Thank you for all your prayers and support for the Ben Haim family and for IFI as we go through this time of the loss of our Chairman Eliyahu. Obviously, things concerning Israel did not come to a halt with Eliyahu's graduation to glory, and so we continue to pray for His kingdom purposes to come in this His land and in us – His body.

  1. Praise: Shabbat's prophetic portion concludes with the following verses:

    • Samuel said to the people, Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness [in asking for a king], yet do not turn aside from following YHWH, but serve YHWH with all your heart. And do not turn aside to go after vanities, which cannot profit nor deliver…for YHWH will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it has pleased Jehovah to make you His people.1 Sam. 12:20-22

    • We also read the next verse: Also, far be it from me that I should sin against YHWH from ceasing to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way. (1 Sam. 12:23)

    • Thank You Lord, for the encouragement to know that You will not forsake either Israel or Your Body – because You have made us Your people – for Your name's sake (Psa. 79:9).

    • You remain faithful to Yourself even when Your people abide faithless (2 Tim. 2:13).

    • We trust in Your mercies which are new (or renewed) every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • What an honor to be called as intercessors in Your kingdom at this time in history (Isa. 62:6-7).

    • We confess that all our intercession for Israel – or any other issue – is for Your glory (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Thank You that because You reside in eternity, nothing can ever take You by surprise (Isa. 46:10).

  2. Iran: There is a real threat of a Middle East war soon. US pressure on Iran, by pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal and by reinstating harsh sanctions, has been met with an increase of stubborn pride by the Iranian leadership. They have just broken their commitment to the nuclear deal by enriching more uranium than they agreed to. Israel is preparing for war; Iran has threatened to destroy Israel if America attacks Iran. While that will not happen because of God's promises to His nation (Jer. 31:35-37, et al), yet much death and destruction is a reality. So we plead for mercy from the Lord.

    • Abba, for both Israel and the common people of Iran, we pray: O YHWH, I have heard Your report; I am afraid. O YHWH, give new life to Your work in the midst of years; in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. (Hab. 3:2)

    • Yeshua, Captain of heaven's armies hosts, watch over this nation as its shepherd (Jer. 31:10).

    • Behold, He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.Psa. 121:4

    • Thank You for answering our many prayers that the Iranian leadership would be humbled (Psa. 83:16).

    • Continue to oppose the proud Iranian leadership on every side (Jam. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

    • Please remove their scepter of authority – quickly (Jer. 49:38).

    • Use Iran's economic collapse to move the Iranians to revolt against the ayatollahs and the IRGC.

    • What a joy to hear of You building Your Church in Iran (Matt. 16:18). Increase it in both numbers and maturity (Acts 2:46-47; Heb. 6:1-3).

    • Strip our Iranian brothers and sisters in Messiah of any anti-Semitic, anti-Zionistic tendencies and replace them with a biblically-driven desire to bless Israel (Gen. 12:3a; Num. 24:9b).

  3. Next we prayed for Israel's preparations and plans for war vs. Iran.

    • Thank You for the IDF and all the weaponry that You have provided for this nation – yet we look to and trust in You, the Almighty God (Psa. 20:7-9; Prov. 21:31).

    • Enable the IDF to have Your plans and if they do not, then dump all man-made plans and replace it with wisdom form on high (Psa. 33:11; Prov. 21:30).

    • May the timing of all Israel does, or does not do, be in line with Your leading (Eccl. 3:1, 8).

    • Give Israeli leaders courage to pre-empt if that is what is needed to protect Your nation (Isa. 28:5-6).

    • Enable Israel to be ahead of the pack in cyberwarfare technology.

    • Forbid that Israel's leaders move in pride, but turn their eyes and hearts toward You (Psa. 131:1-3).

    • Forbid that Israel's leaders make decisions based on politics, or any other personal gain (Ex. 18:21).

    • Create a unity among all security forces so that they see the advantage of working together (Psa. 133:1).

    • We bless You for the strong ally America is to Israel at this time, but we plead with You that Israel's leadership does not look to man – but to You, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psa. 118:8-9; 124:6-8).

  4. Elections: Another round of national elections will be held on September 17th.

    • Lord, what are You saying? Why is this happening in Israel at this time (Psa. 50:15)?

    • Abba, have mercy and show us how to pray (Psa. 10:17).

    • God, unless You direct us differently, we continue to pray for PM Bibi Netanyahu and his Likud party to win in a massive landslide.

    • Lord, please give Netanyahu one more opportunity to lead this nation (2 Chr. 33:12-13).

    • Let him campaign based on his accomplishments and not on personalities (Gal. 4:16).

    • Show us Your choice to replace Bibi in Your time so that we can be in pray for that person (Amos 3:7).

    • Bring division and confusion to all the parties whom You do not want in the next government.

    • Bring unity and clarity in all those parties who are ordained to lead Your nation into the near future.

    • For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south – but God is the judge; He puts down one and sets up another.Psa. 75:6-7

    • Restore truth to the media as it reports on the current campaign (Isa. 59:14-15).

    • Move on the hearts and minds of Israelis to desire a righteous government (Prov. 14:34).

  5. Israel's leadership: At best Israel's current leadership must be double minded about protecting this nation while also campaigning to be reelected. Regardless, we have a First Timothy 2:1-4 obligation to pray for them.

    • Let the current government not do anything for political gain – yet forbid that they not do what they must just because it might appear as a political step (Jer. 17:9-10).

    • We thank You for the current government that Israel has – with Netanyahu still at its helm (Psa. 80:17).

    • Anoint them to do that which is right in Your sight and to avoid all else (2 Chr. 14:2).

    • Direct them to see what must be done now and remove from them the fear of the nations (Prov. 29:25).

    • Direct them to have priorities that are in line with Your priorities for Israel today (Prov. 19:21; 21:1).

  6. Israeli society: This past week there have been violent street riots over the shooting death of an Ethiopian youth by an off-duty policeman. Yet the truth of what happened is still being investigated. Meanwhile, reports reveal that many who are instigating the worst riots are not even Ethiopians, but anti-Zionist left-wing groups. Is there racism in Israel? Yes, although it does not permeate society and is not government orchestrated. Many choose to forget that Israel is the only nation in history that has taken blacks from Africa to set them free and not to use them as slaves. But God's enemy is taking advantage of the short term memory of most leftists and once more bashing Israel as a racist apartheid nation.

    • Lord, please strip and forgive this nation of any and all racism (Num. 15:25).

    • Expose the truth of what really happened in the shooting of this Ethiopian youth (Jer. 5:1).

    • Bless his family (1 Chr. 4:10). Thank You for having them call for a calming of the riots.

    • Heal the Ethiopian community through justice being done and being seen to be done (Mic. 6:8).

    • Use the riots to wake up the rest of Israeli society to the plight of the Ethiopians (Rom. 8:28).

    • Do not allow the finances that are contributed to aid the Ethiopian community end up in the wrong place or being used for that which will accomplish nothing for them.

    • Remind Israelis that it takes time for a nation composed of refuges from over a 100 nations to become one – yet we ask You to do that for that is one of Your promises (Ezek. 37:21-22).

  7. Security: The Gaza border, Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem are all areas where terrorism is ever present. Recently, Israel captured a Hamas bomb-maker who entered Israel on a medical visa and was planning on setting up bomb-making factories and training other Palestinians on how to make bombs and blow up Israeli men, women and children. Let's make peace? Er, with whom?

    • Thank You that there have been no deaths recently from any terrorist attacks – although there have been many terrorist acts attempted (Psa. 124:1-8).

    • Direct Israel's forces to know when to attack and when to back off in violent situations (Psa. 144:1).

    • Direct the positioning of all Israeli security forces (Psa. 44:5).

    • If there are areas which are not sufficiently covered – guide those responsible to cover them (Neh. 4:20).

    • Thank You for the angelic hosts that are actively protecting this nation today (Psa. 35:4-6).

    • Provide accurate intelligence about all demonic plans that are being hatched among Israel's enemies.

    • Direct those who get this intelligence to know what to do about it (Prov. 20:18).

    • Lord, show Israel how to defeat the low-tech warfare burning up the Gaza border areas (Psa. 44:4).

    • Uncover all undiscovered tunnels wherever they are (Job 12:22).

  8. Antisemitism & Aliyah: Since aliyah – the return from exile to Israel of the scattered Jews – is openly declared to be for His glory, we pray about this over and over until there are no Jews left outside this nation as per Ezekiel 39:27-29.

    • And I say to you, 'Ask [in the Greek: and keep on asking] and it shall be given you. Seek [and keep on seeking] and you shall find. Knock [and keep on knocking] and it shall be opened to you.Luke 11:9

    • Lord, we will continue to ask, seek and knock until You do that which will glorify You in the eyes of the nations (Ezek. 36:23-24).

    • Thank You for gathering so many of Your people to Your land already. More, Lord (Isa. 43:5-7)!

    • Use the antisemitism that is exploding in the West to wake up and shake up Your way too comfortable people to see that the time is now to return to Zion (Jer. 16:16).

    • May all those Jews who think that are in the nations to bring healing to the world [tikkum olam] heed what it says in Jeremiah 51:8-10: Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. Wail for her; take balm for her pain, if perhaps she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her and let us go, each one into his own country; for her judgment reaches to the heavens and is lifted up to the skies. YHWH has brought forth our righteousness; come and let us declare in Zion the work of YHWH our God.

    • Abba, shake the comfort zones of all the Jews in the West.

    • Lord, what are the Jews in France, England and Germany waiting for? Let them flee now while they can bring their silver and gold with them (Isa. 60:9).

    • Give to Israel in the next election a government that makes aliyah a top priority (Jer. 23:3-4).

    • How shall we sing YHWH's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psa. 137:4-6) Open Jewish hearts in exile to take this confession seriously.

    • Bring home many of the Israelis who live outside this land.

  9. The Body of Messiah is commanded to help in the gathering of God's people in these last days – yet most believers are not aware of this or even concerned about what is happening in Israel or to the Jews. There will be a heavy price to pay for all those elders who know this truth but because of controversy refuse to talk about Israel in their congregations.

    • Lord Yeshua, You said You would build Your Church (Matt. 16:18). Please remove the blindness that is on many eyes of born-again believers towards what You are doing – for Your holy name's sake – by restoring the Jews to the land of Israel (Jer. 32:41-42; Ezek. 36:23-24; Mal. 1:5).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI Team

One of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep.
Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
has prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals of it.'
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures,
amidst the elders, a Lamb stood, as if it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.Rev. 5:5-6