1. Praise: This week's prophetic portion comes from Isaiah 66.

   • Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all that mourn for her, that you may…be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations…and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus says YHWH, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream, then shall you suck, ye shall be borne on her sides, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.Isa. 66:10-13

   • We bless You for being a God of comfort and that You use us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

   • Thank You that Jerusalem will eventually be known as the throne of God (Jer. 3:17).

   • What a privilege to be called to pray that into existence (Isa. 62:6-7).

   • We pray for Jerusalem's peace (Psa. 122:6), declaring that the Lord Yeshua is its true peace (Isa. 9:7).

   • Thank You for keeping Jerusalem, the city of the Great King, undivided (Psa. 48:1-2, 8; Matt. 5:35).

   • Thank You for loving Zion (Psa. 87:2) and being zealous over it (Zech. 8:2-3).

2. Education: Schools start in Israel next week. A new Jewish-values course has been added in the Israeli public school system's core-curriculum that seems to be biblically based.

   • Lord, we pray that this is actually the case (Jer. 15:16).

   • Watch over Isaiah 55:11 to do it whenever and wherever Your Word is read this year (Jer. 1:12).

   • Lord, raise up teachers who take seriously the responsibility to teach Israel's next generation (Jam. 3:1).

   • Make many in Israel's next generation as zealous for Zion as You are (Psa. 69:9a).

   • Give students a desire for truth and discernment to know when what they hear is not truth (Psa. 25:5).

   • All your children shall be taught of YHWH; and great shall be the peace of your children.Isa. 54:13

   • But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of…and that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures [in historical context the Tanach – the Old Testament], which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Messiah Yeshua.2 Tim. 3:14-15

   • Protect the start of the school season from strikes and from terror/rocket attacks.

   • Thank You for Makor Hatikvah, the full time Messianic elementary school in Jerusalem (Mic. 4:1-2).

   • Use believing students in the school they find themselves attending to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16).

3. Israel's current war vs. Iran: Israel has been very active these past weeks against Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and as far away as Iraq. In many ways this is an answer to our prayers for Israel to be pro-active against her enemies and for it to have actionable intelligence.

   • Lord, we glorify and thank You for being a God that hears and answers prayers. Call on Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. (Psa. 50:15)

   • Continue to guide us to intercede in line with Your will (1 John 5:14-15).

   1. Hizbullah in Lebanon is Israel's nearest and most dangerous foe. This past week Israel attacked in the midst of their Beirut stronghold destroying a vital machine that would have enabled Hizbullah to turn many of its missiles into laser-guided missiles.

      • Lord, thank You for this successful mission, delaying their demonic plans by at least a year (Psa. 144:1).

      • Continue to provide Israel with all the actionable intelligence it needs (Prov. 21:31).

      • Protect all of Israel's intelligence sources – whether spies, collaborators, satellites, etc. (Psa. 140:7).

      • May many Lebanese watching this react like Rahab and give You the glory: I know YHWH has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen on us, and all those who live in the land faint because of you. For we have heard how YHWH" divided the Red Sea for you, "and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side Jordan…whom you utterly destroyed. [We also heard of how you beat three Arab armies in six days in 1967 because of God fighting for you.] And when we heard, our hearts melted, nor did any strength remain in any man because of you. For YHWH your God, He is God in Heaven above and in earth beneath. (Josh. 2:9-11).

      • Thank You, God of heaven and earth, for dealing with both rockets and terror tunnels (Psa. 121:4).

      • Anoint the IDF's Northern Commander Amir Baram to calm fears and encourage his soldiers (Josh 1:9).

      • With all leaves cancelled for combat soldiers, forbid them from being discouraged (Judg. 20:22).

      • Let them see that what they are doing in protecting Israel is in line with Your will (Jer. 31:10).

      • Thank You for the continued protection and skill You give to Israel's air force and navy (Ezek. 37:10).

      • Forbid that the useless UN force in Lebanon hinders Israel from dealing with its enemies (Deut. 33:29).

      • Thank You for the new American sanctions on the Lebanese bank that aids Hizbullah financially.

      • Use the economic pressure on Hizbullah to force it to make major errors in judgment (Jer. 51:17-18).

      • Use the believing soldiers in the IDF to shine and move in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

   2. Hizbullah and Iranian forces are now in Syria. This past week the IDF attacked and destroyed two Iranian killer drones that were being prepped to be fired at northern Israel.

      • Again, thank You for answering our prayers to given Israel wisdom to know what its enemies are plotting in the dark (Psa. 33:10-11).

      • Lord, reveal all plots that have not been uncovered yet (Job 12:22).

      • Set paranoia in Iran's and Hizbullah's leaders so that they no longer trust each other (2 Thess. 2:11).

      • Divide their houses – and bring them down (Mark 3:25), with the aim of bringing down the spirit of Islam over the Middle East as well.

      • As they see how often they are uncovered and successfully attacked by Israel, fill their faces with shame so that they seek Your name (Psa. 83:16) and question whether Allah is in truth God.

      • Forbid that the IDF walk in pride over these victories. We, Your saved remnant, stand in the gap and give You the glory for all the victories that You have given the IDF (Psa. 44:5-8).

      • Protect the Kurdish people in all of this chaos and give them a nation (Num. 24:9b).

   3. Gaza reaped what it sowed (Gal. 6:7) this past week when several suicide bombers linked with ISIS killed three Gazan policemen – sending Hamas into a frenzy of paranoia. Today is Friday and Israel expects more demonstrations along the Gaza security fence. Also if Iran wants to divert attention and pressure in the north of Israel it could demand that its proxies in Gaza attack.

      • Lord, as we asked You with Iran and Hizbullah, so make Hamas' leaders super-paranoid (Psa. 129:5).

      • Thank You for Egypt's strong warning to Hamas that they better not let Iran push them to attack Israel.

      • Arise God; scatter Your enemies; those who train Gazan youth in summer camps to hate and kill the Jews (Psa. 68:1, 30).

      • Abba, give Israel wisdom on what to do and when to do it concerning this threat from Gaza (Prov. 24:6).

      • Forbid any political considerations from hindering Israel's current government from protecting its people (Rom. 13:3-4).

      • Set more and more Gazans free from Islam through the Lamb of God, Yeshua (John 1:29).

      • Direct believers in Gaza to know if they are to flee or to remain and be a light (Gen. 27:43; Prov. 2:21).

   4. Judea & Samaria, aka the West Bank, Israel's biblical heartland: There has been an upswing of terrorist attacks – with bombs, car-rammings, and stone and knife attacks.

      • Thank You for the effective nightly raids by the IDF – capturing terrorist and exposing weapons caches.

      • For they did not get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them. You are my king, O God; command victories for Jacob.Psa. 44:3-4

      • Shield the souls of these soldiers who deal with these terrorist death-merchants nightly (Psa. 3:1-8).

      • Reveal to Israel's intelligence people any and all inroads of Hamas in this area (Job 20:27).

      • Cut off all planned terrorist attacks using whatever methods are needed (Psa. 82:8).

      • Forbid the planting of Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs] on the roads on this area (Psa. 4:8).

      • Proved safety on the roads and for all transportation vehicles (Psa. 124:1-8).

      • Pour out supernatural protection next week as Israel observes the 90th anniversary of the 1929 Hebron massacres when around 67 Jews were slaughtered by their Arab neighbors and friends. My soul has long dwelt with a hater of peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. (Psa. 120:6-7)

      • Lord, You have directed Your people to resettle in Your land – so we boldly pray that Israel's next government would press forward with a huge building project in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem (Psa. 122:1-9; Jer. 31:3-5; Ezek. 36:1-15; Amos 9:13-15; Zech. 8:1-8; 12:4-8).

4. Bibi Netanyahu is currently Israel's prime minister and defense minister – as well as trying to run his re-election campaign. How does he do it? Our prayers for him are an important factor – even if he is not aware of it at this time.

   • Lord, we thank You for this man and all that he has meant to Israel up to this time (Jer. 23:3-4).

   • Thank You for protecting and using him for Your holy name's sake (Psa. 80:17).

   • Watch over him mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually (Psa. 30:1-2).

   • Save him and all his family (Psa. 53:6; Jer. 31:7).

   • Continue to move his heart in line with Your will (Prov. 21:1).

   • Remove from him any paranoia tendencies so that he can trust his associates better – although please do give him discernment to know who he should not trust (Psa. 41:9).

   • Allow him to perceive who it is that will eventually take his place and let him mentor that person.

   • We thank You that under Bibi's leadership several nations have openly recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital – including Honduras and Nauru just this past week (Psa. 67:7).

5. Elections: The polls show basically another tie between Netanyahu's Likud and the Blue & White coalition of parties, with everyone looking to Avigdor Liberman as the "king-maker"! Yet we do not pray according to the polls but according to God's Word and in line with what will bring our God the most glory.

   • When Israelis go to the polls, please watch over this verse: There are many thoughts in a man's heart, but the counsel of YHWH shall stand. (Prov. 19:21)

   • We specifically ask for Netanyahu to be the next prime minister of Israel.

   • Based on his love for Your Word and Your land, please raise him up one more time (1 Sam. 2:30).

   • Please show us who You want to raise up to lead Israel when Bibi's time is over, so that we can already pray for that person (Amos 3:7).

   • Lord, please give us a government that sees truth as invaluable (1 Sam. 12:24)

   • Lord, please give us a government that can limit the un godly power of the Supreme Court (Job 9:24).

   • We declare that however the people vote, it is You who ultimately determines who governs this nation.

   • Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Dan. 2:20-21; cp. 4:17, 25)

   • As Israelis go to vote, direct them even when when they are in the voting booths (Prov. 16:9).

We finished by praying for the Israeli Body of Messiah to rise up and pray for this election, as well as to get out and vote.

Shabbat shalom and blessings form Zion
The IFI team

The name of YHWH is a strong tower;
the righteous runs into it and is safe.Prov. 18:10