1. We began by reading from Psalm 95.

    • Oh come, let us sing to YHWH; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to Him with psalms. For YHWH is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth…The sea is His, and He made it; His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before YHWH our maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

      Psalms 95:1-7a

    • We thank You for being our Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1; John 11:11).

    • We bless You for always being with us (Matt. 28:20b).

    • We praise You that You never change (Mal. 3:6).

    • Almighty Creator, all nature declares Your glory (Psalm 19:1), and we join in to glorify You.

    • You have promised to Israel a hope and a future and we thank You for doing it (Jer. 29:11; 31:17).

    • "Rejoice, rejoice, Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel!"

  2. We asked God to open the eyes of many more believers to understand that the celebration of Messiah's birth is biblically linked with His promises to Abraham and Israel.

    • [John the Baptist's] father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by…His holy prophets from eternity … and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,

      Luke 1:67-73

    • For to us [Israel] a Child is born, to us [Israel] a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There shall be no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of YHWH of Hosts will do this.

      Isaiah 9:6-7

    • Lord, show the Church that the reason for this season is very kosher indeed!

    • Remove the veil over the eyes of many Christians to see that the One they worship was, is, and always shall be, a Jew – as well as the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2; Revelation 5:5; 22:16).

    • Lord Yeshua, thank You for Your birth being linked to Your oath to Abraham (Luke 1:64-65, 73) – that in his Seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, cp. Galatians 3:8).

    • Open eyes to see that the root, Your promises to the fathers, supports the Church (Romans 11:18; 15:8).

    • Send more "wise men" into congregations asking, Where is He that [was] born King of the Jews? (Matthew 2:2)

  3. We also asked for many Jewish eyes to be opened to the truth of who the Lord Yeshua really is.

    • For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

      Psalms 36:9

    • Father, as many Israelis are fascinated by this Christmas season, touch them deeply with the real story.

    • When Israelis attend various Carol song services, watch over Your words in many of those Carols and do not let them come back to You void (Isaiah 55;11).

    • With the Festival of Lights/Chanukah also starting on Christmas Eve, may an increase of the revelation of Messiah Yeshua as the world's True Light (John 8:12) burn in the hearts of many Israelis.

    • Allow the believers in the IDF – both Messianic Jews and Arab Christians – to be bright shining lights at this time (Matthew 5:14-15).

    • In Jewish scholars and others who during this season defend the Jewishness of Jesus against Palestinian lies that He was a Palestinian, open their hearts to who Yeshua really is – Israel's King Messiah.

    • Lord Yeshua, where are the voices in the Church who will also speak up against this lie?

    • Abba, as we see nations coming against Jerusalem, is this not the time to pour out that spirit of grace and supplication upon Your people and let them look on the One whom they pierced? (Zechariah 12:2-3, 10).

  4. Jerusalem especially has an increase of people over this season – and that is always an extra burden for Israel's security forces. We prayed for divine help for protection.

    • Lord YHWH, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.

      Psalms 140:7

    • Keep our security forces warm, dry and alert at this time (Psalm 144:1).

    • Thank You Lord, for exposing that Hamas cell this past week, and stopping their demonic plans to attack Jerusalem and Haifa (Job 12:22).

    • Continue to reveal all the plans of the enemy to kill and destroy (John 10:10a).

    • Protect all of Israel's spies and collaborators among the Palestinians and further afield.

    • Guard over Your city and Your land – for Your glory's sake (Psalm 115:1-3).

    • Use the winter weather to provide an extra layer of protection as You said in Job 38:22-23.

  5. A UN Security Council resolution was delayed from being voted on at the last moment yesterday. Presented by Egypt for the Palestinians, the resolution would have condemned Israel for all "illegal" settlement activities in Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem, and that would mean all Israeli activities! The Obama administration was apparently going to abstain from voting – which would have been the same as voting "yes". Reports are that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reached out to US President-elect Trump's transition team and asked for an intervention. This UNSC resolution would have been legally binding and would have placed Israel into a very tough spot internationally.

    • Lord, thank You for the delay in voting on this resolution – and either keep it delayed or kill it quickly.

    • God, show Egypt's President al-Sissi that he needs Israel more than Israel needs Egypt (Ezekiel 29:6-7).

    • Thank You for Trump intervening, yet help Israeli leaders to understand that as a businessman, Trump could expect something in return which might be equally dangerous.

    • Continue to strengthen Bibi's relationship with Trump, but also give him great discernment.

    • Abba, since it is far better for Israel to be a target of the world's ire than a target of Your judgment, do not allow this nation to ever divide Your land for any reason at all (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

    • Lord, we still have until January 20th to deal with Obama. Hedge him in. Turn his attention elsewhere.

    • Thank You for raising up people like Netanyahu and Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon who defend this nation with clarity and truth – whether the world hears or not (cp. John 15:22).

    • If this intensified effort to halt Israel's possession of her possessions (Obadiah 1:17) is not Zechariah 12:2-3 coming to pass, then stop it. If it is – please show us how to intercede (Amos 3:7).

  6. This issue of the "Occupied Territories" is a lie that, as Goebbels, the Nazi's PR man said, has been repeated and enlarged that the world does not even question its accuracy. According to international law, Israel has every right to settle all the land west of the Jordan River. This was approved by the League of Nations, then passed on in the Palestinian Mandate that Great Britain was supposed to implement – but didn't – and then accepted in total into the newly formed UN Charter after WW II. Yet Israel today is seen as breaking international law, when in fact, it is the UN and all nations that view this land as "occupied" who are doing that and they are also blaspheming God (Ezekiel 35:12-13)!

    • Lord, this lie has grown into a huge swamp. Drain this swamp and do it in such a manner that all the earth see that this is Your land given to Your people – for Your glory (Psalm 85:9; Malachi 1:5)!

    • We see that the ones most responsible for the perpetuating of this lie are bureaucrats in the various foreign services/state departments in Western nations. Remove their authority, even their job if needed.

    • Lord Yeshua, we pray for the Church as well. All those who are resisting what You are doing in Israel in these days – remove their scepter of authority. Humble them and speak to them (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12).

  7. The Israeli High Court has given the government another 45 days to resettle the Samarian settlement of Amona. This is good news and a partial answer to prayer, as we asked that they would not have to move at all. Now the government has to get its act together and do this with all due haste.

    • Thank You for moving on the hearts of the judges on the High Court to grant this (Proverbs 21:1).

    • Aid the government to act upon this quickly – not for political gain, but for mercy on these settlers.

    • May the fate of the former Gaza settlers – many of whom still do not have permanent housing – not end up being the fate of the Amona families.

    • We bless You for the Amona settlers being willing to compromise and forswear violence.

    • Comfort them as they will need to move unwillingly from their homes of over 20 years (Psalm 23:4).

    • May the government to stand united against all plots against this compromise – externally or internally.

    • Lord, by Your Spirit, enable all the various parts of the government that are involved in this move be united and coordinated (Zechariah 4:6).

    • Forbid that the mantra of "After Trump" be used to delay quick action to resolve this (Psalm 119:60).

    • Abba, please provide all the finances needed.

    • Prepare all the security forces who will be overseeing this move to deal in love (Leviticus 19:18b).

  8. Aliyah – the immigration of Jews from exile to Israel – was our next prayer target.

    • Lord, whatever it takes to wake up Jews in the West, please do, as this is for Your glory (Isaiah 43:5-7).

    • As per Jeremiah 16:16, You have sent out the fishers and we bless You for continuing to do so, but as it seems that now is the time for the release of the hunters, aid Your people to read the writing on the walls.

    • Keep anti-Semitism in check, yet use it to put the fear of remaining in exile into many Jewish hearts.

    • Cause many Israelis living outside of this nation become homesick over this festive season.

    • Use the passage of Brexit and the victory of Trump to stir up the nests of Jews in Britain and America.

    • Lord God of Israel, sovereignly put a huge "Welcome" mat at the entrance of the Interior Ministry.

    • If there is any person in the Interior Ministry who is hindering the return of the Jews – we pray that You would remove that stone from the path of Your people (Isaiah 62:10).

    • Use the horrific attack in Berlin to shake up the Jews stuck in Germany (Zechariah 2:6-7).

    • Cause many young Jews who come to Israel via Birthright to fall in love with this land (Isaiah 62:4-5).

    • Bring home all of the families of the lone soldiers who are serving in the IDF.

    • Speak to Rabbis and Messianic Jewish leaders over Chanukah about returning home (Isaiah 35:10).

    • Make a way for all the Jews who want to return from places outside of the West to have straight paths for their feet – like India, China, Ethiopian, other African nations, Central and South America and Cuba.

    • Place a burden on the hearts of mayors and other city leaders in Israel to make their cities inviting and desirous of new immigrants to settle in (Psalm 147:2).

We finished by praying for water and the IFI International Prayer Conference.

Israel has seen some good rainfall – and it is predicted that there will be a "White Christmas" in areas up north, especially on Mount Hermon. More rain and snow are in the forecast, but that is how man predicts things – so we need to ask God to provide as per His promises in His word (Psalm 68:9; Isaiah 41:17-20; Zechariah 10:1; Matthew 5:45b).

The conference is coming together. Many of the leadership team are experiencing the stress and the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual weaknesses and attacks that makes us ready to be used by Him.

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men according to the flesh are called, not many mighty, not many noble. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and are not, to bring to nothing things that are; so that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Messiah Yeshua, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; so that, according as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord'. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion – the IFI team