1. We started by praising our wonderful God.

    • And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Him honor, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.

      Revelation 19:6-7

    • We proclaim that You do indeed reign (Psalm 103:19).

    • We bless You for calling us to Yourself and leading us in prayer this morning.

  2. The big news out of Israel is the impending release of Gilad Shalit, Israel's kidnapped soldier who has been in captivity under Hamas for five years. That is the good news. The bad news is that Israel has agreed to release over 1000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are terrorists, to bring Gilad home. We prayed into this situation in the following ways.

    1. First, we gave thanks to God for Gilad being returned to his nation, home and family.

      • Abba, we thank You for bringing this captive home.

      • Let nothing stop his release - unless You want it stopped.

      • A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted… because they were not. Thus says the LORD, refrain your voice from weeping, your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded… they shall come again from the land of the enemy… your children shall come again to their own border.

        Jeremiah 31:15-17

      • Restore Gilad and his family completely - emotionally, mentally, physically.

      • Reveal Messiah Yeshua to him and his family.

    2. This is not a good deal security-wise. Historically, many released terrorists went back to killing Israelis. So we next prayed for the security issues surrounding this situation.

      • Lord, enable Israel's security forces to track and monitor the released terrorists.

      • Reveal beforehand if any of them are planning further terrorist attacks.

      • If any are planning to murder more Israelis - may Your fear fall upon and stop them.

      • And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.

        2 Chronicles 20:29

      • Have mercy on Your people Israel. May this deal not lead to any further deaths.

      • Let Israel's mercy and desire to redeem it's captive be the message that is seen - and may this not be seen as a message of weakness to her enemies.

    3. Survivors of terror attacks and Israelis whose friends and/or family members have been killed by terrorism, will have real difficulty in agreeing with this deal. All of their fears, hurts and memories of what happened will spring up involuntarily. The ultimate answer is for them to find peace in Messiah Yeshua. So we prayed for their salvation.

      • Abba, use this valley of terrible memories to draw these people closer to Yourself.

      • Lord, Yeshua, You are the only one who can heal all of their wounds - spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.

        The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

        Isaiah 61:1

      • Give these survivors compassion and joy for the Shalits.

      • Do not allow the anger of man to prevail.

      • Do not allow this to add to their torment, but instead to contribute to their total healing.

  3. Hamas and other terrorist groups have already said that they will continue to try and kidnap more Israelis - soldiers and civilians. We prayed into this very real threat.

    • Lord, prevent any further successful kidnapping attempts.

    • We bless You for all of the unsuccessful attempts of the past number of years.

    • Reveal all of the enemies plans and confound them (Psalm 129:5).

    • Keep all of Israel's soldiers alert.

    • We look to You because You who watch over this nation are never taken by surprise.

    • Behold, He that keeps/guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

      Psalms 121:4

  4. Israel's government is looking to rethink it's policy of how to deal with this issue.

    • Abba, please impart to the government a godly policy - one that is good in Your sight.

    • Move upon Israel to have guidelines and policies that are more in line with Your Word than the humanistic tendencies of today's world.

    • Raise up governmental advisors to recommend policies that strengthen Israel against her enemies and enable her to be a "light to the nations".

    • Do this for Your holy name's sake.

      Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatever He has pleased.

      Psalms 115:1-3

  5. An uncovered Iranian plot to kill Saudi Arabia's US ambassador in Washington D.C. has given the world a window of opportunity to deal with the Iranian nuclear weapons threat. We do not believe the world will do anything about it - but the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel might! Historically, an incident like this would be a cause to go to war.

    • Lord, thank You for revealing and stopping this plot.

    • Expose any further Iranian plans to bring death and destruction to the West.

    • Give wisdom from on high to America, Saudi Arabia and Israel on how to respond.

    • Concerning Israel and Saudi Arabia, may this Arabic saying become true in dealing with Iran: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

    • Thank You for this window of opportunity. May nations take advantage of it to remove the current Iranian regime before it gains access to nuclear weapons.

    • Use the soon to be released International Atomic Energy Agency report - that is rumored to expose the dangers of Iran's nuclear program - to wake up the nations to that danger.

    • Lord, arise and scatter Your enemies.

      Rebuke the company of spearmen…scatter the people that delight in war.

      Psalms 68:1,30

    • Protect the Iranian believers and give them an anointing to pray.

    • The Iranian church sees this prophecy as relating to them. Elam is where Iran sits today.

      Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them…I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, before them that seek their life, and I will bring evil upon them, even My fierce anger…I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says the LORD.

      Jeremiah 49:35-38

  6. When Sukkot ends next week, many in Israel will start praying for rain. Why wait?

    • Lord, Israel has experienced a semi-drought for a decade now. We plead with You to end it this season.

    • We bless You for the rain You have already sent to this land and for the rain forecasted for this weekend. And we ask for more Lord.

    • May the rains from heaven fall in just the right areas - to fill the Sea of Galilee and all of Israel's aquifers.

    • With the upheaval in all of the surrounding nations, we bring these verses before You:

      Have you entered into the treasures of the snow, or seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, the day of battle and war?

      Job 38:22-23

    • Ask of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain. So the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

      Zechariah 10:1

    • Abba, we ask You for rain in Yeshua's name. Amen!

  7. We are encouraged that the number of Jews who returned home to Israel this past year was up by 20%. Also there was a significant number of Israelis coming back. God is hearing and answering prayers for thealiyah. Please continue to pray for the Jews in your nation to see the handwriting on the wall and come home. Pray as well, for the Church to hear God's exalted Right Hand - Yeshua - telling them to help in this end time return.

    • He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep/guard him, as a shepherd does his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10b

    • Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the Gentiles, and set up My standard to the people. They shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

      Isaiah 49:22

  8. We ended our time praying for the salvation of Israel.

    • In the last day, that great day of the feast [of Sukkot], Yeshua stood and cried aloud, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the scripture has said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.  (This He spoke of the Spirit, whom they that believe on Him should receive - for the Holy Spirit was not yet given [as a permanent gift from the Father], because Yeshua was not yet glorified.)

      John 7:37-39

    • Lord, now You are glorified, so send Your Spirit on all in Israel who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

    • As Your people sit in their sukkot - their booths - make them realize how insubstantial this life really is and to lift their eyes to the Rock of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:3-4).

    • Abba, remove the veil over their eyes and grace them to see Your Son - their Messiah.

Shabbat shalom and hag Sukkot sameach,
The IFI Team

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel;
be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The LORD has taken away your judgments.
He has cast out your enemy.
The king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you:
you shall not see evil any more.

Zephaniah 3:14-15