[As soon as our prayer meeting ended, at 8 am, Hamas started firing rockets again at Israel. So pray for protection, wisdom for the government and strength for the IDF if it needs to continue taking the battle to this demonically inspired enemy.]

  1. We read some verses from this Shabbat's Torah portion and praised God for who He is.

    • Hear, O, Israel. YHWH our God, YHWH is one. And you shall love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

      Deuteronomy 6:4-5

    • YHWH did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people. But because YHWH loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers, YHWH has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh…

      Deuteronomy 7:7-8

    • We thank You for who You are - the unchangeable, ever faithful, Creator of heaven and earth.

    • We stand amazed that Your holy nature includes holy love (1 John 4:8-10).

    • Hallelujah for Your mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

    • Lord, we praise You that in all that is happening in Israel, our desire and Your goal is that You would be glorified (Malachi 1:5).

    • Hallelujah, for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns (Revelation 19:6; Psalm 103:19).

  2. This Shabbat's prophetic portion includes the following verses which brought us much comfort as we see all the anti-Israel/anti-Semitic/anti-biblical stances, and even actions, from the nations. These are great verses to proclaim over this whole "Israel is evil in defending itself by killing civilians" lies that permeate much of the global attitude to this Gaza war.

    • Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the scales; behold, He takes up the coastlands as a very little thing.

      Isaiah 40:15

    • All nations before Him are as nothing; and to Him they are thought to be less than nothing, and vanity.

      Isaiah 40:17

      [So the UN really is the 'United Nothings' in His sight!]

    • Israel's God, brings the rulers to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth as vanity. (Isaiah 40:23)

  3. The ceasefire ended at 8am this morning. Israel had already accepted an indefinite extension, yet Hamas said, No way without all of our demands being met. We asked simply for His will to be done.

    • Our Father, in Heaven, sanctified be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is already done in Heaven.

      Matthew 6:9-10

    • Lord, prepare Israel - its leaders, army and people - to do Your will, and to deal with the results of that.

    • Abba, if need be, override man's will so that Your will - will be done.

      There are many thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of YHWH shall stand.

      Proverbs 19:21

    • Lord, we bless You for the unity that has prevailed in this nation during this past month. Please guard over it and even help it to grow (Psalm 133:1).

    • May every purpose You have purposed for this specific season be accomplished (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

  4. We prayed for Israel's security cabinet, especially Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon, and the IDF Chief of Staff Gantz, that they would be like the sons of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chronicles 12:32).

    • We thank You for how You have strengthened Netanyahu to speak truth so plainly and powerfully.

    • Over all of the responsible people in this security cabinet, we declare, A man's heart plans his way, but YHWH directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

    • Enable clear communication between the political and military leaders.

    • Lord Yeshua, You are the Captain of the Hosts of heaven. Just as You did with Joshua, give our leaders Your 'Jericho plans' on how to deal with Hamas and all the rest of Israel's enemies (Joshua 5:13-6:5).

    • Make the governors and generals of 'Judah' the fiery leaders prophesied in Zechariah 12:6.

    • Protect the unity of the security cabinet.

    • Forbid all political maneuvering - especially at this time of war.

  5. We asked that the Israeli Defense Force would be all that God has destined it to be at this time.

    • Thank You that the IDF is a fulfillment of prophecy.

      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 37:10

    • Abba, be glorified among all of Israel's foes by doing this that You did in biblical times:

      The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that YHWH fought against the enemies of Israel.

      2 Chronicles 20:29

    • May Your blessing rest upon all those Israelis who answered the call to arise and defend this nation.

    • Sharpen and renew the soldiers who have been in the battle. Prepare them for whatever the future holds.

    • Expose any remaining terror tunnels that the IDF may have missed.

    • Release a mighty host of angels to go before the IDF and several to be with each soldier.

    • Give the IDF a boldness in battle that comes from knowing that You are with them (Deuteronomy 20:1).

    • 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 [Allah], 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 in the storms of the south. YHWH of Hosts shall defend them…

      Zechariah 9:13-15a

    • Other verses to use in praying for the IDF: Isaiah 41:10-16; Jeremiah 51:19-23; Micah 4:11-13

  6. We prayed next into the legal battle Israel will need to face - called 'lawfare'. Already there are UN groups and others who want to crucify Israel for having committed 'war crimes' and 'crimes against humanity', without any real proof other than the numbers of Gazans killed. And most of these groups never mention who Israel is fighting against [a worldwide recognized terror group] or how Hamas started this war by kidnapping and killing three teens over a month ago. This is clear evidence of wickedness - both spiritual and man-centered - in high places (Ephesians 6:12b). In fact, the IDF has been so merciful with its enemy that it should receive the Nobel Peace Prize instead of being slandered and persecuted!

    • Arise O God. Scatter these enemies of Yours and Your people (Psalm 9:19-20; 83:1-5).

    • Lord, teach us how to pray so that we can raise up a spiritual dome over Israel against these attacks.

    • Lord Yeshua, You who are our lawyer/advocate (1 John 2:1) - be Israel's advocate as well.

    • Based on Isaiah 54:17, we condemn all tongues that are raised against this nation in unrighteousness.

    • God, help Israel's foreign ministry and justice department to be prepared to defend Israel.

    • Lord, rally all the non-Jewish defenders of this nation to also take a stance for righteousness sake.

    • We thank You for all who do see clearly and speak up for Israel - both within and outside the Church.

    • Encourage more reporters who were in Gaza to speak out about Hamas' use of human shields and of them firing rockets from civilian areas.

    • Give Israel wisdom on how to use the Hamas manual that was discovered that taught terrorists how to use human shields and civilian areas from where to attack Israel and the IDF.

    • Continue to anoint Israel's UN ambassador Ron Prosor with wisdom to confound that very anti-God, humanistic and evil organization.

  7. One of IFI's board members just returned from a month in America. He was aghast at how the churches seemed to be so set on their 'programs' that not even this attempt by Satan to destroy Israel - thus wrecking the foundation of the Christian faith as well - was enough of a wake-up call to hold special prayer meetings or do anything not scheduled. Is your church's pre-determined program more important than the day-by-day guidance of God's Spirit?

    • Lord, this is Your Body. Have mercy, and wake them up.

    • As You are knocking, may there be many who open up to You (Revelation 3:20).

    • Lord, save us from false prophetic voices, and raise up real prophetic voices who are hearing from You.

    • Abba, give Your children wisdom for the times we are living in (James 1:5-8).

    • Yeshua, open eyes for many to truly see that the root - Your promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - supports the Church and not the other way around (Romans 11:18).

    • Give to many fresh revelation on what Romans 15:8 really means:

      …Yeshua the Messiah has become a minister [servant] of the circumcision [the Jews] for the truth of God, to confirm [to establish and make sure] the promises made to the fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob].

      Romans 15:8

    • We are very grateful for all of our brothers and sisters who are aware of these things and do stand with what You are doing in Israel. Protect them, and give them open doors to speak truth to many others.

    • Abba, for those who are blind, we pray as Elisha did:

      YHWH, open his eyes so that he may see.

      2 Kings 6:17; cp. Psalm 119:18

    • Lord, convict those in Your Body who, concerning Israel, are walking by sight - believing what they see in the media - as opposed to walking by faith in what You have declared in Your Word!

  8. We are very concerned with the tremendous increase of anti-Semitic attacks - in the streets, the media and in the political realm, so we again prayed for Jews in exile to quickly come home.

    • Lord, since this is what You said You would do for Your glory, we continue to ask You to do it!

      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; cp. Ezekiel 36:23-24

    • Abba, we especially lift before You the Jews in France, Germany, Ukraine and the UK. Shake them up and pull them out.

    • Lord, many who have come home have family members who remain in exile. Please unite families.

    • Open wide the doors of Israel's interior ministry to receive all Jews who want to return - regardless of their beliefs or lack of documentation.

      …Go through the gates; prepare the way of the people…Raise up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a banner for the peoples.

      Isaiah 62:10

    • Thank You for the many organizations - both Jewish and Christian - who are laboring to carry Your people home (Isaiah 49:22).

    • Abba, draw the Jewish people back with as much mercy as possible (Jeremiah 31:3) - but do not allow them to refuse to see the signs of the rise of the hunters (Jeremiah 16:16).

    • Please pray for specific groups in your areas - such as Holocaust survivors, young families, rabbis, etc.

Thank You for standing with this nation through intercessory prayer.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion
The IFI team

For I know the plans which I am planning for you, says YHWH;
plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you shall call on Me, you shall go and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you. And you shall seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with all your heart.
And I will be found by you, says YHWH.
I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations,
and from all the places where I have driven you, says YHWH.
And I will bring you again into the place from where I caused you to be exiled.

Jeremiah 29:11-14