1. This Shabbat's prophetic portion starts with the following verse:

    • This people that I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.

      Isaiah 43:21

    • We are very grateful for the answers to two prayers this past week – that there will be no new Israeli elections and that the government committed to building a new settlement for the Amona refugees.

    • You are always good and for that we thank You (Psalm 118:1).

    • We bless You for being a God who hears and answers the prayers of Your people (Psalm 50:15).

    • Hallelujah, that through all the current events, You reign (Psalm 103:19)!

    • We rejoice in this truth from this prophetic portion: Thus says YHWH, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, YHWH of Hosts; I am the first, and the last; and besides Me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

    • Sing, heavens; for YHWH has done it. Shout lower parts of the earth. Break into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree. For YHWH has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel.

      Isaiah 44:23

  2. As already mentioned, this week the government approved the building of a new settlement near Shiloh, in Samaria, for the families of the Amona settlement who were evacuated earlier this year.

    • Thank You for this decision of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to keep their commitment to the residents of Amona.

    • Please hold the government ministers to their word (Matthew 5:37).

    • Cause there to be a quick and excellent building of this new community.

    • Please keep the American administration's hands completely off this decision (Proverbs 26:17).

    • Use the coming Passover festival to raise the Israeli government's eyes to You as the One who sets the boundaries of this land (Genesis 15:18-21; Exodus 34:24; Malachi 1:5).

    • During Passover, convict Israel's leaders to stop trying to coordinate their settlement policy in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, with various nations and international organizations, and instead to coordinate their plans with You. The God of Heaven, He will bless us, and we, His servants, will arise and build. But you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:20)

  3. The Trump administration has been a mixed bag towards Israel so far. Some of its Israel-related moves have been excellent – like what Nikki Haley, the new US Ambassador to the UN is doing. Yet other moves/suggestions are very troubling – like not building in Israel's biblical heartland. The very fact that Trump still sees this as a "huge deal" is troubling to all who believe the Word of God.

    • Use the Passover to remind Israelis of how great is our God (Psalm 76:1; 77:13-15).

    • Lord, impress upon Israel that while there may still be "giants" in Washington, You have given us the whole land to possess (Numbers 13:26-14:10).

    • We do thank You for the new American administration and ask that You would bring them in line with You and Your Word – and not allow them to force Israel to come in line with them (Psalm 119:89).

    • Prevent Israel's leaders from acting like America's subjects in anyway.

    • Prevent Israel's leaders from putting their trust in man. In God I will praise His Word; in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what man can do to me. (Psalm 56:4; see also Jeremiah 17:5-8)

    • May the fear of God come on both the Israeli and American leadership (Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 3:14).

  4. Security: The IDF has been holding major military exercises throughout this land, with this past week's focus being on Judea and Samaria. Yet a flare-up with Hamas could happen at any time and there are warnings of Hamas terror attacks over Passover. Also there is ISIS and Iran, Hizbullah and Fatah, Islamic Jihad, etc. Thank You for faithfully praying for the security of this nation.

    • God, we thank You for all Israel's security forces – physical intercessors who stand in the gap between Israel and its enemies (Ezekiel 22:30; 37:10).

    • Encourage all those who will be doing that over Passover, as opposed to being at home with family.

    • Expose and destroy all plans of the enemy (Esther 2:21-23; Job 12:22).

    • Pour out a spirit of total confusion on Israel's enemies (Psalm 35:26; 129:5).

    • Release the hosts of heaven to fight alongside the IDF (1 Samuel 17:36, 45; Psalm 35:4-8).

    • Lord, You have heard all of Hamas's threats against Israel's leaders. Curse their plans (Numbers 24:9b), so that they end up seeing that their god Allah, is not God (Psalm 83:16-18)!

    • Protect Israel's leaders who are being directly threatened.

  5. Next on our hearts to pray for was Israeli Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu.

    • Abba, we again thank You for giving Israel a leader like Bibi Netanyahu.

    • Over Passover, draw him and his family closer to Yourself by revealing to them the Ultimate Lamb of God, Yeshua, Israel's King Messiah and its Lord (John 1:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 19:11-16).

    • Protect Bibi from all forms of pride (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12).

    • Impart to him the wisdom to delegate and to trust those whom he has delegated to (Exodus 18:13-26).

    • Help him to nurture those whom You are preparing to lead this nation after him.

    • Impart to him godly discernment in dealing with other national leaders – like Trump and May and Putin.

    • Prevent Bibi from being dragged into the quagmire of another false peace process (Jeremiah 8:11).

    • Open his ear to what was said at the just completed Arab summit in Jordan – and let him see that what the Arabs demand for peace with the Palestinians is a death sentence to the State of Israel (Joel 3:1-2).

    • Raise up around him more politicians who actually want to do what is best for Israel and not just what is best for their political future (Nehemiah 7:2; Proverbs 20:6).

    • Thank You for Danny Danon at the UN and for other the other righteous men and women that serve Israel inside and outside of this land.

    • We were thrilled to hear Tzachi Hanegbi, a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, declare that the Bible – not Google – is what determines the borders of this land! Amen!

  6. Russia's increasing involvement in the Middle East was our next prayer target. We still do not have clarity as to what God is doing by allowing this to take place, although in the natural, this is all the fruit of ex-US President Obama's foreign policies – or lack thereof.

    • Impart wisdom to know how You want us to pray into this situation (James 1:5).

    • Lord, as the king's heart is in Your hands (Proverbs 21:1), we look to you to overrule, and hedge in, Russian President Putin's foray into this region.

    • Give Israel great wisdom to know how much Putin can be trusted, and to have plans in place for those times when he turns against us.

    • Abba, surprise Putin – and us – by saving him and using him for Your glory.

    • Lord, over Passover, separate Israelis from Russia from Mother Russia – unto Father God!

    • For thus says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, shout among the chief of the nations, cry out, give praise and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.

      Jeremiah 31:7

  7. Iran is trying to establish a Shi'ite Crescent, running from Iran, through Iraq and Syria, and Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea. This will be very dangerous for Israel and all the the Sunni Arab States in the Middle East.

    • Thus says YHWH of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow [which is shaped like a crescent] of Elam [ancient Iran], the chief of their might. (Jeremiah 49:35) Amen. Do it Lord.

    • Abba, prevent Iran and Hizbullah from setting up their forces on the Syrian side of the Golan.

    • As Bibi told Putin this was a red-line to this nation, give Israel wisdom on how to enforce this.

    • As American pressure on Iran increases, use it to panic Iran's leaders to make major political mistakes.

    • Somehow break the connection between Iran and Syria, and Iran and Russia (Proverbs 11:21; 16:5).

    • Lord, You have heard all the arrogant words coming out of Iran, threatening this nation that You have chosen for Your glory. Arise and scatter Your enemies (Psalm 68:1; Isaiah 37:14-35).

    • Continue to grow and mature the Iranian Church and use them to somehow bring down the current wicked Iranian government (Psalm 20:1-4).

    • Expose and shame all EU leaders and governments who want to boycott Jewish goods, while at the same time, they sell high-tech equipment to Iran which openly calls for the destruction of Israel.

    • Keep not silence, God! Do not be speechless! Be not still! For behold, Your enemies roar, and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They take shrewd counsel against Your people…[saying], 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name Israel may be remembered no more.' For with one heart they have plotted together; they have made [lit: cut] a covenant against You.

      Psalms 83:1-5

  8. Passover begins Monday evening, April 10th. This is a perfect time to pray for Israel's salvation – for the true Lamb of God to be revealed to many hearts and minds.

    • Lord Yeshua, You are the all sufficient Lamb of God who deals with our sins (John 1:29).

    • There are many Jews for whom this will be their last Passover in this lifetime. Please reveal Yourself to them before they go to their eternal destiny (Matthew 11:27; John 14:21).

    • God, give Holocaust survivors who are still alive an experience of the peace of Your Son before they die. I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

    • Cause new, insightful questions to arise from the hearts of children during this season (Matthew 21:16).

    • Touch all Jews who will be celebrating Passover for the first time as Israelis!

    • Break though the many traditions of Passover that while mostly good, tend to hide the real reason for this season: You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor, glory and blessing. (Revelation 5:9-10, 12)

    • May many unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews be saved during this feast (Acts 16:31).

    • As You spoke to Pharaoh, so speak to the chains of sin, saying, Let My people go that they may serve/ worship Me. (Exodus 8:1, 20)

    • May the words of the bible that are found in the Haggadah – the Passover book read at the Seder – burn into the hearts of all those who hear them (Isaiah 55:11).

  9. Since Passover tells the story of God drawing His people out from another nation into His land, it is a perfect time to pray for aliyahtoday.

    • Thank You for all those who have come home since Passover 2016. We ask for more in 2017.

    • Lord, remove all those leaders in Jewish communities in exile who refuse to talk about and prepare their people to return home (Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 34:5-6).

    • Abba, re-define "home" in the hearts of Your people in the nations (Jeremiah 50:4-5).

    • Make many Jews, especially Israelis living abroad, very homesick during Passover.

    • As You did in the first Passover, prepare many of Your people to flee today (Exodus 12:11).

    • Lord, make a way for those who want to come but do not have all they need to make it possible – whether papers, finances, courage, etc.

    • Continue to have the gentile members of the Church aid in carrying Your people home (Isaiah 49:22).

    • May Israel have a renewed heart in opening wide its arms to receive all Jews who want to come home.

    • YHWH builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

      Psalms 147:2

Thank you for your prayers for Chuck and Heinz-Jurgen during their ministry time in Germany. Besides their time being very fruitful for the Kingdom of God, they were able to record four semi-short videos. The issues talked about and the link to these videos is below:

  1. Understanding the NT in the light of the OT
  2. Two state solution/settlements/German government
  3. Jewish life in Germany/ criticism of Israel
  4. Is an end-time revival to be expected in western nations?

http://www.ifi-deutschland.org/index.php/videos

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team