1. We began by reading Psalm 19:1-3:

    • The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor are there words; their voice is not heard.

      Psalms 19:1-3

    • We are so grateful that You truly have the whole world in Your hands.

    • We bless You for Messiah Yeshua, our precious Redeemer, Savior, King and Friend.

    • Thank You for establishing Your eternal covenant with us.

      Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

      Isaiah 55:3

  2. This past week, Israel's army, the IDF, intercepted a freighter on the high seas that was carrying game-changing weapons from Syria to Iran to Hamas in Gaza. This was a flawless operation with no injuries or deaths, while proving that Iran is not heeding international agreements. Yet the US State Department said that although this was proof that Iran is a major state sponsor of terrorism, this was not a reason to stop negotiating with them concerning their nuclear program. Huh? So what would be a good enough reason? Testing a nuclear bomb? Yet by then it will be too late.

    • Abba, we thank You for aiding the Israeli navy and special forces to stop these Iranian missiles from reaching Hamas.

    • Continue to bless and use Israel's navy to protect this nation and her people.

    • Supply all that the navy needs - finances, new ships, new weapon platforms, etc.

    • Thank You for this further proof of You doing exactly that which You said:

      He said to me, Prophesy to the Spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the Spirit, So says the Lord YHWH: Come from the four winds, O Spirit, and breathe on these dead ones so that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

      Ezekiel 37:9-10

    • Provide Israel with all it needs to protect itself from the Enemy's tactics and weapons.

    • Thank You for Egypt declaring Hamas a terrorist organization and illegal to operate in that nations.

  3. Last night, members of the IFI team went north and held a corporate pray meeting there. One of the things they prayed about was security. Here are some of the issues they prayed into:

    • The security of the north of Israel, its borders with Lebanon and Syria and the sea, against the likelihood of Hezbollah seeking revenge for recent Israeli coups

    • Israeli spies in both Syria and Lebanon

    • Against kidnappings, and for alertness for all Israelis - both soldiers and civilians.

    This morning, we in Jerusalem added our prayers to theirs.

    • Thank You for the protection and quiet Israel does have in the north at this time, especially as we see what is happening just over that border (Psalm 121:4).

    • Lord Yeshua, release a host of angels to guard over Your people - especially the IDF.

      The Angel of YHWH camps round about those who fear Him, and delivers them.

      Psalms 34:7

    • Lord, as in the days of old, deal with the threats against Your people from the north.

      He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desert…

      Zephaniah 2:13

    • Abba, wake up many Lebanese and Syrians to the truth that Israel is not their enemy - but Islam is!

    • Concerning Syria, continue to confound all those who hate Zion (Psalm 129:5).

    • Continue to set Israel's enemies against one another (2 Chronicles 20:22-23 - Please note the progression: first Jehoshaphat called for prayer and fasting [vv. 1-13]; then the Word of the Lord came and gave specific instructions as to what Israel should - and should not - do [vv. 14-17]; Israel believed and did as God said and then as they praised Him, He set their enemies against one another [vv. 18-23]).

    • Pour out the fear of the IDF on all the surrounding nations and their armies (2 Chronicles 17:10).

    • Provide wisdom from on high for all the commanders - especially those in the field.

    • We ask all of this for Your glory:

      Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for Your mercy and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where now is their God? But our God is in Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased.

      Psalms 115:1-3

  4. 'Bibi goes to Washington.' Israel's Prime Minister was in America for most of the past week. While he handled things well, including a meeting with US President Obama, he appeared to be exhausted. This should come as a no surprise, what with all of the pressure this man has had to endure both from outside and inside of Israel. We continue to sense an urgency to hold Bibi up in prayer.

    • Abba, we thank and bless You for Bibi Netanyahu.

    • When he gets overwhelmed - draw him to look to You.

      Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I cry unto You. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock higher than I.

      Psalms 61:1-2

    • Continue to give Bibi courage, wisdom and strength.

      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

    • Thank You for hearing and answering our intercession concerning his time in America.

    • Surround Netanyahu with excellent advisors and aides and grace him with an ability to designate.

    • Guard over his home life.

    • Protect him in all his dealings with Obama, Kerry and all other national leaders.

    • Lord, we truly desire to see Bibi saved. Reveal Your Son to him and do so quickly.

      All things are delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him.

      Matthew 11:27

  5. Because of a Foreign Ministry labor dispute, both the Pope and the UK's PM Cameron have had to cancel their trips to Israel - which some of us see as an answer to prayer! Yet this strike can negatively impact Israel's overall economy.

    • Lord, we really do thank You for keeping Pope Francis and his humanistic doctrines out of Your land.

    • Lord, we also that You for preventing Cameron from coming next week - to badger a tired Netanyahu about the 'peace' process.

    • Abba, any influential people who truly want to see 'Palestine' established on Your land - keep away.

    • Lord, please use this labor dispute to hinder the participants of the 'Christ at the Checkpoint' conference from gaining entry to Your land and Bethlehem - the city of David (Luke 2:4).

    • Continue to bless Israel's economy in amazing ways (Deuteronomy 28:8, 10).

  6. We continued our watch over the dangerous Iranian situation.

    • We read this passage, substituting Iran for Moab because it fits so well:

      I have heard the reproach of [Iran], and the curses…with which they have cursed My people and have magnified themselves on their border. Therefore, as I live, says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel, Surely [Iran] shall be like Sodom, and [their] sons… like Gomorrah; a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a ruin forever. The remnant of My people shall plunder them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them. They shall have this for their pride, because they have cursed and magnified themselves against the people of YHWH of Hosts.

      Zephaniah 2:8-10

    • Lord, since You do not change (Malachi 3:6), please watch over this warning to Iran today.

    • In line with what You say, we ask for a fire and brimstone storm on all of Iran's nuclear power facilities.

    • Iran's leaders are threatening to destroy Your people and thus Your Word. So God arise and deal with Your enemies (Psalm 68:1; 83:1-2; 110:1-2).

    • And when either You or Israel finally does deal with this dangerous threat, please protect all Iranians who do not have hatred in their hearts for Israel and the Jewish people.

    • If You do want to use Israel, as it says in that Zephaniah portion above, then give to the responsible leaders wisdom concerning the timing, the weapons to use and also the courage to pull the trigger.

    • Lord of Hosts, if Israel is to attack, we believe that You can use it to do exceedingly abundantly more damage than all the experts think. And this is based on how You helped Israel in 1948, 1967 and 1973 - all wars in which Israel was not supposed to survive.

      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.

      Deuteronomy 20:1

  7. The upcoming Christ at the Checkpoint conference was the next prayer target.

    • Lord, cancel this politically correct but biblically blasphemous conference!

    • Since they are cursing that which You are doing with Your heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:41), curse their finances, their communications, even their travel plans and bring this conference to ruin (Genesis 12:3).

    • Abba, we sense that You are grieved and angered over this at the same time. Deal with those among the participants who truly love You and are born-again, and open their eyes to the truth of Israel's situation.

    • Use Your Word to cut the hearts of those who read it.

    • Break through the demonic checkpoint that has so many in the Church living behind satanic barriers which prevent the truth from ever reaching them.

    • Thank You for every believer who does have an understanding of what You are doing in Israel today.

    • As with Balaam, do not allow any speakers to curse Your people - but instead to bless.

      God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? Behold, I have received word to bless. And He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He has not seen iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel. YHWH his God is with him, and the shout of a king among them.

      Numbers 23:19-21

    • Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful.

      Psalms 1:1

      Use this very clear verse to caution Your people about being there - especially the Israeli Messianic Jews who are to speak there.

    • Pray for the believers in your nation who would stand with this conference out of a misguided desire to see 'social justice' and who have a love for the Palestinians - but it is not based on God's love.

We ended by praying for rain. The nation is still very dry and needs a miracle from Him during this ending of the rainy season in Israel.

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

May the Lord who created heaven and earth bless You out of Zion (Psalm 134:3)

Shabbat shalom
The IFI team