1. This week's haftorah portion is from Ezekiel. We used this as our starting place for today's prayer meeting:

    • Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions. Then take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions. Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.

      Ezekiel 37: 15-17

    • We are so grateful that when the Lord truly gets hold of this nation He will unite us as one with Himself so that where there are two Jews together they will be of one opinion (instead of three opinions as is commonly joked).

    • Thank You Lord that You are faithful to watch over Your word to fulfill it. (Jeremiah 1:12)

    • You neither slumber nor sleep and none of the events which trouble us take You by surprise. (Psalm 121:4)

    • You know the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

    • Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.

      Ezekiel 37:25-28

    • Thank You for healing all our infirmities (Matthew 8:17).

    • We trust You that all that you have prophesied in Your word will be fulfilled.

    • Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God,in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

      Psalm 48:1-2

  2. Israeli Elections - March 17th 2015

    We believe God's heart is to see Israel well-governed by a strong government and prime minister who are empowered to rule. Our feeling is that this requires Benyamin Netanyahu to be the leader of a Likud-led government in which the Likud party is elected with a strong mandate from the people.

    • Lord, please give us the government we need not the government we deserve or even the government we want. Come and intervene, O Lord and don't leave this to us.

    • Give us a government which is effective and able to govern and which is more stable than the last one.

    • Give us a government which is as one stick in Your hand - a tool You can use for Your good purposes in this nation.

    • Lord, restore our judges as at the first. (Isaiah 1:26)

    • He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. (Psalm 147:19) Please give a specific word from Your own heart to the leader/s of Your choice and elevate them to the government of this nation.

    • Stop all manipulation by the media.

    • Prevent a fractured Knesset. Give us stability through people who are committed to the cause.

  3. Party Primaries

    Much of the process of selecting members of the parties going into the elections is highly undemocratic. In most parties the party leader selects the list of candidates, while in Likud and HaBayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) primaries are still held among party members. Likud primaries are due on 31st December with Netanyahu competing for the leadership against Danny Danon, whom we do not believe is suited to lead the party or the nation. While Netanyahu has already been disqualified by the Likud comptroller (ombudsman) from running for the leadership, it appears that this ruling is not binding and subject to appeal.

    • Please give Netanyahu a clear mandate to lead the party into the elections, but humble him so that he cries out to You.

    • Bring a clear list of candidates out of the Likud primaries who are Your choice, united in purpose and with the rebels taken out.

    • The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.

      Psalm 147:6

    • Humble Danny Danon and quell his rebellious streak.

    • Have Your hand over the formation of all the other party lists so that Your choice people will form the government after the next election.

  4. Prime Minister Netanyahu

    The Prime Minister is under attack from many around the world, from the media in Israel and in the nations and even from within his own party. However, we still don't see anyone other than him who is fit to lead the country.

    • May Mr Netanyahu continually turn to You for strength and guidance, looking to Your word and using it in his daily life and in his calling.

    • May he find Yeshua.

    • But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.  I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

      Psalm 3:3-6

    • Be a shield for Netanyahu in these days. Let him not be afraid.

    • Make his home and family a place a peace and security and tranquility and make his wife Sara a fit helpmate for him.

    • During the months leading up to the elections he remains the leader of the country. Make him the statesman the country needs as well as using all his skill to be a shrewd and honest politician.

    • Guide Bibi's steps (Proverbs 20:24)

    • The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. (Proverbs 20:12) Give Bibi the ear and the eye to hear and see what You want him to hear and see and not what You don't.

  5. Internal Security

    There continues to be a simmering of internal security issues in Israel with Judea and Samaria. Yesterday a car was firebombed and an 11-year old girl critically injured. This morning two policemen were stabbed in the Old City of Jerusalem.

    • Heal this young girl. Guide the hands of the surgeons. Raise her up so that she may fulfil the calling on her life.

    • Heal the two policemen stabbed this morning, o Lord.

    • Provide the information needed to capture the attackers in these incidents and also to arrest others before they are able to perpetrate the attacks they are planning.

    • Give wisdom to the young police and army officers on the ground to know how to handle incidents when they occur.

    • Show the leaders of the nation and security services how to react to provocations of this and any kind.

    • Give wisdom and boldness to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ya'alon, IDF Chiefs of Staff Gantz (outgoing) and Eisenkott (incoming).

    • The righteous wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

      Proverbs 21:12

    • Show them when and how to deal harshly with wickedness.

  6. External Security

    Both Iran and Russia are experiencing a very tough time economically. Historically, at such times, war has often seemed a solution. Israel therefore needs to be particularly alert to the threats she faces from Iranian proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria.

    • Lord, raise up an Elisha Company which will hear and report what the enemy is saying in secret. (2 Kings 6:12)

    • Show Israel's leaders what to do as the nations gather against us. (Micah 4:11-13)

    • Give us wisdom and innovation to develop game-changing weapons both defensive and offensive.

    • Show Israel's leaders when we need to launch pre-emptive strikes such as preventing Iranian weapons being passed to Hezbollah.

  7. Iran

    Iran remains an existential threat to Israel. The recent strengthening of Israel's strategic alliance with India may well be an answer to our prayers regarding the balance of power in the region. For years we have been praying the words of Jeremiah 49:35-39 according to the understanding of the Iranian believers that 'Elam' is Iran. We would prefer God to act sovereignly to fulfil His word. But we recognize that He more often uses Israel as His instrument to fulfil His word.

    • We ask You, Lord, break the bow of Elam (verse 35) and to set Your throne in Elam (verse 38)

    • Show Israel's leaders what to do and when. Even in this election season let Israel's leaders not be afraid to do what they need to do, especially if the current economic crisis in Iran is making her leaders more ready to attack us.

    • Guide Israel regarding her strategy relationships in the area eg with India, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. Protect our agents who may already be talking with these other nations.

    • Keep us alert to every possible danger.

    • Cause accidents to weaken the Iranian threat. Use the current war-game exercises Iran is doing to make things go wrong.

    • Confound those who hate Zion. (Psalm 129:5) Let them make mistakes and cause them to fight against one another.

    • Set Your throne in the hearts of multitudes of Iranians. (Jeremiah 49:38)

  8. Palestinians

    The latest proposal for a new UN resolution setting certain deadlines for the creation of a Palestinian state may be an answer to our prayers. Abbas is now demanding more and more, to the point where some of the nations may recognize that it is impossible for Israel to agree. Is God hardening the hearts of our enemies?

    • Thank You when You harden the hearts of Israel's enemies. Give Israel's leaders the wisdom to know what to do in the face of the latest proposals from the Palestinians.

    • Thank You that there is still no Palestinian state. Lord, You have dried up the root of Philistia with famine. (Isaiah 14:29-31)

    • Continue to divide those who hate Israel, such as the bitter conflict between Hamas and Fatah.

    • Thank You for Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.

    • Give wisdom to Israel's government to adopt the Levy Commission Report at the right moment.

  9. The Body of Messiah

    Yesterday Victor Smadja went home to be with the Lord. He had been a pioneer and leader in the body for over 50 years.

    • Thank You, Lord for Victor's life, his perseverance and faithfulness. Bring comfort to his family and all who loved and appreciated him. Thank You for a wonderful homecoming for this brother.

    • Unite Your body in this land. Make us one in Your hand (Ezekiel 37:17) - the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

    • Lead the leaders in spirit and truth. Breathe life into their preaching and keep it faithful to Your word.

    • Set a guard upon the gates to Israel so that none are allowed in who are enemies of truth.

  10. Lance Lambert

    • Thank You for continuing progress for our brother Lance. We do not believe that his ministry is over. Continue to strengthen his body through good eating and exercise so he can return to his own home.

    • Work a miracle so that he can participate in the coming IFI prayer conference.

Shabbat Shalom!