The Sukkot (Tabernacles) holiday is now over as we gathered back in Jerusalem to continue to pray, thankful for a largely peaceful holiday season and eager to bring before the Lord the matters He has placed on our hearts.

  1. Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel…

    1 Kings 8:41-43

    • Then Peter opened his mouth and said: In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

      Acts 10:34-35

    • And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

      Zechariah 14:16

    • Many people have come from the nations to celebrate the Lord during the Feast of Tabernacles and we are thankful that the Lord values the prayers of His people whether they are here in Israel or from their homes scattered throughout the earth.

    • May the nations know that You are the Lord!

    • Thank You, Lord for the beauty of Your body, the Church, and for Your good plans.

    • We enter into Your gates with thanksgiving this morning and into Your courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)

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

    • From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

      Psalm 90:2

    • Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

      Psalm 103:1

  2. Salvation of Israel – after Sukkot the Jewish people start again the annual cycle of readings from the Torah with Genesis chapter 1. Part of this week’s reading is, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’? (Genesis 3:1) We prayed for the people of Israel, that they would no longer be deceived by these words from Satan, but believe that God has indeed spoken to them through His word in the scriptures.

    • Speak to Your people again, Lord, and set them free!

    • May they return to Your pure, simple word and no longer be blinded by rabbinical teachings.

    • They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:2) Thank You for this zeal. Remove the scales from their eyes which cause this ignorance.

    • Touch those who are not even looking for You.

    • Lord save those groups of Jewish people You place on our hearts (Holocaust survivors, soldiers in the army, children from believing families, those in authority in the nation)!

    • Pour out Your life-giving Holy Spirit on Israel!

  3. Aliyah – Included in this week’s prophetic reading is, Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth— Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:5-7)

    • Call Your people back from the north the south the east and from the west!

    • Regather Your people in Your land for Your holy name’s sake and for Your glory!

    • May they hear their Father’s love calling them home.

    • When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

      Isaiah 43:2

    • Take away their fears of the waters and the fires – the obstacles to their coming home.

    • Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters

      Isaiah 43:16

    • Make a way through the sea for those who can’t see the way to come back to Israel.

    • Open the gates to Israel. Remove all the obstacles to Aliyah – make more cheap housing available, help with the learning of Hebrew, change the attitudes of the Interior Ministry so they are eager to encourage those wanting to make Aliyah.

    • Shake the western Jews out of their comfortableness! Get them moving!

    • Reveal Your plans for Aliyah to Your Church so they will understand that they are called to carry the Jews home on their shoulders (Isaiah 49:22).

  4. Security – Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are in the process of reaching an agreement, brokered by Egypt. This will put pressure on Israel to make concessions.

    • Give Israel’s leaders wisdom in the face of this change in the status quo regarding the Palestinians. May they be strengthened to withstand the extra pressure from the nations and do nothing with is outside Your will.

    • Anoint the working relationships between Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Liberman and Chief of Staff Eizenkott and keep them in unity. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

    • Help Israel’s security services to provide accurate, current intelligence, so we know exactly what our enemies are planning in secret.

    • If You want our enemies to continue to be at enmity with each other, cause this agreement to fall apart. If you have a different plan, show us how to pray!

    • Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small (Isaiah 41:15) - Keep Israel’s armed forces strong and sharp and ready to do all that is needed to repel our enemies.

  5. Iran – The US administration is promising to change the American position regarding the 2015 deal regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.

    • Lord, may President Trump not be afraid to make the right decision.

    • Expose all the lies which were forged in the darkness. Let nothing in this matter remain hidden which needs to be brought into the light.

    • For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

      Mark 4:22

    • Keep Israel’s military and leadership alert regarding all Iran is up to in Syria, not allowing any compromise on our national security even to keep Trump happy.

    • Lord, do not allow the Prince of Persia to rise up against Your people and Your nation. (Daniel 10)

  6. UNESCO – The USA and Israel have announced decisions to leave this UN body which has become a forerunner in anti-Israel propaganda. It is in the process of electing a new director general, with the Qatari representative leading the field (Qatar being a major supporter of Hamas).

    • Thank You for this brave decision by the USA and Israel.

    • Let them be confounded because of their shame, who say to me, “Aha, aha!” (Psalm 40:15) – Strip UNESCO of all influence and respect in the world unless it is willing to change its wicked stand against Israel.

    • Please show Israel’s leaders how to act and speak in the world following this departure from UNESCO.

    • Anoint the continuing roles of Nikki Haley (US ambassador to the UN) and Danny Danon (Israel’s UN ambassador).

  7. Rain – This is the season traditionally when the Jewish people start to pray for rain. We also had our first significant rains of the year this week during the Feast of Sukkot.

    • Thank You, Lord for blessing Your land with rain! We ask that You will give much much more during the coming season in order that Your land would be watered and refreshed and restored.

    • Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds and they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy.

      Job 37:11-13

    • Have mercy on Your land, O Lord!

  8. IFI leadership – Please continue to pray for Eliyahu’s recovery and uphold Chuck as he is away for the next few weeks ministering in the USA and in Germany.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:7-8

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team!