This is a special edition of our Friday Prayer Alert. Jerusalem is holding it's first marathon today. Since many of the streets are either closed or diverted, we were not sure if people could get to this morning's meeting, or get back home. So we cancelled it. Yet there are things that are happening that require prayer coverage. These are listed below.

We are also including a teaching that should aid you to intercede for Israel whether you know what is happening on the ground or not. This is important as there will probably be times in the future when people will not have access to the internet or other sources of news. We have seen this recently in Japan.

Here is a brief list of current items for prayer and praise.

• We have had some much needed rain this past week in Israel. Bless God for it, yet we need to continue to ask Him for more.

• There was a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem in which one person was murdered and around 50 injured. Thank God there was not more damage. May the Lord aid Israel's security forces to catch the ones who did this.

• We are seeing an increase of physical attacks on Israel. The Jerusalem bombing occurred in a week in which almost 100 missiles and rockets have hit Israel's southern communities, including the major cities, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba. Again, thank God for no fatalities. Yet there is always mental and emotional wounds from rockets landing in one's area. Please pray for the Israelis who live down south, especially the youth and children.

• The next major IDF incursion into Gaza to deal with the terrorist groups could be within days. Pray that when the IDF is released to deal with Israel's enemies, it would not be shackled by the government or international considerations.

• Let's continue to lift up Israel's leaders, especially PM Netanyahu and IDF head Benny Gantz.

The following teaching is by Chuck Cohen, one of IFI's directors.

How to pray for Israel - regardless of the headlines

1. Introduction: Considering that the current crisis and the headlines in and about Israel change very rapidly, how can we consistently intercede and know we are hitting God's target?

2. First, here are two basic foundations for effective intercession:

   1. We pray according to God's Word because it is only as we pray according to His will that we are confident that He hears and answers - in His timing:

      And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. [The Greek "hears" indicates listening with an intent to act on what is said.] And if we know that He hears us… we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

      1 John 5:14-15

      Why can we have this confidence in His Word? Because, God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Num. 23:19)

      God also states, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isa. 55:11). See also Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, etc.

   2. Our goal is the sanctification of God's name. In Hebraic/biblical thought, name equals essential nature or reputation. This is the foundation for what the Lord is doing today in Israel, in the Church and in our personal lives.

      Tanach [Old Testament] saints had this as one of the basic goals of their prayers. After Israel sinned by demanding a human king, Samuel exhorted the people saying, Fear not. You have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart…For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you… (1 Sam. 12:20,22-23a).

      The Psalms use this foundational concept frequently.

      Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name. Deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Your name's sake. Why should the gentiles say, Where is their God?

      Psa. 79:9-10a; cp. 115:1-3

      The most important and relevant chapter relating to Israel's restoration today is Ezekiel 36. Concerning Israel's return, God says, I am not doing this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the gentiles, where you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the gentiles shall know that I am the LORD…when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes (Ezek. 36:22-23).

      Messiah Yeshua undrstood this biblical concept of seeking God's glory first, so He commands us, After this manner therefore pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed [sanctified] be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10). Yeshua is saying that one of the ways in which God's name will be sanctified/glorified is by His will being done on earth. And that is what we see in the situations concerning Israel today.

3. As we see what God is accomplishing in and through Israel, then we can accurately pray about current issues.

   What is God's ultimate goal?

   For the earth [to] be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

   Hab. 2:14

   When will that happen? When Messiah Yeshua returns. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels… (Matt. 16:27a; see also Psa. 24:7-10; Zech. 2:5,8; Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Luke 2:32; Rev. 5:13, etc.)

   What is needed for Messiah Yeshua to return? First, the gospel must go from Jerusalem (Acts 1:8) unto the ends of the earth.

   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

   Matt. 24:14

   This has taken place and is continuing to occur today as multitudes are being saved in throughout the world - except in affluent "westernized" nations.

   Then from the ends of the earth, the scattered Jewish people need to be regathered. For I will take you from among the gentiles, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. (Ezek. 36:24; see also Psa. 147:2; Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 32:37-41; Amos 9:14-15; Zech. 8:7-8, etc.)

   Their return to the land will result in all Israel being saved. Many prophetic verses say that the Jews return in unbelief - then God opens up their spiritual eyes to see Yeshua, their Messiah and Lord. In Zechariah 12, nations come against a people already in Jerusalem and Judea. Then God says, I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me [in Hebrew: "look to Me"] whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zech. 12:10; see also Deut. 30:3-6; Jer. 33:7-8; Ezek. 36:24-28; Zeph. 3:14-20, etc.)

   Israel's salvation occurs before the physical return of the Lord because Yeshua is returning to Jerusalem (Zech. 14:3-4; Acts 1:10-12). And Yeshua said He will not return until He is invited back by Jerusalem as Messiah. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem [He is talking to the people, especially the leaders of Israel.], you that kill the prophets and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together…and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, You shall not see Me henceforth until you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. (Matt. 23:37-39) Blessed is he that comes in the name of YHWH [God's personal name in the Tanach] is quoted from Psalm 118:26. Many in Judaism see this verse as what they will say to their Messiah. Until a significant remnant in Israel says this from the heart, Yeshua will not return.

   For Israel to be saved, they need to be alive. God is not in the business of saving dead people (Heb. 9:27). For the Jews to remain alive - especially in Israel's neighborhood - they need a strong army. This also is a fulfillment of the prophetic word. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. (Ezek. 37:10; see also Isa. 41:10-16; Jer. 51:19-24; Mic. 4:11-13; Zech. 12:6, etc.)

   For Israel to be saved, they need a land to return to. In Ezekiel 36 and Zechariah 12, God deals with Israel once they are back in the land.

   For Israel to be saved and remain in His land, they need a godly government. This is also a prophetic promise from God. 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 I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them…saith the LORD. (Jer. 23:3-4; also Isa. 1:26; Jer. 3:14-15; Zech. 12:6, etc.).

   In other words, for God's Kingdom to come, that is for Yeshua to return, all Israel needs to be saved. For that to happen, she needs to be in the land of Israel (although we bless God for every Jew who has met Messiah while in exile). The land needs to be here for the Jews to return to it. Israel also needs to be able to protect her people, which requires a strong army. All of this entails having a government that - as much as possible - lines up with God's will.

   Anything that hinders this is not God's will. With this outline in mind, it becomes easier to pray into Israel's current situation.

4. We can now pray for Israel, regardless of her current situation. Here are just some areas for intercession that are always in line with God's will.

   • Cry out for Israel to cry out: Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shalt glorify Me. (Psa. 50:15; also 2 Chr. 7:14)

   • Plead for mercy in the midst of God's righteous judgments: LORD, I have heard Your speech, and was afraid. LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known. In wrath remember mercy. (Hab. 3:2; also Psa. 85:4)

   • Pray for aliyah: For thus says the LORD, Sing with gladness for Jacob, shout among the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together. A great company shall return there. (Jer. 31:7-8; also Psa. 147:2; Isa. 43:5-7; Ezek. 36:23-24)

   • Pray against any "Land for Peace" process: For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land. (Joel 3:1-2; also Lev. 25:23; Ezek 35:12-13)

   • Intercede for the salvation of Moslems through the destruction of Islam: Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Your name, LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever. Yes, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that You, whose name alone is YHWH, are the most high over all the earth. (Psa 83:16-18; also Zech 14:16)

   • Pray for Israel's salvation:
     

     And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

     Rom 11:26-27

     Turn us again, O God, and cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved…
     Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved…
     Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

     Psa 80:3,7,19

     See also Psalm 44:4 and Zechariah 12:10.

   • Intercede for the Church to awake to her responsibility and relationship to Israel:
     

     Ruth said, Do not beg me to leave you, or to turn from following after you, for where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God:

     Ruth 1:16

     I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

     Rom. 11:11

     Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root [God's covenantal promises to Israel], but the root you.

     Rom. 11:18

With a biblical foundation for our intercession, we are better able to hear the leading of God's Spirit as He places on our hearts His burdens for the nation of Israel - and the Church - in these days of great shakings.

Blessings from Zion and thank you.

Shabbat shalom
The IFI team

But the end of all things is at hand.
Be therefore sober-minded, and watch unto prayer.

1 Peter 4:7