1. Praise: The prophetic portion for tomorrow, the Shabbat of the Passover/Unleavened Bread week-long feast is Ezekiel 37:1-14. These verses are always read on the Passover Shabbat, which also happens to be the Shabbat when Messiah Yeshua lay dead in the grave. God so arranged it that on this very day, Jews worldwide read of the dry bones coming to life – the resurrection!

    • What a mighty God we serve (Jer. 32:17)!

    • Lord, we bless You for so loving Your unsaved people that even in their traditions You have broken in with a word very much in due season (Jer. 2:4).

    • Thank You for the incredible gift of having Your Word revealed to us today (Psa. 119:105).

    • Your words were found, and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by Your name, YHWH God of hosts.Jer. 15:16

    • We bless You for what You're doing in the world today, even if we do not understand it (Prov. 3:5).

    • We declare that our God reigns and in the midst of the chaos, we rest in You (1 Chr. 16:31).

  2. Salvation: This is a wonderful season to ask for God to save all Israel. Not only are the Jewish people remembering their redemption from slavery in Egypt, but believers are also remembering their salvation from the slavery of sin.

    • For thus says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among…the nations: publish, praise, and say, 'O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel'.Jer. 31:7

    • Lord, You said that after You gathered Your people back to their land – then You would circumcise their hearts. Lord God of Israel, we ask You to do just that in many more at this time (Deut. 30:4-6).

    • Watch over the seeds that we believers have planted in the hearts of our unsaved Jewish relatives or acquaintances, and bring in a harvest today (1 Cor. 3:6).

    • As this Ezekiel 37 prophetic portion will be read in homes this year, with most Jews in nations with "stay home – stay safe" guidelines, use the quiet and solitude to speak directly to their hearts about Messiah Yeshua's resurrection on the very next day, the first day of the week (Luke 24:5-6).

    • Lord, while all Israelis need to be masked when going outside starting Sunday, we plead with You to unmask You face to many of You people during these days (Isa. 45:15; cp. Jer. 29:12-14).

    • We pray specifically for salvation for those who will be alone on Passover; those who have lost loved ones this past year for whatever reason; Holocaust survivors; drug-users and prostitutes; the LGBT+ community; all Israeli politicians; medical personnel and aides; Jews afflicted with Covid-19; the ultra-Orthodox communities; secular Jews; and unsaved family members of Messianic Jews. So all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Rom. 11:26-27)

  3. Body of Messiah in Israel: Hallelujah, God is saving many Jews in Israel! Therefore we need to pray for the Israeli Body of Messiah to be ready to receive and love and disciple these new believers.

    • We thank You for the miracle of a growing, maturing Israeli Body of Messiah in 2020 (Matt. 16:18).

    • You said we have not because we ask not, so we ask You to increase the numbers of believers in the Body in Israel during this Passover season (Jam. 4:2b).

    • Lord Yeshua, help believers know what part of the Body they are called to be and to not demand that others have the same burden that they have (Neh. 3:1-32; 1 Cor. 12:12-25).

    • Raise up mature believers who are available to disciple the spiritually younger members of the Body (Matt. 4:19; Gal. 6:1)).

    • Raise up elders in Israel who have Your heart for Your sheep (Jer. 23:3-4).

    • Shield this growing Body from all evil plans to deceive and distract us from You Lord (1 John 4:1).

    • As the enemy wars against the Body to wear it down (Dan. 7:25), help us to wait upon You and renew [lit: exchange] our weak strength for Your almighty empowering (Isa. 40:31).

    • During this lockdown season, fill Your children afresh with Your Spirit (Eph. 5:18b).

  4. Government: One reason we are to pray for those in authority is so that the gospel can be heard and His kingdom expanded. There are also other reasons as well but following on from the previous prayers, this is a good place to start with.

    • I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who will have all to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Tim. 2:1-4

    • Lord, give Israel a government that will enable it to lead a quiet and peaceful life (Ezek. 38:8b).

    • Thank You for the legal freedom in Israel to share the good news of Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 1:16).

    • We bless You for more and more Israelis, including government officials, who have a good impression of messianic believers (2 Cor. 2:15).

    • Enable believers to be ready to share the reason for the hope that is in us – regardless of the current situation (1 Pet. 3:15). After all, He is risen!

  5. Government: We continue to intercede for a godly government to be formed in Israel.

    • Abba, with Israel still having no permanent government, we ask You to raise up one that will fulfill You prophetic promises to this nation at this time (Prov. 21:1; Jer. 32:27).

    • Give to Israel a government that is founded on righteousness (Prov. 14:34).

    • Use this long span of time between permanent governments to drain out all the evil and sinful things which were in the previous governments (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Thank You for using this time to reveal the true colors of many of Israel's politicians (Jer. 4:4).

    • Do not allow the electorate to forget this unveiling of true intentions (Psa. 74:18).

    • Abba, promote into leadership those whom You have decreed to be there at this time (Psa. 75:6-7).

    • Lord, give Israel a government out of this chaos in which You will be glorified (Isa. 45:25; 46:13).

    • King of Israel, watch over the current negotiations between PM Bibi Netanyahu's Likud and Benny Gantz's Blue & White and forbid that any vital area of prophetic concern will be compromised – such as not annexing the Jordan Valley and 30% more of Judea and Samaria (Lev. 25:23; Prov. 22:28).

    • May the annexation of the Land be the red-line for Bibi and his political allies (Obad. 1:17-20).

    • Thank You that who controls the Justice Ministry is also a red-line for Bibi and allies (1 Kin. 10:9).

    • Lord, look favorably on those who see Your land and true justice as being vital issues for the next government (Psa. 89:14; Prov. 8:15; 21:3; Jer. 31:23).

    • [From King David's last recorded words:] The Spirit of YHWH spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, 'He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God'. (2 Sam. 23:2-3)

    • When all this back and forth is finally over and Israel has a permanent government, surprise us with how our persistent intercession has been answered in so many ways (Luke 18:1; 1 John 5:14-15).

  6. Government: Israel still has a transitional government and it appears that there will not be a permanent government established before the end of the week long Passover holiday.

    • Abba, thank You for the brilliant job the transitional government has done this past year (Dan. 2:21).

    • We give You glory for how Bibi has been able to focus on protecting this nation and expanding its political outreach while in the middle of all the heinous attacks against him personally (Prov. 16:9).

    • Please continue to maintain Bibi's physical, emotional and mental well-being (Psa. 28:7).

    • Protect his mind from all the chaos and make Your priorities his priorities. There are many plans in a man's mind; nevertheless the counsel of YHWH – that shall stand. (Prov. 19:21)

    • We are pleasantly surprised with how well Naftali Bennett has done as defense minister, but recently he seems to be overreaching his mandate. Hedge him in – yet continue to use him (Prov. 16:18).

    • Lord, You have each of these politicians isolated tonight. Break into the lives of many (Est. 6:1-2).

    • As these politicians will not have an audience to perform before at the Seder, deal with each of them by Your Spirit – especially the ultra-Orthodox (Luke 20:46, cp. Jam. 4:10).

    • A man's heart plans his way: but YHWH directs and establishes his steps.Prov. 16:9

  7. Coronavirus & Israel: The statistics reveal that the percentages of Israelis who die by this virus are much less than the rest of the world – almost by a factor of 10! For this we praise God and also thank Him for giving Israel's responsible leaders wisdom to view this as a war. Since Israel, like many other nations, is under "stay home – stay safe" protocols, many single and elder Israelis will be alone or very lonely during this holyday season, yet unlike some nations, Israel does care about the old and disabled in its midst.

    • Thank You for the IDF being given the job of caring for the elderly (Rom. 12:10).

    • Touch the young soldiers and the older Israelis with Your love for them both (Jer. 31:3).

    • Impart wisdom from on high to the finance ministry to deal with the economic costs of this battle against the coronavirus (Gen. 48:15; Psa. 41:1-3).

    • Give wisdom to Israel's leaders know when to lift the lockdown and how to do it (Eccl. 9:18a).

    • Lord, raise up wise shepherds over the ultra-Orthodox who will give them clear instructions on how to stay safe – as they tend to listen only to the rabbis and not to the government (2 Pet. 2:13-15).

    • Protect the IDF, police and all medical personnel who are protecting this nation during this feast.

    • Help Israeli Arab leaders speak clearly of the seriousness of Covid-19 and urge their people to heed the government guidelines – especially with Ramadan approaching (Gen. 16:9; Psa. 18:44).

    • Since many Arab families live in one house with several generations living together, please give them much wisdom and grace and have mercy especially on the elderly (Matt. 5:44).

    • For those afflicted with Covid-19 at this time, Messiah Yeshua, arise and heal them (Mal. 4:2)

  8. Security over the Passover/Unleavened Bread Feast: The enemy loves to interfere with the joy of biblical feasts through his demonic plans of death and destruction.

    • Lord, stand guard against all enemy attacks that would interfere with what You are wanting to do with Your people at this time (Psa. 121:4; Jer. 31:10).

    • Let Your fear fall on Hamas and all other terrorists groups in Gaza, and warn them against raising their hands to kill and destroy Your people (2 Chr. 20:29).

    • Do not allow them to launch rockets at Israel – especially during the feast (Psa. 3:1-8).

    • If they do, release the IDF to deal with them in a biblical, and not a humanistic, way (Isa. 41:14-16).

    • Bring Israel's intelligence services all the information that is needed at this time (Judg. 7:13-15).

    • Station a host of angels to guard over Israel's external borders (Psa. 68:17; 91:11).

    • Let Your saving fear fall on Your people during these days of feasts and shakings (Hag. 2:6-7).

    • YHWH shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and the earth shall shake: but YHWH will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the sons of Israel.Joel 3:16

  9. Worldwide Church: Most Christians will celebrate Resurrection Day this Sunday, but how many will realize that this day is actually one of the Lord's feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23:9-14 – the feast of First Fruits. And how many believers in Messiah will see Passover as foundational to their faith. This lack of understanding and blindness of the Old Testament erodes the foundations of many believers who then end up building their houses on the sand.

    • But now Messiah is risen out from the dead, and has become the first fruits of them that [died].1 Cor. 15:20

    • Lord Yeshua, give Your Body ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying in these days (Rev. 3:22).

    • Without seeing the Old Testament as still God's Word today, how can they ever recognize the signs of the times? Lord, raise up those who can bring light through clear biblical teaching (Eph. 4:11-13).

    • For the time will come when they will not endure sound teaching, but after their own longings they shall gather to themselves teachers who say what they want to hear, and they shall turn away from hearing the truth, and shall turn unto falsehoods. (2 Tim. 4:3-4) Lord Yeshua, while this is true today, still we ask You to wake up many of these teachers/preachers to the dangers they and their listeners are in and challenge them to proclaim the whole truth (Acts 20:26-30)!

    • Remove Your people from congregations that serve low-fat milk and never any meat (Heb. 5:12-14).

    • Use this global slow-down to move upon Your children to seek You (2 Kin. 20:1-2).

    • For those who truly love You and believe in You Son, but have no clue about Israel's importance in these days, open their eyes to You Word and open their hearts to You Spirit. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land in truth with My whole heart and My whole soul. For thus says YHWH, Just like I have brought all this great evil on this people, so will I bring on them all the good that I have promised them. (Jer. 32:41-42)

At the end of the Passover feast, Jews throughout the world declare, "Next year in Jerusalem!" Please pray that when this is said, the Spirit of God will convict many Jewish hearts in exile that this is exactly what they need to do - to return to Zion as soon as possible (Psa. 147:2; Jer. 31:10).

Shabbat shalom, and may the joy of this season carry you on to a closer walk with Messiah Yeshua, our Risen Messiah and Lord.

The IFI team

When they had prayed, the place was shaken…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the Word of God boldly…And with great power gave the apostles testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua: and great grace was upon them all.Acts 4:31, 33