1. Starting this Shabbat, the prophetic portion in the synagogues focus on 'comfort'. We read sections from Isaiah 40 and then praised our great God.

    • Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God. Speak lovingly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is done, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins…The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

      Isaiah 40:1-2,8

    • We are very thankful for the gift of Your Word - both the Living Word Yeshua and Your written word.

    • Hallelujah! Because of Your precious Word, we can know the truth in these final days of mass deception (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24-25).

    • Yeshua we declare that by Your Spirit, You are here among us (Matthew 18:20).

    • Please lead us in prayer for Your holy name's sake.

  2. In 1st Timothy 2:1-4, Paul instructs us to prayer first of all for those in authority. Our focus today was on Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, who have passed through the cabinet economic changes to protect this nation from the financial shakings hitting the rest of the world. But these changes are not popular because they involve a rise in VAT and taxes, etc.

    • Abba, impart to both of these men an ability to clearly express why these changes are necessary.

    • Thank You for giving Netanyahu the courage to pass unpopular - but necessary - measures, to keep Israel financially stable.

    • Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.

      Proverbs 14:34

    • We pray against any political manipulation from parties inside the government that would try and get more than their fair share (Proverbs 2:10-15).

    • Guide Netanyahu and Steinitz if there are any adjustments that need to be made (Proverbs 21:1).

    • May the media's reports be true and fair (1 Kings 10:6; Philippians 4:8).

  3. Concerning Iran, our first burden was that Israeli leaders - especially those currently out of office - would keep their opinions to themselves. Unless there is a disinformation campaign that they are all in on, there is way too much talk about Iran. Attack! Don't attack! Strike now! Wait for America! Enough!

    • Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things… And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So the tongue is set among our members, spotting all the body and inflaming the course of nature, and being inflamed by hell.

      James 3:5-6

    • Lord, shut the mouths of the lions who are trying to destroy that which You are orchestrating.

    • Hedge in the media and do not allow them to use these so-called experts as a source of confusion.

    • Let the words of [their] mouth and the meditation of [their] heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, [Israel's] Rock and Redeemer.

      Psalms 19:14

  4. We prayed next for God Himself to deal with Iran and her facilities that develop nuclear weapons.

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

      Psalms 68:1-2

    • Keep not silence, O God; do not be speechless; be not still. For behold, Your enemies roar; those who hate You have lifted up their head. They take shrewd counsel against Your people, and plot against Your hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, so that the name Israel may be remembered no more.

      Psalms 83:1-4

    • Abba, we know You can deal with this threat to Your people sovereignly. And since that would seem to bring You the most glory, we ask that You do just that.

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

      Psalms 115:1-3

    • As per Your word in Jeremiah 49:38 concerning Elam/Iran, destroy the king and the rulers…

    • When You act, may the fear of the God of Israel fall on that whole nation.

  5. God could use Israel as His weapon of war (Jeremiah 51:20) to attack Iran. He has used this nation for this both in biblical and modern times. Therefore, we prayed…

    • Provide all of the necessary intelligence to help Israel's leaders make the right decision.

    • There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the counsel of the LORD shall stand.

      Proverbs 19:21

    • Download Your timing, strategies and tactics to Israel's leaders to do the job efficiently and totally.

    • Reveal all of the right targets - no matter where they are hidden.

    • If Israel decides to attack, may it be with such overwhelming force and speed that the fear of the God of Israel falls on all of the Islamic nations in the Middle East (Exodus 15:25b).

    • Preform a miracle and bring Israel's leadership into one accord (Psalm 133:1).

    • Enable the government and military leaders to operate as one man.

    • We ask You to make PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF's head Benny Gantz a threefold cord (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

  6. The situation in Syria is out of control. Even Kofi Annan, the UN's special representative has quit. The civil war in Syria is very dangerous. Remember, Syria has the world's largest stockpiles of both chemical and biological weapons. There is evidence that among the anti-Assad forces are many Islamist terror groups. Israel is keeping a close watch over Assad's WMD and is willing to go to war to prevent them from getting in the hands of groups like Hizbullah in Lebanon.

    • Lord, uncover all of Syria's stockpiles of WMD to Israeli intelligence.

    • Give Israel wisdom from on high as to what to do and when to do it - and the resolve to do whatever it takes to prevent the transference of these weapons in hands more dangerous than Assad's.

    • Captain of the LORD's hosts, speak as directly to our leaders as You did to Joshua concerning how to defeat Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:5).

    • Hedge in and confound Hizbullah (Psalm 129:5).

    • Force them into making miscalculations and shame them in the eyes of the rest of the Islamic world.

    • Provide supernatural wisdom and courage to enable Israel to protect her northern border.

    • Protect the innocent among the Syrian people.

  7. Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah told us to Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who…persecute you, (Matthew 5:44). So we did by praying for multitudes of Muslims to get saved at this time, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

    • Today, Lord Yeshua, reveal Yourself to many Muslims.

    • Yeshua, walk among those who will be on Jerusalem's Temple Mount this day.

    • Give to many who are trapped in Islam, dreams and visions of Yourself (Psalm 124:7-8).

    • Abba, You so loved Muslims that You sent Yeshua to die for them (John 3:16). We thank You and ask that You would bring in a mighty harvest - for Your glory.

    • Lord Yeshua, when You look upon this harvest, may You see the fruit of the travail of [Your] soul. [and] be fully satisfied. (Isaiah 53:11a)

    • Bless and provide for those who are faithfully broadcasting the gospel to Islamic nations over satellite TV and on the internet.

    • Lord, wake up the Church in the West to see the Muslims in their nations as their mission field. Then anoint and equip them for the task.

    • We specifically pray for Palestinians, and all women and children under Islamic rule.

  8. We prayed next for all Israel to know their true King Messiah - Yeshua.

    • We thank You for the growing Body of Messiah in Israel today.

    • Protect us from all deception and distraction.

    • Raise up more shepherds after Your heart (Jeremiah 23:3-4).

    • Give to Your people dreams and visions of their Messiah. …I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28)

    • Save and protect all of the settlers on the mountains of Israel.

    • Bring multitudes of ultra-Orthodox in the kingdom of Your Son.

    • Make the believers in the IDF salt and light and may they provoke many of their army friends to jealousy with their relationship with the God of Israel - through Messiah Yeshua (Romans 11:11-14).

    • Turn us again, O God. Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!

      Psalms 80:3; cp vv. 7,19

  9. We ended by praying for the American elections. Since we live in Israel, the choice between Obama and Romney is clear - especially after Romney's very touching speech in Jerusalem last week. [Yes, we do know that he is a politician who wants to win an election.] And since in these last days God judges nations according to how they deal with Israel (Isaiah 60:12; Zechariah 12:9, etc.), again, it would seem fairly clear as to who to pray for and vote for. But Romney is a Mormon - a Christian cult - and there are believers who will not be able to vote for him regardless. Therefore, we can at least all agree with this: "Lord, may the next US president be a man through whom You can glorify Yourself!"

Blessings from Zion

Shabbat shalom

The IFI team