1. As we were faced with some very difficult issues to pray into, we began by setting our sights on the One who reigns on high.

    • Ah Lord YHWH! Behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for You:

      Jeremiah 32:17

    • Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

      Jeremiah 32:27

    • We bless You Lord and know that You are able to do all that You have said (Numbers 23:19).

    • For all the promises of God [including those He has made to Israel] in Him [Yeshua] are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us.

      2 Corinthians 1:20

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

      Revelation 19:6b

  2. The ongoing coalition negotiations to form the next Israeli government are becoming messy. Pride and a lack of understanding of how the political system works is blocking many of the new Knesset members [MKs] from even considering compromising to enter into a government with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and any ultra-Orthodox [Haredi] parties. We are convinced that our prayers before the elections were in line with His will - as our goal was for God to raise up a government through whom He would be glorified (Psalm 115:1-3). So we pressed on in prayer for this to be accomplished (Matthew 7:7).

    • This week's Shabbat prophetic reading ends with this verse: YHWH gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon. And the two of them made a treaty together. (1 Kings 5:12)

    • Abba, do the same with Netanyahu so that he can quickly form a government to rule this nation with much wisdom and an understanding of all the issues facing Israel at this time (1 Chronicles 12:32).

    • Give Bibi insight to know what he should do to move these negotiations along.

    • May there be no appeasement - yet much wisdom in compromises.

    • Give Netanyahu a hearing ear to all counsel that is from You. There are many thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of YHWH shall stand. (Proverbs 19:21)

    • Raise up a unity government - not only in name but in purpose.

    • We are confidence that as You rule in the kingdom of men, and appoint over the nations those whom You chose (Daniel 5:21), how much more will You do that in this - Your nation.

    • Continue to grant us wisdom on how to pray into these negotiations.

    • Enable us to pray in line with Your will and word and not just in line with today's headlines (1 John 5:14-15).

  3. We prayed next for a government to be formed that would exclude the Haredi parties - especially Shas . They are actually non-Zionist parties who will join any government as long as they get certain perks - such as money for their yeshivot, schools of Talmudic studies and an ability to control certain areas of Israeli life that apply to all of Israel and not just the ultra-religious. Also, for the most part their sons do not enter the army [the IDF], yet are supported by the state - that is, most of the citizens who do work and serve in the IDF - so that they can study.

    • Lord, keep the ultra-Orthodox Shas party out of the next government. Drastically lessen their ability to influence this nation.

    • Abba, break any unnatural bond between PM Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties, and set Bibi free.

    • Against any manipulation or witchcraft that is being used in the spiritual realm to keep our Prime Minister tied into these parties, we declare: Surely, there is no enchantment against Jacob [Netanyahu], nor any divination against Israel [Netanyahu]. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob [Netanyahu] and of Israel, What God has worked! (Numbers 23:23)

    • God, arise over the Prime Minister's Office and scatter Your enemies (Psalm 68:1).

    • Lord, when You do all of this, we ask that You would block any others spirits that would want to come in and take up this space (Matthew 12:45). Fill it with Your Holy Spirit only.

  4. A major part of the blockage Netanyahu faces in being able to put together a government at this time is that over 40 MKs are new politicians. Lots of arrogance and pride have surfaced in some of the leaders of the new parties - especially with Yesh Atid's Yair Lapid. Although wanting not to compromise is a wonderful trait for believers when it comes to defending God's Word, His name and His people, in politics, without compromise we are either left with a dictatorship or the majority ruling over the minority or an inability to even form a government.

    • Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

      Proverbs 16:18

    • Lord, send folks to teach many of our new politicians how to bend so that a stable government can be formed.

    • Let these new MKs recognize that their top priority is to serve Israel and its people and not themselves or their political parties (2 Chronicles 35:3b).

    • May Lapid himself come up with a compromise position that Netanyahu not only can live with, but that is exactly what is needed to form the next government.

    • Use some of the Yesh Atid MKs to help Lapid face reality - that he has absolutely no experience in running a nation and therefore needs to be under someone else to be able to grow. Likewise, younger ones, be subject to older ones…Put on humility. For God resists proud ones, but He gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)

    • Press Lapid to seek counsel from You.

    • If the agreement between Naftali Bennet [Beit Yehudi] and Lapid, that their parties will not enter into the government without the other party, is not of You, then break it apart.

    • If it is of You, to enable Bibi to form a government without the Haredi, then maintain and even strengthen it.

  5. The Iranian threat has recently increased exponentially. Many are not aware of how closely Iran works with North Korea to develop nuclear weapons and, of course, North Korea successfully detonated an atomic weapon this past week. It was North Korean know-how along with Iranian money that built the Syrian nuclear weapons plant that was destroyed by Israel a number of years ago. So any North Korean advances mean Iran is that much closer to obtaining or developing Shiite Islamic fundamentalist weapons of mass destruction.

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him.

      Psalms 68:1

    • He scatters the people who delight in war.

      Psalms 68:30b

    • Yeshua, the men who rule over Iran hate You and Your people (Psalm 83:1-5) and they delight in war - so deal with them in such a way that all Muslims know that the God of Israel - He is God (Psalm 83:16-18)!

    • Lord of hosts, we ask You to directly intervene in destroying Iran's nuclear weapons program.

    • Almighty God, do not allow the Allah of the Koran to gain any more victories or converts.

    • We bless You for all of the Iranians whom You are pulling out of the fire (Jude 23) and transferring them into Your Son's Kingdom (Colossians 1:12-13)!

    • Teach them how to pray.

    • Lord, help Netanyahu form the next government with the prevention of this Iranian WMD as the number one task facing them.

    • Enable the next government to resist all of the pressure from the US administration to not attack Iran - if in fact that is the way You will deal with this threat to Your people and land (Jeremiah 51:19-24).

    • Trap the Iranian leadership. Pressure them to make major geo-political mistakes.

    • Let them be 'hung' on the 'gallows' that they have openly declared they are preparing for the Jews and Israel! So they hanged Haman [the Persian/Iranian] on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai [the Jew]. (Esther 7:10a)

    • They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me, they have fallen into it. Selah.

      Psalms 57:6

  6. We prayed next into the ongoing and increasingly horrific Syrian situation.

    • Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news. They are melted; anxiety is in the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus has become feeble; she has turned to flee, and trembling has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. How is the city of praise not left, the city of My joy! So her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be silenced in that day, says YHWH of Hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall burn up the palaces of Ben-hadad [or Bashar al-Assad].

      Jeremiah 49:23-27

    • Lord, draw many Syrian Muslims to Yeshua (John 6:44).

    • Protect the Kurds in the Middle East and save many of them.

    • Have mercy on the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees.

    • Protect the believing Syrian community and use them for Your glory.

    • Lord, prepare the IDF for whatever may spill out over the Golan from the Syrian war and for the day after the war ends. The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is from YHWH. (Proverbs 21:31)

    • Keep the IDF alert on our border with Lebanon, knowing in advance the demonic plans of Hizbullah.

    • If the IDF needs to pre-empt, like it did recently, release them to do so with all the skill and force needed.

    • Continue to provide real-time accurate intelligence to all those in Israel responsible to make these life-and-death decisions.

    • In the new government, raise up a defense minister who is a man after Your own heart (Acts 13:22).

    • Anoint the current DM Ehud Barak for the time he has left to serve.

    • Use this overflowing chaos in Syria to totally destroy the communications and relationships between Iran, Syrian and Hizbullah (Psalm 129:5).

  7. Aliyah, the return of the Jews from exile back to Israel, was our next prayer burden.

    • Behold, the days come, says YHWH, that it shall no more be said, As YHWH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, As YHWH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where He had driven them. And I will bring them again into their lands that I gave to their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says YHWH, and they will fish them. And afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

      Jeremiah 16:14-16

    • We bless You for the almost 100,000 Jews who have come home during the last decade.

    • We thank You for enabling Israel's economy to be one of the strongest in the world - so as to both attract Jews in exile and to sustain them when they come home.

    • May the next government somehow make an increase in aliyah one of their real goals.

    • Thank You for all the Christians in the nations who help to carry Your people home (Isaiah 49:22).

    • Abba, with Shas out of the next government and therefore no longer overseeing the Interior Ministry, we believe that the door would be flung wide open to welcome all sorts of Jews back home. Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way of the people. Raise up! Raise up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a banner for the peoples. (Isaiah 62:10)

    • We thank You for the recent return of hundreds of the B'nei Manasseh from India. Bring the rest of them - some 6,000 - home as well and may it happen soon.

    • Lord, speak to the 30% of American Jews who did not vote for Obama, and get them to think about making Israel their home - both now for them and for their children.

    • God, what can we say when we see anti-Semitism rising in many European nations and yet most European Jews still live with their heads in the sand. Give them the kind of kick they need to wake up!

    • We recognize and proclaim that all of this is for Your holy name's sake. I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the nations, which you [Israel] have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know that I am YHWH, says the Lord YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all lands, and will gather you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:23-24) [Verses 25-28 then state very clearly that after He brings the Jews home - all Israel is saved!]

A final note of praise: As of yesterday, the Sea of Galilee was only 1.6 meters below being full. It has been a wonderful wet rainy season and we are believing for a full to overflowing Sea of Galilee by the time this season is over. Pray with us for this to be accomplished by Him.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue fails for thirst, I YHWH will hear them, I the God of Israel will not leave them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant the cedar in the wilderness, the acacia tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree. I will set the fir tree in the desert, and the pine, and the box tree together; so that they may see, and know, and look on, and understand together, that the hand of YHWH has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 41:17-20

Shabbat shalom and blessings abundantly from Jerusalem,

The IFI team