12 But You, O Lord, shall endure forever,
And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
For the time to favor her,
Yes, the set time, has come.
14 For Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
And show favor to her dust.
15 So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord,
And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
16 For the Lord shall build up Zion;
He shall appear in His glory.
17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,
And shall not despise their prayer.

Psalm 102: 12-17

  1. We began our meeting this morning by thanking God for all that He is doing, even in our days. Thank you, Lord:

    • that You are on Your throne, watching over all.

    • for Your favor on Zion.

    • that You, Yeshua, are coming back.

    • that You are rebuilding Jerusalem.

    • that You are bringing the captives home.

    • for Your word of truth.

    • for showing us how to pray and for giving us the privilege of participating in the work You are doing in the world in our days and for allocating specific tasks to each of Your intercessors.

    • that we can truthfully say that we love the stones and dust of this land.

    • In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
      Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
      The Lord your God in your midst,
      The Mighty One, will save;
      He will rejoice over you with gladness,
      He will quiet you with His love,
      He will rejoice over you with singing.

      Zephaniah 3:16-17

  2. "Peace" Process.

    As of this morning there is a meeting planned in Washington for next Tuesday. The Palestinians have been seeking to base the talks on the establishment of a Palestinian State with Israel returning to the 1967 borders. They are also demanding the release of some 100 murderers from Israeli prisons as a pre-condition to negotiations. This would be spitting in the face of the families of their victims and the principles of law and justice. A survey has found that the vast majority of Israelis oppose such a prisoner release. The Israeli government is seeking to pass a law which will require a referendum to approve any giving away of land. This would safeguard the nation against the kind of changes brought in by governments in direct contradiction to the manifestos on which they were elected (for example the withdrawal from Gaza). Pray:

    • that Israeli negotiators would not be willing to make any compromise which would do damage to Israel.

    • that Justice Minister, Tzippi Livni would be prevented from departing from the position of her government.

    • nothing would be agreed upon in any of these negotiations against the will of God.

    • Israel's negotiators would hold strongly to the principle that there can be no return to the 1967 borders.

    • that the Palestinians would continue to make demands which even the Americans would see as outrageous.

    • The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

      Psalm 33:10-11

    • that the proposed release of murderers would not take place.

    • Prime Minister Netanyahu would not yield to the demands of the Palestinians or the Americans.

    • that the world would see that such action would only encourage more violence among the Palestinians.

    • that the Knesset would quickly pass a law requiring a referendum to give away land.

    • that the will of the people would prevail when, as often, it is more in line with God's will than the government is.

    • that Israel and the nations would be in awe of the word of God as it declares judgment for those who divide the land. (Joel 3:2)

  3. Egypt

    Since the overthrow of the Moslem Brotherhood government, the military rule has taken measures which are good for Israel. Many of the smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt have been blocked. The unchecked rule of Islamic terrorist groups in the Sinai region has been brought into check. Egypt asked and Israel gave permission for a stronger Egyptian presence in the Sinai. General Sisi, the military leader has made a call for massive public demonstrations against terrorism and violence as he seeks a show of public confidence for the actions being taken to push back the Moslem Brotherhood's moves towards creating a religious dictatorship in Egypt.

    • Pray for a peaceful demonstration in millions to show the world that the people of Egypt don't want an Islamic dictatorship.

    • Thank You, Lord for the removal of President Morsi and the Moslem Brotherhood.

    • Thank You that the power of Hamas is being pushed back by the blocking of the tunnels into Gaza. May the tunnels be kept closed!

    • Pray for an end to the persecution of Christians in Egypt.

    • Lord, protect Israel's border with Egypt. Give wisdom to our leaders to know how far to allow Egypt to re-arm the Sinai. Keep the IDF watchful of Egypt on our border. Keep us from complacency.

    • Thank You that an Iron Dome missile system has been installed in Eilat. Continue to protect us with Your hand.

  4. The IDF

    Israel's armed forces have a strong heritage of educational programs which are aimed at strengthening vision and understanding of Zionism among the soldiers. However, in these days it can be difficult to overcome the spirit of the age and the power of the media which seek to marginalize the Bible and the importance of the land. Even among the believing soldiers there are relatively few who have been equipped with strong teaching about God's purposes for the restoration of the land and the nation and for the awesome calling they have to be an active part in defending the work He is doing. Pray:

    • for those serving in the IDF to gain a vision for the land of Israel and an understanding that God chooses to use Israel's military forces to protect His land.

    • for a revelation of Biblical Zionism among the soldiers.

    • for the believing soldiers to know God's word regarding Israel's right to the land.

    • for a recognition that the IDF is a flawed human army doing and called to do God's work.

    • Thank God for pastors in the Body of Messiah who have taught and imparted a vision for the land in their congregations.

    • for pastors to receive a deeper revelation of God's prophetic purposes in the restoration of the land of Israel and that they would teach this without fear of being considered too political or fear of offending people. (see again above verses from Psalm 102)

  5. The Church in the nations

    Those who favor Zion are becoming increasingly marginalized in much of the West. We need to pray for a strong revelation of Biblical Zionism also in the worldwide Church. Eg. in Britain there is a movement calling for a national apology for the Balfour Declaration. Pray:

    • for pastors in the nations to receive a revelation of the on-going place of the land of Israel in God's purposes.

    • the time to favor Zion, yes, the set time, has come.

      Psalm 102: 13

    • that those who declare Your word would not be afraid to provoke or to offend or even to cause division between those who accept the truth and those who reject it.

    • Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10

  6. Jerusalem

    During recent days and weeks there have been several incidents of violence in the city some of them acts of terrorism, others simply violence. These included the murder this week of a father and daughter working in a legal office in the building where we meet and where IFI has its office. Pray:

    • that the police would be alert and equipped to prevent further attacks.

    • for alertness among the general population.

    • that You would equip believers to be lights in the darkness and that we would not allow the spirit of fear to overwhelm us.

    • that the Lord would protect the places where His people meet.

    • But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.

      Psalm 59: 16-17

    • Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, Peace be within you. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.

      Psalm 122:6-9

Shabbat Shalom!