1. Praise:

   As we move deeper into these last days, there is an increase in chaos and wickedness. Yeshua warned us of wars, natural disasters, false prophets, an increase in hatred and lawlessness – a rejection of God's law – will result in the love of many growing cold (Matt. 24:4-13). We see all of this today, along with a steep rise in anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and persecution against the true Body of Messiah (Matt. 24:9). The one place of perfect peace [shalom shalom] is to be found in trusting that our God is in total control – because He reigns (Isa. 26:3; 52:7; Rev. 17:17).

   • YHWH has established His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.Psa. 103:19

   • Thank You for this verse from the prophetic portion affirming that Your reign is from eternity – outside of space and time! Before I created you in the womb I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you, and I set you to be a prophet unto the nations. (Jer. 1:5)

   • We praise You for also declaring in that portion that You watch over Your word to do it (Jer. 1:12).

   • Abba, this gives us great confidence to continue to pray in line with Your Word (1 John 5:14-15).

   • We are so grateful that even if we have no idea of what You are doing or allowing, we can still trust in You (Prov. 3:5) because You are in complete control (Psa. 93:1a; 96:10a; 97:1a; 99:1a;).

   • We also trust You to lead us as we pray as You have shown us though Your Word to make our ultimate goal Your glory (Psa. 50:15; 79:9-10; 115:1-3; John 12:28; 17:1).

   • Thank You for giving us prophetic declarations by which we know that the Bible is in reality the Word of God (Isa. 43:9-10; 44:7-8; 45:21; 46:9-10; 48:5; John 13:19; 14:29; 2 Pet. 1:15-21).

   • Lord Yeshua, we cling to You because You have the words of eternal life (John 6:67-69).

   • Thank You that in these dangerous days, You promised to hold on to us and help us (Isa. 41:10-13).

   • Hallelujah! You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Psa. 46:1)

2. Government:

   The political infighting and accusations are already being heard even though the elections are not until November 1st. We will continue to ask God to glorify Himself in the election outcome and continue to plead with Him to hedge in Israel's transitional Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's government from doing that is not in line with His will.

   • Lord, we pray Psalm 33:10-11 specifically over Israel, asking You to watch over these verses and fulfill them in Israel at this season, for Your holy name's sake.

   • Lord God of Israel, overturn all plans that Israel's current government is decreeing in order to further the creation of a Palestinian State on Your land (Isa. 14:24, 27).

   • God, continue to clear out the "dross" from Israel's political scene (Isa. 1:25-27).

   • Use this transitional period to reveal the true heart intents of many politicians (Luke 16:15).

   • Bring to the light all secret political agreements that are being birthed in the dark (Psa. 139:11-12).

   • Humble the leaders of Israel's political parties which are closer to Your biblical standard – basically the right wing and ultra-Orthodox parties – so that all divisions caused by pride (Prov. 13:10; 28:25-26) will be healed and they can then work together for the good of Your nation (2 Sam. 23:1-4).

   • Work deeply in Bibi Netanyahu's heart and save him and his whole family (Psa. 51:10).

   • Surround all whom You have chosen to lead Israel with godly counselors (Prov. 11:14; 15:22).

   • And circumcise their ears to hear all counsel that is from You (Jer. 6:10; Acts 7:51).

   • If there is a "David" hidden with the sheep whom You want to be Israel's next, or future, leader, tell us so that we can pray in agreement with You to see it happen (1 Sam. 16:11-13; Amos 3:7).

   • Block Israel's left-wing woke media from influencing Your people to turn from You (Psa. 119:37).

   • Place Your burden on the Israeli Body of Messiah to pray about this election now (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

3. IDF:

   Last week, US President Biden agreed to the US and Israeli militaries working together to develop the Iron Beam – Israel's laser defense system. This is concerning because while the US and Israeli militaries are better allies than their political leaders, having the US involved means having another nation being able to tell Israel what it can or cannot do.

   • God, show us how to pray as we are very distrustful of America's intentions, having seen its State Department, its politicians and its media betray Israel too often to not be (Rom. 8:26-27).

   • Impart wisdom on what to share and with whom to share Israeli breakthroughs (Isa. 39:1-7).

   • Anoint all those who are developing advanced weaponry for Israel (Psa. 23:5; Isa. 10:27).

   • God, ultimately make Israel totally self-sufficient in the developing and maintaining of all of its weapons systems and munitions (Isa. 30:1-2; 31:1; 41:14-16).

   • We ask that Israel would begin to trust in You more than its chariots and horses (Psa. 20:7-9).

   • Provide for the IDF all the finances they need, while helping them to reduce financial waste.

   • Shield the IDF from following the politically-correct-woke crowd (2 Chr. 32:8; Psa. 118:8-14).

   • Overshadow Defense Minister B. Gantz as he appoints the next IDF Chief of Staff (Prov. 19:21).

   • Surround each of the IDF's leaders with wise counsel (Prov. 20:18; 21:30-31; 24:6).

   • Teach the IDF's leaders to use prayer as a weapon (Josh. 10:12-13; 2 Sam. 17:25; 2 Chr. 20:1-19).

   • Guard over every solider, sailor, pilot, clerk, etc., and place them in Your pre-ordained spot for each of them in the army of Israel (Psa. 140:7; 144:1).

   • Lord Yeshua, pair up all believers in the IDF with other believers (Zech. 4:12; Mark 6:7).

4. Internal security:

   Last Friday, when Biden met with Palestinian Authority President Abbas, he said that the Palestinian people deserve a state. First, they do not; they are not capable of ruling themselves and have proven this repeatedly. The only thing they can agree on is hatred of Israel and the Jews. Second, the basic criteria of population, territory and government are still lacking even after the decades since the Oslo Accords. And third, even if they did deserve a state, why does it need to be on the precise land which God promised to the Jewish people more than 200 times in His Word?

   • Lord, Biden said that he wants to see a "Palestine" based on the 1967 borders. As per Lamentations 3:37, we declare that it will never happen because You have not commanded it.

   • Abba, please show naïve – or ignorant – politicians like Biden that if the Palestinians have a state that is contiguous, like he said it should be, then the Jewish State will need to be divided (Lev. 25:23).

   • Reveal to Biden and most other Western leaders that their pushing Israel to divide Your land is resulting in their nations being internally divided today (Joel 3:1-2).

   • Show the Western Church the roots of their nations' judgment – and not just the fruits (Num. 24:9b).

   • Hedge in Lapid's government from creating "facts on the ground" in Area C – which is under Israel's total authority – that would contribute to a stronger Palestinian presence there (Job 19:8; Hos 2:6).

   • Lord, arrange circumstances, as in 1967, so that Israel has no choice but to extend its sovereignty over all of the land west of the Jordan River (Obad. 1:17). [Abbas goes and Hamas takes over?]

   • Also, make sure that when Israel regains all of the land – that it remains Israel's (Ezek. 28:26).

   • Guide the leaders of Israel's police to know how to deal with the various issues that are weakening the force's personnel – like its low salaries and exhausting work schedules (Rom. 13:4-6).

   • We do thank You for Israel's police force, and ask that the next government makes it a priority to improve their working conditions, recruit the needed numbers and train them properly (1 Tim. 2:2).

   • Show Israel how to defend itself against the latest attacks by terrorists in Judea and Samaria who are shining lasers into the eyes of bus and civilian drivers while they are driving (Isa. 54:17).

5. External security:

   Iran's goal of total world domination under an Islamic Shi'ite Caliphate is a dangerous threat to Israel and the rest of the world. Yet so many Western nations still do business with this deadly enemy while their response to Iran's development of nuclear weapons is useless.

   • Lord, thank You for watching over this Word in Shabbat's prophetic portion concerning those who threaten Israel: Israel – holy unto YHWH; the first-fruits of His increase; all that devour him shall be guilty; evil shall come upon them, says YHWH. (Jer. 2:3)

   • We see this fulfilled today as all nations or entities warring with Israel are "failed" states – Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip (Jer. 10:25; 30:20; 51:24).

   • Thank You that Israel's political and military leaders were not satisfied with Biden's promises to act against an Iranian nuclear weapon only as a "last resort".

   • We much prefer for You to arise and scatter Iran and its proxies who delight in war (Psa. 68:1, 30).

   • If not, then prepare Israel to act under Your orders and in Your timing against Iran (Jer. 51:19-26).

   • We praise You for the reports that Iran's leaders are now very paranoid about Israel's Mossad's freedom to operate in Tehran, and ask You to increase this paranoia exponentially (2 Chr. 20:29).

   • Continue to enable the IDF's Iran Command to know exactly what Iran is planning (Dan. 2:22).

   • Aid Israel's intelligence units – to gather what needs to be gathered and to know how to interpret what is true from all disinformation and/or misinformation (Ezra 8:7-8; Job 12:13; 32:8).

   • Give them Your strategy and tactics to bring down the walls of this Iranian enemy (Josh. 5:13-6:5).

   • Prepare Israel to arise and thresh Iran's proxies which today surround it (Mic. 4:11-13).

   • Shield Israel from the daily cyberwarfare attacks against it from its enemies (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3).

   • Increase Israel's understanding of the possible alliance between Iran, Russia and Turkey (Psa. 44:4).

   • Confound all their plans which endanger Israel and are against Your will that their leaders agreed on when they met this past week in Tehran (Psa. 129:5; Prov. 12:13a).

   • As China was not invited, use this to break relations between China and these nations (Prov. 18:19).

6. Aliyah:

   Realizing that the return of the Jews to His land is for His holy name's sake, we see what an awesome privilege it is to be called to pray – and for some of us to work – specifically for this to be fulfilled in these days.

   • I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles, which you profaned in their midst; and the gentiles shall know that I am YHWH…when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes. For I will take you from among the gentiles, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.Ezek. 36:23-24

   • Lord, we give You the glory for hearing that about 35,000 Jews have immigrated to Israel during the first six months of 2022 (Isa. 43:5-7, 21). More, Lord – exceedingly abundantly more (Eph. 3:20-21)!

   • Help those who have made plans to make aliyah actually come sooner than expected (Isa. 48:3).

   • Draw many of Your scattered people back through Your eternal love and faithfulness (Jer. 31:3).

   • For those who resist, Lord, continue releasing Your hunters – the fanatical anti-Semites and anti-Zionists throughout the world, and use them to chase Your people home (Jer. 16:16).

   • In nations where Jews are trapped (Iran, Venezuela, China, possibly Russia, plus others) speak to the leaders loudly and clearly, stating, Let My people go! (Ex. 10:3).

   • Keep the gates open for Russian Jews to continue to make aliyah (Psa. 118:19; Isa. 45:1).

   • As You draw Jews out of exile, draw the exile out of the Jews (Num. 11:4-5).

   • Give Israel a new government that will see the ingathering of Your people as a priority (Jer. 31:10).

   • Wake up Your worldwide Body to understand how central aliyah is in Your heart today (Jer. 32:41).

7. Salvation:

   Ezekiel 36:25-27 is the best description of what it means to be born-again all in one place in Scripture. Plus these verses follow the verse just quoted concerning aliyah: I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all of your filthiness, and your idols. I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them.

   • Lord, we ask You to do exactly this with many of the new olim who have returned home recently, especially from Ukraine, Russia and Ethiopia (Jer. 31:7).

   • Open Jewish hearts to receive a love for Your Word and let it replace the words of man (Jer. 15:16).

   • Lord Yeshua, in mercy reveal Yourself to every Holocaust survivor alive today (Luke 2:25-32).

   • Lord, speak to all of Israel's secret believers that it is time to come out of the closet (Rom. 1:16).

   • Heal the wounds in Jewish hearts from encountering Christian anti-Semitism which so distorts Your love for them (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).

   • Impart a revelation to many Jews of who You really are – their King Messiah (Isa. 33:22; Matt. 2:2).

   • Yeshua Lord, anoint Your disciples to be light and salt to our Jewish neighbors (Matt. 5:13-16).

   • Use Gentile believers to provoke Your people to jealousy (Rom. 11:11).

8. Body of Messiah:

   If Israel is misplaced in believers' thinking the rest of their understanding of Scripture is sorely lacking a biblical foundation. This is usually a result of a denigration of the Old Testament [Tanach] in comparison to the New. But if the Tanach is no longer God's Word today, then neither is the New. [See: Do you believe what the New Testament says about the Old Testament]

   • Cause a revival of Bible-based Zionistic thinking to flood Your Body (Psa. 48:11-12; 50:2).

   • Give believers an insatiable hunger for the truth of Your Word (Psalm 119:103,148).

   • Show many more Christians the need to interpret verses in the context in which they are found.

   • Lord, replace replacement theology advocates with shepherds after Your heart (Jer. 3:15).

9. IFI:

   Thank you for standing with us in your prayers, by your notes of encouragement and through your financial support. They are all appreciated and needed.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from the city of the Great King,

For the IFI team

Psa. 48:1-2, 8; Matt. 5:35b