1. We hold our Friday meetings on the 14th floor of one of the tallest buildings in Jerusalem. Today, as we looked out over the city, we praised the Lord for fulfilling His prophetic word right before our eyes.

    • We bless You for building Jerusalem (Psalm 147:2)

    • Thank You for doing this despite the opposition from most the world.

    • Hallelujah! You are faithful and able to watch over Your word to do it (Jeremiah 1:12).

    • For the LORD has chosen Zion. He has desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever. Here will I dwell, for I have desired it.

      Psalms 132:13-14

  2. Yesterday, the IDF Chief of Staff, Benny Gantz, contradicted what both Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have been saying about Iran. Gantz said that sanctions are working and that they have bought the world more time to deal with Iran's nuclear weapons program. That the head of Israel's military contradicted its' political leadership in public is very troubling. Of course, this could all be a ploy at misdirection - but at this time, it does not look good.

    • Abba, bring the truth to light about this situation (John 3:21).

    • If Gantz really spoke against Netanyahu and Barak, we ask that You remove him quickly.

    • Protect the current government from all confusion, dissention and manipulation.

    • We proclaim over Israel's current leadership, Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel… (Numbers 23:23)

    • Lord, allow only Your will to prevail (Psalm 33:10-11).

    • There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared against the day of battle - but safety is of the LORD.

      Proverbs 21:30-31

  3. Iran's leadership continues to press forward toward their demonic goal to destroy Israel and America and rule over the Middle East. Although international sanctions have cut into Iran's economy, they have not stopped its striving for nuclear weapons. As usual, we first asked God to deal with this situation sovereignly.

    • Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God…

      Psalms 3:7a

      Arise, O LORD, in Your anger, …because of the rage of my enemies…

      Psalms 7:6a

      Arise, O God, plead Your own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

      Psalms 74:22

    • We thank You for all that You are doing already: the earthquakes, the political divisions, the economic pressure, the work 'accidents' and computer viruses, and the salvation of multitudes of Iranians.

    • We ask that You would increase the shakings in each of these areas and even shake some new areas as well.

    • Sow much confusion into the political and military leaders (Psalm 57:6; 129:5).

    • Lord, as in this week's prophetic portion (2 Kings 7:3-20), use something or someone as weak and foolish as four lepers to send Iran's leaders and army into a panic.

    • Push the leadership into making serious errors of judgment in all areas.

    • Lord, we ask all this for Your holy name's sake, because You have tied Your name and Your reputation to the nation of Israel.

      Thus says YHWH, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who divides the sea when the waves roar; YHWH of hosts is His name, if those ordinances depart from before Me… then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever. Thus says YHWH, if heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, [then] I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done…

      Jeremiah 31:35-37

  4. God has used Israel in the past - including in modern history - to deal with nations under Islamic rule to defeat and shame them. Because of this, multitudes of Moslems have seen the light (some in literal visions and dreams), and have come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, Messiah Yeshua. And God may choose to use Israel again in dealing with the Iranian threat.

    • You are My battle axe and weapon of war, for with You I will break in pieces the nations, and with you will I destroy kingdoms;

      Jeremiah 51:20, see vv. 19-24

    • Abba, if You want to use Israel to deal with Iran, we ask that You give the government much wisdom and courage and unity.

    • Give them wisdom concerning what to do and when and how to do it.

    • May the result be a complete destruction of Iran's nuclear program.

    • Almighty God of Israel, may it also result in Your fear falling on all of Israel's neighbors.

    • Provide all of the up-to-date intelligence Israel will need to accomplish this task.

    • Prepare the IDF to do the job completely.

    • Enable Israel to be ready for all the international condemnation that will come upon her the day after the attack.

    • Encourage us to persist in prayer until this issue is resolved.

      [Yeshua] spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

      Luke 18:1

  5. Yesterday, on Israel's 64th birthday, many Israelis traveled throughout their land. We prayed for this special land that God has promised to give to Israel (over 200 times in His word - including 40 times swearing to do it), that it would not be divided any more. Also, that the settlers, who are on the land, in obedience to His Word, would meet their Messiah.

    • Thank You for restoring Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to Your people.

    • We bless You for watching over Your word:

      …I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel…You shall yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria…

      Jeremiah 31:3-5

    • Protect those in Judea and Samaria whom You have planted there (Amos 9:14-15).

    • Bring many more Israelis to visit and settle in these areas.

    • We specifically ask that You would not allow the communities of Migron and Ulpana to be uprooted.

    • Give to both the government and the Supreme Court wisdom on how to reach a biblical compromise on these - and all other - disputed communities in Judea and Samaria.

    • Thank You for hardening the hearts of the Palestinian leadership so that they have not accepted any 'land-for-peace' plan so far.

    • Continue to do this so that no Israeli government has a 'peace' partner to whom they can give away Your land (Leviticus 25:23).

    • We are in this land according to Your word: …and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 1:17b)

    • Keep us here and protect us, also according to Your word (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10).

    • Abba, draw the modern religious settlers unto Yourself, by giving them a divine encounter with Messiah Yeshua.

      All things are delivered unto Me of My Father, and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

      Matthew 11:27

  6. One of the best ways to guard this land is through massive aliyah- a huge move of Jews from exile to Israel.

    • 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…

      Isaiah 43:5-7a

    • Lord, since aliyah is for Your glory, we ask boldly for a huge increase this year.

    • Before the hunters are fully released in the West (Jeremiah 16:16), wake up the Jews there that today is a good day to come home.

    • Cause Messianic Jews to be willing to hear You in this matter.

      The ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy…they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

      Isaiah 35:10; also 51:11

    • Lord, make a way for those who want to return - but for various reasons of either faith, or health, or proof of Jewishness, or finances - are not able to do so at this time.

    • Open wide the doors in Israel to receive all who want to return to their homeland.

    • Bring more Holocaust survivors home. Let them be able to spent their final few years in the place for which their forefathers prayed for almost 2,000 years.

  7.   We finished our time by specifically interceding for PM Bibi Netanyahu.

    • Thank You for raising Bibi up to lead this nation at this time.

    • Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself.

      Psalms 80:17

    • Protect and encourage him this weekend.

    • Give him great peace in his house.

    • Give him discernment concerning all of the counsel he receives.

    • Continue to use Israel's leader to speak truth to all who have ears to hear.

    • Draw Bibi to Yourself.

      You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you…

      John 15:16

Thank you for your persistent prayers for us and this nation.

Shabbat shalom,

The IFI team