Last night, the nations of the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinian UN delegation's status to non-member observer state [138 for; 9 against; 41 abstentions]. This illogical move by the world's community rewards this Arab entity with that which all Arabs nations had rejected 65 years ago. They have launched wars and terror attacks to destroy Israel - a recognized UN nation. As we draw closer to January's IFI's International Prayer Conference in Jerusalem, the overall theme of A World Turned Upside Down becomes more relevant with every passing day. We hope many of you are planning to come to the conference and to the tour following. Please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan wisely.

  1. Despite that UN vote in mind, we turned first to the Lord of all and praised Him.

    • YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He breaks the plots of the people. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

      Psalms 33:10-11

    • Forever, O YHWH, Your Word is settled in heaven.

      Psalms 119:89

    • We bless You that nothing takes you by surprise - whether globally or in our lives personally.

    • You knew all about this resistance to Israel's restoration from before creation and You still chose Israel as Your people:

      I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.

      Jeremiah 31:3b

    • Hallelujah, for the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns (Revelation 19:6).

    • We believe You do reign, despite what we see and hear.

    • Thank You for training us to walk by faith in Your Word and not by sight of what we see or read in the world's media.

    • We praise You for You are good and Your steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1).

  2. With their approved request at the UN, the Palestinian Authority has broken the Oslo peace agreement which clarifies that all issues be resolved through negotiations between the parties. We prayed for Israel's government to know how to respond to this new situation.

    • God, enable the government to separate the new realities on the ground from the political pre-election scene that is currently dominating Israel. [National elections to be held on 22nd January 2013.]

    • Help Israel's current leaders to respond in line with Your will at this time.

    • Since this vote has not taken the current government by surprise, enable them to know what plans they have made that are from You and what plans are not.

    • There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against YHWH.

      Proverbs 21:30

    • Lord, we trust You to overrule this decision by these nations and to manifest in Israel Your plans for Your nation at this moment in history.

    • Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the scales… All nations before Him are as nothing; and to Him they are thought to be less than nothing, and vanity… It is He who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in; who brings the rulers to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth as vanity.

      Isaiah 40:15a, 17, 22-23

    • Abba, do not allow the nations to prevail over Your Word (Psalm 9:19-20)!

  3. We prayed for the January 22, 2013 Israeli elections, asking God to help the current government to run the nation as if there were no elections - that is, to do what is needed daily without political considerations constantly hanging over their heads.

    • Abba, again we ask for You to impart Your will to Israel's current leaders.

    • This will take a miracle - but we look to You, knowing that the continual existence of this nation requires a continual miracle!

    • Ah, Lord YHWH! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm. Nothing is too difficult for You.

      Jeremiah 32:17

    • Since all governments are in Your hands, give the Netanyahu government much grace to govern.

    • In relation to the threats emanating from Gaza/Hamas and Iran, do not allow Israel's current leaders to miss doing whatever You want them to - in Your timing.

    • Lord, make Bibi Netanyahu a statesman - for just a time like this.

    • Since Ehud Barak says he is retiring from politics, hedge him in so that he truly does retire and does not unduly influence Netanyahu.

  4. Then we specifically lifted up the elections themselves.

    • Lord, raise up the one to lead this nation through whom You can be glorified.

    • Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

      Daniel 2:20-21

    • …the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He will.

      Daniel 5:21

    • Lord, raise up those whose hearts want to see Your revealed will be manifest in this nation.

    • Give us a government who works in unity with one another and will serve the people (2 Chronicles 35:3b).

    • Give us a government composed of men and women with the same spirit that was in the sons of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chronicles 12:32b).

    • Make the joint list of Netanyahu's Likud party and Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party be a joining in which we can truly say that 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts'.

    • Give Netanyahu a very strong mandate from the people to remain Israel's prime minister.

    • Prepare the people of Israel to know who to vote for.

  5. Iran has not gone away. In fact, according to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, they are racing full steam ahead towards developing nuclear weapons - and much of the world seems stuck on 'sanctions'!

    • Lord, halt this nuclear program in a way that brings You the most glory.

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him… O God, when You marched before Your people, when You walked through the wilderness… the earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel… God shall wound the head of His enemies… He scatters the people who delight in war.

      Psalms 68:1, 7-8, 21a, 30b

    • Abba, how long shall You allow the wicked leaders of Iran to threaten Your people?

    • Help them to think out of the box and so surprise Iran's defenses, that even the Iranians will need to say, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for YHWH fights for them against the [Iranians]. (Exodus 14:25b)

    • Make Your battle plans so effective, that multitudes of Muslims see that Allah is as nothing before You.

    • Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O YHWH. Let them be ashamed and troubled forever; yea, let them be put to shame, and lost; so that men may know that You, whosename is YHWH, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

      Psalms 83:16-18

    • Lord, we would much prefer for You to deal with this threat to Your people supernaturally, but if not, release Israel to attack only in Your perfect timing.

    • Give to Israel's leaders the courage to pull the trigger - especially as Iran's leaders continue to threaten Israel's existence on a regular basis.

    • Provide Israel with all the accurate and up-to-date intelligence it will need to deal with this Islamic Shiite [Iran's leaders] threat in the most efficient and quick way possible.

    • Thus says the Lord YHWH: When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and have been sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely in it, and shall build houses and plant vineyards. Yea, they shall dwell safely when I have executed judgments on all those who despise them all around them; and they shall know that I am YHWH their God.

      Ezekiel 28:25-26

  6. We then interceded for the IDF - Israel's army.

    • Abba, the powerful army of Israel is a specific fulfillment of biblical prophecy - and so we bless them in the mighty name of Yeshua.

    • Here are some of those prophecies that you can use as you declare truth over the IDF: Isaiah 41:10-16; Ezekiel 37:9-10; Micah 4:11-13; Zechariah 12:2-9.

    • Lord, this army has been on high alert almost without a break since 1948. Please provide Your power and refreshment upon each officer and solider, pilot and seaman.

    • Reveal all of the enemy's plans to those in the IDF who need to know.

    • Encourage all of the reservists who were called up in the recent Gaza operation against Hamas and were not used. Let them see Your wisdom in how the war ended.

    • Enable them to respond to any and all future call-ups without any hesitation.

    • Clear away all hindrances to clear communications throughout the IDF - between each of the branches and between all of the officers and the soldiers.

    • Thank You for helping the IDF's recent public relations campaign - especially through social media channels.

    • Almighty God, continue to confound all who hate Zion (Psalm 129:5) and keep them divided (Psalm 55:9).

    • From this weeks' prophetic portion:

      But upon Mount Zion shall be those who escaped; and it shall be holy. And the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame. And the house of Esau shall be for stubble. And they shall kindle in them and burn them up. And no survivor shall be to the house of Esau; for YHWH has spoken it.

      Obadiah 1:17-18

  7. We again prayed for the Israelis living in the south of the country.

    • Lord Yeshua, heal their anxieties; calm their fears; touch their minds and reveal Yourself to many of them.

    • Behold, the Lord YHWH will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those with young.

      Isaiah 40:10-11

    • We bless You for those who have remained and we bless them in the name of their Messiah Yeshua.

    • Lord, anoint the Body of Messiah in the south to have a word in due season when called upon.

    • Enable them to walk through all doors that You have opened and to not try to push any doors open that are not of You (Revelation 3:8).

    • May Your word find a place in the hearts of the residents of the south.

  8. We ended by praying for the Church in the nations and the Israeli Messianic Body.

    • Yeshua, show the believers in the nations that voted to divide Your land by voting 'yes' in the UN, that only they stand between Your increasingly intense judgments on their nations and Your mercy.

      I sought for a man among them who should build up a wall for the land, and stand in the gap before Me, that I should not destroy it. But I found none. Therefore I have poured out My fury on them… the fire of My wrath. I have given their way on their heads, says the Lord YHWH.

      Ezekiel 22:30-31

    • We bless You for the nine nations which voted no. Please bless them from Zion (Psalm 134:3): The US, Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, Palau, Micronesia, Nauru, Panama and the Marshall Islands.

    • For the churches in the nations who abstained, let them realize a lukewarm response to Your revealed truth is not pleasing in Your sight (Revelation 3:15-16).

    • Lord, provide shepherds to the worldwide Body and Your Body in Israel who will be able to recognize both the signs of the times and the time we are in.

    • Enable the true Church throughout the world to maintain the unity of Your Spirit (Ephesians 4:3) - but to reject any other unity, especially the manmade/tower of Babel kind.

    • Give Israeli believers revelations concerning Your current will for this nation.

    • Raise up more Israeli intercessors and thank You for all those who are standing in the gap for this nation.

    • Bless the IFI Prayer Gathering in Tiberias this next week - on Thursday evening.

Blessings, peace and Shabbat shalom from Zion,
The IFI team