With much of Israel shut down because of a snowstorm, and Jerusalem covered in the white stuff, we needed to cancel our Friday morning prayer meeting. Yet IFI has several other meetings during the week - and the following points for prayer come mainly from those times.

  1. While we are concerned about the continually pressure nations are placing on Israel, it does not surprise us. Israel is front and center in the end-time drama leading up to the climatic return of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Yeshua, Israel's Messiah and the Savior of all who believe in Him. As the attacks against this nation intensify, it is imperative for intercession that we remember Who is in control.

    • 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

    • All nations before Him are as nothing…less than nothing, and vanity.

      Isaiah 40:17

    • The Prophet Daniel declared, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:20-21)

    • The ten horns…will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast [the Anti-Christ]. These have one mind, and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war with the Lamb, yet the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are called, elect and faithful…God has placed in [the ten kings] hearts to do His will, to act with one accord, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words of God will be fulfilled.

      Revelation 17:12-17

    • With God's overriding sovereignty firmly set before us, we can now pray into some of the issues that Israel and its people are facing.

  2. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is one of the few voices crying out in the wilderness about Islamic terror and calling it by name. He also sees clearly the real threat of the Islamic Republic of Iran being allowed to develop nuclear weapons, by leaving them as a nuclear threshold state - as is the P5+1 plan right now. Yet there is also an election campaign he needs to fight with Israeli elections less than a month away [March 17th]. Netanyahu needs to be undergirded in prayer, and that has been one of our main prayer focuses whenever we meet.

    • Lord, unless You direct us elsewise, we still believe that Netanyahu is Your man to lead Your nation at this time. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for a time like this? (Esther 4:14)

    • Be his shield and the encourager of his life (Psalms 3:3).

    • Guard his family life and his relationship with his wife Sarah.

    • Protect Netanyahu from all harm - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

    • If he does not know You Yeshua, please reveal Yourself to him this very day (John 10:10b).

    • 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

    • Surround him with wise counselors, like the sons of Issachar of David's time, who understood the times as well as what Israel needed to do (1 Chronicles 12:32).

    • Do not allow the enemy to distract him from the important issues facing Israel today.

    • Give him and his Likud party a huge victory in the elections, so that he can form a strong government - one that loves this land and truly wants what is best for this people.

    • And I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning; afterwards you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

      Isaiah 1:26

  3. The resistance to Netanyahu's March 3rd speech before the US Congress on the dangers of the current Iranian deal, as well as the threat of Islamic terrorism, increases with every passing day. Yet we see this as vital - both for Israel and for the West. This could be God's final warning to the West concerning these issues.

    • Abba, we ask that Bibi's speech would not be thwarted but be part of the fulfillment of this end-time word: For out of Zion shall go out the Law, and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

    • Lord, remove all stones of stumbling from his path to this appointment (Psalm 27:11).

    • God, write Netanyahu's speech, so when he speaks, it is with Your words (Psalm 81:10b).

    • Forbid him from being so politically correct that he dampens the dire warning that You are speaking.

    • Make his forehead like flint against all the opposition that he is facing to do this (Ezekiel 3:9).

    • Have all the people whom You want to hear this message be in the US Congress chambers or listening via the media - both mainstream and otherwise.

    • Lord, prepare hearts to respond to the truth that You will be declaring through Israel's leader.

    • [2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 refers to the appearing of the Anti-Christ who deceives many who refuse to receive the love of the truth, because God sends upon them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. Note again God's sovereignty even in the Anti-Christ's power to deceive. While the context is salvation - there is a biblical principle here of how those who resist the truth are dealt with by God.]

  4. Bibi Netanyahu has also been severely criticized when he has recently called on the Jews in France and Denmark, to come home - to make aliyah. Yet he is only saying what God says to His people - that Israel is your home and all others places are exile and captivity (Jeremiah 30:3; Joel 3:1). So we prayed for many Jews to hear and respond.

    • God, we thank You for a leader who is willing to state that which is biblically correct even when he knows that both the opposition here in Israel and world leaders will be upset with it.

    • Bless him and his government partners who agree with this - with much strength and courage. Be strong and courageous, for you shall divide for an inheritance to this people, the land which I swore to their fathers, to give it to them. (Joshua 1:6)

    • May the next government make aliyah one of its major priorities.

    • Lord, as this is for Your glory, we continue to ask You to bring Your people home (Isaiah 43:5-7).

    • Abba, the hunters of Jeremiah 16:16 have been released as we see a huge rise in anti-Semitic acts throughout the world - especially in the West. Let Your people also see and return to Zion.

    • Thank You that we see this prophesy coming to pass in Jerusalem every day: Thus says YHWH of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and old women living in the streets of Jerusalem, and each man with his staff in his hand because of their many days. And…the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. (Zechariah 8:4-5)

    • YHWH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

      Psalms 147:2

    • In 2015, bring home all those who have a love for Zion (Isaiah 62:4-5).

    • Also in 2015, Chase home all those who should be here, but prefer the leeks and onions of exile.

    • How shall we sing YHWH's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

      Psalms 137:4-6

    • [Please pray for specific groups and even individuals that you know. Our prayers are being heard as the figures for aliyah have been increasing steadily over the past several years.]

  5. Israel's security situation is always an issue for prayer. Whenever we see storms or the kind of snowfall we are having today, we do wonder what attack or nefarious plan the Lord is thwarting (Job 38:22-23). Netanyahu has said that Iran today is surrounding Israel on all sides and Israel needs to be prepared to defend itself, by itself.

    • Lord, bless the relationship between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and the newly inaugurated IDF Chief of Staff, Gadi Eisenkot.

    • Provide all the finances that the IDF needs to protect this nation.

    • Continue to give Israeli military industries the ability to invent and produce game changing weapon systems - both defensive and offensive.

    • Ultimately, we trust in You, Yeshua, the Captain of YHWH's armies (Joshua 5:14) to defend this nation - whether it is by Your sovereign hand (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10), or through this army whom You have raise up at this time.

    • 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 37:10; see also Isaiah 41:10-16; Micah 4:11, etc.

    • Quicken Israeli soldiers to pre-empt all the attacks of the enemy.

    • Lord, have mercy and forbid any further successful kidnapping attempts.

    • Lord, continue to confound those who hate Zion (Psalm 129:5) and turn them on each other - as You have done in biblical times (Judges 7:22; 2 Chronicles 20:22-23).

    • Father, thank You for drawing Hizbullah into the war in Syria and weakening their overall strength.

    • Make Hizbullah a stench to all of the citizens of Lebanon.

    • Lord, prevent Hamas from rearming in Gaza.

    • Make Hamas a stench to all the Palestinians in Gaza.

    • God, allow Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, to understand that in this battle against both ISIS and Iran, Israel is an ally.

  6. The 'peace' process is still alive - although dying more and more in Israelis minds and hearts daily. Israelis are waking up to the truth that there is no real 'peace-partner' among the current Palestinian leadership. Also, since this is diametrically opposed to God's expressed will (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2), He is hearing and answering our prayers in this area. After all, the Oslo peace accords were signed over 21 years ago and despite the best attempts of several Israeli governments and most of the world, there is still no 'Palestine' (Isaiah 14:28-32). Be encouraged and continue to pray for the total collapse of all efforts to restart the negotiations. Also ask God to give the next government the courage to declare that this land is Israel's land - and to use the Bible as its mandate, just like David Ben-Gurion did.

  7. Salvation through Messiah Yeshua is a necessity for the Jewish people - and all of the lost in this world. We are hearing wonderful reports of what God is doing among the Muslims.

    • Lord, thank You for saving many Muslims and turning Israel's enemies into her friends and supporters.

    • For thus says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.

      Jeremiah 31:7

      Amen!

    • Abba, we do ask for You to reveal Your Son to many Israelis over this weekend.

    • As they see the snow, remind them of Your Word: Come now, and let us reason together, says YHWH; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow… (Isaiah 1:18)

    • Lord, harvest the many seeds that both the Israeli Body of Messiah and Christians from the nations have planted in the hearts of many Israelis recently (1 Corinthians 3:6).

    • Help new believers find a healthy spiritual home, so as to grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

    • Aid all of us to not be ashamed of the good news of Messiah Yeshua (Romans 1:16).

We would appreciate your prayers for us at Intercessors for Israel, that we might hear what our Shepherd is saying today and pray in faith and confidence, trusting that all that we pray for that is in line with His will - He will hear and answer, obviously in His way and His timing (1 John 5:14-15).

May the Lord draw all of us closer to Himself this year.

Blessings from a very white Zion,

The IFI team

Draw me, we will run after You.
The King has brought me into his house of wine;
we will be glad and rejoice in You,
we will remember Your love more than wine; the upright love You.

Song of Solomon 1:4