1. We began by reading from this week's prophetic portion.

    • In that day I will cut a covenant for them, with the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens… And I will break the bow, the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth you unto Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you unto Me in righteousness, in judgment, in covenantal love, and in mercies. I will even betroth you unto Me in faithfulness, and you shall know YHWH.

      Hosea 2:18-20

    • Thank You for being a covenant-making and a covenant-keeping God.

    • We bless You for Your mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

    • Thank You for watching over Your promises to Israel and to us (Philippians 1:6).

    • We are so grateful and encouraged that Your word cannot be broken (John 10:35).

    • Hallelujah! You have given us both the living Word Yeshua, as well as Your written word.

  2. Pope Francis is due to visit Jordan, 'Palestine' and Israel from May 24-26th. We are concerned about the implications of his visit and the rumors of the kinds of things he might say and do. He is set to meet with many leaders - both religious and political. Many Palestinians see his coming to them as his stamp of approval on a state of 'Palestine' and, unfortunately, that is the way most of the world will see it.

    • YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He breaks the plans of the people. The counsel of YHWH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is YHWH; the people He has chosen for His inheritance.

      Psalms 33:10-12

    • May Your truth override this Pope's ecumenical message.

    • Lord, when he meets with Jerusalem's Mufti [Islam's supreme leader] on the Temple Mount, do not allow them to plan anything that is against Your will - or to come into one accord.

    • Confound their speech just like You did at Babel (Genesis 11:6-9; Psalm 55:9).

    • Use the severe disappointment of the persecuted Palestinian and Arab Christians, who are very upset with whom the Pope will meet, to turn them unto Youself (Psalm 51:15; Romans 8:28).

    • Lord Yeshua, we declare that this land is Your land (Leviticus 25:23).

    • We take a stance against any declaration from the Pope, dedicating this land to 'Mary'!

    • Yeshua, if this Pope is not born-again, reveal Yourself to him when he enters Your land.

  3. We prayed for the protection of this nation - its people and leaders - from the wiles of the enemy that will accompany Pope Francis' visit.

    • Lord, give this nation and its people protection from any anti-God declarations that may come from the Pope, or any others, during this trip.

    • Do not allow this 'man of peace' to deceive Israelis about the true nature of Messiah Yeshua.

    • Replace any distortions of truth with biblical truth.

    • Thank You for using non-believing Jewish Israelis to defend the Jewishness of Jesus.

    • Use this visit to press Your people to look more closely at Yeshua's claims and deeds. …Yeshua asked His disciples, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? And…who do you say I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:13-16)

    • In fact, move upon many to read the New Testament - especially in Hebrew.

    • Help the Israeli Body to be anointed to answer any questions we may get from unbelievers at this time.

    • Protect all of Israel's leaders from any false spirits that may accompany Francis. Surely, there is no spell against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What God has worked! (Numbers 23:23)

  4. This coming Wednesday is Yom Yerushaliim - Jerusalem Day - celebrating the retaking of Jerusalem by the IDF in 1967, which led to the reunification of the city of God (Psalm 87:3).

    • So says YHWH of Hosts: I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury…I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth, and the mountain of YHWH of Hosts, the Holy Mountain.

      Zechariah 8:2-3

    • We bless You for restoring Jerusalem in its entirety to Your people in a miraculous way in 1967.

    • We continue to stand amazed as we see the literal fulfillment of so many prophetic promises concerning this city. YHWH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. (Psalms 147:2)

    • Bless Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and use him to build up this city in a way that is pleasing to You.

    • Bring down all the plans to divide this city and turn parts over to Islam's false god.

    • For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.

      Isaiah 37:35

  5. Both the Pope and Jerusalem relate to this 'zombie' peace process, i.e., although dead, it lives! While we are weary of praying into this same topic week after week, yet we need to affirm that to this point God has heard and answered our prayers. Despite the desire of most nations, the declarations of the UN, etc., and, until recently, the desire of most Israelis, there is still no 'Palestine' on the ground, where it matters most. And for that we bless God and thank you for your persistent intercession in this area!

    • Abba, this is Your land (Ezekiel 36:5; Joel 3:2). We look to You to protect the integrity of it.

    • Lord, is it not time for this promise to be manifested over this demonically inspired 'land-for-peace' peace process: YHWH shall roar out of Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem. The heavens and the earth shall shake. But YHWH will be the hope of His people and the strength of the sons of Israel. So you shall know that I am YHWH your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. (Joel 3:16-17a)

    • Have much mercy on the multitudes who are resisting Your will for this city and nation (Joel 3;14).

    • Lord, do not allow this Pope, who comes across as a man of peace, deceive Israel concerning this 'peace' process - unless 'this is that' which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel! [We do not believe that 'this is that', but it sure is an excellent foreshadow and at some time events will transpire that "will be that'! To all our precious translators, sorry about that last sentence - but there is one more to come!]

    • When 'this is that' does occur, please let us know (Amos 3:7) and guide us as to how to pray.

    • Lord, it seems obvious that the world has a 'magnifying glass' it uses only on Israel. Syria kills hundreds of thousands; Iraqis slaughter each other at an ever increasing rate; Boko Haram in Nigeria kidnaps, rapes and converts or sells Christian girls; Ukrainian violence increase; Iran flouts both the P5+1 and the IAEA - yet when two Palestinians are killed in a violent riot against IDF troops, everyone demands an investigation of this 'war crime'. God, either break this magnifying glass or use it for Your glory.

  6. Believers often 'feel' the heaviness and oppression that surrounds Jerusalem. As it is the center of both God and Satan's end-time activities, we can be worn down just by living here (Daniel 7:25). And if that is how we, sons of the Most High, feel, what kind of pressure must Israel's leaders be under - those who do not yet know the indwelling presence of God? So we continue to hold up their arms in prayer.

    • Abba, strengthen Israel's leaders physically, emotionally, and mentally.

    • Lord, protect and give wisdom to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, and all other responsible persons.

    • Reveal Yourself to many through Your Son, Messiah Yeshua (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22).

    • Use the world's 'magnifying glass' to bring Israel's leadership into godly unity.

    • Use the world's 'magnifying glass' to cause many of Israel's leaders to look to Your Word for guidance.

    • Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

      Psalms 119:105

  7. One of the issues fraught with danger that has been discussed in Israel this past week is the defense budget. While many politicians, including Finance Minister Yair Lapid, want to decrease the budget and give more monies to education and social welfare - both needy and worthwhile causes - yet in our area, without a strong IDF, there will not be any Jews left to need education and houses and jobs!

    • Lord, while we do not trust in horses or chariots (Psalm 20:7), yet You have raised up the IDF as Your weapon of war in these days (Jeremiah 51:20).

    • We look to You to provide all of the IDF's needs - both for training and on the battlefield.

    • Lord, reveal and cut out any true waste of funds in the army.

    • God, halt all budget cuts that will harm the IDF's ability to defend this nation.

    • Do whatever it takes to make this prophetic promise a reality: …and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10b)

    • Abba, preserve the core of career soldiers and officers.

    • Hinder all attempts by the extreme left to make these dedicated warriors 'enemies of the state'.

    • For Your holy name's sake, protect the IDF so that it can protect Your people.

    • 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 sheaves 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

  8. EU parliament elections are being held at this time in all 28 EU nations. The polls indicate that the EU will look different after this - as more right-wing parties, some even leaning towards anti-Semitism and many definitely anti-Islamic immigration - gain numerous seats. Also, Euro-skeptics, those who want to see the EU have less authority, with more power returning to European nations, are forecasted to make up a good third of the new parliament.

    • Lord, raise up and pull down as You see fit for Your purposes at this time (Daniel 4:25b, 5:21b).

    • We pray for results that will lead to an increase in aliyah - Jewish immigration from exile to Israel.

    • Use this election to expose the reality of the Islamic invasion of Europe.

    • Have mercy on Europeans and cause the results to bring many into Your kingdom.

    • Have mercy on the Church and rid it of its replacement theology induced curse (Genesis 12:3b).

    • Release the Holy Spirit of truth (John 16:13-14) into the hearts of many European Christians and open their eyes to see the truth concerning both Israel and Islam.

    • Use the current upheavals in the EU economy for Your purposes.

    • Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit in all nations.

      Psalms 82:8

      Amen!

We ended by praying about the Iranian situation. Very little real progress has been made in the P5+1 or the UN's IAEA negotiations to curb Iran's progress towards being able to make a nuclear weapon in a very short time. We continue to plead with God to intervene sovereignly and also ask Him to prepare Israel, just in case the IDF is the way that God chooses to intervene and stop this very dangerous global threat.

We also prayed for the Intercessors for Israel Germany's 2nd annual prayer conference taking place late next week. Our brothers Eliyahu and Ofer, as well as the folks who head up IFI-D, will be leading the conference. They need our prayers for wisdom, protection and strength as the confusion in the German Body concerning its own call and the specific place of Israel seems to increase with each new 'prophetic' word.

Thank you for your prayers for this nation and this ministry at this time.

Shabbat shalom from Zion,

The IFI team