1. This week's prophetic portion is Isaiah 49:14 to 51:3.

    • But Zion said, LORD [YHWH] has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? They may forget, yet will I not forget you. Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.

      Isaiah 49:14-16

    • Abba, we again bless You for Your faithfulness to Zion - and to us.

    • We thank You for being always faithful, even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13).

    • We trust that You will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

    • Bless You for Your protection and guidance.

    • We thank You for being a prayer answering God and for being a God that does not answer prayers which are not in line with Your will (1 John 5:14-15).

  2. We used the last verse of the prophetic portion to pray comfort for the families of the six Israeli airmen who lost their lives this week in a helicopter crash in Romania. We also prayed for all in Israel to experience God's great comfort.

    • For LORD shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of LORD. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

      Isaiah 51:1-3

    • Father of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3), please visit and comfort these families this weekend.

    • Reveal Messiah Yeshua to them and give them the hope of the resurrection.

    • Abba, comfort and encourage the family of Israel's kidnapped soldier - Gilad Shalit.

    • You said in Isaiah 51:3 that You shall comfort Zion. Being the faithful God that we know that You are, we are holding this word before You - asking You to do it.

    • Help Israel's Air Force learn whatever they need to from this tragedy.

  3. Yesterday, meeting in Cairo, the Arab League approved the start of direct talks between the Palestinians and Israel in the "peace" process. Palestinian Authority President Abbas was really looking for a reason not to negotiate - but the Arab League said yes to whenever Abbas felt the timing was right. Yet Abbas' Fatah party who runs the PA, said no - until Israel commits to everything they want - before negotiations start. Israel has refused.

    • Lord, thank You for consistently hardening the hearts of Palestinian leaders ever since the "peace" process started - and even before. Continue to do so with Abbas.

    • I will harden [Abbas'] heart...and I will be honored upon [Abbas], and all his army, that the [Palestinians] may know that I am LORD.

      Ex. 14:4

      Since You never change, please apply this to Israel's current situation and reveal Yourself to many Palestinians.

    • Do not allow Abbas to compromise. Keep him away from direct negotiations.

    • Give great wisdom and courage to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to continue to take a righteous stance and not be moved from it.

    • May Bibi receive wisdom from You and acknowledge it.

      I will bless LORD, who has given Me counsel...

      Psalms 16:7

    • Surround him with wise advisors (Prov. 15:22; 20:18).

    • Forbid Israel's government from extending the settlement freeze past September 26th.

    • Prevent Israel from making any further concessions to the Palestinians, or the rest of the world, for the sake of this unbiblical "peace" process.

    • Block Defense Minister Ehud Barak from undermining Bibi in any way.

  4. Iran's current situation is becoming more chaotic. Pressured externally by the nations who are seeing that a nuclear Iran would be a threat to the whole world, Iran internally is turning more and more into a military dictatorship. We dare not forsake our place before God in the face of this very dangerous situation.

    • Lord, whatever it takes, destroy Iran's nuclear development program.

    • 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

    • Move sovereignly and shake that nation - both physically and spiritually.

    • Protect all of our Iranian brothers and sisters in Yeshua and give them wisdom on how to pray and live in their nation today.

    • You have been so faithful to deal with all the Hamans and Hitlers throughout history who have threatened Your people. Therefore, we ask in great confidence that You would deal with Iran's President Ahmadinejad and all its Islamic rulership.

      Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the gentiles be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the gentiles may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

      Psalms 9:19-20

    • I will set my throne in Elam [ancient Iran], and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says LORD.

      Jeremiah 49:38

    • Aid all of Israel's preparations for a military attack on Iran - if that is the only option left.

    • Provide Israel with accurate, up-to-date intelligence reports that will help to pinpoint both targets and timing.

    • Give to all Israelis responsible for making these decisions wisdom, courage, determination and remove any double-mindedness.

    • Prepare this nation for the day after the attack - with all of the public relations she will need to stand against the inevitable condemnation of the nations.

    • Abba, we ask that You would at this time release the archangel Michael who is assigned to Israel, with a huge host of angelical help, to do battle with the Prince of Persia and his forces (Dan. 10:13; 12:1a).

  5. With Iran under pressure, she might release Hizbullah to attack Israel in order to divert attention from herself. This is what Iran did in 2006 which brought on the 2nd Lebanon War. Also, a UN report is coming out very soon, which might point the finger at Hizbullah as the ones responsible for the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, whose son is the current PM. This could result in chaos inside Lebanon and Hizbullah could also decide to divert attention by starting a war with Israel.

    • Lord, the situation on Israel's northern border is very tense. May the enemy not take the IDF by surprise.

    • Give the IDF vigilance, courage and insight into the plans of Hizbullah - and all the rest of her enemies.

    • Protect all of Israel's spies inside Lebanon - and everywhere else.

    • Use this UN report to bring Hizbullah down.

    • May Israel's response to any attacks be so overwhelming that Israel's deterrent factor is re-established throughout the Middle East.

    • Keep Israel's navy alert as they guard her Mediterranean coast.

    • May any future flotillas not be used to distract Israel from any other security issues.

    • Protect Israel from all of her enemies who live in her midst.

    • God, be Israel's shield as You promised.

      Happy are you, O Israel. Who is like unto you, O people saved by LORD, the shield of your help... your enemies shall be found liars unto you; and you shall tread upon their high places.

      Deuteronomy 33:29

    • Blessed be LORD my strength, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. My goodness, my fortress; my high tower, my deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.

      Psalms 144:1-2

  6. Within a short span of time, leaders of several Israeli security and military groups are being changed - including the IDF, military intelligence, Mossad and others. This is a great opportunity to pray into place the end time sons of Issachar.

    • And of the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...

      1 Chr. 12:32a

    • Lord of hosts, release all leaders who are supposed to go at this time and raise up anointed ones to take their place.

    • If any leaders who are planning to go - should not be leaving at this time - cause Israel to extend their time in office.

    • Help the IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi to be effective as long as he is in that position.

    • Give great wisdom to Netanyahu and all others who need to make these decisions.

    • Do not allow any of these places to be filled with political appointments.

    • Instead, raise up the mighty men of valor of Israel to take these positions (Neh. 11:14a).

    • We remind You of all Your promises to raise up leaders for Israel at this time (Isaiah 1:26; Jer. 3:15; 23:3-4). Do that with these new appointments.

    • In that day will I make the governors ["allufim", in modern Hebrew, "generals"] of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about... and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

      Zech. 12:6

  7. We prayed for the Israeli congregations.

    • Lord Yeshua, give Your congregational shepherds prophetic vision for the times we are living in.

    • Aid Israeli believers to be prepared for these exciting and dangerous times.

      But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for truly I say unto you, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

      Matt. 10:23

    • Strengthen marriages in the Body.

    • Help our fellowship with one another be real.

    • We pray for laborers to be sent out into the harvest of this nation (Matt. 9:38)

    • Help all of us to watch and pray (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36).

We also prayed for an increase in aliyah - the return of the Jews from exile to the land of Israel - especially from the West.

Much blessings and Shabbat shalom from Zion,
The IFI team

Fear not: for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east,
and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Keep not back. Bring My sons from far,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth.
Even every one that is called by My name:
for I have created him for My glory,
I have formed him.
Yes, I have made him.

Isaiah 43:5-7