1. Israel is preparing to enter into the festive season of Passover, a feast commanded to be observed by God, even before He gave Israel the Law. In fact, non-Jews who had joined themselves to Israel's God and His people are supposed to celebrate this feast as well (Exodus 12:49).

    • We bless You that the original Passover was the Lamb and that it was the Lamb's blood which protected Your people from Your righteous judgments (Exodus 12:11-13, 21, 27).

    • Yeshua, our Passover sacrifice, You are the Lamb of God who bears our sins and we worship and praise You for saving us (John 1:29, 36).

    • Hallelujah that in heaven the Lamb of God is also known as the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5-6, 13).

    • Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

      Revelation 5:12

    • We are so grateful that all of God's promises – including those He made to Israel – are still today "yes and amen" in Messiah Yeshua (2 Corinthians 1:20).

    • Yeshua, we declare You are Lord of all (Matthew 28:18; Acts 10:36).

  2. We awoke this morning to the "exciting" news that America had struck a Syrian airbase, just north of Israel's border, with 60 Tomahawk missiles – as a response to the chemical weapons attack that took many Syrian lives this past week. While most of the world accused Assad of this evil deed, he pointed the finger at Israel! So we prayed for Israel to be on high alert over this weekend to all attacks – especially from Syria or Hizbullah.

    • We trust in Your many promises to defend this nation (Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 121:4)

    • Lord, as both the chemical attack and the US' response did not take You by surprise, we ask for You to reveal to Israel any hidden dangers that are lurking on the horizon (Psalm 139:11-12).

    • Abba, please hedge in the tongues of Israel's politicians from saying unnecessary things (Psalm 141:3).

    • Impart Your wisdom to Israel's government in relation to this current situation.

    • The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is from YHWH.

      Proverbs 21:31

    • Help the IDF to be super alert at this time – especially along Israel's Syrian and Lebanese borders.

    • We specifically ask for angelic protection to be with the IDF (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 35:4-6)

  3. Security concerns are always heightened during all of Israel's feasts, so we prayed for Israel's protection throughout this land.

    • He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10

    • While we do not trust in "chariots and horses" (Psalm 20:7), we do thank You for providing the IDF with its various "chariots and horses" that help to protect Your nation today.

    • So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10) This is exactly what You have done with Israel's dry bones – from its modern rebirth unto today – and for that we praise You.

    • Let all Israel's enemies fall into the trap they have laid for the innocent (Psalm 35:8).

    • Continue to confound those who hate Zion (Psalm 35:26; 129:5).

    • Protect Israelis from the spirit of death that permeates Palestinian society.

    • Expose all hidden plans and foil them (Job 12:22; Psalm 33:10-11).

    • Abba, comfort the family and friends of the IDF soldier murdered in a terrorist car-ramming yesterday.

    • Lord, we ask for Your counsel to prevail in the minds of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Liberman and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot – and also bring them into one accord (Proverbs 19:21; 21:1).

  4. We continue to intercede for PM Bibi Netanyahu, and we continue to ask God to show us how to pray for who is to lead after Bibi.

    • We thank You for Israel's current leader and ask for his protection – mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

    • Open his ears to hear and obey You very clearly. Hear [i.e., listen with an intent to obey], O, Israel. YHWH our God, YHWH is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4).

    • Over Passover, reveal Your Son to him and all his family (Proverbs 30:4).

    • Lord, protect him from the manipulation of his "friends" – whether they are members of his government or are leaders from "friendly" nations who are pressing him to do that which is not in line with Your will.

    • Give him wisdom and a gentle spirit in the readying of the prime minister who will follow him.

    • Abba, reveal to us Your next choices to lead this nation so that we know how You want us to pray (Amos 3:7).

  5. The unbiblical "peace process" has been given new life by US President Trump. This is an issue that some on the IFI team feared would happen with a Trump presidency. Since he is a better friend of Israel than Obama, Trump could press Israel to do that which is not in line with God's will. And as he sees a "peace" deal as "the ultimate deal," and "the deal of the century", while coming from a businessman's background, he thinks he can negotiate this successfully. Yet he is dealing with God and not man.

    • Lord, if the American Church is not very concerned after this past week's meetings that Trump had with Egypt's president and Jordan's king – who are all in one accord about dividing Your land – then wake up our American brothers and sisters to the very dangerous path their president has taken (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2; Zechariah 12:2-9)!

    • Raise up American intercessors who see this danger and will stand before You for mercy (Ezekiel 22:30).

    • During Passover, speak succinctly to Israel's leaders that You brought this nation out of Egypt to bring them into this, the Promised Land. …YHWH said to Abram, Lift up your eyes now and look from the place where you are northward and southward, eastward and westward. For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your seed forever. (Genesis 13:14b-15)

    • Impart to Israel's leaders the strength and courage to resist the pressure of its friends to divide this land.

    • Remind Bibi that he was quickly removed from power when years ago he gave most of Hebron to the Palestinians (Genesis 23:17-20).

    • Remind the government of the wicked fruit of the Gaza disengagement that we are still paying for in the lives and sanity of many of Israel's civilians (Joshua 15:1, cp. v. 47; Judges 1:18).

    • Remove the deception of the word "peace" from the minds and hearts of Israeli leaders. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, yet evil is in their hearts. (Psalms 28:3); I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalms 120:7); They have also healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14; cp. 8:11)

  6. The first historical aliyah – the immigration of Jews from the nations to the Promised Land – was on the original Passover night in Egypt, and today the Passover Seder ends with the declaration, "Next year in Jerusalem." This is a great time to pray for God to convict many hearts in exile to make that declaration a truth for them this year.

    • We thank You for the approximately 27,000 Jews who came home in 2016.

    • We ask that 2017 would be much more than even that (Ezekiel 39:28b).

    • For Your holy name's sake, gather all those whom You have scattered (Ezekiel 36:23-24).

    • As Your people see the rise of the Islamic spirit in the EU and UK especially, do not let them linger to see which way the winds will blow. Aid them to escape even this year (Jeremiah 51:6-10).

    • Use the anti-Semitism that has infected the Labour party in the UK to open the eyes of the British Jews that today is the day to come home (Jeremiah 50:4-5).

    • Lord God of Israel, many of Your people in the West have rejected their heritage and identify more as liberals than as Jews. Yet that is eerily similar the trap that the Jews in Germany fell into during the rise of Hitler – that they were more German than Jewish. Open Jewish eyes to see this clearly (Esther 8:6).

    • Fear not; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not keep back; bring My sons from far and My daughters from the ends of the earth; everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.

      Isaiah 43:5-7

    • Lord, speak to all the geographical areas that are preventing Your people from returning home and release them miraculously.

    • Make the Israelis who are living overseas extremely homesick during this season (Psalm 137:1-6).

    • Use the children at the Seder table to ask some very pointed questions about Israel (Matthew 21:16).

    • May many Messianic Jews question why they should say over and over again, "Next year in Jerusalem."

  7. Salvation: The Passover season is also a wonderful time to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people – both at home in Israel, as well as those still living in exile among the gentile nations.

    • Yeshua, please appear to many of Your people at the breaking of bread at their Seder (Luke 24:30-31).

    • May the anti-type of the Passover sacrifice, Yeshua our Messiah, be exalted in many hearts and minds during this season. For also Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7b)

    • We are amazed at the openness of many Israelis towards Messianic Jews. Now take this to the next step and make them open to the One Messianic Jews worship – Yeshua, our Lord and God (John 20:28).

    • Lord Yeshua, reveal Yourself to many Holocaust survivors, Haredi men and women, the settlers and the settler youth, the Israeli gay community, unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews, old hippies, drug users, sex-traffickers and their slaves, government officials, and all Jews in positions of authority in gentile governments throughout the world. [Please add your own groups to this list.]

    • Who will bring the salvation of Israel out of Zion? When YHWH brings back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

      Psalms 14:7; 53:6

    • For thus says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and 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

Shabbat shalom and hag Pesach sameach

The IFI team