1. Praise: Two verses from this Shabbat's prophetic portion.

   • And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, 'YHWH will be magnified from the border of Israel'.Mal. 1:5

   • For from the rising of the sun even to its going down My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [i.e., symbolic of prayer (Rev. 5:8)] shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the Gentiles, says YHWH of hosts.Mal. 1:11

   • We bless You that You have chosen to share the gift of salvation with the Gentiles, and that it was not an afterthought, but planned in advance.

   • And today, You are bringing the good news home to Your own people (Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:32).

   • Bless You for being so faithful to Your word (Ezek. 12:25)

   • Hallelujah that You Word does and will accomplish that which is Your will (Isa. 55:11).

   • We worship You, Lord Yeshua, as King of Kings and the Lord of Glory, the One Who rises up with healing in Your wings (Mal. 4:2)

   • You are worthy of our praise (Rev. 5:8-14).

   • YHWH has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.Psa. 103:19

   • May Your light shine through us to bring more glory to Your name (Prov. 4:18).

2. Politics: Without specific directions from God – and "yes, Bibi" or "no, Bibi" are not specific directions – we continued to ask Him for the type of government and leaders He has promised to Israel when it is regathered from exile.

   • I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning; afterwards you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.Isa. 1:26

   • I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be afraid; nor shall they lack anything, says YHWH.Jer. 23:3-4

   • Raise up the government that will result in You being glorified (Psa. 115:1-3)!

   • Have mercy on Israel; cut through this Gordian knot of egos and pride (Prov. 13:10; Isa. 2:11).

   • Abba, give Israel a government which will deal by Your justice against terrorism (Rom. 13:3-4).

   • When Likud – Bibi Netanyahu's party – anoints a new leader, may it be with Bibi's blessing.

   • Deal with Israeli politicians who shift blame on everyone else for not being able to form a government, yet never take any responsibility for their own actions (Gen. 3:12-13; Prov. 28:13).

   • While we are frustrated over this situation, yet we ask that in Your prefect timing a new Israeli government with be formed (Psa. 31:15a; Eccl. 3:1).

   • Do all of this for Your holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:23-24).

3. Politics: Bibi Netanyahu is still Israel's prime minister during this time. He and Israel's current temporary government are responsible to keep this nation safe and prosperous.

   • Lord, please remove all discouragement from the current government ministers (Deut. 3:28).

   • Thank You for Netanyahu's ability to maintain Israel's security as his priority even in the midst of the political and legal attacks coming against him (Zech. 12:6).

   • Please be a shield around Netanyahu and let him lift up his eyes to You (Psa. 3:3; 121:1-8).

   • Move on him to call out to you in his very difficult and unfair situation (Psa. 50:15; 145:19).

   • Especially at this time, show him to whom he needs to delegate certain responsibilities.

   • Fulfill all the days that You have ordained for Netanyahu to be in office (Ex. 23:26b; Psa. 80:17).

   • Use Naftali Bennet's new position as Defense Minister to mature him and turn him into a man whom Israel can depend on (Deut. 3:28).

4. Security: For all Israel to be saved, they must be alive, so our focus on Israel's security has two goals: for Israel's salvation and through its salvation that our God would be glorified.

   • Surely His salvation is near them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land.Psa. 85:9

   • I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory.Isaiah 46:13

5. Security: Israel's ability to obtain accurate actionable intelligence and to know when and where to deal with its enemy's plans are a direct answer to prayer. Thank You.

   • We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up banners; may YHWH fulfill all your prayers. (Psa. 20:5) Amen!

   • Lord, we know You are the One who protects this nation and we thank You for that (Psa. 121:4).

   • Yet You said You would make Israel's army an extension of Your protection plans (Isa. 41:10-16; Mic. 4:11-13). We bless You for doing that today as well (Psa. 103:1-2).

   • Increase Israel's ability to gather intelligence and discern to know how it use it (Mark 4:11).

   • If there are any intelligence reports that have been lost in the information overload – but they are of vital importance – please bring them to light now (Job 28:11b; Psa. 64:1-10).

   • Direct the analysts' who need to plan future strategies based on today's information (Prov. 19:21).

   • Protect all of Israel's sources of intelligence – both human and otherwise.

   • Aid Israel to repel all cyber warfare attacks and shield Your nation (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 35:2).

   • For those who are physically watching – keep them alert to all dangers (Psa. 127:1).

   • Hamas, Gaza's terrorist rulers, have again cancelled today's security fence demonstrations. Please give the IDF wisdom as to why they did this and what it means (Prov. 16:9).

   • And You, O YHWH, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the nations; do not be merciful to any plotting evil [against Israel]. Selah.Psa. 59:5

6. Security: Most of the IDF's active soldiers are teenagers – both young women and men. It is amazing that most come out from the IDF mature and non-violent. Yet these young guardians of Israel need our prayer support.

   • We thank You for all the Israeli youth who are willing – and able – to serve this nation as warriors.

   • Who is this uncircumcised Philistine who defies the armies of the living God?1 Sam. 17:26b

   • We bless You for how quickly they mature and take responsibility (2 Tim. 2:2-3).

   • Use the many Messianic Jews in the IDF to be salt and light to the rest of their units (Matt. 5:13-16).

   • Bring along a partner for each believer so that they can minister two-by-two (Luke 10:1).

   • Thank You that the suicide rate in the IDF has gone down (Psa. 23:4).

   • Make commanders more aware of this attitude in their soldiers and step in to help as needed.

   • Protect the sanctity of this army – especially in the area of sex and abortion (Lev. 20:7-8).

   • Along with a weapon, all Jewish IDF soldiers are given a copy of the Tanach, the Hebrew scripture. May they open it up and find You there for them personally (Gen. 15:1; 2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 119:114).

   • Send forth angelic protection for the soldiers as they travel (Ex. 23:20; Psa. 91:11).

7. Security: Muslim Palestinians in Judea & Samaria often look for ways to kill Jews. Whether by stone-throwing, car-rammings, knife attacks or suicide bombings, they have been very innovative and deadly.

   • Lord, release the IDF to deal with the terrorists as terrorists (Rom. 13:3-4).

   • Continue to supply excellent intelligence to find terrorists and weapons caches (Dan. 2:22).

   • Forbid that last week's "day of rage" morph into another intifada [uprising] (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Protect and increase the Israelis residents in these areas (Isa. 27:6).

   • Give Israel wisdom to know what to do and what not do when Palestinian Authority President Abbas either resigns or dies.

   • Keep him as PA President until it is Your time to remove him (Eccl. 3:2; Dan. 2:21).

   • Lord, bless, anoint and multiply the true church among the Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and in Gaza (Matt. 16:18).

   • Use them for Your glory and protect them (John 17:22).

8. The Middle East: This past week, Iraqi demonstrators burnt down an Iranian consulate. Yesterday, many of them were killed by Iraqi, or Iranian, security forces. Also while Iran's leaders said that the recent riots there have been defeated, that is not really true. In Lebanon, demonstrations against the government and against Hizbullah have picked up steam. Is this another prayer answer?

   • Let them all be confounded and turned back, those who hate Zion.Psa. 129:5

   • Messiah, we pray for the Church in these nations to wake up and pray (Psa. 86:7)!

   • Give them wisdom on how to pray for their nations and also on how to bless Israel (Num. 24:9b).

   • Lord Yeshua, may Your peace so permeate their lives that many Muslims are provoked to also want a personal relationship with You (John 16:33).

   • Bring total healing and deliverance from all spirits of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism to every ex-Muslim in Your Body (Matt. 8:2-3; Isa. 60:14).

   • Use our brothers and sisters in prison because of their faith in You for Your glory (Acts 16:25-34).

9. The Israeli people: Many are angry, fed-up, scared, confused, discouraged, etc. Yet we are consistently rated as one of the happiest nations in the world. Only God… Still His people need our pray support for both the daily battle of living in Israel as well as for salvation in Messiah Yeshua.

   • Thank You that we exist at all. This is a miracle in itself. I cried out to You, O YHWH. I said, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry. (Psa. 142:5-6a)

   • Lord Yeshua, lay upon the Gentile members of Your Body to comfort Your people today (Isa. 40:1).

   • Bless those medical personnel who have immigrated and serve Your people so faithfully and supply all that they need for this service.

   • Soften the blow of culture shock for immigrants from Ethiopia for whom the transition from one lifestyle to a new one has been difficult (Num. 11:4-6).

   • Comfort Holocaust survivors in their old age and provide their needs (Isa. 46:4).

   • Use this coming season of Hanukkah and Christmas to draw many to Your Son (John 6:44).

   • Challenge all misconceptions about You and reveal Your truth (John 5:45-47; 8:32).

10. Aliyah: What will it take for the Jews in exile to really see that Israel is their home and that they need to make aliyah sooner rather than later?

    • Then they shall know that I am YHWH their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.Ezek. 39:28

    • Abba, we ask for Your glory, that none be left behind (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • We pray for the Jews in [speak out your nation here] to return home (Jer. 31:10).

    • Move on rabbis in exile to encourage those of their congregations to make aliyah (Isa. 11:12).

    • Break through the bureaucratic red tape and all other barriers in Israel that hold back some of those who desire to immigrate (Isa. 45:2).

    • Provide all finances that are needed through Your church to help Your people return (Isa. 60:4-5).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and do them,
then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,
and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.Lev. 26:3-4