1. We began by reading Ezekiel 36:1-9 and blessing God for His faithfulness.

   • But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and you shall be tilled and sown:

     Ezekiel 36:8-9

   • We bless You for giving us access to You through the blood of the Lamb (Heb. 4:16).

   • We worship You for who You are (Rev.4:11; 5:12-13).

   • We thank You for Your everlasting covenant with Your people Israel (Jer. 31:35-37).

   • We affirm that You have the power to perform that which You have decreed (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • We call upon You - asking that You guide our prayers and be exalted in their answers.

2. We turned our attention to Iran. In reality, no one knows when Iran will succeed in developing, or obtaining, a nuclear weapon. Yet most of the world is putting off taking any kind of responsible action. It is obvious that sanctions - although hurting - are not doing the job. Since Iranian President Ahmadinejad often threatens Israel, this situation needs continual prayer.

   • Lord, enable Israel's leadership to understand the real situation in Iran.

   • Empower the new Mossad chief Pardo to know exactly what Israel needs to do or not do.

   • If Israel needs to strike Iran's nuclear sites militarily, give to her all the wisdom, intelligence, timing, courage, and weapons she needs to do a complete job.

   • Continue to shake Iran - physically, politically and spiritually.

   • We remind You of Your Word to Iran/ancient Elam:

     And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says the LORD.

     Jer. 49:38

   • Based on this verse, we ask for the salvation of multitudes of Iranians and that You would "destroy" the authority of Ahmadinejad and all the mullahs.

   • Use the growing Body of Messiah in Iran for Your glory - especially in intercession.

   • Give them revelation that the more Iran's leaders threaten Israel, the more intense will Your judgments on Iran be.

     For thus says the LORD of hosts [i.e., Yeshua], After the glory has He [God the Father] sent Me unto the nations which spoiled you - for he that touches you touches the apple of His eye.

     Zech. 2:8

3. There seems to be a settlement freeze under the radar in Israel. Although not official, settlers and cities in Judea and Samaria are having difficulty getting permits to build. This is not God's will.

   • Lord, you said when You brought Israel back to her land, she would prosper in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (Jer. 31:3-5; Ezek. 36:8-15; Amos 9:14-15; Zech. 12:2-3). So we pray against any settlement freeze, slowdown or even the removal of any Jews from these areas.

   • Remove all barriers from Jews living in these areas that hinder them from expanding their dwellings and cities.

     Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes, for you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left, and your seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

     Isa. 54:2-3

   • Since Defense Minister Ehud Barak is the one directly in charge of these areas, if he is a stumbling stone, hedge him in or remove him (Isa. 62:10).

   • And if PM Netanyahu is part of this slowdown, convict him of how unrighteous this is.

   • We love seeing Your people settle Your land because it is a fulfillment of Your Word. May more believers have the revelation of this and stop fighting Israel's restoration.

     But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

     Obad. 1:17

   • Raise the profile of the settlers in the hearts of all other Israelis - to stand with and support them in their very clear biblical mandate to "occupy"!

4. We continue to bring Israel's current leadership before their King. These days are so full of dangers and snares for this nation, that only Israel's King, who is at the right hand of God the Father, can direct this nation at this time.

   • Lord Yeshua, this is Your nation and Your people. We place their wellbeing and safety in Your most capable care, trusting You to guard and guide her earthly leadership.

   • Raise up for Israel shepherds - in all areas - after Your own heart (Jer. 23:3-4).

   • Bring this promise to pass in our days:

     I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning…

     Isaiah 1:26

   • Encourage PM Netanyahu to maintain his red lines - which all have to do with Israel's security - in the quest for peace with the Palestinians.

   • In the beginning of 2011, we bless Bibi Netanyahu with Psalm 134:3. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

   • Place on Bibi's heart Your priorities (Prov. 21:1).

   • Surround him with people who will strengthen and encourage him in Your paths.

   • Thank You for Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer. Continue to give him wisdom to guide Israel's financial policies.

   • Empower Yoav Galant as he takes over the role of Chief of Staff of the IDF.

   • Continue to use Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to speak non-politically correct truth.

   • Bring unity to all of those who are doing that which is pleasing in Your sight.

   • Thank You for PM Netanyahu publically asking for clemency from US President Obama concerning Israel spy Jonathan Pollard. Release him quickly.

5. We turned our attention to pray for the leadership of the Body of Messiah. Especially in the West, many are out and out deceived about Israel - and that then opens the door to many other deceptions as well. After all, if someone does not see God as still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who is faithful to all of His promises, then who exactly are they proclaiming?

   • Lord Yeshua, have mercy on Your sheep.

   • Give Your sheep a deep hunger to read and study Your Word for themselves (Acts 17:11).

   • Raise up shepherds after Your own heart and remove all false ones (see Acts 20:27-32).

   • Give to many pastors a deep revelation of Israel in Your eternal plans, that You have not rejected them (Jer. 31:35-37; 33:24-26; Rom.11:1,11,28).

   • Place on the hearts of many Messianic Jewish leaders to prepare their people to make aliyah - to immigrate to Israel. And may some of them come home also (Acts 20:27).

6. We are supposed to have another wet weekend here in Israel - and have already had some rain the last few days. But Israel still needs much more water.

   • We thank You for the rain this past week and bless You for bringing more this weekend.

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

     Psa. 68:9

   • Please let it all fall in the right places - over the mountain ridges, the aquifers, the Golan Heights and over the Sea of Galilee.

   • As You did with the loaves and fish, take the little water that Israel has and increase it to supply all that we need at this time.

   • We are looking for You to create new water resources as per Your promise.

     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… That they may see, and know, consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

     Isa. 41:18-20

7. We were encouraged by the report of a 20% increase in aliyah this past year. Over 19,000 Jews came home from exile. We prayed for that trend to continue and even increase.

   • From this week's prophetic portion:

     But fear not, O My servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar off, your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.

     Jer. 46:27

   • We bless You for the increase in 2010.

   • Help them to get settled and not be moved again (Amos 9:14-15).

   • Make 2011 a year of great increase in the number of Jews who are drawn home to Israel.

   • In particular, we ask for an increase in aliyah from the former Soviet Union, the US, the UK and France.

   • Give veteran Israelis a love and heart for the new immigrants and a willingness to do what it takes to see them get settled.

   • There are about 1,000,000 Israelis who are living outside of this nation. Lord, make them all homesick!

   • Please bring home those who have met Messiah Yeshua to add to the Body here.

   • Abba, You know all the stones of stumbling that are in the Interior Ministry - which is the gateway into this nation. Remove them all and replace them with folks who have a Zionist vision (Isa. 62:10).

   • Please bless all organizations - both Jewish and Christian - that are helping to bring Your people home.

IFI's Intercessory Prayer Conference will be held in a couple of weeks. We will try to have a daily video update of around 5 minutes posted on our website sometime in the afternoon - Israel time.

Since this is an extra burden on the leadership team, we do ask your prayers so that this will come to fruition.

Shabbat shalom from Zion,
The IFI team

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Yeshua, the Author and Finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb. 12:1-2