1. Praise: This Shabbat's prophetic portion includes Zechariah 4:6-7:

    • This is the Word of YHWH to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says YHWH of Hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings, 'Grace! Grace to it!'

    • We praise You for Your Spirit and Your grace which are poured out on us (2 Cor. 13:14).

    • We affirm what Watchmen Nee wrote, that anyone who has walked with God for any length of time sees that it takes much grace to keep us in the kingdom (1 Pet. 5:10).

    • We praise You for Your faithfulness and immutability (Lam. 3:23; Mal. 3:6).

    • Lord Yeshua, thank You for giving us, from Your Father, the precious Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Messiah, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth and much more (John 14:26; 15:46).

    • However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive of Mine and will announce it to you.John 16:13-14

    • Thank You for leading Israel to choose Zechariah 4:6 to be on its national emblem – the Menorah!

  2. Elections: Israel is holding new elections on September 17th, so we have time to intercede for God to bring forth a government through which He can be glorified. Yet now, as the election campaigns heat up, as expected – they are ugly.

    • Bring clarity out of this period of uncertainty and reveal to us how to pray more effectively (Amos 3:7).

    • History shows us that an Israel divided is at its most vulnerable, so Abba, please hold back all deep divisions from breaking out. Deal with all spirits of division and disruption, and prevent them from infecting Israeli society during this campaign season (Psa. 817:8-13)

    • Raise up in Israel's political sphere those Israelis whom You have called for just this time (Dan 4:17).

    • If a unity government is Your will, then decrease the animosity and harsh accusations between PM Netanyahu's Likud and the Blue & White party during the campaign (Prov. 16:28).

    • May the elections results result in a new government being formed quickly (Psa. 31:2; 79:8).

  3. Bibi: We prayed specifically for PM Bibi Netanyahu. As mentioned last week, we are concerned that the intense pressure which is on him has resulted in him losing that edge that made him a statesman and not just another politician.

    • The king's heart is in the hand of YHWH…He turns it wherever He will.Prov. 21:1

    • Turn his heart to You and Your Word over this weekend (Psa. 105).

    • Speak clearly to Bibi – through Your Word, and through godly advisors (Prov. 15:22).

    • Lead him to campaign based on his achievements and not on attacking his opponents (Prov. 6:16, 19b).

    • Remove all panic from him and remind him of how King David waited for You to give him the throne.

    • Place a deep burden in his heart to mentor several successors to eventual take his place (2 Tim. 2:2).

  4. Yet at this time Israel needs a government that will function and do whatever it takes to protect and defend this nation from its surrounding enemies. The old government that was in place before the previous elections were held is still running this nation today – although in a limited fashion.

    • Let the government know what it must – and must not – do regardless of the political cost (Prov. 19:21).

    • May all crucial areas in which decision need to be made shine brightly in their minds (Prov. 16:1, 9).

    • Bolster the security cabinet and bring it into one accord (Psa. 133:1).

    • Confound all Israel's enemies who would think of taking advantage of this unstable period (Psa. 129:5).

  5. Iran & Israel: We are keeping a close watch on the increasingly intense situation in the Persian/ Arabian Gulf between Iran and America. There have been reports that Iran will try to divert attention from its tough situation by releasing its various proxies to attack Israel. This is another area in which Israel's in-between-the-elections government needs to be ready and willing to act.

    • Lord, thank You for answering our prayers that, being under such intense pressure, Iran's leaders will make major geopolitical errors in judgment (Job 12:16-25).

    • Forbid that America let Iran get away with the shooting down of its drone.

    • Show US President Trump that the only way to deal with Iranian bullying in the Middle East is to hit back hard, like Israel has repeatedly done against Iran in Syria (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Expose all of Iran's demonic plans against Israel (Job 12:22).

    • Provide Israel with accurate actionable intelligence to know Iran's plans (Psa. 44:21; Jer. 17:10).

    • May pre-emption always be on the IDF's strategy table (Psa. 44:4).

    • Give Israeli leaders the courage to pre-empt if and when needed (Psa. 44:5-8).

    • Watch over the relationship between the IDF Chief of Staff Kochavi and Defense Minister Netanyahu.

    • Hid all Israeli spies in Iran, and uncover all Iranian spies in Israel (Josh 2:6; 10:17)!

    • Thank you for the uncovering of an Iranian spy in Israel recently.

    • Lord, use the major IDF military exercise held this past week to show the IDF its strong points and reveal any weak areas that need further work (Prov. 21:31).

  6. Gaza: With the pressure on Iran, it seems the most likely way that they try to stir up trouble with Israel is via their Gaza-based proxies – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

    • Lord, continue to watch over Israel's border with Gaza (Psa. 121:4)

    • Thank You for all You have done to do just that for many years now (Jer. 31:10).

    • Forbid that Israeli intelligence be distracted by the Persian Gulf situation to miss anything that is being planned in the Gaza border (Job 21:27; Lam. 3:60-61).

    • Please impart to Israel strategy on how to resolve this situation soon (Psa. 20:7-9).

    • Bless and raise up more political and military people who are even now planning for how Israel will retake all of Gaza - its God-promised possession. YHWH is King forever and ever; the heathen are perished out of His land. (Psa. 10:16)

    • Quicken the soldiers on that border and keep them super alert to the enemies' plans (Psa. 140:7).

    • Hinder all Palestinians snipers from hitting their targets (Psa. 35:26).

    • May the Israeli communities in the Gaza border area cry out to You at this time (Psa. 50:15).

    • Hamas has said there is a cease-fire arrangement with Israel – yet Israel has not confirmed or denied this. God, please reveal the truth about this (Dan. 2:22).

  7. Anti-Semitism & aliyah: The swift rise of an open acceptance of anti-Semitism in the West is shocking. While some say this is just anti-Zionism, holding the only Jewish state to a standard that no other nation is held to – is anti-Semitic! Yet we see God's hand, as He is fulfilling, with increasing speed, end-time prophecies in preparation for the return of Israel's King, Yeshua the Messiah and Savior of all.

    • Lord, as You release the hunters, may Jews in exile respond to the fishers who are still there (Jer. 16:16).

    • Wake up many rabbis to see the danger and to lead their flock home to Israel (Psa. 77:20; Jer. 50:6-8).

    • Give Christians wisdom on how to respond to what they are witnessing (Isa. 49:22).

    • For believers who are called to prepare to hide the Jews – even in the West – enable them to do this quietly and make God-connections that will aid the process of sending them back to Zion (Jer. 50:4-5).

    • Lord, please open the eyes of all those well-meaning, but mislead, groups who want to reestablish Jewish communities in exile. May their time, efforts and finances be used to gather Your people home instead (Isa. 43:5-7).

  8. The next government & aliyah: We then prayed that God would raise up a government who would truly have a heart to see the Jews who are scattered regathered – regardless of their religious inclinations, or their bank accounts or the color of their skin.

    • Abba, we ask for a removing of all stones of stumbling from the path of Your people (Isa. 62:10).

    • Renew a strong vision for aliyah in the next government (Zech. 2:6-7).

    • Abba, please provide whatever is needed to enable returning Jews to be integrated into Israeli society.

    • Pour out the gift of tongues – that is Hebrew – on these new immigrants (Acts 2:6-11).

    • If the older generation of Jews in exile are too stuck in their "comfort zones," pour out on the next generation a spirit of adventure and desire to return to the land of their forefathers (Isa. 62:4-5).

    • Make all of Israel's ambassadors to the nations Zionists – even if it is not politically correct (Isa. 14:12)!

    • Bless all the Christian groups and individuals who are helping Jewish immigrants to settle in this land.

    • In the spirit realm, we welcome with open arms, all Jews from all backgrounds to come home to Israel – for His holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:23-24)!

  9. Eliyahu Ben Haim, IFI's chairman: Here is the latest update on Eliyahu who was infected very seriously by what is commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria and had to have his left leg, from above the knee-cap, amputated to save his life. He is still in Scotland in the hospital.

    • Rachel [his daughter] on behalf of my mother [Hannah], want to thank everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

    • Eliyahu is still in the intensive care unit. He’s awake but in excruciating pain that the doctors are trying to manage.

    • Answers to prayer for which we can thank God:

      • Eliyahu is awake, his heart is beating on its own and he is breathing only with oxygen.

    • Forecast:

      • We are looking at several more weeks at least for Eliyahu in the hospital and months of rehabilitation.

    • Concerns/Prayer Requests:

      • For freedom from the agonizing pain

      • For Eliyahu's kidneys to function normally

      • That he stays clean from infection

      • For strength, courage and hope for Eliyahu, Hannah and the rest of the family.

  10. We read this and then prayed for Eliyahu here in Jerusalem.

    • Bless YHWH, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless YHWH, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from ruin; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good; your youth is renewed like the eagle's.Psa. 103:1-5

    • Lord, please be gracious and bring Eliyahu home to Jerusalem.

    • Give the doctors great wisdom as to what medication to give him and what to withhold.

    • Lord, although You never said that all things are good, You did say that all things work together for the good (Rom. 8:28). While we may not see any good out of this situation now, we ask that You watch over this word and apply it to Eliyahu, to all his family and to the ministry of IFI as well. Amen.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team