality. As the Arab proverb says, "The enemy of my enemy - is my friend."

    • We bless You for the reports of the growing Body of Messiah in Iran.

    • Give to our Iranian brothers and sisters revelation to see the connection between Your blessings or curses on their nation according to how it deals with Your nation Israel (Genesis 12:3; 27:29; Numbers 24:9)

    • Best case scenario would be for You to deal with Iran sovereignly.

      Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail. Let [Iran] be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

      Psalms 9:19-20

  6. More good news. This past week a planeload of better than 220 new North American immigrants arrive in Israel. The people were aided by the Nefesh b'Nefesh organization.

    • Thank You Lord for watching over Your Word.

      Hear the word of LORD, you nations, declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10

    • Since You have brought them home, we ask that You would establish them here - never to be uprooted again (2 Kings 19:30; Isaiah 37:31).

    • I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel. They shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine. They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit. I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, says LORD your God.

      Amos 9:14-15

    • Help the Jews in exile to overcome all the fears, concerns, or whatever it is that is holding them back.

    • Lord, supply all the funds that Nefesh b'Nefesh needs to be able to bring home all of the thousands of Jews who are on their waiting list.

    • Raise up an organization like this in Germany to help the hundreds of thousands of Jews who have resettled there - to come here and resettle.

    • Cause to return the approximately one million Israelis who live outside of the Land.

    • Bring home many Messianic Jews - especially the younger generation.

      The ransomed of LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

      Isaiah 35:10; 51:11

    • Help Israelis to welcome the new olim [immigrants] with a genuine desire to see them become a part of this nation.

    • Remove all bureaucratic stumbling blocks here in Israel from the path of Your people (Isaiah 62:10).

  7. The prophetic portion for this Shabbat ends with a verse that is perfect for praying for the salvation of the Jewish people.

    • Will you not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, You are the guide of my youth?

      Jeremiah 3:4

    • It is of LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness. LORD is my portion...therefore I will hope in Him. LORD is good unto them that wait for Him...It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of LORD.

      Lamentations 3:22-26

    • Please pray for specific groups: Holocaust survivors; terror victims; unsaved loved ones of believing Israelis; the young men and women in the IDF; politicians, etc.

    • Lord, help the Israeli Body be alert to the times when You by Your Spirit give us an open door to share about Your Son.

    • For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes - to the Jew first, and also to the gentile.

      Romans 1:16

Please remember our brother Lance Lambert who is teaching at a conference in America this weekend along with Intercessors For America's President, David Kubal, on the issue of "America's Stance With Israel." They will also be leading in corporate prayer.

Shabbat shalom from Zion,
The IFI Team

I will call upon LORD, who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from my enemies...
LORD lives; and blessed be my Rock;
and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalms 18:3,46