1. Shabbat's prophetic portion has a wonderful promise to those who love and pray for Jerusalem.

    • Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all who mourn for her; that you may suck and be satisfied with her comforting breasts; that you may…be delighted with the fullness of her glory. For thus says YHWH, Behold, I will hold out peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream. Then you will suck, you will be carried on her sides and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

      Isaiah 66:10-13

    • Thank You for the privilege to pray for and love this city - the city of the great King (Psalm 48:1-2).

    • Praise You for being able to see You regather Your people to this place.

    • Praise YHWH; for it is good to sing praises to our God; for praise is delightful and becoming. YHWH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

      Psalms 147:1-2

    • Bless You for calling us to co-labor with You as watchmen and intercessors (Ezekiel 22:30; Amos 3:7).

    • We stand amazed at the wonder of Your grace to call and sustain us as we run this race (Hebrews 12:1).

  2. In the nuclear deal signed with Iran, there is a clause which says that if the US does not approve the deal, then the parties go back to the negotiating table. So we continue to ask God to have the US Congress reject it, because this deal is super dangerous not just to Israel - but worldwide.

    • Lord, prick the conscience of US Congressmen to do what is right and not what is politically expedient.

    • Let the truth of what was agreed on be exposed (John 3:20).

    • 'Haunt' US Senators and Representatives with the continual cries of 'Death to America' that ring out loud and clear from Iran's leaders and many of its people.

    • As You did with King Ahasuerus, disturb their sleep ((Esther 6:1).

    • As You warned Pilate when You gave his wife a nightmare about touching Yeshua (Matthew 27:19), so do with the families of these Congressmen and women.

    • Stir up multitudes of their constituents to contact them to vote no on this deal.

    • Lord, cause the voice of all of the pro-Israel Christian and Jewish groups to cry out against this deal.

    • Help Americans to see that this deal is dangerous first and foremost for America, as well as for Israel.

    • May Obama's overplaying the 'Jew' card cause much angst among these politicians (Esther 3:8).

  3. As just mentioned, the debate in the US over this deal has taken a very ominous turn as the Obama administration is making this an Israeli/Jewish vs. US/Obama fight. Although this is a huge distortion and diversion of the truth, yet we prayed for the Jews in America to see what is happening and to set their faces to Zion.

    • May Obama's overplaying the 'Jew' card awaken American Jews to see the handwriting on the walls.

    • They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces there, saying, Come and let us join ourselves to YHWH in an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten.

      Jeremiah 50:5

    • As in the book of Esther, at times the choice is between annihilation or war. For Israel today, post-Holocaust, war will always be the preferred option vs. destruction. Lord, help Jews in the US to see that.

    • May the American Jewish community be so shocked by the viciousness of Obama's attacks on Israel and the American Jewish Lobby that they understand their time in exile is over.

    • Thus says YHWH of Hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west, and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

      Zechariah 8:7-8

    • Bring many American Jews back to their land and then reveal to them their Lord Messiah Yeshua.

  4. The condition of the Jews in Europe is even more precarious than those in the US. The European nations' prostitution with Iranian money is plain wickedness. They are selling the children of Israel's safety and future for financial gain. Both European Jews and Christians need to wake up and face reality.

    • We thank You for all those Christians in Europe who are speaking out, but we recognize that this is just a remnant of the true Church. Wake up the rest.

    • Cause many of the Jewish leaders to lead the way back to Zion (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9).

    • Remove all phantasmagorical prophetic words that cause many intercessors to waste time and effort in praying for things that are not of You (Matthew 24:4-5; 1 John 4:1).

    • Enable both Jews and Christians to actually hear the Islamic calls to pray that are echoing in the EU - and to come to an understanding of what that means to the Muslim (This region is now mine!).

    • We bless You for the increased aliyah - immigration - from France and Ukraine.

    • Please increase aliyah from the rest of Europe's nations (Isaiah 43:5-7).

    • Hedge in the anti-Semitic spirit, yet allow it to speak clearly to the Jews of what they and their children will face if they remain in exile (Jeremiah 16:16).

    • Set the Church free to love what You love and to stand with Your nation Israel and the Jewish people.

    • Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.

      Jeremiah 31:3

      [God's love draws Jews to settle in Samaria, the 'Occupied Territories' (31:4-5)!]

  5. We expanded this to pray for aliyah in general, with an emphasis on the Church rising to its God-ordained responsibility to help carry His people back home. This has all to do with Messiah Yeshua's return, with the gospel going to the ends of the earth, and the Jews returning home from being scattered.

    • Thus says the Lord YHWH, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the gentiles [believers], and set up My banner to the people; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

      Isaiah 49:22; cp. Isaiah 60:4-11

    • Thank You for all whom You have raised up to aid in the return of Your people - both organizations and individuals.

    • Remove from them all discouragement and provide for them all that they need to do Your will.

    • For the majority in the Western Church without an understanding of Israel or aliyah, O Lord, open up their eyes to behold the wondrous truths of Your Word (Psalm 119:18).

    • Hear the Word of YHWH, O gentiles, and declare it in the nations afar off, saying, He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep/guard him, as a shepherd keeps his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10

    • Make a way for those Jews who want to come but lack provisions or proofs of their Jewishness.

    • Help Israelis to receive returning Jews with joy and a commitment to see their aliyah be successful.

    • Open wide the Interior Ministry's gates to accept all Jews, regardless of what they believe (Isaiah 62:10).

  6. Security: There are rumors of a hudnah, a temporary Islamic peace, being worked out between Israel and Hamas, with Tony Blair as the intermediary. Israel is supposed to remove its sea blockade and allow the building of a seaport and airport. Obviously, this would be totally foolish, yet the pressure from the international community against Israel in so many areas could lead its leaders to try and reduce that pressure by making compromises. Remember, as far as we know, not one Israeli leader has a living relationship with God through Messiah Yeshua - so they are looking at this as politicians who are trying to do what is best for this nation in humanistic terms.

    • Lord, we trust in You and we say 'No!' to any deal with this wicked terrorist group.

    • Abba, please reveal the truth about this and the details of how far Israel is ready to go.

    • Hedge Israel in so that it cannot do that which is diametrically against Your will (Hosea 2:6).

    • Do not allow Israel to see Hamas as 'moderate' just because of the rise of terror groups that are even more radical than they are.

    • Let not those who are my lying enemies rejoice over me, those who hate me without cause…For they do not speak peace; but they think deceitful things against the quiet ones of the earth…Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor, those who magnify themselves over me.

      Psalms 35:19-20, 26

    • Save a large remnant of Gazan Muslims - especially the younger generation.

    • Lord, in Your perfect timing, lead Israel to reconquer its inheritance - the Gaza Strip (Joshua 10:41-43; 15:1, 47; Judges 1:18).

  7. Security: Judea and Samaria. The IDF has issued new, very disturbing, 'rules of engagement' for its soldiers in these areas. Soldiers are now even more restrained from using their weapons against potential terror attacks. If these rules remain in place, there will be an increase in terror and bloodshed, including innocent Israelis and Palestinians.

    • Abba, we lift these ungodly humanistic new regulations to You and ask that You bring them down.

    • Cause parents of active soldiers to protest against this wickedness that hinders their children from defending themselves and this nation against murderous killers.

    • Lord, give us a godly government that knows how to be a terror to the wicked and thus protect the innocent (Romans 13:3-4).

    • Open up the eyes of Defense Minister Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot to these cowardly rules.

    • Give soldiers wisdom as they face deadly situations with this legal sword hanging over their heads.

    • But You, O YHWH, are a shield for me; my glory, the One who lifts up my head…I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set against me all around. Arise, O YHWH; save me, O my God…

      Psalms 3:3, 6-7a

    • Hinder all planned terror attacks.

    • Increase the IDF's ability to impart the fear of God into Israel's enemies (2 Chronicles 17:10).

    • Thank You for the settlers who are in the areas to which You promised to bring us back: Samaria (Jeremiah 31:4-5); Judea and Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3); the Golan (Jeremiah 50:19 [Bashan]).

    • Protect the settlers - especially on the roads.

    • Expose all radical settlers who will take the law into their own hands, and stop them.

  8. We finished by praying over God's holy hill, the Temple Mount. Total Islamic chaos rules on that place today. The Muslims have totally freedom to do what they want and harass all others - and it seems that Israel's leaders are being super timid in dealing with this very dangerous situation. In the natural, we understand why Israel treads cautiously with this extremely flammable situation - yet in the spirit, it upsets us that the demonic spirit of Islamic rules over God's holiest place.

    • God, You promised to hear the pray prayed in that place. YHWH appeared to Solomon by night, and said, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice… if My people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes shall be open, and My ears shall be open to the prayer of this place. (2 Chronicles 7:12-15)

    • We bless You that You hear pray for wherever Your people are - yet we recognize that this place is very special to You, and we grieve for the current desecration to Your holy name that occurs there.

    • Lord, in Your timing, prepare Israel to take full control of this place.

    • Release the restraints on the security forces to protect those who go up there to visit.

    • Yea, I have set [lit; poured out] My king on My holy hill, on Zion.

      Psalms 2:6

    • I cried to YHWH with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.

      Psalms 3:4

    • As we cry out to You, hear and answer. We commit to giving You all the glory.

Shabbat shalom

The IFI team