1. The prophetic portion for this Shabbat is Isaiah 54:11-55:5. We looked at a part of it this morning to encourage us in praise.

    • O, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not food, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently unto Me. Eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me. Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

      Isaiah 55:1-3

    • We bless You for giving us Your everlasting covenant in the Son of David, Yeshua our Messiah and Lord.

    • We praise You for Yeshua, the surety/the pledge of the new and everlasting covenant (Hebrews 7:22).

    • Hallelujah, for Your steadfast love that endures forever.

    • We bless You for the gift of faith to accept Your amazing grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).

  2. The southern part of Israel is still under attack. There were over 15 rocket attacks just yesterday. Today, there are reports that the Gaza terror groups are willing to abide by a cease-fire. Yet Israel needs to know what to do regardless of what the Enemy's forces decide. We prayed for Israel's government to make decisions which line up with the Word of God.

    • For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil… For he is God's minister for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

      Romans 13:3a,4

    • From this week's prophetic portion:

      Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by Me. Whoever gathers together against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, that brings forth an instrument for his work, and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, says the LORD.

      Isaiah 54:15-17

    • Thank You for the action - although limited - that the IDF has taken against Israel's foes.

    • Abba, give this government wisdom to know how to respond at this time.

    • Raise up godly advisors for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak and any other people who have the responsibility to protect this people.

      For by wise counsel wage war, and in multitude of counselors there is safety [victory, deliverance, salvation].

      Proverbs 24:6; also 20:18

    • We thank You for exposing the true face of Israel's enemies. Wake up many in the world to see and understand what this says about any further "land-for-peace" moves.

    • Ultimately, we look to You to defend this nation, so we say, Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let them also that hate Him flee before Him. (Psalms 68:1)

  3. We prayed for Israel's security forces. There is a threat today, the last Friday of Islam's holy month of Ramadan, of Palestinians marching on Jerusalem from all directions. The security forces need to know how to stop this or any other attempts to breach the borders of this nation.

    • Provide angelic protection over Jerusalem today.

    • We remind You of what You said concerning Jerusalem, I will defend this city to save it for My own sake, and for My servant David's sake. (Isaiah 37:35)

    • LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.

      Psalms 3:1-4

    • Protect Your Temple Mount from any further desecrations by the Spirit of Islam.

    • Reveal to many Moslems today that You have set Your King upon Your holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6).

    • Protect Jerusalem's newly running light rail system in from any terror attacks.

  4. Next, we interceded for Israel's security in all its territories.

    • Lord of Hosts, help Israel's various security services to be completely coordinated and of one mind in how to deal with all of the various threats facing this nation.

    • As per Isaiah 54:17, we say that no weapon against this nation will prosper - in whatever form it may be.

    • Give both wisdom and discernment to know where the real danger is coming from.

    • Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. (Psalms 129:5) Amen!

    • As You did in biblical times, turn our enemies against each other.

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

      Psalms 55:9

    • Give supernatural watchfulness to all of Israel's soldiers.

    • Protect all of Israel's borders by both natural and supernatural means.

    • We bless You that regardless of what happens, nothing ever takes You by surprise.

    • Please quicken Israel's security forces so that they are also not taken by surprise as they were in last week's terror attack.

  5. Social protests are still taking place in many Israeli cities. And while there are issues that need to be resolved, the solutions many of the protesters are wanting is a path away from biblical social justice. Meanwhile, the attacks against Netanyahu, especially in the mainstream media - as if he is the main cause of the financial problems, when he is actually one of the main reasons Israel's economy is doing so well - is definitely politically driven.

    • Abba, we do confess that there are iniquities in our social system, that many are greedy and self-centered. Forgive us as a people and raise up a biblical standard of social justice.

    • As in this week's Torah portion, help us be a nation that helps the poor and needy.

      …you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open wide your hand unto him, and lend him sufficient for his need… You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you do, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to. The poor shall never cease out of the land, therefore I command you… [to] open wide your hand unto your brother, your poor, and your needy, in your land.

      Deuteronomy 15:7-11

    • Thank You for Israel's strong economy and very low unemployment rate [5.6%].

    • Bless You for the resolution of the doctor's strike this past week.

    • Enable there to be God ordained decisions by the government to aid the poor and needy without putting the rest of this nation at risk - either financially or with it's security.

    • Help Israelis understand that this is not only the government's responsibility to help the poor and give to Israelis a generous heart to help from their own pockets.

    • Empower the Israeli Messianic Jewish body to be part of the solution.

    • Lead us by Your Spirit to know which situations You want us to help with.

    • We bless You for all the believing organizations that aid the poor in Israel.

  6. We prayed for PM Bibi Netanyahu. It seems that everywhere he turns, there are crises that he needs to deal with. Only God can sustain and empower him for this time.

    • Abba, reveal Messiah Yeshua to him.

    • Provide Bibi with wisdom from on high, and with godly courage and strength.

    • Give him grace to know Your will and empower him to make decisions in line with that.

    • Help Bibi know what he needs to personally handle and what he can delegate.

    • Let his words be few and his actions strong.

    • Shield him from the continual media onslaught (Psalm 140:7).

    • Keep him humble and protect him from political ambition.

    • Make him a statesman after Your own heart (Proverbs 21:1).

    • Give him time to read Your Word - at least on Shabbat if not more often.

    • Bless his wife and sons.

    • We bless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the name above all names - Yeshua.

  7. As the UN annual meeting in New York City draws near, the decision by the Palestinian Authority's President Abbas, backed by the Arab League, still stands. The PA will ask the UN to recognize a "Palestine" on the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as it's capital. Although it most likely will be vetoed in the Security Council by the US [Obama willing!?], it should receive a majority of the nations voting for it the General Assembly. And then Israel will be seen even more as a pariah nation and the stumbling block to world peace.

    • Lord, show us how to pray. Is this of You or is this the enemy trying to pre-empt Your timing of when all nations come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3)?

    • We confirm that Israel's legitimacy comes from You alone.

      Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night …If these ordinances depart from before Me…then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever.

      Jeremiah 31:35-36

    • Give Israel supreme wisdom on how to respond after this vote - both diplomatically and on the security front.

    • Empower Ron Prosor, Israel's UN Ambassador, to speak truth in the UN and not become a beggar of favors from the world.

    • Enable all of us to be biblically correct and not politically correct - in our prayers, in our speaking, our preaching and our lives.

    • Abba, watch over Your word that states 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. (Psalms 33:10-11)

    • Lord, wake up Your Body internationally to understand that if their nation votes for the establishment of a Palestinian State on Your land, their nation will find itself deeper in the Valley of Your judgment (Joel 3:1-2).

We finished by praying for the new school year which begins in Israel this next week. We prayed for parents in the south of the country who will need to make life-and-death decisions concerning whether to send their children to school even when rockets are flying into their areas from Gaza. We also prayed for teachers to be anointed to teach truth to their students and praised God for Israel's current minister of education, Gidon Sa'ar, who is doing a wonderful job of restoring a Zionistic vision into the Israeli curriculum.

We also prayed for one of IFI's directors, Chuck Cohen, who is starting a three week ministry trip in England and Wales next week.

Blessings from Zion and Shabbat shalom
The IFI Team