1. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah

   Psalm 44:1-8

   • Thank You that we can boast in You, telling one another what You have done for us.

   • You are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

   • Your mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23)

   • You are a covenant-keeping God. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

   • Our life is in You.

   • You are our rock and our sure foundation, our strong tower. We turn to You every day. (Psalm 61:2-3)

   • Your mercy and Your salvation are unending.

   • You alone are our Redeemer. (Isaiah 63:16)

   • You are the great I am. (Exodus 6:6)

   • Nothing takes You by surprise.

   • Hodu l'Adonai ki tov ki leolam chasdo. O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

2. Race riot in Jerusalem - Earlier in the week two policemen were caught on video beating up an IDF soldier of Ethiopian background. This provoked a demonstration in Jerusalem which turned into a riot. Most of the protesters are citizens of Israel, born in the land. This overflow of lawlessness and rage is a symptom of a spiritual disorder. It was an example of the sectarian in-fighting between different groups in Israeli/Jewish society.

   • Lord, please calm this storm.

   • Give wisdom and decisiveness to the government in knowing how to act both to prevent such lawlessness and to address real issues of racism and division between communities.

   • Drive back this spirit of lawlessness, o God!

   • Drive back this ugly racist spirit also, Lord!

   • Pour out Your healing balm upon the beaten soldier and upon any who have suffered in a similar way.

   • Bring good out of this difficult situation. Turn what the enemy purposed for evil to good.

   • Thank You that the Ethiopian Jews were received into Israel as brothers and sisters. We acknowledge they are fully part of Am Israel.

   • Raise up the Ethiopian community to true equality in Israel.

   • Give grace to leaders of the Ethiopian community at this time.

   • Give grace and wisdom to those Ethiopians in leadership in the nation to give leadership and to be an example.

   • Use the believers in the Ethiopian community to bring light and life. Use them as peacemakers.

   • When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

     Isaiah 59:19

3. The Coalition - With a few days left, there are some agreements being signed between the parties in forming a coalition government. The process is not yet finished. We are thankful that Arie Deri, the leader of Shas has withdrawn his demand to be made Minister of Interior. However, an agreement has been concluded with UTJ (United Torah Judaism) to reverse much of the work done in the last government to improve the integration of the ultra-Orthodox into Israel society, requiring army service and reducing some of the unjust subsidies for this community.

   • Thank You, Lord for answering our prayers that Deri would not be Minister of Interior.

   • Give us an Interior Minister out of these negotiations who will continue the cleaning out of this ministry and will have a positive attitude towards the people You want in Israel.

   • Please give us a government which will be able to govern, rather than the stagnation of the previous government.

   • Heal the wounds created by the long election campaign and all the subsequent negotiations so the process of leading the nation would not be hindered by the personal animosities between the leaders.

   • May the leaders of the remaining parties make reasonable demands. Give them a spirit to serve the nation rather than narrow sectional interests.

   • Restore to them their love of the land and of the nation.

   • Give wisdom to the negotiators of the leading Likud Party. Refresh them and empower them so the government can be formed on time. May they know when to give way and when to stand their ground.

   • Stir up a desire among the ultra-Orthodox to be part of and to serve the nation, especially through army service.

   • Thank You for those who are in the IDF. Bless them in the face of the disapproval and persecution from many in their communities.

4. Iran - According to a recent UK report, Iran is still seeking to purchase materials needed to make nuclear weapons. Iran has also been flexing its muscles against shipping in the Straits of Hormuz. Against this background the P5+1 nations are still looking to finalize an agreement with Iran. While it increasingly obvious that there is no good deal which could be struck with Iran, the world powers are heading blindly towards a terribly bad deal.

   • May there be no agreement between the P5+1 nations so no deal can be concluded with Iran.

   • And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

     Mark 3:25

   • Let UK, France and Germany be willing to stand up to President Obama who is so determined to strike a deal.

   • Use this week's elections in the UK to bring into power a government which will stand up for Israel and oppose a bad deal with Iran.

   • Help Chancellor Merkel of Germany fulfill her word to keep the security of Israel as a priority in the face of the powerful economic pressures to resume trade with Iran.

   • Give the US Congress the will and the ability to stand up to President Obama in this issue.

   • Cause Iran to make a mistake and show her true face through her aggression in the Persian Gulf.

   • Put Your hook in the noses of the ayatollah's in Iran. (2 Kings 19:28) Cause them to make a false step which will expose their evil intentions and draw the nations away from a disastrous agreement with them.

   • Lift this delusion off the world and the world leaders who seem so determined to make a deal.

   • Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered

     Psalm 68:1

   • I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes, says the Lord.

     Jeremiah 49:38

     Amen, Lord!

5. Security of Israel's borders - There is a sense among the regular soldiers of the IDF that Israel is being made ready and indeed is ready to do what is needed to defend the borders. In the past week the IDF spotted terrorists laying mines on the border with Syria and was quick and decisive to remove the threat.

   • Thank You that You are the most effective IDF - Israel's Divine Father.

   • Thank You that the Lord God of hosts is watching over Israel and You set armies of angels around our borders.

   • Thank You for the sharp response to the recent attempt to attack Israel.

   • Equip the soldiers on our borders mentally, emotionally and physically. Give them supernatural alertness. Give them eyes to see and ears to hear.

   • The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen.

     Isaiah 32:3

   • May we not be caught by surprise attacks.

   • Protect us and help us protect ourselves against any possible kidnapping attempts. Thank You for protecting us in recent times, give wisdom to all soldiers travelling around the country to be watchful and especially wise if they consider hitchhiking.

   • Protect our spies and keep them hidden.

   • Prepare all reservists and their families for the possibility of being called up.

   • He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.

     Jeremiah 31:10

   • Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

     Psalm 23:4

6. Aliyah -

   • Bring Your people home, Lord! Whether You use the fishers or the hunters, (Jeremiah 16:16) draw them home!

   • Let the Jews of Europe recognize that they need to come. Open their eyes and prepare their hearts, minds, hands and feet to return home to Israel.

   • May they come with their riches, their wealth and their skills and prepare places for them in Israel, suitable jobs and affordable homes.

   • Give us a government which will make Aliyah a priority. Let the Ministry of Absorption be resourced and made ready for all those who will come.

   • Give us a new Interior Minister who will remove the unnecessary bureaucracy and make it easier to make Aliyah.

   • When they come, let them stay! Also bring back again those who came and went back.

   • Bring back the young and the old. Let young children ask questions of their parents about their heritage as Jews. Fulfill the dreams of those who have dreamed all their lives of coming home and maybe didn't believe it would ever happen.

   • Reunite again Your people on Your land.

   • Stir the hearts of Jews who believe in Messiah to understand the truth that they belong in Israel.

   • And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.  For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

     Ezekiel 36:23-27

   • Thank You for all the times You say "I will". Do it Lord! We believe it because You are faithful and true. (Revelation 19:11)

7. IFI Leadership - next week Eliyahu, Chuck and Devin will be in Scotland for our annual Israel prayer conference there. Afterwards Chuck will continue ministering in Scotland while Eliyahu will participate in IFI-Deutschland's conference together with Ofer Amitai.

   • Protect all the travels of our leaders.

   • Give them wisdom and clarity in what they will share.

   • Bring all those You have purposed to attend these conferences and bring forth all the prayers which You place on their hearts.

   • For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

     Isaiah 2:3

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team in Jerusalem