1. We begin this morning by reading Isaiah 49:1-6

    • Listen, O coastlands, to Me; listen, lend your ear, peoples from afar; YHWH has called Me from the womb; He has made mention of My name from My mother's bowels. He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me… and said to Me, You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified… And now, says YHWH who formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, Though Israel is not gathered, yet I shall be glorious in the eyes of YHWH, and My God shall be My strength. And He said, It is but a little thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and bring back the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth.

      Isaiah 49:1-6

    • We bless You for the incarnation which was accomplished by You, God the Son, humbling Yourself and becoming a man, one with us.

    • We thank You and confess that You, Yeshua, are the light of the world.

  2. Although no one is sure when Messiah Yeshua was born, most of our brothers and sisters in the world will celebrate His birth this Tuesday, December 25. Yet we find it strange that while it is His birthday, we expect to receive gifts! We began our time of intercession by asking Yeshua to give Himself a huge gift this week - the salvation of multitudes in Israel.

    • Lord, for Your holy name's sake, reap a huge harvest in Israel between now and the end of 2012.

    • For so says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.

      Jeremiah 31:7

    • Use this season - both here in Israel and in exile - to draw many Jews to Yourself (Jeremiah 31:3).

    • Abba, we specifically ask for [Add to this list, those whom the Lord lays on your heart]: holocaust survivors; terror attack victims; Israelis in the south who have been under constant rocket attack for many years; unsaved neighbors of Messianic Jews; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews; IDF soldiers; religious Zionist settlers; government leaders, especially Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and recently indicted ex-Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

    • Yeshua, as many Jews will read this Shabbat's Torah portion where Joseph no longer hides himself from his brothers, we ask You to do the same. Reveal Yourself to Your brothers and sisters in the flesh - the whole household of Israel, Your treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) .

    • We bless You in advance for the salvations as we have great confidence that whatever we pray in line with Your will, You will hear and answer (1 John 5:14-15).

  3. If the world does not end today [☺], there will be national elections in Israel in a month. With all that is happening in the Middle East, as well as in the rest of this planet, it is vital that Israel has a leader and government that stand for policies that are most in line with God's. We believe that PM Netanyahu and his Likud-Beytenu faction are closest to that idea at this time.

    • God Almighty, give us a government through whom You can be glorified (Psalm 115:1-3).

    • You have increased the nation, O YHWH, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have extended all the ends of the land.

      Isaiah 26:15

    • We are asking You to move on the people of Israel to vote for Bibi Netanyahu and his faction; that they will have a huge mandate to lead this nation into the future.

    • Enable Likud-Beytenu to run a righteous campaign (Proverbs 14:34).

    • Help the current government govern well between now and then. Let them not make decisions that are only done for election purposes.

    • Concerning the indictment against Lieberman, we ask that the truth will be revealed quickly.

    • Block all outside influences and threats from affecting negatively the elections results.

    • Do not allow the threats of the Palestinians about what they will do if Israel dares to re-elect Bibi sway Israelis. In fact, may these threats backfire.

    • … the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will.

      Daniel 4:25

  4. Palestinian Authority President Abbas is asking the UN to authorize the entry of thousands of so-called Palestinian refugees who are in refugee camps in Syria. There are almost a half a million of them in that chaotic nation. If the UN agrees, this will be the beginning of a huge influx of Palestinians into Israeli areas. This is a life and death issue for Israel as there is - according to the Palestinians - better than 5 million of their "refugees" outside of Israel. They want them all to return, in what we have named the anti-aliyah. If Israel refuses the "refugees" in Syria, which is what they should do, the world will have one more item on its 'let's-bash-Israel-as-often-as-possible' list.

    • Lord, the current government will need Your wisdom in combating this possible invasion.

    • Anoint all of Israel's representatives in the nations to know how to handle this ungodly demand.

    • May they be able to resist any global pressure to give in to Abbas' demand - and just say no!

    • Abba, this looks like Satan overreaching himself. If so use this against him and his demonic plans, and expose the true reason behind the Palestinian 'refugee' situation.

    • Lord, there is no doubt that many of these Palestinians have been used by their Arab brothers as a tool in the war against Israel and the Jews. Therefore, arise God - and save multitudes of "refugees" during this season.

  5. World powers are facing some very dangerous situations - such as the war in Syria with almost 45,000 killed, the Iranian push towards developing nuclear weapons, the dangerous fruit of Egypt approving a constitution based on Islamic Sharia law, mass murders in public places in America, plus other issues political, natural, economic and social. Yet there is one issue that infuriates them to such a degree that all these other things take second place. And that is when Israel decides to build homes for Jews and Arabs in the greater Jerusalem area. Israel's name has been dragged through the mud for the past several weeks over this issue and the anger and threats seem to increase daily. Yet, hallelujah, this government is standing strong on its right to build in Israel's eternal capital - Jerusalem.

    • Lord, is this that which You said You would do in the days just before the salvation of Israel and the return of Your Son? Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around… And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples. All who lift it shall be slashed, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

    • Teach us how to pray about this very inflammatory situation, as we do not want to pray aginst something that You are doing to fulfill Your prophetic word.

    • We bless You for the strong stance of Netanyahu in declaring that Israel will continue to build in Jerusalem - its 3,000 year old capital.

    • Protect and defend him against any backlash from this.

    • Give the city planners creativity to know where and how to build.

    • Allow all plans to build Jerusalem and all other disputed areas in this land come to fruition in Your will and Your timing.

    • Wake up the Body of Messiah worldwide to see this land as You see it - Your land (Ezekiel 36:5; Joel 3:2) that You have given to Your people (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 15:18, etc.) - for Your glory (Ezekiel 20:41-42; 28:25-26; 36:21-23)!

    • YHWH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds.

      Psalms 147:2-3

  6. With all the chaos in most of the surrounding nations, Israel's army - the IDF - has a difficult job to know in which direction an attack may come. On top of that, the internal situation with both the Palestinians and some Israeli Arabs is heating up. There have been an increase in attacks against soldiers and settlers in Judea and Samaria. We need to keep the IDF's arms lifted up by our prayers.

    • We bless You for raising up a strong army to defend Your nation (Ezekiel 37:9-10).

    • We thank You for being the ultimate defense of this nation (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10).

    • Now also many nations are gathered against you, who say, Let her be defiled, and let our eyes look on Zion. But they do not know the plans of YHWH, nor do they understand His counsel. For He has gathered them like the sheaf to the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; and you shall crush many peoples. And I will give their gain to YHWH, and their wealth to the Lord of the all the earth.

      Micah 4:11-13

    • Abba, may the next Defense Minister who will replace Ehud Barak be the man of Your choice.

    • Give alertness to all who live in this nation - especially Israel's various security forces.

    • Thank You for enabling Israeli military industries to develop the Iron Dome anti-missile defense and so many other weapons systems.

    • Yet, help Israel to not trust in its weapons - but in You, their King. Some trust in chariots, some in horses; but we will remember the name of YHWH our God. They are bowed down and fallen; but we are risen and stand upright. Save, YHWH; let the King hear us when we call. (Psalms 20:7-9)

    • Unfortunately, yet gratefully, we thank You for enabling our sons and daughters to defend this nation against Your/our enemies (Psalm 83:1-4). In that day I will make the governors [allufim, in modern Hebrew 'generals'] of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire among cut grain. And they shall devour all peoples all around… And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her place, in Jerusalem… In that day YHWH shall defend the people of Jerusalem. And it will be, he who is feeble among them at that day shall be like David; and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of YHWH before them. (Zechariah 12:6,8)

    • Use all Messianic Jews serving in the IDF as Your witnesses, as salt and light to all their friends.

  7. We next prayed for the surrounding nations. God has answered our cry to confound them so that they will be so busy elsewhere, that Israel has a chance to be prepared for whatever the future holds.

    • Let them all be ashamed and turned back, those who hate Zion.

      Psalms 129:5)

    • Increase the chaos and confusion in the hearts of all those who hate Zion.

    • Confound all of Iran's attempts to develop or obtain nuclear weapons.

    • Abba, take advantage of this chaos to bring many Muslims to Messiah Yeshua.

    • Have mercy on these multitudes whom You have created in Your image (Jonah 4:10-11).

    • Protect, guide and use Your already born-again children in these nations to know where to be, when to hide, when to speak and when to flee.

    • May they hear the voice of their Shepherd very clearly (John 10:27).

  8. We ended thanking and praising God for the stormy weather over Israel, which is supposed to last for several days. There is already a good snowfall on Mount Hermon. The Sea of Galilee, while still better than three meters below the top, is over a meter higher than it was this time last year. God is hearing our pleas for water, and we bless Him for it.

Shabbat shalom, and may the Messiah's birth be a very special time between you and Him.

The IFI team

Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel… being instructed by the Holy Spirit, that he was not to see death before he would see the Messiah of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. As the parents brought in the child Yeshua, to do according to the custom of the Law concerning Him, even he received Him in his arms and blessed God, and said, Lord, now You will let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.

Luke 2:25-32