1. We began with thanks and praise to the God of all the earth.

    • You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, by which You sustained Your inheritance when it was weary.

      Psalms 68:9

    • We do bless and thank You for the 'plentiful rain' that You have given to Israel these past few days, with even some snow on Mt. Hermon and with the Sea of Galilee's level rising a bit.

    • Oh give thanks to YHWH; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.

      Psalms 136:1

    • We rejoice in the truth that regardless of what things look like here on earth - there are no emergencies in heaven. Nothing takes You by surprise (Psalm 103:19).

    • And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

      Romans 8:28

    • Thank You for calling us and placing Your love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

    • Hallelujah! You are the God of the 'suddenlies'! (Revelation 18:8 'in one day'; 18:10,17,19 'in one hour'.)

  2. This past week saw Israel's northern border become much more dangerous. There was directed fire from Syria towards Israeli soldiers - who then fired back. With all that is happening in Syria and with a major Hizbullah terrorist assassinated this past week (Hizbullah blamed Israel although Israel denied any link to that death), the north of Israel could become a target for further attacks.

    • Abba, continue to guard over and protect Israel's northern border and all of the communities in that area.

    • YHWH watches over all those who love Him; but all the wicked He will destroy.

      Psalm 145:20

    • Defend our soldiers as they defend Israel from enemy attacks.

    • Thank You that up to now, no Israeli soldier has been injured by fire from Syria.

    • Aid all of Israel's security forces to remain super alert.

    • Thank You for the wet weather. Is the snow a sign of battle to come? Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow? Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have kept for the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? (Job 38:22-23)

    • Give to the IDF accurate intelligence to know exactly who the perpetrators are who shoot at them.

    • Pour out Your wisdom on all IDF commanders - both in the headquarters and in the field.

    • Enable there to be super clear communications between all sections of Israel's armed forces.

    • Lord, we bless You that these verses were sent to us just this week as a word for Israel now: When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots, a people more than you, do not be afraid of them. For YHWH your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when you come near to the battle, the priest shall go up and speak to the people, and shall say to them, Hear, O, Israel, today you go up to battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts faint, do not fear, and do not tremble, neither be terrified before their faces. For YHWH your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)

    • As those whom You have called to be priests, we pray this over Israel at this time.

    • Lord of Hosts, watch over this word in relation to the house of Islam today. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. And a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? (Luke 11:17b-18a)

  3. Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was our next prayer target. It is almost inconceivable to imagine the pressure that he is under from both the world and the enemy of his soul. He is being told to be quiet about Iran, to divide this land with those who want to kill Jews, and to continue to deal with all of Israel's internal issues. Yet he is the one whom God has raised up to lead Israel at this time.

    • Lord, we thank You for Bibi Netanyahu and we bless Him in the name of Messiah Yeshua.

    • We again pray over him, 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)

    • Recognizing that a 'name' means something in Hebrew, we are very grateful for a leader of Israel whose name means 'Son of My right hand - gift of Yah'!

    • As Aaron and Hur did with Moses, we lift up Netanyahu's arms in this battle saying to him, Be strong and courageous (Exodus 17:12; Joshua 1:6-9).

    • Gift him with even more wisdom and understanding to guide Israel through these precarious times.

    • Surround him with wise counselors and any that are not of You - remove far from him (Isaiah 1:26).

    • Abba, apply these verses to Netanyahu now: There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the counsel of YHWH shall stand. (Proverbs 19:21); The king's heart is in the hand of YHWH. As rivers of water; He turns it wherever He will. (Proverbs 21:1)

    • Help Bibi to humble himself and delegate to others whom You have brought to stand with him.

    • Protect his mind, emotions, will, spirit and body from all witchcraft aimed at him. Surely, there is no spell against Jacob, nor any witchcraft against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What God has worked! (Numbers 23:23)

    • Bring Netanyahu and all his family into a saving relationship with his Messiah Yeshua.

  4. We interceded for Bibi and all other Israeli government ministers who must deal with the US Secretary of State John Kerry. He is back - continuing to push for Israel and the Palestinians to make 'peace', not war. Yet the proposals he has made are unacceptable to either party. Still, as if he were addicted to smoking the 'peace-pipe', he continues to threaten and cajole and manipulate and…and…

    • Lord, enough! How long does Israel have to put up with blind leaders who have authority in this world, yet cannot see, or refuse to see, that the only peace being offered to Israel is the 'Rest in Peace' kind!

    • Associate yourselves, O people, and you shall be broken in pieces. Give ear, all you far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nothing; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

      Isaiah 8:9-10

      Thus says the Lord YHWH, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

      Isaiah 7:7

    • God, in Your jealous anger, deal with this 'peace process' (Zechariah 1:14-17) which wants to divide Your land (Joel 3:1-2), thus hindering the salvation of all Israel (Ezekiel 36:23-28) as well as hindering the return of Messiah Yeshua (Matthew 23:37-39).

    • Abba, enable Israel's leaders to be like the sons of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chronicles 12:32)

    • Strengthen all of Israel's government ministers who are absolutely opposed to any further division of this land or Jerusalem.

    • Open Bibi's eyes to all of Kerry's manipulations and give him the boldness and courage to just say 'No'!

    • Hedge Kerry in. Frustrate him so much that he refuses to come back!

    • Thank You for continually using the Palestinians to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian State, as the security package that the US has proposed to protect Israel after the creation of a 'Palestine' was rejected by the Palestinians.

  5. We took time to praise God for all He is doing in restoring Israel to her land and Messiah - for His holy name's sake.

    • We thank You for building Jerusalem and gathering together Israel's outcasts (Psalm 147:2).

    • Bless You that Israel's desert is blossoming (Isaiah 35:1), and that fruits and flowers are being exported to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 27:6).

    • We are so grateful that You continue to hear our prayers and are bringing the Jews home from the ends of the earth. Fear not; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not keep back; bring My sons from far and My daughters from the ends of the earth; everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:5-7)

    • You said that when Israel returned, You would make out of it an exceedingly great army and we see that today (Ezekiel 37:10). We give You all the glory for the IDF (Isaiah 41:14-16).

    • Hallelujah! Thank You for the growing, thriving Messianic Body of believers in Yeshua in Israel.

    • Thank You for the children playing in our streets (Zechariah 8:5).

    • Bless You for the restoration of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Golan to Israel - in just six days!

    • We praise You for continuing to watch over this promise: Hear the Word of YHWH, O gentiles, and declare it in the coastlands afar off. And say, He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep [guard] him, as a shepherd keeps [guards] his flock. (Jeremiah 31:10)

  6. Since some of the Iranian Church sees Jeremiah 49:34-39 as referring to Iran today, we used it to pray into the very dangerous Iranian situation.

    • The Word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam [ancient Persia]…Thus says YHWH of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might…I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies, before those who seek their life. I will bring evil on them, even My fierce anger, says YHWH. I will send the sword after them until I have destroyed them; and I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy the king and the rulers from there, says YHWH.

    • Lord, break Iran's 'bow' - her ability to shoot any of her weapons.

    • Bring confusion and division into Iran's leadership - one against another (Psalm 55:9; 129:5).

    • Lord, set Your throne in Iran by saving multitudes of Iranians.

    • Impart to the believing Iranian Church the dangers that their leaders are placing that nation in through cursing Your people Israel (Genesis 12:3b).

    • God, destroy the reign of the king [the Ayatollah Khamenei] and his princes [the mullahs].

    • Increase the physical shakings. Cause earthquakes that will swallow up Iran's nuclear facilities - in particular those that are built underground.

  7. We prayed for Israel to be totally prepared to strike Iran militarily if that is God's will.

    • 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 YHWH's plans, 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

    • If striking Iran is not Your will, or if this is not Your timing, then please refrain Israel at all costs.

    • If, or when, You direct Israel to attack, we ask for such an overwhelming victory that the fear of Israel's God falls on all of the Muslims in the Middle East.

    • Also, aid any Israeli attack to do 'exceedingly abundantly' more damage to the Iranian nuclear program than all of the so-called experts say is possible.

    • Open the ears of Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon, IDF Chief of Staff Gantz and any others who will be involved in this decision to be able to hear Your voice - one way or the other.

    • Impart plans from on high concerning strategies and tactics.

    • Show Israel how to destroy 'Elam's bow'.

  8. We ended praying for the Church - that we would allow God's Word to judge us and not the other way around - where we judge the Word of God.

    • We encourage You to intercede for the Church in Your specific nation.

    • We bless You for the remnant that is found throughout the world that is not willing to compromise on Your Word - whether about morals, sin, judgments, Israel, or any other clear biblical doctrine.

    • Strengthen and enlarge that remnant.

    • Open up eyes during this season as the birth of Your Son is celebrated, so that Your people see that You are still the God of Israel and that that Bethlehem baby is still the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2).

    • Lord, this is Your Body we are praying for. Raise up shepherds after Your own heart (Jeremiah 23:4) and remove all false shepherds (Ezekiel 34).

Thanks, blessings and Shabbat shalom

The IFI team