1. Shabbat's prophetic portion is Malachi 1:1-2:7.

    • And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, YHWH will be magnified beyond [or upon] the border of Israel.

      Malachi 1:5

    • For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name shall be great among the gentiles; and everywhere incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering, for My name shall be great among the gentiles, says YHWH of Hosts.

      Malachi 1:11

    • You are great in Zion (Psalm 99:2), and are faithful to watch over Your word to do it (Jeremiah 1:12).

    • Your mercies are new every morning, and we know how much we need that (Lamentations 3:22-23).

    • You are our Rock, our Fortress and our Deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2).

    • What a wonder that You actually delight in the prayers of Your people (Proverbs 15:8).

    • Lord YHWH! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm. Nothing is too hard for You… Behold, I am YHWH, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

      Jeremiah 32:17, 27

  2. Israel is experiencing a much needed rainstorm. Yet the winds are very strong and lots of rain has fallen in a very short span of time – with a real possibility of damaging effects.

    • Abba, we bless and thank You for the rain (Psalm 68:9; Matthew 5:45).

    • We ask You to give wisdom to Israeli farmers on how to protect their crops from this stormy weather.

    • Please have mercy on people in any place where there might be flooding (Psalm 66:12; Isaiah 43:2).

    • Lord, protect the top soil from being washed away in the areas that were severely burned last week.

    • Guide the rain to fall in the right places, so that this precious water is not wasted.

    • Lord, we are asking for a miracle – please fill up the Sea of Galilee during this winter season.

    • God, protect the drivers on the roads and the poor and homeless from the wet, cold weather.

    • Are there any among the vanities of the nations who make rain fall? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not You, YHWH our God? Then we will wait on You; for You do all these things.

      Jeremiah 14:22

  3. US President-elect Trump's choice to be the next Defense Secretary, General "Mad Dog" James Mattis, is a very competent military man and a student of history. His views on Iran are spot-on as are many of his other positions. Yet he has made some very critical statements about Israel that should wake up American believers to intercede about this, and caused us to pray into this as well. [To read what he said, search "Mattis Israel".]

    • Lord, give Mattis an ability to hear and receive the truth about Israel and its position in the Middle East.

    • As a student of history, place before him history books that speak the truth of Israel's situation.

    • If Mattis is not Your will for this very vital position, do not allow the US Congress to approve this appointment, for both Israel and America's sake.

    • If he is not a Christian, save him (John 3:5-7).

    • If he is a Christian, reveal to him that the destiny of America depends more on how it treats Israel than any other issue (Numbers 24:9; Isaiah 60:12; Zechariah 2:8; 12:9, etc.)

  4. Some media reports says that US President Obama will not attempt to manipulate Israel into a corner, whether in the UN or with a major policy address, in relation to the "two-state", "land-for-peace" farce of a "peace" process. That has us concerned as we have seen over the past eight years of his disastrous rule that, especially in relation to Israel, he cannot be trusted.

    • Abba, we continue to ask You to hedge in Obama from doing anything against Your will (Psalm 99:1).

    • Lord, keep him super busy with other issues.

    • Protect Israel from all of his machinations and forbid that this report put our diplomats to sleep.

    • Enlighten the American Church that it must continue to pray for Obama – and to not be so thrilled by Trump's victory that they too are lulled to sleep (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

    • Quicken Israel's US Ambassador, Ron Dermer, to have insight and accurate intelligence as to what is really happening in the Obama White House in relation to Israel.

    • Muzzle Israeli politicians who say things that are better not spoken and which can infuriate Obama.

  5. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is again under suspicion for seemingly minor issues or his relations with other people who may or may not have done something wrong. It seems that Israel's enemy is trying to wear him out (Daniel 7:25a) and distract him from doing what really needs to be done to protect and prosper this nation.

    • Lord, if there really are criminal actions on his part, please reveal them and bring him to justice.

    • To do justice and judgment is more pleasing to YHWH than sacrifice.

      Proverbs 21:3

    • Yet Abba, if this is just another weekly attempt to bring him down, that You would bring down these attempts and shield Bibi from all his enemies (Psalm 3:1-3).

    • Please God, shut the mouths of the Israeli media lions who attack Netanyahu mercilessly (Daniel 6:22).

    • If there is anyone in Israel's security services on a witch-hunt against Bibi, step in and deal with them.

    • Lord, please comfort, protect and defend Netanyahu and his family (Isaiah 40:1; 54:15-17).

    • Make him more afraid of You that of man. You have given a banner to those who fear You, to lift it up because of the truth. Save with Your right hand and answer me, that Your beloved may be delivered. (Psalms 60:4-5; see also Proverbs 29:25)

    • Is it not time O God, to give to Israel the kind of leaders that You promised it? 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)

    • Prevent these little foxes (Song of Songs 2:15) from diverting Bibi from the critical issues facing Israel.

    • Abba, while Netanyahu is effective in using social media, help him to use it for Israel's sake and not just for his own political career.

  6. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish stranglehold on Israel has increased, to the extent that there is a widening division between the Jews in exile and Israel itself. Whether this is over who can pray at the Wall, or the hold they have on conversions and marriages, or the anger they often display against those in their communities who join the IDF, this impacts Israeli society and aliyah in a negative manner.

    • Abba, this is grievous to us as many Jews think – and many ultra-Orthodox believe – that the ultra-Orthodox rabbis actually speak for You in most situations. Please forgive them (Luke 23:34a).

    • Lord, there are genuine lovers of You among the ultra-Orthodox and we want to see them rise to the top and those who are more interested in their own sect than in Your glory – to be removed (Ezekiel 34:10).

    • Give Bibi wisdom and boldness to confront the ultra-Orthodox governmental stances that harm Israel, both internally and externally with the wider Jewish community.

    • Yet Lord, speak to Jews in exile that if they really are concerned with how this nation is being run, they should make aliyah – immigrate – and then vote and put their life where their mouth is.

    • Yeshua Lord, with more and more Israelis disgusted with this ultra-Orthodox stranglehold, turn more of them to You (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19).

    • We thank You for all of the ultra-Orthodox who are joining the IDF and are also entering into society.

    • Protect them as their communities are not very happy with this move towards being a contributing part of this nation.

    • Lord, speak to all the ultra-Orthodox messianic believers to come out of the closet (Matthew 5:14-16).

  7. The chaotic situation on Israel's border with Syria was our next prayer assignment. This past week, ISIS attacked an IDF patrol and Israel hit back very hard – twice! Also, Israel's jets apparently attacked a weapons convoy on the outskirts of Damascus that was going to be delivered to Hizbullah.

    • Lord, we look to You to protect all of our borders (Jeremiah 31:10; Malachi 1:5).

    • Abba, continue to watch over Israel – its civilians and its soldiers (Psalm 121:4).

    • We are so grateful that the Golan Heights are still in Israel's hands and were not returned to Syria.

    • Lord, You have an appointment with Your people on the Golan. Move by Your Spirit and fulfill this promise: I will again bring Israel to his home, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan [the Golan], and his soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and at that time, says YHWH, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for…and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. (Jeremiah 50:19-20)

    • Lord, forbid any successful kidnapping attempts of either Israeli soldiers or civilians.

    • Confound those who hate Zion in all the surrounding nations (Psalm 129:5).

    • Thank You for the relationship that Israel has with Russia today, but please watch over it and guard Israel's back from any traitorous moves on the part of Putin or other Russian leaders.

    • Thank You for Israel's courage and freedom to not allow any of its redlines to be crossed – as we saw with its attack against that arms convoy near Damascus (1 Kings 2:36-46).

    • Lord, we see great confusion in the world over how to resolve the Syrian conflict. Please do not allow that confusion to rest on Israel concerning its dealings with the Syrian quagmire.

    • As we watch Jeremiah 49:23-27 coming to pass, we ask for mercy on many Syrians.

    • We do bless and thank You for all the Syrians who are coming into the Kingdom of Your dear Son.

  8. The Amona outpost in Samaria is still slated to be destroyed on Dec. 25th. This is a no-win situation for Israel, yet God does have a plan to redeem even the worst case scenarios.

    • Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth.

      Psalms 124:7-8

    • God, because You tell us to settle the land and possess our possession (Obadiah 1:17), we ask You to arise and intervene in this crisis.

    • Redeem it for Your holy name's sake (Psalm 115:1-3).

    • Give to Netanyahu and the settler leaders the same kind of wisdom You gave to Solomon.

    • Forbid that the settlers would resort to violence in case they are disposed from their homes.

    • Yeshua, this seems to be a huge mountain – but we have faith in Your ability to resolve this crisis. So we speak to this mountain and say, Be removed, in the name of Yeshua! (Matthew 17:20).

    • We bless and thank You for all of the settlements in Judea, Samaria and in Jerusalem. As per Your promise, forbid their uprooting (Amos 9:15).

We closed by interceding for Israelis' salvation and the upcoming IFI International; Prayer Conference, Jerusalem. Please stand with us in both these requests.

Blessings from Zion The IFI Team

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

1 John 5:14-15