1. Praise:

   Shabbat's prophetic portion ends with the following verses showing us how God sees us – and soon all Israel – in Messiah Yeshua. And because He does see us this way, we now know Him in a way that was impossible before: I will betroth [+espouse] you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in judgment [+justice], in covenant-love/faithfulness and in mercies. I will even betroth you to Me in truth: and you shall know YHWH. (Hos. 2:19-20)

   • Thank You that with our sin being atoned for, we are no longer separated from You (Isa. 59:1-2), so that all who are born-again now knows You in a very personal and intimate way (Jer. 31:34).

   • Abba, we praise You that in Messiah we appear as righteous in Your sight (2 Cor. 5:21).

   • We praise You Messiah Yeshua that You have become our righteousness, our sanctification, our wisdom and our redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

   • We rest eternally secure in You because we know that just like You had chosen Israel (Deut. 7:6-8), so You have also chosen us (John 15:16, 19).

   • We bless You Lord Yeshua, knowing that You are seated at the right hand of the Father (Psa. 110:1; Eph. 1:19-21; Col. 3:1; Heb. 10:12), interceding for our salvation to be complete (Heb. 7:25).

   • Thank You that the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is biblical confirmation of this truth (Acts 2:33).

   • Lord, we rejoice that You poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit on Shavuot/Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and are building a communal Temple in which You and the Father can dwell (1 Cor. 3:16).

   • Lord God, how blessed we are that You pour out so many benefits upon us (Psa. 103:1-5).

2. Government:

   God is still permitting Israel's very divergent government coalition to rule, yet as we see the infighting, it is very obvious that He is the only One holding it in place. But an end to this coalition could come at any time and very suddenly.

   • Yeshua, as You are Lord of all, You are also Lord over Israel's government (John 3:31; Acts 10:36).

   • We thank You that the coalition's right-wing members stuck to the commitment to go ahead with the Jerusalem Day Flag March this past week, including marching through Damascus Gate, and that all of the threats from the Palestinian terror factions proved to be empty words (Psa. 137:5-6; Jer. 51:50).

   • Lord, please fulfill Your will for this coalition and bring it to an end in Your timing (Dan. 2:21).

   • Hedge it around from doing anything that is outside of Your will (Lam. 3:7; Hos. 2:6).

   • Convict all of Israel's political leaders who have super-inflated egos – which is most of them – and place in them a servants heart wanting only the best for Your nation (Isa. 1:25-26; Matt. 20:27).

   • Raise up godly advisors that will come alongside every coalition and opposition minister – and make their voices to be heard and heeded (Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 15:22).

   • If it is Your will, have the coalition accept the opposition's plan to schedule the next election within a year's time, with the agreement that then the opposition will go along with most of the coalition's future legislative efforts (Rom. 12:18).

   • Lead us in prayer concerning Bibi Netanyahu's involvement in the next government (Psa. 10:17).

   • Abba, be preparing anointed ministers to take their place in the next Israeli government (Ex. 30:30).

   • God, as Israel's current coalition has already promised, let them move forward with building new cities and houses in every place throughout Your land (Isa. 44:24-26).

   • Forbid any other nation from having more influence with this – or any future – Israeli government than the influence that You have over them (Psa. 62:8-9; 118:8-10; 146:3).

   • Show the government how to respond to China's threat of downgrading diplomatic relations because The Jerusalem Post ran an interview with Taiwan's president (Prov. 8:14).

   • Strengthen Israel's rulers to resist the constant pressure from the US Biden administration to open up a consulate in Jerusalem to serve the Palestinians (Neh. 2:20).

3. Internal security:

   The prophetic promises of peace in the land are wonderful to read. Yet for those who do not trust in God or His Word, they seem like nice-sounding fables. To us who know that His promises depend on His faithfulness to fulfill His Word – and not on what man does or does not do – they are sources of great comfort, even as they challenge our faith. An example is this verse from Shabbat's prophetic portion: In that day will I make [lit: cut] a covenant for them with the animals of the field, with the fowls of heaven, and with the things that creep on the ground: and I will break the bow, the sword and war out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely. (Hos. 2:18)

   • Based on this promise, Lord drive out of Your land all spirits of terrorism (Deut. 4:37-38; 9:5).

   • Lord God, You see how the Palestinians are illegally stealing land in the E1 corridor which is just to the northeast of Jerusalem. Let the government stop this incursion into Your land (Deut. 32:43).

   • Let Israel respond by expanding its sovereignty over all the land west of the Jordan River (Mal. 1:5).

   • We praise You for we have prayed against the creation of a "Palestine" on Your land since the 1993 Oslo Accords was signed, and You have until this day heard and answered (1 John 5:14-15).

   • We continue to pray for that same request again today and remind You of Psalm 10:15-16.

   • Thank You that the IDF's "Stop the Wave" offensive mission against the recent wave of terrorism has been very successful (Psa. 44:4-5).

   • Forbid the IDF from ever stopping being on the offensive against terrorism (2 Sam. 23:12; Gal. 6:9).

   • Protect IDF soldiers and other security forces physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually as they go into action against the enemy (Psa. 44:6-8; 140:7).

   • Show Israel how to be fully prepared for the time – which cannot be far away – when Palestinian Authority President Abbas is no longer president (Psa. 31:3; 68:35; Isa. 48:17).

   • God, confront all of Israel's so-called "friends" among the nations with the truth that by their pushing Israel to agree to a two-state solution on Your land only goes to pushing them deeper and deeper into Your valley of judgment (Joel 3:1-2).

   • [Judea & Samaria are under Israeli military law, so Israeli criminal law and civil law are added by separate legislation that must be renewed every five years.] Somehow, enable this weak coalition be able to pass this law as it needs to be renewed by the end of June (1 Tim. 2:2).

   • Lord, hold Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar to his threat that if this legislation is not passed he will bring down this coalition (Deut. 23:23a).

4. External security:

   This topic includes Iran and its proxies who are always threatening Israel, as well as the IDF's preparation to fight and defeat all of Israel's enemies.

   • We thank You and give You the glory that so far during the IDF "Chariots of Fire" exercises there have been no "friendly-fire" deaths or injuries and no major accidents (Psa. 121:4).

   • As the IDF finishes this exercise in Cyprus, let the IDF leaders see what needs to be done to close up any breaches in Israel's defense and make them fully prepared to defend Israel, with the aim being to obtain a great victory in any future battle or war with Israel's foes (Prov. 21:31).

   • Bring the political leaders into one accord with the military leaders about this (1 Chr. 12:38).

   • Raise up godly advisors that will come alongside every military leader – and allow their voices to be heard and heeded (Prov. 20:18; 24:6).

   • May Israel know what to do, or not do, when the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency releases a very negative report on Iran's compliance with international law.

   • Lord, continue shaking Iran's leadership via natural and economic disasters, accidents and whatever else You are doing to bring that evil regime down (Psa. 7:15; Jer. 50:15; Ezek. 32:24).

   • As per Jeremiah 49:35, we ask You to "break the bow" of Iran, or in modern terms, destroy their ability to launch their "arrows" against Israel or any other Middle Eastern nation.

   • Prepare Israel to destroy all of Iran's proxies which are physically surrounding it (Mic. 4:11-13).

   • Lord God, may all of Israel's successful attacks on Iranian targets in Iran and in Syria, as well as on its leaders, cause Your fear to fall on Your enemies in Iran and the Middle East (Josh. 2:9-11).

   • Use the fall of the Iranian regime to discredit the god of Islam worldwide (Num. 33:4b; Isa. 19:1).

   • Protect all Israelis outside of Israel and all Jewish institutions globally from any successful revenge attacks or kidnappings which Iran is most likely planning (Psa. 35:1-8).

   • Strengthen all of the various groups inside and outside of Iran that are fighting against their current leaders – giving them great wisdom, success and favor with You and with the people (Psa. 37:12-13).

   • May Iran's next leaders be pro-Israel as many of its leaders have been in the past (Ezra 1:1-3).

   • Plug up all the holes through which monies come into Iran and which end up financing their global terrorist outreach (Jam. 5:2-3).

   • Thank You that Russia is now selling oil to China and that this is cutting into Iran's exports and making Iran's economic situation that much worse (Num. 24:9b).

   • Lord, continue to build up the Iranian Church (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18).

   • Cause the Iranian church to mature spiritually and use it as Your weapon to destroy the demonic protection over Iran's "king" and all of its "princes" (Jer. 49:38).

5. Aliyah:

   The essence of aliyah is God's glory, as it openly proves that He is Lord over history and that He is merciful and powerful enough to watch over His Word to fulfill it.

   • Fear not: for I am with you: I will bring you descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give up'; and to the south, 'Keep not back: bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even everyone who is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him'.Isa. 43:5-7

   • Lord, with as much mercy as possible, use whatever it takes to cut the apron strings that have Your people tied to their "comfort zones" in exile (Psa. 137:1-6; Jer. 16:16).

   • Make this also a reality for every Israeli who is living outside of Your land today (Jer. 51:6-9).

   • Let Jewish parents truly consider where they want to raise their children and then help them to set their sights to return to Zion (Jer. 50:4-8).

   • Deal with all of Israel's representatives in the nations to hasten the process of citizenship for all Jews who want to return home (Isa. 48:3; Acts 16:26).

   • Show the Jewish leaders in exile that according to the Bible they are supposed to lead their flocks – and then let them lead their flocks back home to Israel (Psa. 23:1-3; John 10:4).

   • Abba, what a thrill to hear that 100,000 new immigrants have come to Israel over the last four years! Now please plant them deeply in Your land, never to be uprooted again (Amos 9:14-15).

   • The report of another 3,000 Ethiopians being brought to Israel very soon is another answer to prayer for which we give You all the glory (Psa. 50:15).

   • Now let that which the government has promised come to pass (Deut. 23:23; Eccl. 5:4).

   • Make affordable housing available for both new immigrants and other Israelis so that they can settle in Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley, the Negev and the Golan (Jer. 32:41-44).

   • Lord Yeshua, reveal to Your Church that this end-time regathering of Your people is of You and for Your holy name's sake (Jer. 31:10, 23-24; Ezek. 36:21-24).

   • Messiah, open the eyes of more gentile believers to see their responsibility under You to help carry Your people back home (Isa. 49:22).

6. Salvation:

   In the Tanach, salvation often comes after aliyah. And while we rejoice over every Jewish person who have come to know Messiah in exile, when the time comes for "all Israel" to be saved – it happens in the land and appears to be the sign for the sudden return of Messiah Yeshua.

   • Lord, impart a new heart and spirit to all those who have recently made aliyah (Ezek. 36:23-28).

   • As this is part of "all the good" that You have promised them, please do this quickly (Jer. 32:41-42).

   • May this be the season when many secret Israeli believers come out of their closets (Rom. 1:16).

   • Empower the Israeli Body to have a major impact on Israel at this time (Acts 4:29-31; 6:7).

   • Yeshua, once again sit with sinners in this land – provoking them to jealousy by Your compassion, love and forgiveness (Matt. 9:10; Luke 15:1; 19:10; John 8:10-12).

   • Let every Messianic believer in the IDF have opportunity to share the good news (Prov. 15:23).

7. The Body of Messiah:

   Information overload and distractions seem to be two of the ways in which the enemy tries to keep believers focused on side issues as opposed to God issues.

   • Bring the global Body back to its essential biblical goal – which is glorifying You above all else and before all else (Psa. 115:1-3; John 12:26-28).

   • Lord Yeshua, teach Your Body that any specific burdens which You lay on one member should not necessarily be passed on to everyone else in the Body (John 21:21-22; 1 Cor. 12:12-20).

   • Lord God, replace every "New Testament" believer with "Bible" believers (2 Tim. 3:15-17)!

   • Yeshua Lord, renew the deep longing for Your return – which is dependent on the return of Israel to the land – to Your born-again children (Zech. 14:4; Matt. 23:39).

   • Show Your Church that support of and prayer for Israel is prophetic – not political (Isa. 60:3-12).

   • Gift the Body with teachers who will teach that Your Word is not just truth, or even the truth, but that it is the essential foundation of all truth (John 1:1-3; 17:17).

   • Protect us all from the weariness that comes from information overload (Dan. 7:15, 25).

   • Instead, as the eyes of servants follow their master for direction, cause our eyes to focus on You for direction (Psa. 123:2; Heb. 12:1-2).

8. IFI:

   Please continue to surround us in prayer for God to meet our needs spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. Also, if there is to be a next generation of leaders for this ministry, the sooner they are revealed, the better.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Israel

For the IFI team

2 Thess. 3:16