1. We began this morning by speaking out the whole of Psalm 91 and giving thanks to the Lord. Thank You Lord:

    • that as You have always been faithful in the past, so You will continue to be faithful!

    • for being our Salvation (Yeshuah).

    • for Your angels who bear us up.

    • that we can always take refuge under Your wings.

    • that You keep disease and pestilence away.

    • for protecting Your people although many fall around us because You are our refuge and fortress.

    • for songs with which to praise You (Psalm 40:3)

    • that You are mighty to save. (Isaiah 63:1)

    • that Your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)

    • for the privilege of gathering together to pray in the City of the Great King (Psalm 48:2)

    • "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness, o Lord!"

  2. Water and the River Jordan

    In the past two weeks it has been announced that Israel's Water Authority will be releasing 1000 cubic meters of water per day from the Sea of Galilee into the Jordan River as part of efforts to restore the ecology of the river. Jordanian authorities have undertaken to remove landmines which remain from wartime along a 30 km stretch of the river.

    • Thank You, Lord for this sign of Your blessing in providing the water we needed through this year's abundant rainfall both during the season and out of season.

    • Continue to give wisdom in the use of the water You provide.

    • Thank You for providing water for the thirsty. (John 7:37)

    • Thank You for pouring water on the dry ground. (Isaiah 44:3)

    • Thank You for opening rivers and fountains and making pools in the wilderness (Isaiah 41:18)

    • Thank You for sustaining life.

    • Thank You for the land You have given Your people as a heritage (Psalm 136:21-22)

    • Protect all those carrying out the dangerous work of mine disposal.

  3. Coalition crisis over the draft of haredim (ultra-Orthodox) into IDF

    Finance Minister Yair Lapid came into political prominence in the last election (January 2013) on a platform of "Sharing the Burden". A major element of sharing the burden was to be a significant change in the requirements for ultra-Orthodox Israelis to serve in the IDF. Now that work is being done to change the law, Lapid is threatening to leave the government coalition if he doesn't get what he wants in this issue. On principle all who benefit from the defense of the nation should be ready to contribute to its defense. But this is an issue capable of causing a terrible rift within the nation. The point of contention concerns what punishment there should be for draft dodgers (those who illegally avoid IDF call-up). Please pray:

    • for Benyamin Netanyahu to have the wisdom of Solomon in dealing with the crisis within the government coalition. May he know when to take a firm stand and when to compromise.

    • Rein in Yair Lapid and protect him from his own personal pride and ambition. If necessary, Lord, humble him.

    • Give Lapid good advisors and give him the grace to listen to them.

    • Use Naftali Bennett (leader of coalition grouping Jewish Home) as glue to hold the coalition together.

    • Give the many inexperienced members of the government the ability to see the long-term perspective.

    • Thank You, Lord for men and women of principle. Help them to find a God-breathed combination of principle and government stability.

    • Show the government what to do about draft dodgers.

    • This issue is impossible to resolve without You, God. But with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)

    • Thank You for the haredim who are already serving in the IDF. Use these people as a bridge into their community to encourage the rest!

    • When more haredim are serving in the IDF, please bring real integration with the rest of the servicemen and women that there may be mutual respect between the different groups of soldiers.

  4. Gay Pride

    Today marks the beginning of a month designated by the authorities in Tel Aviv for the celebration of "Gay Pride". 20,000 people are said to be coming from abroad especially to join in these celebrations and 100,000 are expected to participate in the city-wide street parade scheduled for next Friday 7th June, including many leading political figures from the government and opposition. Pray:

    • that God would pluck out many from the gay community and set them free through a powerful encounter with Himself.

    • that some of the national leaders who are due to speak at this event would be prevented from doing so.

    • for the leaders of the Messianic body would be united in speaking and praying against this abomination.

    • that the funding for this event would be cut off.

    • that God would even send an unseasonal rainstorm to wash out the main events.

    • that God, in His mercy, would hold back the demonic powers seeking to overwhelm Israel with this uncleanness. (see Romans 1:24-27)

  5. Syria

    We have been hearing that Russia is going ahead with its plan to sell "game-changing" S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the Assad regime in Syria. Israel needs to know what action to take in the face of Assad becoming able to attack its aircraft at long range. Assad has also been speaking out more forcefully about attacking Israel. Meanwhile the European Union has been talking about the possibility of supplying arms to the rebel forces opposing Assad. Hezbollah have been speaking out about their role in support of Assad and part of this has been the (alleged) expulsion of Hamas from Lebanon because of their support for the rebels. Pray:

    • Give wisdom to Israel's leaders especially Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to know how to prepare for the possibility of Syria being supplied with these new weapons.

    • Thank You, God that the enemies of Israel are continuing to fight each other. (see 2 Chronicles 20 especially verses 22-23)

    • Thank You that You have promised that, No weapon formed against you shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

    • Declare verses from Psalm 83 including: Do not keep silent o Lord. Make Israel's enemies like the whirling dust (verse 13). Let them know that You are most high over all the earth (verse 18).

    • Lord, fight on behalf of Israel and defend us!

    • We know modern Israel is not (yet) a righteous nation, yet we are still bold to claim that the bows of the wicked (S-300 missiles!) shall be broken (Psalm 37:14-15) Cause these missiles not to arrive or to malfunction or to be destroyed!

    • Cause the nations to be caught in their own pit (Psalm 9:15).

    • Confuse the enemies of Israel, o Lord! Put them to shame and turn them back (Psalm 129:5). Disrupt the relationships between Syria, Iran, Russia, China, Hezbollah.

    • Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. (Psalm 68:1)

  6. IFI Leaders

    This weekend Eliyahu is in Germany together with Ofer Amitai while Chuck is in England together with Lance Lambert. For the following week both Eliyahu and Chuck will be leading a prayer conference in Scotland together with Claude Ezagouri. Pray:

    • Protect and strengthen them all in body, soul and spirit.

    • Grant them anointing to communication Your word.

    • Raise up through them intercession which will touch Your heart, bless Israel and also bless the nations in which they are ministering.

Shabbat Shalom