1. We starting by looking at the last words of Moses.

    • There is none like the God of Yeshurun [i.e., Israel], who rides upon the heaven in your help, and in His majesty on the sky. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…[Most believers stop reading or quoting at this point - yet it is the middle of a sentence, and the last thing Moses said under the inspiration of God's Spirit relates to what is happening in Israel today!]… and He shall thrust out the enemy from before you, and say, Destroy them. Then Israel shall dwell in safety alone… his heavens shall drop down dew. Blessed are you O Israel. Who is like you, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your majesty! And your enemies shall be found liars unto you and you shall tread upon their high places.

      Deut. 33:26-29

    • Lord, we bless You for who You are, and that You never change (Mal. 3:6).

    • We are so grateful that You have chosen us - and Israel - for Your holy name's sake.

    • You will watch over Your word to accomplish it (Num. 23:19; Jer. 1:12)

    • Hallelujah, for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!

  2. Israel was amazed last week when, expecting the parliament to be dissolved and early elections to be called, they woke up Tuesday and found that Bibi Netanyahu had formed one of the largest coalition governments in Israel's modern history. Kadima, headed by Shaul Mofaz, joined Bibi's Likud-led government, which now will apparently run its full course, until October 2013. We were not convinced that early elections was God's will, and asked for Him to overrule - which He did. We now have a responsibility to intercede for Israel's current government to be all that God has raised them up to be.

    • Abba, we thank You for overruling the plans of man (Prov. 16:9; Jer. 10:23) and stopping Israel from having to go to early elections.

    • Lord, You promised to give Israel godly leaders in the last days. We ask that You watch over Your word and bring it to pass with this government at this season.

    • I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

      Isa. 1:26

    • 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. They shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says the LORD.

      Jer. 23:3-4

    • Bring this government in alignment with Your will.

    • Enable the leaders to lead with integrity.

    • Lord, please bring a real unity of purpose between Netanyahu, Mofaz and the rest of the coalition leaders.

    • Give this government godly standards.

    • Lord, help this current government to pass legislation that is pleasing in Your sight.

    • There is a commitment to change the way the current Israeli governmental system works. This is much needed. Pray for it to be done and to bring in a new system that will be pleasing to God.

    • There is also a commitment to revise the Tal law, which gives deferments to ultra-Orthodox citizens from serving in the IDF to study. One plan is to make some form of national service mandatory for every Israeli citizen- including the ultra-Orthodox and the Arabs. Pray that this too is passed and that it will bring a sense of greater equality to all Israeli citizens.

    • Lord Yeshua, we declare that ultimately, this government is on Your shoulders (Isa. 9:6-7).

  3. We bless God that Bibi Netanyahu is still Israel's Prime Minister. He absolutely needs to be covered by our prayers - maybe even more now than before. The snares of both man and the devil are waiting for him.

    • Lord, we bless You for Netanyahu and we bless him in the name of Messiah Yeshua.

    • He has proved to be a very intelligent politician. Now make him Your anointed statesman.

    • Fulfill Jeremiah 30:21 in Bibi's life. Cause him to draw near You: …their governor shall proceed from the midst of them, and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me, for who is this that engaged his heart to approach Me? says the LORD.

    • The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD… He turns it wherever He will.

      Prov. 21:1

    • Lord, teach us how to pray for Israel's leader in very specific ways.

    • Surround him with godly counsel and give him the discernment to recognize all counsel that is not of You (Prov. 19:21; 20:18).

    • Prevent Bibi from moving one iota to the left.

    • Keep him on the path that is most pleasing to You - so that Your will is done in Israel.

  4. In a couple of weeks, the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany, [aka, P5+1], will be meeting in Baghdad with Iran. This will be the 2nd recent meeting - hoping to turn Iran away from it's nuclear program and turn the world away from war. Meanwhile, Iran is happily advancing their nuclear program in the face of several UN resolutions and sanctions. Iran's having a nuclear weapon is a threat to both the West and Israel.

    • Lord, bring all that Iran is doing in darkness - to light.

      Yes, the darkness cannot hide from You, but the night shines as the day. Darkness and light are both alike to You.

      Psa. 139:12

    • Reveal openly and repeatedly Iran's true heart intent.

    • Wake up the world to the very dangerous reality of not dealing with Iran.

    • Wake up the world to the religious fanaticism that rules over Iran.

    • Lord, You who will inherit all nations (Psa. 82:8), arise - scatter Your enemies (Psa. 68:1).

    • Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail. Let the gentiles be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

      Psa. 9:19-20

  5. We next prayed for Israel's response to the results of the P5+1 meeting.

    • Abba, we lift up Your Word over this situation: The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the people of none effect. The LORD's counsel stands forever. The thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. (Psa. 33:10-12)

    • Thank You for Bibi who has been warning the world with the uncomfortable truth about the dangers of Islamic regime in Iran obtaining weapons of mass destruction for over 20 years. Now give him divine wisdom to know what Israel needs to do (1 Chr. 12:32).

    • Raise up the advisors Bibi and the other Israeli leaders need to make the right decision.

      For by wise counsel you shall make war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.

      Prov. 24:6; cp. 15:22; 20:18

    • If Israel needs to pre-empt, enable it to do so in such a way that Iran's nuclear program is totally destroyed and multitudes of Muslims in both Iran and the rest of the world come to know Yeshua.

      In every province, and… city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. Now in the 12th month… on the 13th day… when the king's commandment and his decree drew near… in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

      Est. 8:17-9:1

  6. This week's Torah and prophetic portion revolves around the land of Israel being sacred because it belong to God. We used that to pray that no more parts of the land would be given away, and that settlements that are supposed to be evacuated, would remain.

    • The land shall not be sold forever, for the land is Mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.

      Lev. 25:23

    • Since this is Your land, we ask that You would oversee it - for Your glory!

    • Do not allow any more settlers or settlements be uprooted (Amos 9:15).

    • Watch over this verse and fulfill it in Your own way and timing. The LORD is King forever and ever: the non-believers are perished out of His land. (Psa. 10:16)

    • Abba, may the same standard of judgment apply to both Jews and Arabs living in Judea and Samaria. That which is illegal, may it be illegal for all parties.

    • Hedge in Israel's Supreme Court from making humanistic decisions that go against Your will and word.

    • May the fear of Israel's God be greater in the hearts of Israel's leaders than the fear of man.

    • The LORD is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me?

      Psa. 118:6

      The fear of man brings a snare: but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

      Prov. 29:25

  7. We interceded for the IDF soldiers, many of whom are in their teens and early 20's. We also prayed for the Messianic Jews in the IDF - that they would be salt and light to all of their fellow soldiers. We ask for safety and alertness and blessed them for their willingness to lay down their lives for this nation and its people.

  8. We finished by praying for the Church to receive the burden of Paul, that of seeing all Israel saved.

    I say the truth in Messiah, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom is the adoption, and the glory, the covenants, and the giving of the law, the service of God, the promises, and the fathers. And of whom as concerning the flesh Messiah came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

    Rom. 9:1-5

Blessings from Zion and Shabbat shalom,

The IFI team