1. The prophetic portion for the Shabbat of Chanukah week is Zechariah 2:10-4:7.

    • Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many gentiles shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be My people, and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me unto you. And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

      Zechariah 2:10-12

    • This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring forth the headstone shouting 'Grace, grace' unto it.

      Zechariah 4:6-7

    • We bless You Abba for this season of light that both the Jewish and Christian communities are celebrating.

    • We thank You that Yeshua Your Son is Emmanuel to us.

      Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.

      Isaiah 7:14

  2. We began by praying for Israel's still critical water situation. The forecast is for rain this weekend - including snow over Mt. Hermon starting Christmas eve and continuing all Christmas day!

    • Bless You Lord for giving us heavy dew this morning.

    • Please Abba, open up the heavens and send rain and snow to Your land during this season.

    • Fill the Sea of Galilee and all of Israel's underground aquifers.

    • Abba, do this so that Your people will see Your hand at work today.

    • When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 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 has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

      Isaiah 41:17-20

    • Yeshua said You send the rain on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45b). So we are not asking this because of Israel's righteousness - but because of Your faithfulness.

  3. Israel is on a high security alert throughout the nation, as danger lurks on many sides. In the south Israel faces Hamas and other terror organizations in Gaza, as well as terrorists in the Sinai. In the north, there are threats from Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the situation in Syria is a real danger to Israel. We prayed for all of Israel to be prepared for the days ahead.

    • Lord, help all sections of Israeli society to be ready for whatever befalls this nation.

    • Prepare the military with wisdom, courage and insight to know how to respond to attacks, and to prevent or preempt many of them.

    • Blessed be the LORD my strength, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. My goodness, my fortress, my high tower, and my deliverer and shield - He in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me.

      Psalms 144:1-2

    • Enable Israel's Air Force to take the battle to the enemy.

      As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem.

      Isaiah 31:5a

    • Please bless all of Israel's fighter pilots with wisdom, courage, insight and alertness and do not allow any of them to fall into the enemies' hands.

    • In order for all Israel to be saved, all Israel needs to be alive! Therefore, arise God and protect Your people.

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

      Jeremiah 31:10

    • Prepare the government on what to do and how to explain Israel's situation to both the Israeli people and the rest of the world.

    • Raise up in the government children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do... (1 Chronicles 12:32)

    • Forbid this government from doing anything for the sake of being politically correct as opposed to doing that which is best for this nation - that which lines up with Your will.

    • Make this a godly government:

      For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same, for he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he bears not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

      Romans 13:3-4

    • Prepare the people, the shelters, the hospitals, etc.

  4. We then prayed about the Iranian nuclear threat hanging over Israel and much of the rest of the world.

    • I will set My throne in Elam [ancient Iran], and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says the LORD.

      Jeremiah 49:38

    • Thank You for setting Your throne in Elam/Iran and bringing many Iranians to faith in Messiah Yeshua daily.

    • Strengthen and protect all of our Iranian brothers and sisters in Messiah.

    • We also thank You Lord for all the acts of sabotage occurring in Iran almost weekly.

      Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let them that hate Him flee before Him… Rebuke the company of spearmen…scatter the people that delight in war.

      Psalms 68:1,30

    • Lord, continue to shake Iran physically, economically and politically.

    • Continue to confound Iran's leadership so that all their decisions are the wrong ones.

      Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

      Psalms 129:5

    • Cause the fear of the God of Israel fall upon Iran - and any other nations that are cursing Your people.

    • If Israel needs to attack Iran - impart to Israeli planners the when, where and how of any operation and go out with Israel's armies out to the battle.

    • Yeshua, You stated that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25). We ask that You widen the existing division between the Sunni and Shia factions of Islam and use that to bring the whole house of Islam crashing to the ground.

    • Abba, whatever it takes for the people of the Middle East to finally know that the God of Israel is the One True God - do it, and glorify Your holy name (Psalm 115:1-3).

  5. The Palestinian Authority's Fatah and the terrorist group Hamas are holding more unity talks and this time it appears that they have a chance of being successful. The plan is to incorporate all the various Palestinian groups - most of which are terrorists - under the PLO umbrella. If this happens, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has already said the 'peace process' would be finished. After all, how should Israel negotiate with groups whose goal is to wipe it off the map and kill every Jew in the world! (http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hamas_charter.pdf) And since the 'peace process' is based on the unbiblical 'land-for-peace' formula, we prayed for these unity talks to succeed!

    • Thank You for Hamas' honesty in openly declaring their goal. Help the West to have enough respect for them to actually believe them and not try to make weak excuses for why they say the things they say!

    • Lord, open up the eyes of more Israelis to see the real heart intent of the current Palestinian leadership - regardless of which group the Palestinians are associated with.

    • Use a successful conclusion to these talks to put the final nail in the coffin of the deadly 'Oslo peace process' once and for all.

    • We ask You to hold Netanyahu to his threat to end the 'peace process' if Hamas is a part of the PA/PLO leadership.

    • When the 'peace' is dead, give Israel boldness to annex her ancient biblical land of Judea and Samaria (Jeremiah 31:4-5; Zechariah 12:2-3).

  6. The Chanukah/Christmas season is a wonderful time to press into God and ask Him for many of the house of Israel to receive their Messiah and Savior Yeshua.

    • Abba, use this season to reveal Your Son - the true light of the world - to Your people.

    • I am the light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

      John 8:12

    • As the light of the Chanukiah [the Chanukah menorah] increases each night, bring an increase in the revelation of Messiah Yeshua.

    • Save multitudes of unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

    • Many Israelis are fascinated by Christmas. Lord, as they go to various churches and events this season, may the real story of the birth of Israel's King be told.

    • We bless You that Messiah Yeshua came to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. (Luke 2:32)

  7. We continue to pray for aliyah - the return of Jews from exile to the land of Israel.

    • Lord, we thank You for the increase in aliyah this past year.

    • We especially bless You for all of the Israelis who came back home in 2011.

    • At this time, speak to Your people in exile, "Next year in Jerusalem!"

    • Use the economic shakings and increase in anti-Semitism to awaken Jews to the dangers they face when living outside the borders of this nation (Jeremiah 16:16).

    • Open up the doors for all the remaining Ethiopians Jews and all the Bnei Menashe [Jews in India] that want to be here - to be able to come here next year.

    • Provide for families that have come back - especially those of the household of faith - so that they do not look back to the leeks and onions of exile and want to return there.

    • By Your grace and mercy maintain Israel's strong economy.

    • We ask boldly for all of this because You said You would do it for Your glory:

      Fear not: for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, give up, and to the south, keep not back. Bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth - even every one that is called by My name, for I have created him for My glory…This people have I formed for Myself. They shall show forth My praise.

      Isaiah 43:5-7a, 21

We finished by praying for IFI's International Prayer Conference, for wisdom for the leadership, for grace for those traveling to Jerusalem, and for God to provide a way for all those He has ordained to be here this January.

Shabbat shalom and hag sameach,

The IFI Team

Isaiah 9:6-7