1. Praise:

    The feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread begins tonight. This celebration is the most ancient family holyday in the world, recalling how God set His son Israel free from Egyptian slavery. The final plague, the death of all of Egypt's firstborn, shows how the blood of the Passover lamb protected God's people from His righteous judgments against Egypt's gods. This is so symbolic of what Messiah Yeshua's shed blood does for those who are called into His kingdom.

    • Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said, 'Draw out and take a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover.Ex. 12:21; cp. v. 27; 1 Cor. 5:7b
    • Behold the Lamb of God, who carries away the sin of the world.John 1:29

    • Lord Yeshua, we join in with all of heaven, declaring that You, precious Lamb of God, are worthy to receive all glory and honor, praise and blessings and so much more (Rev. 5:12-13).

    • We praise You Abba for shielding us from Your righteous judgment against our sin (Ex. 12:22).

    • We thank You that the blood is shed for You to see – and not for us to look upon (Ex. 12:13, 23).

    • We bless You for being a promise keeping God – to Israel and to Your Body (2 Cor. 1:19-20).

    • We hide ourselves in Your faithfulness and Your great mercies, both of which also protect us from Your righteous judgments (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • Lord Yeshua, You have risen from the dead and we rejoice in the reality that for those who believe in You – death's sting has been removed (Isa. 25:8; 1 Cor. 15:54-57). Hallelujah!

    • Thank You for the proof of You being seated on the Father's right hand – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – still occurs today within every believer (Acts 2:29-36).

    • We also rejoice that regardless of how we feel, or what the headlines say, You reign (Isa. 52:7).

  2. Salvation:

    While we did pray for Muslims to be saved over Ramadan, as the Passover feast is celebrated all this next week, the main focus of our intercession was for the Jews – both in Israel and worldwide – to come to a saving knowledge that their Messiah and King is Yeshua.

    • Lord, connect the dots between the Passover lamb and the Messiah Yeshua (Isa. 53:7; John 1:36).

    • Let all of Your Words which are read in the Passover story impact the hearers greatly (Isa. 55:11).

    • As Your people eat matzah all this week, use the strips, bruises and piercings on it to remind them of Your Son who was whipped, bruised and pierced for their sakes (Psa. 22:16; Isa. 53:5; Zech. 12:10).

    • Pour out an anointing upon many gentile believers to provoke many Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11).

    • Reap a harvest from all the gospel seeds that believers planted in Jewish lives recently (1 Cor. 3:6).

    • Abba, draw to Your Son all of the Israeli immigrants who are celebrating this feast for the first time in Your land (John 6:44).

    • Lord, as nothing is impossible to You – please save some Israeli politicians at this time (Luke 1:37).

    • Messiah Yeshua, manifest Yourself to the many Israelis, including: politicians; the ultra-Orthodox – especially rabbis; the LGBTQ+ community; IDF commanders, pilots, sailors, soldiers and all others in Israel's army; teachers in all levels of education; the handicapped; tour guides; workers at Ben Gurion airport who witness this incredible fulfillment of prophecy as they see thousands of new immigrants land in Israel; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews; doctors and other medical field workers; the poor and homeless; widows and orphans; prisoners and their guards; settlers in Judea and Samaria, especially those who love Your land; survivors of terrorism and families of those who died.

    • We thank You in advance because You came to save the lost (Mark 2:17; Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15).

    • Use the reality of the resurrected Messiah to confound all arguments and to save multitudes of Jews, Muslims and nominal Christians (Matt. 22:31-32; John 11:25; Acts 4:33; 1 Cor. 15:38, 12-20).

    • Give Muslims a deeper hunger for the truth as they fast over Ramadan (John 8:32; 1 Tim. 2:4-6).

    • Through salvation, bless Muslims who have blessed Your people over the years – like the Kurds, most Iranian civilians, Israeli-Arabs, etc. (Gen. 12:3a).

  3. Government:

    Only God knows how much longer Israel's current coalition can last. We know that it will stay or fall in line with God's will and His timing and while we often would love to see it collapse now – we trust in Him upon whose shoulders the government ultimately rests (Isa. 9:6-7).

    • Lord God, as You have allowed this government to rule in Israel today, we pray for You to use it to accomplish all of Your will and hinder it from going one iota beyond that (Psa. 103:19).

    • We ask that You alone would be the One to determine when this coalition falls (Eccl. 3:2b, 3b).

    • With all the chaotic and distracting noise in today's world, please help the government to focus on Your priorities and not on man's or on the world's screaming headlines (Prov. 21:1; Acts 9:6a).

    • Thank You for Prime Minister N. Bennett's apology for his treatment of his Yamina party, yet we ask that there would be the fruit of repentance – an actual change of direction and policy (Matt. 3:8).

    • Let the opposition, especially opposition leader Bibi Netanyahu, have godly wisdom to know when to shout from the rooftops and when to just be silent (Psa. 37:7; Zech. 2:13).

    • When it is Your time for new elections, raise up a government that leans on Your Word and that is more experienced and wiser in the area of foreign relations (Psa. 119:105; Prov. 6:23; Jer. 8:9).

  4. Aliyah:

    Being alive at this time and seeing that which almost every Tanach book prophesied about – the return of God's people from exile to Israel – is such a wonderful privilege. And for those of us who are called to be intercessors – it is also an awesome responsibility.

    • Thank You for recording in Your Word that when You told Pharaoh to let Your people go, or else, You meant it (Ex. 5:22-6:1; Num. 23:19).

    • With new immigrants from both Ukraine and Russia arriving in Israel by their thousands, Lord watch over Your promise to make them one people on Your mountains (Ezek. 37:22).

    • In the confusion that accompanies a massive wave of aliyah, Lord please keep out all those whom You do not want to enter (Josh. 9:1-14), while bringing in all whom You have chosen (Ruth 1:16-17).

    • Draw back many Israelis who have emigrated and are now stuck in another country (Psa. 137:4-6).

    • Shake up and wake up all the Jews who live in the West to see the anti-Semitic graffiti on the walls and to understand that this is a part of how You are warning them to flee Babylon (Jer. 51:6-10).

    • Show them the choice is between a "comfortable" lifestyle – or a life for them and their families.

    • As Messianic Jews observe the Passover Seder and end with "Next year in Jerusalem," convict them that if they are not serious about making aliyah it is better to just be quiet (Matt. 5:37; Jam. 5:12).

    • On the other hand, if they do declare this – may it so resonate in their hearts that they rise up and in faith respond positively to Your call to come home (Isa. 35:10; 51:11) .

    • Give courage to those who have been refused Israeli citizenship to try again (Luke 18:3-5).

    • Pressure the government coalition to do that which they promised and build affordable housing for new immigrants, especially in the disputed areas of the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria, the Jordan Valley, the Negev and in and around Jerusalem (Neh. 2:20; Jer. 32:41-44).

    • Thank You that the aliyah in these days is another proof that Your Word does not come back void (Isa. 55:11), but that You do indeed watch over it and fulfill it (Jer. 1:12; Ezek. 11:16-17).

    • Open believers' hearts to see how they should pray for and support this return (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-12).

  5. Internal security:

    A key reason why God pulled His people out of Egypt was in order to keep His promise to Israel's forefathers to give their descendants the land He had promised them. This is also a key for Israel to have God's peace and security, that is, by extending its sovereignty over all of the land west of the Jordan River, while also maintaining the Golan Heights.

    • In Shabbat's Torah portion on the guidelines for the original Passover and all following ones, it says, It shall come to pass, when you come into the land which YHWH gives you, as He promised, you shall keep this feast. (Ex. 12:25)

    • [True peace will come to Israel as she possesses her possessions (Obad. 1:17) and as all Palestinians left in the land come to faith in Yeshua (Jer. 12:14-17).] We implore You Lord – do both quickly.

    • Prevent at all costs any Israeli government from further dividing Your land (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

    • Hedge in Defense Minister Gantz from legislating anything that eases the way for the creation of a Palestinian State on Your land (Prov. 16:9; 19:21; 22:28).

    • Lord Yeshua, Captain of heaven's hosts, we request that You would be as clear with Israel's security forces today as You were with Joshua in Shabbat's prophetic portion (Josh 5:13-15).

    • Thank You for the aggressive and pre-emptive approach in dealing with terrorists that has been put in place by the IDF over this past week (Eccl. 8:11; Rom. 13:1-4). More, Lord.

    • Reinforce all of Israel's security plans and manpower with angelic hosts (Psa. 68:17; 103:20).

    • As all of these so-called "lone wolf" terrorists are part of an Islamic wolf pack, we ask for divine protect over Your pre-saved nation from this demonic onslaught (Psa. 40:14-15; 121:4; Jer. 31:10).

    • Retire all IDF commanders who only aim to keep the peace, and replace them with officers who actually believe in fighting for victory over one's enemies (2 Sam. 23:12; 1 Chr. 29:11; Psa. 98:1).

    • Lord, guide Israel's intelligence gathering, and give great wisdom and insight to those who are responsible for analyzing it, while also guarding them against deception (2 Kin. 6:12; Dan. 2:22).

    • Hedge in the Palestinian Authority security forces from being drawn into a conflict with the IDF unless it is Your time to uproot the Palestinian Authority completely from Your land (Psa. 10:16).

    • During Passover, protect Israeli citizens and guard all public transit systems (Deut. 28:6; Psa. 121:8).

    • Abba, pour out Your comfort on the families and friends of those who were slaughtered in the recent terror attacks (Isa. 40:1-2; 57:15; 2 Cor. 1:3-4).

  6. External security:

    Israel's main external threat is still Iran and its proxies. Iran's proxies are Hizbullah to the north in Lebanon; Hizbullah and various other groups to Israel's northeast in Syria; Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza to the south, the Houthis in Yemen who constantly threaten Israel and whomever Iran has influence over in Iraq. While Israel's paranoia about Iran's threats is well founded, the following verses come to mind as we think about Israel being surrounded: …many nations gather against you, saying, 'Let her be defiled; let our eye look on Zion'. But they do not know YHWH's thoughts, nor do they understand His counsel, for He gathers them as sheaves to the threshing floor. Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, your hoofs bronze, and you shall beat in pieces many people. And I will consecrate their gain to YHWH, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth. (Mic. 4:11-13) Amen!

    • We look to You to protect Israel, as You said concerning this specific time of Israel's regathering, that You would guard it as a shepherd guards his sheep (Jer. 31:10).

    • Thank You that while everyone thought the Iran nuclear deal would be signed last year, it has not been finalized yet and more obstacles pop up in the way of its successful completion (Psa. 33:10-11).

    • Derail, divert or destroy the money train that still carries huge sums to Iran (Prov. 10:2a; 21:6).

    • During Passover, demand of Iran's leaders concerning the 7,000-10,000 Jewish community trapped there to "Let My people go" (Ex. 8:20; 9:13b).

    • We praise and thank You for fulfilling Your Word in Jeremiah 49:38a by setting up Your throne in Elam [ancient Iran] through the building up of Your Body (Matt. 16:18b).

    • We ask You to watch over the rest of that verse and "destroy" Iran's king and princes (Jer. 49:38b).

    • Set Hizbullah against Hamas who are also trying to be established in Lebanon (2 Chr. 20:23).

    • Fill Israel's new Air Force's commander, Tomer Bar, as You filled Bezalel (Ex. 31:2-3; 35:30-31).

    • Oversee all of the plans of the IDF's Iran Command (Prov. 21:31).

    • Shine a light on all strategies and tactics that are from You and remove all else (2 Sam. 5:17-25).

    • Impart wisdom to Israel's military industries to hasten the development of laser weaponry, EMP technology and anything else that will give Israel, Your weapon of war, the victory (Jer. 51:20).

    • Lead Israel to be a leader in the quest to develop and use quantum computing (Jer. 32:17, 27).

    • Give discernment to know who any of this technology should be shared with (Prov. 4:11).

    • We are grateful for the change of relations between Israel and several Arab nations and ask You to guard them as well as give Israel discernment about these relationships (Prov. 19:8; Jer. 17:9-10).

  7. Body of Messiah:

    Reading the book of Acts carefully, we note that the key to the success of the early believers was not the message of the cross – as important as that is – but it was the declaration of, and witness to, the resurrection of Messiah. Today in many congregations that truth is so miraculous and supernatural that it is almost an embarrassment to say we actually do believe in a Risen Savior who is in the world today. Maybe it is said on "Easter" – Resurrection Sunday [which is actually a feast of the Lord known as First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-15; 1 Cor. 15:20)], but for the rest of the year there is hardly any mention of it – except in song. Is this shying away from talking about Yeshua as risen from the dead another sign of the spirit of humanism infecting the Church?

    • Lord, we are told to not be ashamed of the gospel – the good news – and yet without the resurrection there would be no good news. Help us to see and internalize this (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:13-19).

    • Remove everything that hinders us from proclaiming a Risen Messiah (Prov. 29:25; Eccl. 12:13).

    • And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua: and great grace was upon them all.Acts 4:33; cp. Rom. 1:4; Phil. 3:10a

  8. IFI:

    Thank you for your prayers for this ministry. May the Lord bless you abundantly at this very special time of the year.

Hag Pesach sameach and Shabbat shalom from Zion,

For the IFI team