1. Praise: Malachi 1:5 is part of this Shabbat's prophetic portion.

    • And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, YHWH will be magnified beyond the border of Israel.

    • Lord, we know "beyond" can also be rendered "on," or "from." Whichever one is correct, or even if all are valid, we bless and thank You that You have been – and will continue to be – magnified from this nation unto the ends of the earth.

    • We are so grateful that You have already set the ultimate borders of this land (Gen. 15:18-21).

    • What a joy it is that we – Jews and non-Jews – can magnify You together in Yeshua (Psa. 34:3).

    • For from the rising of the sun even to its going in, My name shall be great among the gentiles… (Mal. 1:11) We praise You that we see this prophetic word as being fulfilled in history and in our times.

    • Thank You for Your mercies which are renewed every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so YHWH surrounds His people from this time and forever. (Psa. 125:2) Thank You for Your protection and presence with Israel and us during these days.

    • You reign! We rest and rejoice in Your overriding sovereignty (Psa. 103:19).

    • Thank You for making us citizens of Your kingdom, serving a Righteous King – Yeshua (Col. 1:12-13).

  2. Today being Friday, we expect more demonstrations along Israel's southern Gaza border. Israeli teens who live there have this week marched from down south to Jerusalem, to Israel's Parliament, to try and focus the nation and governmental leaders on the very hard situation they find themselves in.

    • Thank You for this march of Israeli teens. May the impact be noticeable (Psa. 60:4).

    • Even with the fear of what Iran and its proxies can do up north – forbid that Israel's government not do all it must to bring safety and security to Israelis living in the Gaza periphery (Rom. 13:3-4).

    • Lord God of all comfort, send Your comfort to all Israeli families living near Gaza (2 Cor. 1:3).

    • Abba, turn back the fiery packages and rockets from Hamas and all other Islamic groups (Isa. 54:17).

    • Encourage the IDF solders protecting this nation in the south (Josh. 1:9).

    • Enable the IDF's rules of engagement be realistic so that soldiers can follow them without any doubts.

    • Make the soldiers strong and courageous and alert to all kidnapping or sniper attacks (Psa. 44:4-8).

    • Lord Yeshua, You see the cease-fire agreement that Egypt and Qatar are attempting to set between Israel and Hamas. If this is not from You, as it would appear in its current form, then let Israel just say "No!"

    • We declared over this plan: YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He breaks the plots of the people. YHWH's counsel stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. (Psa. 33:10-11)

  3. Up north, on Israel's Lebanese and Syrian borders, the Iranian/Hizbullah threat continues to grow. Syria now brags that the recently delivered Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles are making any Israeli attack almost impossible. Yet Israel says that they are continuing to defend themselves anyway.

    • Lord, hold Israel's leaders to their declared red lines (Matt. 5:37; Jam. 5:12).

    • Impart to Israel's leaders Your wisdom on how to deal with Russia (Eccl. 9:18a).

    • Whatever the reason for Russian President Putin's lack of communication with Israeli PM Netanyahu, please restore it – even if it needs to be done in secret.

    • Help in the transition from the IDF's current Chief of Staff Eisenkot to it newly appointed man Kochavi.

    • Place some messianic believers in Kochavi's inner circle (1 Chr. 12:32).

    • Give courage, unity and wisdom to IDF and government leaders if in fact now is the time to pre-empt Hizbullah's huge cache of missiles all aimed at Israel (Prov. 19:21; 20:18; 21:1; 24:6).

    • Show the Israel Air Force how to deal with the S-300s (Isa. 31:5).

    • Enable the F-35i's to be the perfect weapon to avoid and destroy these threats.

    • Reveal all traps and ambushes the enemy is setting along Israel's northern borders (Psa. 124:6-8).

    • Forbid that in any war Israel tries to be more merciful than You towards its enemies (1 Kin. 20:42).

    • Aid IDF legal advocates to be already preparing arguments about a war vs. Hizbullah in Lebanon which will result in many civilian casualties (Psa. 68:27-28).

  4. In one of the investigations against Bibi Netanyahu – called the Submarine Affair – the police have finally recommended the indictment of five Israelis, but Bibi is not included. Yet already the media and opposition are saying he is guilty by association.

    • Lord, for the sake of all Israeli citizens – please resolve this quickly (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Do not allow there to be any cover-up. Let justice be done and be seen to be done (Psa. 89:14).

    • Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.Prov. 14:34

    • We bless You that Bibi was not one of those recommended. Protect him from the media and left-wing hatred that makes him the villain in all that goes wrong in Israel (Psa. 3:3).

    • Deal with the ones recommended for indictment and if they are guilty, let them quickly confess.

    • Do a quick work in this whole ugly affair (Mal. 3:1-6).

    • Forbid this from in any way hindering Israel's excellent submarine division.

    • Remove any shame from the Navy and let this press them on to greater deeds (Psa. 140:7).

  5. Next week is the run-off in Jerusalem's mayoral race between Ofer Berkovitch and Moshe Lin. Berkovitch is secular and a pluralist, while Lin is religious and has the backing of Shas and many of the ultra-orthodox parties.

    • Lord, unless You direct us differently, we ask for a Berkovitch win.

    • Abba, bring people out to vote.

    • Let especially the national religious come out and cast their ballots.

    • Regardless of our choice, we ask and trust for Your will to prevail (Dan. 4:25b).

    • If possible, do not allow Netanyahu to endorse either candidate (Eccl. 3:7b).

  6. While many Western believers have recently prayed into their national elections, often after the elections, many think their responsibility to pray for the government is over – when in fact it is then that the real battle begins.

    • 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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,1 Tim. 2:1-3

    • Lord, show American believers that they must pray for their newly elected Congress (Luke 18:1).

    • Raise up pastors and elders who will encourage their flocks to take responsibility in this area – not only for their nations' sake, but more importantly that God would be glorified in their nations (Psa. 115:1).

    • Thank You for how pray seems to sustain Bibi Netanyahu in all situations (Ex. 17:10-13).

    • Expand the vision of the worldwide Body to intercede for more than only evangelism and healing.

    • Especially encourage the Israeli Body to stand in the gap for this nation and its people (Psa. 44:4).

  7. US President Trump is itching to present his "deal of the century" Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. As Congress is now divided between Democrats and Republicans, his ability to legislate domestically will be stymied – yet he is still the "king" when it comes to America's foreign policy, and that can spell trouble for Israel if he pushes us to do that which is against God's Word. Yet it will be much more dangerous for America as that nation will be judged even more severally than it is right now.

    • For, behold, in those days…when I will bring again the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will fight with them there for My people and My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.Joel 3:1-2

    • Lord, open Trump's ears to any in his administration who will warn him against dividing Your land.

    • Wake up the American Church to understand that this is the make-or-break issue as far as You are concerned that will determine the destiny of their nation (Zech. 2:8; 12:2-3, 9).

    • Do not allow this "peace' deal to see the light of day if it pushes Israel to divide Your land (Lev. 25:23).

    • If and when the deal is presented, give great wisdom and courage to Israel's leaders, aiding them to give a strong, biblical, response (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29).

    • Forbid that Bibi's excellent relations with Trump would trump his responsibility of being Israel's leader.

    • Continue to harden the Palestinian leaders' hearts against dealing with America or Israel (Ex. 14:4).

  8. Water is desperately needed in this land. While we have enough for domestic use, the ecology and agriculture areas need mayim min hashamayim, that is water from heaven.

    • God, we plead with You to open up the windows of heaven and soak this land that You call Your own.

    • You, God, sent a plentiful rain, by which You upheld Your inheritance when it was weary.Psa. 68:9

    • Send heavy rains and snows in all the right places (Job 37:6).

    • We do not ask this because Israel deserves it, but because You have graciously brought Your people back home – for Your glory (Isa. 43:5-7, 21).

    • Have mercy on Your land and Your people – both the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45b).

    • We remind You of Your word: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue fails for thirst, I YHWH will hear them, I the God of Israel will not leave them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water…so that they may see, and know, and look on, and understand together, that the hand of YHWH has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isa. 41:17-20)

    • Since the Hebrew word for "created" in the above verse is from the same root as in Genesis 1:1, we boldly ask You to do just that and bring forth water from places where there is not a drop of it right now.

    • Abba, with the threat of Iran next to Israel's Golan, is this not the time for You to open Your storehouses of snow and hail reserved for the day of battle and war? (Job 38:22-23)

  9. We prayed for the Body of Messiah worldwide – with a focus on having more and more of our brothers and sisters recognize that God is doing something in Israel with all of His heart and soul (Jer. 32:41) to wrap up this age and bring back His Son.

    • Thank You for all those in Your Body who do see what You are doing here – but Lord, they are only a remnant. Use this remnant as that bit of leaven to leaven the whole Body (Matt. 13:33).

    • Thank You for all those who see that what You are aiming for in Israel's restoration and salvation is nothing less than the sanctification of Your holy name (Ezek. 36:22-23).

    • Impart a deep hunger to study and believe Your "more sure" words of prophecy that are coming to pass today (2 Pet. 1:19).

    • Remove all political correctness from the pulpit and replace it with biblical correctness.

    • Remove the spirit of humanism from the pulpit – especially the fear of man (Prov. 29:25).

    • Make us part of those who raise up Your truth which has fallen in the streets (Isa. 59:14).

    • Make us capable in handling the truth of Your Word (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Tit. 1:9).

    • May more of Your children see the world through Your Word (Psa. 36:9; 119:105, 130).

    • Strip the Body from the demonic doctrine known as Replacement Theology (1 Tim. 4:1).

    • Remove the false Jesus – that Cosmic Christ – that is too often worshipped and preached about in Your Church and may all believers see that the One who loves them more than anyone else in all the universe was – as still is – a Jew, the King of the Jews and the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5; 22:16).

  10. We finished by praying for the upcoming IFI International Prayer Conference in Jerusalem. We asked for all who are called to hear and respond to His calling to be here with us and that all obstacles in their way would be removed swiftly.

Note from Chuck: Thank you for praying for my time in America. It was very fruitful although very intense. May the Lord continue to use the words He had me speak for His glory's sake (Psa. 115:1).

Shabbat shalom

The IFI team