1. As usual, we started by praising our faithful and wonderful God.

    • I will call upon LORD [YHWH], who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.

      Psalms 18:3

    • We bless You for Your continual goodness to us and to all Israel.

    • Thank You for humbling Yourself and being born among us to be our Savior.

    • Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets…that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant - the oath which He swore to our father Abraham - that He would grant us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

      Luke 1:68-75

  2. There is a new flotilla coming to try and break Israel's blockade of Hamas in Gaza. We prayed for the government to know how to deal with this threat to Israel's safety - as the sea blockade is for the purpose of blocking armaments reaching the Islamic terror groups in Gaza who are increasing their attacks on Israel.

    • Abba, please stop this flotilla before it reaches Israeli waters.

    • Give to the government leaders wisdom and courage in dealing with this.

    • Also, give the same to the heads of the army - the Israel Defense Forces.

    • From this week's prophetic portion:

      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

    • Reveal all of the hidden plans of the enemy relating to this attempt to break Israel's legal sea blockade of Hamas ruled Gaza.

    • Expose the lies that Israel is causing people in Gaza to suffer. It is Hamas' threats to destroy Israel that is the real reason for the situation in Gaza.

      Thus says LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the violent shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed them that oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

      Isaiah 49:25-26

  3. The pressure on Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his ruling coalition never seems to stop. And it comes from everywhere - from Israel's "friends" as well as her enemies.

    • Teach us how to intercede effectively for Israel's leaders at this time in history.

    • Strengthen Bibi in his calling as Israel's leader. Help him to look to You.

      …when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

      Psalms 61:2

    • For Bibi:

      Wait on LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, [we pray], on LORD.

      Psalms 27:14

    • Give to Netanyahu and Israel a little breathing space between one crisis and the next.

    • Enable our leaders to make decisions that line up with Your will (Proverbs 16:1; 21:1).

    • Defense Minister Ehud Barak is the current government's weak link. Please strengthen or remove him.

  4. The Palestinians are now threatening to ask the UN Security Council to declare Israel's settlements, including many Jerusalem neighborhoods, to be illegal. This would be a travesty of international law, but that seems to be all the UN is good for these days! We continue to lift up Bibi and his government for God to overrule and rule through them.

    • Lord, in line with Your declared will in Your word concerning this land, we say that no Jewish settlement anywhere is illegal (Obadiah 1:17).

    • This is Your land. Arise and defend what You are doing here for Your glory (Ezekiel 36).

    • We proclaim over all UN words and actions that [You] bring the counsel of the nations to nothing. [You] make the thoughts of the people of none effect. [Your] counsel stands forever. The thoughts of [Your] heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God [You are], the people whom [You] have chosen for [Your] own inheritance. (Psalms 33:10-12)

    • Your word is the ultimate truth about all things. Watch over Your word to do it - even in the face of the world's opposition (Jeremiah 1:11-12).

    • I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel. They shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof. They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 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

    • Abba, raise up voices in all areas of society - especially in Your Body - to declare that the "two-state solution" is against Your declared will (Joel 3:1-2).

  5. God's real problem is with His children who just do not see Israel's place in His plans. Since over this weekend, most of the Church will be celebrating Yeshua's birth, we asked for God to give them a gift - the revelation of Israel's place in His Kingdom and an understanding of the deep connection of Yeshua to His Jewish family.

    • For unto us [Israel] a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of LORD of hosts will perform this.

      Isaiah 9:6-7

    • He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers - to Abraham, and to his seed forever.

      Luke 1:54-55; see also 1:68-75 under #1 above

    • A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

      Luke 2:32

    • Now I say that Yeshua the Messiah was a minister of the Jews for the truth of God, to confirm [establish; make sure] the promises made unto the fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob].

      Romans 15:8

    • Lord, with all of these verses - and many more even in the New Testament, how is it possible that Your born again believers are still blind to the fact that Israel is still Your nation and people? Please remove the veil from their eyes this weekend.

    • "Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the new born King." That is, the new born King of Israel. Please Lord, give Your Body a fresh vision of who You are at this time.

  6. We continue to press in to God concerning Israel's dire water situation.

    • We thank You for the heavy dew that was around the Jerusalem area early this morning. [Note: Israel gets around 20% of its water from dew.]

    • We look to You to provide for all of Israel's water needs.

    • You seem to be changing weather patterns all over the globe. Please send us some heavy rain and snow so that this land can bear fruit for Your people whom You are bringing home (Ezekiel 36:8-11; 35).

    • You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You did confirm Your inheritance, when it was weary.

      Psalms 68:9

    • Turn us as a nation unto Yourself. Help us to see our total dependence on You for this most precious of all commodities.

    • Abba, show us if there is something specifically that Israel has done - or is doing - that is holding back the rain from falling.

    • And if there is some specific sin, still we stand in the gap reminding You of Your word that You send rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45b)

  7. We were led to pray for Intercessors For Israel, and for intercessors in general, to know what is on the heart of God - so that our prayers might line up with His will and timing.

    • Lord, with so much happening of prophetic significance in the world today, we ask You to reveal to us that which You want us to intercede for.

    • Prevent us from being so overwhelmed that we are not able to hear Your voice.

    • We declare that Your sheep can hear Your voice (John 10:27). Clean out our ears.

    • The International Prayer Conference is coming up at the end of January. We ask that all of us - both leaders and the congregation - will be led by Your Spirit so that You would be both glorified and satisfied by the end of our time together.

We ended praying for all of our family who are celebrating Christmas this weekend (even if we are not sure when Yeshua was actually born), that they would move beyond all the glitter and gifts and be drawn closer to the One whom we all celebrate - Yeshua, Messiah, Savior, Lord and King of all.

Shabbat shalom from Zion,
The IFI team

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you [Israel] a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call His name Emmanuel.

Isaiah 7:14