1. We began our time together this morning declaring the opening of Psalm 62.

    • Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.Psalm 62:1-2

    • Thank You that nothing moves You, Lord. You are the same. Nothing takes You by surprise. (Hebrews 13:8)

    • You are completely faithful, O Lord. There is none like You. (Psalm 86:8,9)

    • You are a God of great compassion. (Psalm 86:15)

    • Help us Lord to see, and never to forget Your great benefits to us. (Psalm 103:2-5)

    • Hodu l’Adonai ki tov, ki leolam chasdo. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever. (Psalm 136)

  2. Ramadan – the Moslem month of fasting began this week. They are required to go without food and drink [and tobacco!] throughout the hours of daylight during this time. This can make them ill-tempered and increases the dangers of violence in what is already a very tense atmosphere. Ramadan is often a season of increased terrorism. Fridays are typically the days for concentrated anti-Israel activity during Ramadan.

    • Give wisdom to Israel’s security forces, particularly in and around Jerusalem as many come to pray at the al-Aksa mosque. Use them as instruments in Your hand to quell the unrest rather than to stir up trouble.

    • By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.Proverbs 8:15,16

    • Provide good intelligence of any plans to cause trouble and enable the security forces to accurately identify actual and potential troublemakers and take appropriate action to prevent trouble. (Isaiah 48:6)

    • Protect and keep all informants hidden and bless them.

    • Deter all opportunists who might be ready to cause unplanned violence.

    • Please reveal Yourself to multitudes of Moslems during this season. May they see visions of the “man in white” [how Moslems often describe visions of Yeshua/Jesus], reap a plentiful harvest among Moslems during Ramadan this year.

    • …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.Ephesians 1:17

  3. Gaza – The situation on the border has continued to receive massive attention. On Monday this week there were many casualties and the world has poured condemnation upon Israel for the way she has used live fire to protect her citizens against an infiltration by terrorists. Since Monday the situation has become relatively quiet. It has become known that a large majority of those killed this week were known terrorists.

    • Thank You Lord that Israel has been able to protect the border and prevent any attacks on civilians in Israel. Also that the violence may be subsiding. (Psalm 140:7)

    • Thank You for allowing it to be known that most of those killed this week were Hamas members. (Psalm 141:9,10)

    • You do not desire the deaths of the wicked, Lord. Reveal Yourself to the leaders of Hamas that they may know You and turn from their wicked ways! (Psalm 59:13b)

    • Encourage Israel’s security forces and keep them alert.

    • Use the winds, Lord, to cause the smoke from burning tires and flaming kites to be blown back into Gaza rather than into Israeli territory. (Psalm 140:10,11)

    • Use the very hot weather forecast for this weekend to persuade the Gazan people to stay at home.

    • Drive the leaders of this violence into hiding and cause the people to recognize that their leaders have deceived them. (Psalm 140:1-5)

    • The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. SelahPsalm 140:5

  4. Reactions to Gaza situation – much of the media has been reporting that Israel is killing innocent people in Gaza, not giving any attention to what Hamas has been threatening nor to their use of women and children as a cover for terrorists attempting to infiltrate. There have been many condemnations of Israel by world leaders, though some have spoken boldly for the truth. The Church, in particular, needs to recognize its responsibility to discern the truth and understand what God is doing and their need to pray for their nations’ reactions to the situation. (Proverbs 8:32-36)

    • Lord, bless those journalists who are determined to declare the truth. Thank You for them. Anoint their message and get it out!

    • Thank You for those leaders who have been willing to speak the truth and who have not condemned Israel. Bless them and keep them strong in the face of all the criticism they have received. Thank You for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Thank You for American leaders such as UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.

    • Give strength to Israel’s leaders not to buckle under world pressure.

    • Anoint Your Church throughout the nations to seek the truth rather than to swallow what they are fed by the mostly liberal media. (Joshua 24:14)

    • Speak to Church leaders. Give them a new resolve to seek Your heart about these events. Give them revelation of the truth and embolden them to speak the truth to their congregations.

    • Fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.1 Samuel 12:24

    • Raise up and equip intercessors, especially in nations and regions which are enemies of Israel [eg. Gaza, Turkey, Iran, Syria] Show them how You want them to pray for their leaders. (1 Kings 8:28)

  5. ‘Lawfare’ – It has become increasingly common in recent years to use the pronouncements and rulings of international bodies to bring pressure to bear against Israel. Much of this activity has been in the sphere of international law. The United Nations Human Rights Council [UNHRC] is likely to consider and probably call for an investigation of Israel’s activity on the Gaza border, while the International Criminal Court is also considering such action.

    • Lord, please hold back these institutions seeking to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel. Protect Israel from all unjust pressure and attack. (Psalm 141:9,10)

    • You love truth, justice and righteousness and we ask You to bring about truth, justice and righteousness in the nation which bears Your name.

    • Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.Psalm 25:5

    • Give integrity to those whose job it is to administrate justice, so that their decisions would not be directed by political expediency but by the pursuit of true godly justice. (Psalm 140:12,13)

  6. Other points of danger – there have been some points of conflict in Judea and Samaria [The West Bank] and Jerusalem during recent days, but these places have remained relatively quiet. At the same time there remain the very real threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Iranians based in Syria. Meanwhile there has been a public diplomatic crash in relations with Turkey and the news of a new flotilla setting sail from Norway.

    • Thank you, Father that you have continued to watch over Israel and protect her from dangers both from outside and from within. (Psalm 121:4)

    • Keep us watchful against the very real threats from Iran and her proxies. Help us keep up our alertness and not become complacent. Give wisdom to Israel’s leaders regarding the necessary deployment of armed forces. (Isaiah 41:10-13)

    • Protect all the Israelis living or travelling in Judea and Samaria and guard against ‘lone wolf’ attacks and kidnappings.

    • Keep our enemies in disagreement with one another. (2 Kings 3:23)

  7. Shavuot – Sunday 20th May is Shavuot according to the Hebrew calendar and also Pentecost in the [Western] Christian Calendar. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and is often marked by all-night bible study sessions, particularly focusing on the Book of Ruth. Pentecost is when the Church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early Church, all of whom were Jewish.

    • Save many in Israel at this season!

    • Reveal to Your people who You are! (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

    • But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.Jeremiah 31:33

    • Thank You that the Jewish people are much less resistant to hearing about Yeshua than they were even 10 years ago.

    • Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh.Ezekiel 11:19

    • Give Your people a desire for purity – to be truly dedicated to You and re-fill us with Your Holy Spirit to enable us to live as You desire. (Ezekiel 36:26)

  8. Thanksgiving

    • Thank You God for the opening of embassies in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, by the United States of America and Guatemala during the past days and in answer to many many prayers.

    • Thank You that You are a covenant-keeping God. You are faithful. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

    • You are the King. You are the Word made flesh. You are our soon-returning bridegroom. (Isaiah 61:10)

    • Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit.

  9. IFI – Chuck Cohen speaking in the UK for the coming weeks. You can find out more about his trip and other upcoming events by visiting our newly launched website on www.ifi.org.il.

    • Please watch over Chuck as he travels. Anoint his teaching and bring fruit as many come into a fuller understanding of Your purposes in these critical days. (Psalm 121:7,8)

    • Prepare Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Ofer Amitai and Claude Ezagouri as they prepare to travel on behalf of IFI in the coming weeks. (Psalm 37:23)

    • Use the website as a tool to communicate Your love and plans and purposes in and through Your nation Israel.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach [Happy Shavuot Holiday]!

From the IFI team