1. We began by focusing on Psalm 36:9.

    • For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

      Psalms 36:9

    • We confess that You, Yeshua, are the Light of the world (John 8:12).

    • We bless You for also giving us the light of Your Word. Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Psalms 119:105)

    • During this upcoming Chanukah season [starting Wednesday evening, Nov. 27th], we thank You in faith for increasing the light of both Your Son and Your Word in the nation of Israel.

    • Thank You for Your promise to increase our light as we walk with You. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)

  2. A few days ago, Iran's Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said publically that Israeli officials "cannot even be called humans" and called PM Netanyahu a "rabid dog". This is exactly what the Nazis did in the late 1930s - dehumanizing Jews so that killing them was a 'natural' response to these 'untermenschen'. Only France, of the P5+1 nations [US, UK, France, Russia, China + Germany] who are negotiating with Iran in Geneva, immediately condemned this speech. It took the US over a day to respond and then only after Israeli officials complained about their abhorrent silence. It is obvious that Israel is alone in the world. Thank God that He will never leave nor forsake this nation as long as this natural order of things remains. Thus says YHWH, who gives the sun for a light by day and the laws of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who divides the sea when its waves roar; YHWH of Hosts is His name; if those ordinances depart from Me…then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever…If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be searched out, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says YHWH. (Jeremiah 31:35-37)

  3. With this in mind, we interceded first for PM Netanyahu who has the pressure of the responsibility for what this nation needs to say and do on his shoulders. Like Moses, he requires those who will constantly hold up his arms in the midst of the battle.

    • Abba, we thank You for Bibi Netanyahu and bless You for the declaration he made in Russia this past week that he will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

    • Lord, strengthen this man whom You have raised up for this time. Let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, on the Son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself. (Psalms 80:17)

    • Give Bibi ears to hear what You are saying.

    • Surround him with godly advisors to plan how to deal with any and all threats, especially from Iran at this time. Purposes are established by counsel; and with good advice make war. (Proverbs 20:18; cp. 24:6)

    • Enable the prime minister's inner circle of counselors to be in one accord in all major decisions.

    • Block all ungodly advice from reaching and impacting him.

    • Protect Bibi from all intimidation and fear (Numbers 23:23).

    • Grace him with a peaceful home environment and physical health and stamina.

    • Keep pride far from him (Proverbs 16:18).

  4. Seeing the onslaught coming against Israel at this time - especially from the current US administration (who have said that if the 'peace' negotiations with the Palestinians fail, Israel is at fault and if negotiations with Iran fail because of Israel's objections, then war may result) - and recognizing that at some point in time, most nations will come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3), we took a time to ask the Lord for wisdom on exactly how to pray.

    • Lord, teach us how You want us to pray - today.

    • You said if any lack wisdom to ask (James 1:5). We are asking specifically for wisdom concerning Israel's current situation.

    • Give clarity, so that we pray in line with Your purposes, for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done - here on earth, as it is already done in heaven.

    • As per Psalm 36:9, in Your light show us light.

    • Thank You that even if this is the time of Zechariah 12:2-3, when nations come against Jerusalem, You promise to both protect this re-gathered people (Jeremiah 31:10) and to save them (Zechariah 12:10).

  5. Practically, with the situation Israel is facing, the IDF - its army - needs to be ready.

    • There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against YHWH. The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is from YHWH.

      Proverbs 21:30-31

    • Lord of the heavenly armies - download Your battle plans to Israel's military leaders.

    • Raise up men and women in the IDF who will be able to hear Your instructions.

    • Abba, You never change. Therefore we boldly ask You to direct this people as You did in biblical times.

    • Raise up men and women like Moses, Joshua, Deborah, David, Jehoshaphat, Esther, etc., who have a desire to hear Your voice and to obey.

    • Give to the IDF a solid chain of command and prevent the enemy from bringing confusion in any way.

    • Anoint and protect all those who work in military intelligence - both in the field and in the office.

    • Thank You for another successful test of David's Sling - part of Israel's comprehensive anti-missile defense system.

    • Thank You for giving Israelis the wisdom to develop new weapons system to defend Your people.

    • We bless the Israeli Air Force.

    • Make them ready to successfully attack whatever targets are given to them.

    • Lord, send out angels to accompany every Israel fighter jet into combat.

    • While we know and confess that the battle is ultimately Yours (2 Chronicles 20:15), yet most often You expect Israel to go out to battle trusting in You (Deuteronomy 20:1; 1 Chronicles 14:15).

    • Since Israel is Your war-club and weapons of war, and since You have said that You will use Israel to shatter nations; and…destroy kingdoms (Jeremiah 51:20), therefore for Your glory's sake, we ask that the IDF will be all You have raised it up to be in these days.

    • Bless and anoint PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon, IDF Chief of Staff Gantz and all others that will need to make life-and-death decisions in the near future for this nation and her people.

    • May the spirit of the Sons of Zion become more widespread in the IDF in these days (Zechariah 9:13).

    • Give great skill and wisdom to all Israeli Special Forces.

    • Send the fear of Israel and of Israel's God on all of Israel's enemies. In the morning watch…YHWH looked upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the army …He took off their chariot wheels, and made them go heavily, so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for YHWH fights for them against the Egyptians. (Exodus 14:24-25)

  6. Chanukah will be celebrated in Israel starting this Wednesday evening with the lighting of the first of eight Chanukah candles on a special holiday menorah - the Chanukiah. This feast commemorates the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem after the Syrian-Grecian army of Antiochus Epiphanes [a type of the Anti-Christ] defiled it with pig's blood sprinkled on God's holy altar. Although the war between the Sons of Zion, the Maccabees, and the Sons of Greece, lasted for three more years, yet the ability to worship God in freedom and truth is what is celebrated. The real issue was whether the Jews would worship God or man.

    • You also, by the blood of Your covenant I have freed Your prisoners out of the pit in which is no water. Turn to the stronghold, prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will return to you double. For I have bent Judah for me as a bow; I filled it with Ephraim, and I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you as the sword of a mighty man. And YHWH shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth like the lightning; and the Lord YHWH shall blow the shofar, and shall go out with the windstorms of the south.

      Zechariah 9:11-14

    • Enable more and more Jews to see that the exaltation of man is idolatry and to flee back to their God.

    • The name of YHWH is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

      Proverbs 18:10

    • Cleanse all humanistic thinking from many Israelis this season - including any that might linger in us.

    • Turn Your people back to Yourself. Circumcise their ears to hear You calling them.

    • Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You dwelling between the cherubim, shine forth. Stir up Your strength…come, save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!

      Psalms 80:1-3

    • As the lights on the Chanukiah increase, may the light of Your Son also increase in the hearts of Jewish people wherever they find themselves. I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

    • Drive out all false pictures and ideas about Yeshua.

  7. There is a Temple of God in the world today - the Body of Messiah. Especially, but not only, in the West, it is in great need to be cleansed of the same spirit of humanism that infects the world.

    • Abba, since judgment begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:17), please move upon us and cleanse us all of any infestation of humanism or humanistic thinking that exalts man and diminishes Your Word.

    • I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

      Romans 12:1-2

    • Have mercy on Your sheep.

    • Open eyes to our tendencies to wander from You.

    • He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

      Psalms 23:3b

    • During Chanukah, convict and cleanse Messianic Jewish believers from all things that have drawn them away from You - whether traditional or otherwise.

    • Lord, wake up the American Church to see how President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have turned into the two most dangerous political leaders as far as Israel is concerned. [No, this is not an exaggeration. It is much easier to reject anything that the Iranian, Syrian or Palestinian leadership says because Israel knows they are its enemies. But when 'friends' press you to do things that is against God's will and word, then it becomes much more dangerous. Thank God for the US Congress, which often defends Israel from this current administration.]

    • Reveal to American believers that You are seeking for those to stand in the gap before You so that You can have mercy on that nation (Ezekiel 22:30).

  8. Aliyah - the regathering of the Jews in exile back to Israel - seems to be a strange thing to pray for at this time of possible war with Iran and Hizbullah and Syria and a 3rd intifada with the Palestinians. Yet we believe that the Scriptures are clear that Israel is the safest place for God's people in the last days. Pray for the Jews in your nation to have a deepening urge to come home and for the church to have a clearer understanding that this should be part of their end-time commitment to Yeshua, in order to hasten the day of His return.

  9. We finished with words of encouragement as many of the topics this morning were very 'heavy'. We reminded each other of all the prayers that God has answered - and is still answering today.

    • Thank You Lord that despite the best efforts of men - even Israeli leaders - there is still no 'Palestine.'

    • Bless You Lord that Israel never gave the Golan back to Syria and that it is still sovereign Israeli territory.

    • Hallelujah! The water crisis in Israel has been declared over. Still, Abba, we ask for a good rainy season.

    • You are good - and Your mercy endures forever.

    • We see You watching over Your Word to do it as better than 100,000 Jews who have returned home to Israel over the last decade.

    • Lord Yeshua, our precious Messiah, thank You that Your Body is growing much faster in Israel than the general population. Continue to save Your people.

And, of course, we thank you for standing with this nation, her people, and us at Intercessors for Israel, for all these years. Do not be discouraged. Continue to press into the throne of grace to find that grace and mercy in a time of need. And remember:

Through God we shall do valiantly:for it is He that shall tread down our enemies.

Psalms 60:12

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team