1. We looked at several verses from this week's prophetic portion to get started this morning.

    • And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, YHWH will be magnified beyond [or 'upon', or 'from'] the border of Israel.

      (Malachi 1:5)

    • For from the rising of the sun even to its going in, My name shall be great among the gentiles; and everywhere incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure food offering. For My name shall be great among the gentiles, says YHWH of Hosts.

      (Malachi 1:11)

    • What a joy to see a glorious sunrise over Your city this morning. Thank You (Psalm 136:8).

    • We bless You for gracing us with Your Word which is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

    • We also thank You for the freedom we have to meet openly in Israel to worship Yeshua.

  2. Security is a major burden for Israel at this time. Please note that for all Israel to be saved, they must be alive – so praying for Israel's security is praying for their salvation as well.

    1. Israel's southern border with Gaza and the Sinai

      • Hallelujah! He who watches over Israel does not sleep or even need to take a nap (Psalm 121:4)!

      • Glorify Yourself in all ways as You protect Your land and people (Jeremiah 31:10).

      • May You be known among Israel's enemies as You defend this nation (Psalm 83:16-18).

      • Thank You for providing Israel with terror tunnel detection devices.

      • Use it and reveal to the IDF all terror tunnels that are being dug to kill Your people (Job 12:22)

      • If they dig into Sheol [the underworld], there My hand shall take them.

        (Amos 9:2a)

      • Aid all Israeli soldiers who are watching over its borders to be able to pre-empt any attempted attacks.

      • Send a spirt of confusion and dissention into the midst of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas – and even set them against each other (1 Kings 22:22; Psalm 129:5).

      • Enable Israel's leaders to walk their talk. May Israel's actions speak louder than its threats (James 2:20).

    2. Israel's sea coasts – the Mediterranean and Red Seas

      • Thank You for the Israeli navy (Psalm 107:23-24).

      • Provide all they need to defend this nation.

      • Some trust in chariots, some in horses; but we will remember the name of YHWH our God. (Psalm 20:7) Lord, we do trust You – and we also thank You for the chariots and horses that You have provided.

      • Bless and guard Israel's submarines and guide them to be in the right place at the right time.

      • Stop all attacks from under the water – by Hizbullah and Hamas naval commandos.

      • Let the arrogance of these commandos be their downfall (Psalm 10:2).

      • Since all things – even those under the earth – will eventual bow to Your Name, King Messiah, deal with all threats from under the waters against Your people (Philippians 2:9-11).

    3. Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria: Iran is the main threat from these areas as it controls Lebanon through Hizbullah, which controls that nation. Iran also controls many Shi'ite forces in Syria and under the absurd Russian-American cease-fire deal, Iran remains entrenched very close to Israel's border.

      • We have asked You to shake Iran – and we want to thank You for the recent earthquake, although we do ask for mercy upon the survivors (Matthew 5:44).

      • We continue to ask for Iran to be shaken – both physically and especially politically (Jeremiah 49:38).

      • The earth and all its people are melting away; I hold up its pillars. Selah. I said to the proud, Do not boast; and to the wicked…do not lift up your horn on high; nor speak with a stiff neck.

        (Psalm 75:3-5)

      • If there is to be a war between Israel and Iran – or even between Saudi Arabia and Iran – please overrule so that it is only a war that You ordain and not man (Joel 3:9 [KJV "prepare" = "sanctify" in Hebrew]).

      • Undermine all of Hizbullah's plans and their whole infrastructure in Lebanon.

      • Reveal to the IDF all of Hizbullah's weapons caches (Psalm 139:11-12).

      • Use the Lebanon's Prime Minister's recent resignation to stir up the Lebanese people against Hizbullah.

      • If Israel is willing to share intelligence with Saudi Arabia, as its IDF chief just said, give Israeli leaders wisdom to not be trapped like Hezekiah was with the ambassadors from Babylon (Isaiah 39:1-8).

      • Protect Israel from being used as a weapon by Sunni Islam against Shi'ite Islam (Numbers 23:23).

      • Prevent Israel from trusting in Saudi Arabia openly and completely (Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1).

      • Give Israel's leadership – especially PM Netanyahu – wisdom and courage in the face of the Russian- American Syrian cease-fire (Psalm 140:7).

      • Open the ears of Putin and Trump to hear Netanyahu's warnings and his red lines (Galatians 4:16).

      • The horse is prepared for the battle; but safety [lit: salvation; deliverance] is from YHWH. (Proverbs 21:31) Aid Israel to prepare all its horses for the day of war, yet to look to You for victory.

  3. PM Netanyahu and his family are still under several investigations. It is amazing how well he is able to lead this nation when all these serious allegations are flying around.

    • First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

      (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

    • Thank You for telling us to do this, and yet not limiting it to how morally upright the authorities are.

    • Lord, please reveal the spiritual and political forces that are behind these constant attacks against this man and his family so that we can pray with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 6:12).

    • If there is any truth in any of these allegations – expose it as soon as possible (Zechariah 8:16).

    • Let justice be done and be seen to be done (Isaiah 59:4, 14).

    • Sustain Netanyahu and use this pressure to draw him closer to Yourself (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19).

    • Use these outside attacks to draw the Netanyahu family closer to You and to each other.

    • Forbid him from making any bad decisions while in this place of intense pressure (Psalm 141:3).

    • Pour out Your wisdom into his heart and mind (Proverbs 19:21).

  4. What the world calls the "Occupied Territories" is exactly to where God has promised to bring His people back [Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Golan]. We prayed for Israelis and Christians to declare this openly and to stand on Israel's right to this land – biblically, historically and legally.

    Jerusalem/Zion:

    When YHWH shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.

    (Psalms 102:16)

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

    (Psalms 147:2)
    Judah:

    Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all peoples all around, and it shall also be against Judah in the siege against Jerusalem…In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, like a torch of fire among cut grain. And they shall devour all the peoples all around…And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her place, in Jerusalem.

    (Zechariah 12:2, 6)
    Samaria:

    YHWH has appeared to me from afar, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you…Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel…You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria…

    (Jeremiah 31:3-5)
    Golan:

    I will again bring Israel to his home, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan [today's Golan], and his soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days…says YHWH, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and it shall not be found; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

    (Jeremiah 50:19-20)

    • Abba, based on these and many other verses, we declare that You are restoring Israel to its promised land and pray that You plant this truth deep into the hearts of all Israelis and believers (Jeremiah 15:16).

    • As You are doing this will all of Your heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:41), help us to never be ashamed to proclaim this truth to the nations – or to Israel itself? Give us boldness for this (Ecclesiastes 8:1).

    • Lord, open the eyes of the Church to really see that the current restoration of Israel is truly that which was spoken of by the prophets (Acts 2:16; 2 Peter 2:19).

    • Forbid that any of them be foolish or slow of heart to believe what the prophets have said (Luke 24:25).

    • Enable all Israel to accept this as well – and rid this nation of its humanistic leanings (Psalm 1:1-6).

    • Lord, You love the Palestinians and have died for them (John 3:16). Therefore we believe that Israel possessing its possessions is actually what is best for the Palestinians as well (Obadiah 1:17).

    • Over the upcoming Chanukah feast, pour out Your grace and a deep hunger to enable Israelis to recover a biblical outlook by returning to Your Word – and not the word of men (Psalm 119:18, 105; 114; 130).

    • Show Israelis in Your Word Your red lines and absolutes which are always true (Psalm 119:89).

    • Help the Israeli Body of Messiah line up with Your Word totally in all we say and do (Psalm 31:3).

    • While it is apparent that Israel still has more territory to possess, forbid that it voluntarily gives back any land that You have already restored to us (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

  5. We prayed for the churches in our birth-nations to see that they have a biblical responsibility to pray for their political and military leaders.

    • Abba, let the elders lead their flocks in praying openly for their political leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

    • Pour out upon us all the fear of God, and remove from us all the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25).

    • Cause the American church to cry out for You to be great in America again (Psalm 115:1-3).

    • Do not allow believers who already have relationships with politicians to compromise Your Word just to guard those political connections (John 17:17; 3 John 1:4).

    • Enable the Church in the West to discern righteously concerning the rise of the right-wing conservative parties, and to not put them all in the same box.

    • Wake up all churches to guard themselves and their nation from a spirit of anti-Semitism (Isaiah 28:6).

  6. We prayed for aliyah – the immigration of the Jews in exile back home to Israel – and Israel's salvation, while keeping in view the real battle of Chanukah – which was against the spirit of Humanism trying to infiltrate and assimilate the Chosen Nation. If that would have happened, then there would have been no Jewish nation into which Messiah Yeshua could have been born. Bottom line: without Chanukah there would have been no Christmas! [Regardless of when you think He was born.]

    • Lord, You told us to pray, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel. (Jeremiah 31:7b), and in response to that prayer, You said You would bring them home (31:8-9). We see this happening before our eyes and praise You for being forever faithful to watch over Your Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

    • Abba, during Chanukah, let the Jews in exile realize they are still in the Exile.

    • Place Psalm 137 as the essence of the holiday music that they hear in their hearts!

    • Pour out a deep spirit of homesickness on all Israelis who are living outside of this land at this season.

    • You are shaking everything that can be shaken in these days (Hebrews 12:26). Also shake Your people out from among the gentiles and bring them home.

    • Thus says the Lord Jehovah: When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and have been sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob.

      (Ezekiel 28:25)

    • Whatever is holding the Jews in the West, break it! (Jeremiah 50:4-5)

    • Lord Yeshua, anoint Your Body to the task of praying for, paying for, and carrying, Your people home from exile (Isaiah 43:5-7; 49:22; 60:5, 11).

We finished by praying for God to give this land all the rain and snow that is so desperately needs at this time. We are believing and asking God to so fill the Sea of Galilee that by the end of the rainy season, it will be fully filled – even to overflowing. Please join us in this, as we want to see this land to be like the Garden of Eden as per God's promise (Ezekiel 36:35). Yet He also says, He will wait to do that until He is asked to do it (36:37). So with boldness, let's continue to ask.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion
The IFI team