1. For the Lord shall build up Zion;

   He shall appear in His glory.

   He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,

   And shall not despise their prayer.

   This will be written for the generation to come,

   That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

   For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;

   From heaven the Lord viewed the earth,

   To hear the groaning of the prisoner,

   To release those appointed to death,

   To declare the name of the Lord in Zion,

   And His praise in Jerusalem,

   When the peoples are gathered together,

   And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

   Psalm 102:16-22
   

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

   • You know the end from the beginning and we worship You. (Isaiah 46:10)

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

   • You are faithful to fulfil all Your promises (Hebrews 10:23)

   • We worship You Lord in the beauty of Your holiness (Psalm 29:2)

   • You are the giver of all life and of new life and You have us in Your constant protection.

   • You shall indeed build up Zion and will appear in Your glory in Your city (Psalm 102:1)

   • The Lord is building up Jerusalem, gathering together the outcasts of Israel (Psalm 147:2)

2. Syria
   the war in Syria continues and a variety of different groups are in conflict with one another including ISIS, the Assad regime now, increasingly with the involvement of Russia. Israel’s policy has been non-intervention except where she comes under threat – notably from the transfer of weaponry to Hezbollah. In recent days the stability of Israel’s position has been put to the test. Israel attacked an arms convoy. Syria retaliated by firing an anti-aircraft missile which Israel intercepted. This led to allegations by Iran that Russia must have given secret information to Israel about the weaponry enabling them to intercept the missile.

   • Lord protect Israel in the midst of this complex situation.

   • Protect our relationship with Russia so that they do not hold us back when we need to protect ourselves. Anoint the cooperation, understanding and communication in this relationship.

   • Enable Israel to continue to hit the targets she needs to hit without alienating the Russians.

   • Bless the working relationships between Israel’s key leaders in this arena – Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Liberman, Chief of Staff Eizenkott and also Ambassador to Russia, Gary Koren.

   • Make Israel’s leaders like the, Sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32)

   • Help us to guard against gaps in our defenses.

   • Protect our spies behind enemy lines. Keep them hidden and bless the communication of key information to Israel about what our enemies are planning to do.

   • Keep our soldiers and watchers alert as they watch over our borders and all that lies beyond the borders.

   • Protect us against kidnappings, Lord!

3. Lebanon
   Hezbollah remains perhaps the major threat to Israel and the most likely source of the next war. While Israel has prevented some of the weapons reaching Hezbollah, they have still managed to create a huge stockpile of rockets aimed at Israel. Psalm 83 is a good description of Hezbollah’s anti-Israel position.

   • Thank You, Lord that Israel has been able to intercept some of the most threatening weapons reaching Hezbollah.

   • Bring down their fortifications and prevent any successful tunneling activity into Israel.

   • Cause the Lebanese people to rise up against Hezbollah.

   • Let the Christians in Lebanon rise up and pray.

   • For Hezbollah, So pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. (Psalm 83:15-16)

4. Israel’s security plans
   It was recently announced that the IDF Home Front Command has a plan to evacuate hundreds of thousands of civilians from border areas close to Lebanon or Gaza in the event of possible future wars on these fronts.

   • Help us to be prepared for what lies ahead. Prepare us for everything, not blinded by conventional assumptions about what our enemies would or would not be willing to do.

   • Reveal the truth to those who need to know it. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

   • Please guard against fear and panic which could be created by such announcements.

   • Prepare Israel to pre-empt if necessary in a future war. May our leaders be ready to do what is right rather than being bound by fears of angering the international community.

   • Give courage to Israel’s leaders.

   • Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

     Deuteronomy 31:6
     

5. Coalition Crisis
   The media has been speculating about the possibility of early elections as divisions in the coalition threaten to bring down the government. It is only two years since the last elections and it seems that this is not what Israel needs at the moment.

   • Give wisdom to Israel’s leaders. Convict them where they are playing political games and competing for their own positions rather than putting the needs of the nation first.

   • Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. (Exodus 25:2) – Put a willing heart into those in leadership that they would be ready to serve others rather than serving their own egos.

   • Give wisdom to Bibi Netanyahu that he would be a true statesman, give him grace to delegate when he needs to, to raise others up rather than putting them down.

   • Keep Bibi in his job for as long as You want him there. When his time is done replace him with the person or persons of Your choice.

6. Judea and Samaria
   It appears that Israel’s leaders have been “negotiating” with the Trump administration in the USA for “permission” to go ahead with building homes in the areas of the Promised Land which Israel has “occupied” since 1967. The right to settle this land is laid down in international law – it was proposed in the Balfour Declaration, adopted by the League of Nations and inherited by the United Nations and never overruled.

   • May Israel build wherever she needs to build.

   • Just a few months back a promise was made to build a new community to house those who were being forced to leave the community of Amona. May this be built quickly!

   • Prevent any blockage from the Trump administration. Keep his nose out of Israel’s business and if necessary put him in his place.

   • Give Israel the grace to build on Your land which You entrusted to Your people.

   • So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

     Nehemiah 2:18
     

7. Aliyah

   • Thank You, Lord for bringing Your people home – for what You are doing, what you have done and what You will do!

   • Cause the terrorism in Europe and elsewhere to change the hearts of the Jewish people – may they fully embrace their identity as Jews rather than British, French, German citizens, etc.

   • Use the terror attack in London this week to turn the hearts of the Jews in Britain.

   • Bring them home from the North, South, East and West. (Psalm 107:3)

   • Thank You for using Christians to help bring Your people home and particularly for cooperation between Christians and the Jewish Agency.

   • Help the Church to see Your purposes for the Jews through Your eyes.

   • 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.

     Ezekiel 36:23
     

   • Thank You that this is Your work and it is for the sake of Your name!

8. Messianic Congregations

   • Thank You for the Body of Messiah in Israel. Thank You for every group truly gathering in Your name. Thank You that You have only one Body!

   • May Your people speak Your word boldly. Grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word. (Acts 4:29)

   • Give a spirit of discernment that we may understand the difference between truth and deception.

   • Make the assemblies of Your people places of healing and restoration.

9. Chuck in Germany

   • Please continue to hold up Chuck Cohen and Heinz-Jurgen Heuhsen on the last leg of their ministry together in Germany.

   • Give them safety and divine appointments wherever they go.

   • Bless Chuck as he returns to Israel next week and refresh him.

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team in Jerusalem!