1. This coming Tuesday evening through Wednesday, in line with the biblical calendar, Israel celebrates Shavuot - Pentecost to the Church. The Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday the following weekend, recalling the day that Yeshua sent forth the gift of the Holy Spirit upon His disciples waiting in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4). The Jews observe Shavuot as the time when Moses, on Mt. Sinai, received God's commandments.

    • He has shown His people the power of His works, to give to them the inheritance of the nations. The works of His hands are truth and judgment; all His commands are true, standing fast forever and ever; they are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name. The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom; all practicing them have good understanding; His praise stands forever.

      Psalms 111:6-10

    • We bless You Father, for both Your written Word and Your living Word - Your Son (John 1:1, 14).

    • We are very thankful that You are a covenant-making (Genesis 15:18) and a covenant-keeping God (Deuteronomy 4:31).

    • Yeshua, we praise You for sending 'another Comforter,' - the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26).

    • Thank You for watching over Your Word to do it (Numbers 23:19; Jeremiah 1:12).

    • The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

      Isaiah 40:8

  2. With Shavuot being observed in Israel next week, we prayed for God to impart to His people a deep hunger for His Word and for Him to move on this nation by His Spirit.

    • We bless You for this feast of YHWH (Leviticus 23:15-21).

    • Abba, meet with Your people - young and old, religious and secular.

    • Pour out a deep hunger for Your Word and lessen the desire to study the words of men (John 5:44).

    • As none of us had a real hunger for Your Word until we were brought into Your Son's kingdom, we are asking You to save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jeremiah 31:7).

    • But until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is on their heart. But whenever it turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. And the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

      2 Corinthians 3:15-17

    • Instead of both Jews and Christians judging Your Word, bring a huge change so that they see that Your Word judges them! He who rejects Me and does not receive My Words has one who judges him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)

    • Lord Yeshua, is it not time for You to pour out that spirit of grace upon Your people to enable them to look unto You whom they have pierced? (Zechariah 12:10)

  3. We prayed next for our brothers and sisters in Messiah's Body to also have a deepening hunger for God's Word in their lives.

    • Lord, challenge believers of all ages to be grounded on the rock - Your words (Matthew 7:24-27).

    • The entrance of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

      Psalms 119:130

    • Yeshua, may the shepherds of Your flock, be faithful to study and proclaim Your Word. Study to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

    • For those leaders who are no longer are faithful to Your Word - either convict them or remove them.

    • Purify Your Body from all teachings that distort Your truth.

    • Give us Spirit-anointed courage to battle the spirit of humanism that is lodged in Your courts.

    • Revive daily reading of Your Word in the life of Your people.

    • Restore the Tanach, the 'Old Testament', to its rightful place in the Body - that is as the 'Holy Scriptures' which the New Testament always quotes from (Matthew 22:29; 2 Timothy 3:15-17)

  4. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas are in the midst of unity talks - again. This is the major reason why Israel stopped the 'peace' negotiations' as Hamas is a globally recognized terror group that has in its charter a goal of destroying Israel, and killing Jews. Yet there are voices both in Israel and in the world saying that if this attempt at unity is not successful, then Israel needs to re-enter negotiations with PA President Abbas. Doesn't anyone recall what our mothers taught us - 'It's the thought that counts'?

    • God, it seems that for Israel to be set free from this Oslo 'peace' trap, this unity attempt needs to succeed. If that is what it takes, then allow it to happen.

    • If successful, give Israel's leaders wisdom and courage as to how to respond.

    • Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

      Proverbs 11:21

    • Lord, prevent the nations from making excuses as to why a unity PA-Hamas government is acceptable.

    • If, as so often in past attempts, this unity is not successful, prevent Israeli leaders from jumping right back into these negotiations - regardless of what the US, EU, UN, etc. say (Psalm 33:10-11).

    • Save us God, from the plots of wicked men. Blessed is YHWH, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth. (Psalms 124:6-8)

  5. Israel's internal security was our next topic for intercession.

    • God, impart Your wisdom to the leaders of all Israel's security forces to know how to respond to acts of terror, incitement and other attacks against Your people and nation.

    • Lead the security forces to put out all fires quickly and efficiently.

    • Expose all of the enemy's plans before they can get off the ground.

    • Lord, it grieves us when the authorities default position is to not support IDF soldiers' actions. Change this so that when a soldier defends himself or others, he is not questioned about his motives and actions.

    • We bless all of Israel's various security forces - in the name of the Captain of Heaven's hosts, Yeshua!

    • Enable the communications between all levels of command in all these forces to be clear and concise.

    • Cause the fear of Israel's God and her army to be spread abroad both near and far (Joshua 2:9-11).

    • Behold, all those who were angered against you shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing. And those who fight with you shall perish. You shall seek them, and shall not find them; men warring against you shall be as nothing…For I, YHWH your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

      Isaiah 41:11-13

  6. There has been a budget battle between the Defense Ministry and the Finance Ministry. While there is no doubt that the IDF can save monies, still in the current situation in the Middle East, the IDF needs all of the finances it can muster to be able to defend this nation.

    • Abba, we are asking for a godly resolution to this tricky issue.

    • Move upon both Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, to deal with this issue in a way that brings about Your solution.

    • If Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu needs to get involved, give him an anointing to break the yoke.

    • Bring down all ego battles (Proverbs 16:18).

    • Supply the IDF with all that it needs to be that exceedingly great army of Ezekiel 37:10.

    • Cut out all waste from the IDF's budget and show them new ways of doing things in these areas.

    • Please Lord, stop the hemorrhaging of career officers from the ranks of Israel's army.

    • Whatever it takes, do not allow the sharpness of Israel's Air Force to suffer because of this battle.

  7. This past week saw Bibi Netanyahu reminding the Pope that both Yeshua and Paul were Jewish and spoke Hebrew. Despite the exaggerated reports on this meeting, the video of it shows no animosity - but a respectful conversation. Yes, Frances did say it was Aramaic that Yeshua spoke and Bibi agreed with him, but emphasized that He also spoke Hebrew. (If you question the truth of that, read Acts 26:14). Bibi has in the past also straightened out US President Obama about the history of this nation and region. He needs our prayers to continue to speak truth to power and to be drawn closer to His Messiah.

    • Abba, we again thank You for raising up Bibi for Israel at 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

    • Lord, protect him from any harm - especially any assassination attempts.

    • Give much wisdom to his human security guards and assign Bibi a couple of big angels for anything that these men cannot handle!

    • Protect him from all pride (Proverbs 18:12).

    • Continue to use his to speak truth to the world's leaders about Israel and its history on this land.

    • Continue to use him to speak truth about Iran's nuclear weapons program.

    • Continue to have him expose the lies of the Palestinian leaders - who say they are for peace - but strive to be at one with Hamas (Psalm 35:20; 120:7).

    • Surround Netanyahu with godly 'wise men' who will have his ear.

    • Make him a man like this: 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. But his delight is only in the Law of YHWH; and in His Law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2)

    • Reveal to Bibi his Messiah and Lord Yeshua.

  8. Next week, on Thursday, the Pope has invited Israeli President Peres and PA President Abbas to pray at the Vatican for 'peace'. Yet to whom they will pray? Is this a foreshadow of what is in store for the near future - a unified world with every man 'respecting' one another - yet all worshipping their own idols?

    Also, Israel's Knesset [Parliament] will be electing a new president in a few weeks. We need a man who can work with the prime minister and who has a sense of the real situation in this region - as well as in the rest of the world. Peres lacked both qualities.

    Please pray about these two items, even asking God to block this meeting at the Vatican if at all possible. We also asked God to prevent Peres from attending - as he is still a representative of the nation of Israel.

    Also, if this meeting is a clear sign of things to come, and the world was a lot closer to the close of the age than many of us think, then we asked God to prepare us.

  9. We finished by praying for IFI's international outreaches at this time.

    • Germany: Today, and continuing through this weekend, IFI-Deutschland is holding its second Prayer Conference. Please cover Eliyahu, Ofer and the IFI-D team to hit the target in both teaching and prayer.

    • Korea: Jeremy Smith is there now teaching about Israel and prayer. Please hold him and Bert in your prayers for protection and anointing.

    • Scotland: IFI's 11th annual Scotland Prayer Conference will be taking place next week, starting Tuesday evening, Erev Shavuot. Please pray for Eliyahu, Marc and Chuck as they lead this full week of teaching and intercession.

    • England: Chuck heads south after Scotland and is the guest speaker at the Ebenezer UK Conference and then has a week's worth of ministry in various other areas of England. Please pray for strength and an anointing for him.

Details of most of these meetings can be accessed here: http://www.ifi.org.il/events

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team