IFI update: Thank you for your prayers for last week's IFI leadership meeting. We believe that the Lord wants us to maintain the current course of this ministry. While we miss the leadership and input of our brother Eliyahu, the real IFI Leader – the Lord Yeshua – is still with us, directing us to press on towards IFI's ultimate goal – that God will be glorified in and through the restoration and salvation of Israel. Chuck will step into the spiritual leadership role, and he covets your prayer support – as does the rest of the current IFI leadership team and administrative staff.

  1. Praise: We are so grateful for the spiritual truth that Messiah declared in John 10:27.

    • My sheep hear [+heed; understand] My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.John 10:27

    • Lord, we thank You that You speak to each one of us – often in different ways – but You do speak.

    • We trust You and praise You for guiding us daily (Psa. 32:8).

    • Lord Yeshua, we thank You for being our Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

    • YHWH is my Shepherd; I shall not lack. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.Psa. 23:1-3

    • Hallelujah! You are alive and in the world today (Mark 16:16).

    • Lord, we are comforted to know that in the confusion and deceit in the world today – You sit at the right hand of the Father and rule over all from Your throne in heaven (Psa. 110; 1-2; 103:19; Matt. 28:18).

    • What an amazing truth that You – the Creator of all – both hear and answer the prayers of Your created ones (Psa. 50:15; 1 John 5:14-15).

    • We praise You for knowing the end from the beginning and guiding history to Your goals (Isa. 46:10).

  2. Elections: Balagan is a priceless Hebrew word that describes a total mess, plus confusion, plus… And balagan seems to best describe Israeli politics – especially today in the pre-election campaign. But since Israel's God is never confused, we continue to look to and ask Him to give us a government that is in line with His will for Israel today.

    • We rest in Your sovereign will to raise up leaders over the nations – especially over Israel (Psa. 75:6-7).

    • Give us a government that will further Your kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2).

    • We ask for a miracle – for You to draw Israel's politicians out of the filthy swamp of personal attacks into the light of declaring their plans and goals for the crucial issues facing this nation (Prov. 21:1).

    • Lord, please send Your fear upon all those who will be leading this nation (Deut. 4:10; 6:1-2).

    • For the sake of the Israeli electorate, make the politicians campaign on policy and not personality.

  3. Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu: We still do not see anyone today who can lead this nation in a godly direction as we have seen in the past decade of Netanyahu's leadership. He is far from perfect – but being a historian he sees what Israel will be facing and has often proven to be right. Do you know that he was warning the world about the existential threat of an Iran with nuclear weapons from the mid-1980s?

    • Lord, we thank You for raising Bibi up to lead Israel at this time (Dan. 4:17b, 23b).

    • If there is someone to take his place, please show us so that we can pray into this with faith (Amos 3:7).

    • Give Netanyahu an overwhelming victory and forbid another stalemate after the elections.

    • Surround Netanyahu with godly counsel and deafen him to any other (Psa. 1:1-2; Prov. 20:18) .

    • Protect Bibi from all witchcraft and curses from either inside or outside of Israel (Num. 23:23).

    • Benjamin Netanyahu, we bless you in the name of Israel's King, Yeshua your Messiah and Lord.

  4. Security: 
    Unless it was YHWH who was for us, may Israel say; unless it was YHWH who was for us when men rose up against us, they would have swallowed us up alive when their rage was kindled against us…Blessed be YHWH, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth. (Psa. 124:1-3, 6-8)
    With all the threats we are praying into as seen below, the 800 pound Shi'ite gorilla that is behind most of this is Iran.

    1. Gaza: There is supposed to be a cease-fire, yet the IDF ends up shooting a terrorist infiltrator or demonstrator who is trying to kill Jews weekly. This snare that is called Gaza is of Israel's own making when we abandoned that area, but God is able to forgive and to protect His people.

      • We thank You that even with the tens of thousands who seek to kill Israeli Jews over the last year plus, so few have been physically killed (Psa. 121:4).

      • Yet there are many injured – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. We bring them to You in prayer for You, Lord Yeshua, to touch and heal them all (Luke 4:40; 6:19).

      • Abba, please impart Your master plan for Gaza – to us and to the Israeli leaders (Prov. 19:21).

      • Do not permit the Israeli election campaign to prevent the IDF, or the security cabinet, from dealing with all attacks from Gaza with all the strength and determination that is needed (Eccl. 8:11).

      • Concerning the soldiers, be their shield and high tower in the day of battle (Psa. 140:7; Prov. 21:31).

      • Thank You for making the IDF that exceedingly great army that You said it would be (Ezek. 37:10).

      • The IDF just held a four day exercise re: a Gaza war. Reveal all problematic areas (Isa. 58:12).

      • Thank You for decreasing the numbers rioting at the security fence each Friday. Do the same today.

      • Dry up all of Hamas' funds which they use to pay Gazans to riot (Est. 4:7).

      • Reveal to Israel all of Hamas' battle plans, and expose any further terror tunnels (Job 12:22).

      • Enable Egypt and Israel to work together to cut off Iran's demonic influence in Gaza (Isa. 19:24).

      • Use the gospel in Gaza in a mighty way to pluck out a large remnant for Your name's sake (Luke 2:32).

    2. Syria & Iraq: Israel is aggressively attacking Iranian attempts to move or store guided missiles and other advanced weapons systems in Syria and Iraq. Hitting Iranian sites in Iraq has expanded what Israel sees as a direct threat to its existence.

      • Lord, it is apparent that Israel's intelligence gathering is powerful. May Iran fear Israel's ability to find and expose all that they are trying to hide (Eccl. 3:18; Isa. 26:21; Dan. 2:47).

      • If there are any weak points in Israeli intelligence – please expose and strengthen them.

      • Watch over all if Israel's spies and collaborators (Psa. 143:9).

      • Give Israeli intelligence agents discernment to see true information from disinformation (1 John 2:21).

      • We thank You that Israel's government lays out its redlines to Iran and then follows through (Eccl. 5:6).

      • Protect all the IAF pilots and jets as they go out on their missions (Psa. 37:40; Isa. 31:5).

      • Lord Yeshua, we ask for You to release spiritual gifts to all the Israeli Messianic soldiers so that words of wisdom and prophetic insight would be shared with those who should know (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

      • May the fear of the IDF and – more importantly – the fear of the God of the IDF, be poured out on all the surrounding nations (2 Chr. 17:10).

    3. Hizbullah: This terrorist army is based in Lebanon and Syria with tentacles worldwide. It is the most immediate and dangerous threat to Israel.

      • Lord, as they are now an experienced army, may their pride bring their downfall (Prov. 16:18).

      • As they often curse and boast against Israel, use their arrogance to blind their leaders to walk in paths that lead to their downfall (Isa. 13:11; 37:29).

      • Let them be humbled and put to shame, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be brought to confusion, those who plot evil to me. Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the Angel of YHWH drive them away. Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the Angel of YHWH pursue them. For without cause they have spread their net for me in a pit; without cause they have dug for my soul. Let destruction come upon him, he will not know; and let his net which he has concealed catch him, let him fall in it, into destruction.Psa. 35:4-8

      • As You did to Haman, may the gallows that Hizbullah is preparing for Israel become the instrument of their own demise (Est. 7:10).

      • May division and dissension enter into their leadership structure (Psa. 55:9).

      • Bring to light any undiscovered terror tunnels or any other hidden threats that Hezbollah has prepared for Israel (Psa. 64:1-10).

      • May the IDF pinpoint all viable targets of missiles and rockets hidden in Lebanon (Job 28:11).

    4. Judea & Samaria: Palestinian Authority President Abbas' time on earth is nearing an end. Since there is no appointed successor, the PA will likely descend into battles between the various factions, with Hamas waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces. The question is what should Israel do – if anything?

      • Lord, this is Israel's biblical heartland. May the fruit of whatever happens with the PA be annexation by Israel of Judea & Samaria. And the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obad. 1:17b)

      • Continue to protect the settlers who live in these areas (Jer. 31:4-5; Zech. 12:6-7).

      • As the PA leadership has supported and even encouraged the killing of Jews, let them reap what they have sown – yet protect all the innocent Palestinians who only what to live in peace and have no issue living under Israeli rule (Jer. 12:14-17).

      • Thank You for giving PA leaders such a stiff neck to resist any "peace" deal with Israel (Rom. 9:16-18).

      • Watch over the IDF soldiers as they watch over the Israeli civilians, and protect them from car-ramming attacks, also as they travel on the roads or are stationed at checkpoints (Isa. 41:15-16).

      • May the settlements and population in Judea & Samaria expand exponentially under the next Israeli government (Isa. 54:1-3).

  5. Iran: We prayed about this dangerous threat to Israel by asking God to undercut it through the growth and intercession of the Iranian Church. This Body of believers is supposed to be one of the fastest growing Churches in the world.

    • Thank You Lord for building Your Body and challenging the very gates of hell and death (Matt. 16:18).

    • You are setting Your throne in Elam today (Jer. 49:38). Rule in the midst of Your enemies (Psa. 110:2).

    • Provide a way for bibles in Farsi to be made available to all Iranians – both believers and pre-believers.

    • Hide Iranian believers from all government officials and guide them to find the correct internet sites to build them up in their faith (Psa. 32:7- 8).

    • Forbid that any anti-Semitic or anti-Zionistic spirit infect the Iranian Body (Rom. 15:27).

    • As Iran's leaders curse Israel, use the Body there to bless Israel (Num. 24:9).

    • For all of our brothers and sisters in prison, give them "prison grace" and set them free (Acts 12:4-8).

    • Use any Messianic Jewish Iranian believers to impact their community in a huge way (Rom. 1:16).

    • We bless our brothers and sisters in Iran from Zion (Psa. 134:3).

  6. The two other issues we prayed about were US President Trump's peace plan and aliyah – the immigration of Jews in exile to Israel. These issues are linked as the return of the Jews to God's/their land demands that the land is open for them to return to. Any "peace" deal that removes any areas God has promised to His people whom He is regathering is not of God. This issue of the return of the Jews and the restoration to this land is absolutely essential to see in order to understand what God is doing in the world today. Why? Because this process is the only time in the Bible were He promises to do something with all of His heart and soul.

    • Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will truly plant them in this land with all My heart and all My whole soul. For thus says YHWH: As I have brought all this great evil on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them. And fields shall be bought in this land of which you say, It is a desert without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. Men shall buy fields for silver, and write it in a book, and seal it, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south. For I will cause their captivity to return, says YHWH. (Jer. 32:41-44) Amen!

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion
The IFI team