1. Praise:

   Last night at sunset Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication, began. Jews will light special menorahs, adding an extra candle each evening until it is full with eight lights on the final night, plus the servant candle used to light the other candles nightly. Zechariah 9:13 is a prophecy of the wars of Chanukah, declaring that God enabled the Sons of Zion – those who put Him at the center of their worldview – to defeat the Sons of Greece – those who see man as the center. This battle continues today both in Israel and in the Church.

   • Thank You Lord Yeshua that by Your Spirit, we can live as sons and daughters of Zion (Zech. 4:6).

   • You, Lord Yeshua, are still the Light of the world today (Psa. 27:1; John 8:12; 12:46).

   • Praise You that by the power of Your Spirit we can also be lights (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil 2:15).

   • We rejoice that in the light of Your Word we see reality as You see it (Psa. 36:9a; 119:105).

   • You are the Good Shepherd which You proclaimed in Jerusalem at Chanukah (John 10:14, 22).

   • Thank You for gathering and guarding as their Shepherd Your people Israel today (Jer. 31:10).

   • Because we trust in Your Word, we praise You for still being totally sovereign over this chaotic and increasingly confusing world (Deut. 4:39; Psa. 22:28; Rom. 14:9).

   • Thank You that You are in control of history and will fulfill that which You have ordained from before the foundation of the world (Psa. 103:19; Isa. 55:11; Jer. 29:11; Eph. 1:4-5).

   • We bless You for showing us that without Chanukah which kept the Jews as a separate nation (Num. 23:9b), there would be no "Christmas" – no chosen nation into which Messiah was born (Matt. 2:2)!

2. "Operation Swords of Iron" is the name for Israel's war against Hamas. After a week's pause to exchange Palestinians terrorists for Israeli civilian hostages, the actual combat restarted a week ago after Hamas fired dozens of rockets into Israel. The fighting has intensified and Israel, at the time of the writing of this alert, is pressing forward towards its goal of eradicating Hamas from Gaza.

   • Lord God, guide us by Your Spirit as we pray for Israel today (Isa. 30:30; Zech. 4:6b; Rom. 8:26).

   • You know the future (Isa. 45:21), and knew about this very difficult situation Israel finds itself in, so we trust You and ask You to use the IDF mightily against these forces of evil (Jer. 51:20-24).

   • Break the trap that America is trying to place Israel in to where the safety of Gaza's civilians is more important than the destruction of Hamas and the safety of Israel's soldiers and civilians (Psa. 124:1-8).

   • Also break their arrogance in pressing Israel to already have a plan for the day after (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Concerning traps, push Hamas into every one they have set for the IDF (Prov. 26:27; Eccl. 10:8).

   • Remove all spiritual protection over Israel's enemies in Your land (Num. 14:9b; Zech.9:14).

   • Send forth waves of panic into the ranks of Hamas' terrorists and leaders (Isa. 33:2-3; Amos 2:2-3).

   • Reinforce the IDF to be that exceedingly great army which You said would come out of the graves of the Holocaust (Ezek. 37:1-10), and use it to wreak havoc on Hamas and all of its allies (Est. 9:5).

   • Protect the soldiers and provide for all of their needs, including rest and health (Psa. 59:17; 140:7).

   • We praise You for the close strategic cooperation between the various IDF branches (Psa. 133:1).

   • God, fortify Your angelic hosts fighting in conjunction with the IDF (2 Kin. 6:15-17).

   • Provide wisdom and protection to Israel's soldiers in Gaza's urban areas (Jer. 50:29-32).

   • If it is Your plan, let Israel flood the tunnels in Gaza with seawater (Ex. 15:7-8; Job 22:15-16).

   • Abba, we ask You to rescue all of the remaining hostages in a miraculous way (Gen. 19:15-16).

   • If not, then direct the IDF to locate each hostage still alive in captivity (Num. 21:1-3; Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Guide the IDF and Israel's Mossad to capture or kill all Hamas leaders who are still alive, regardless of whether they are in Gaza or living outside (Josh. 10:24-25, 42; 1 Kin. 22:34; Psa. 110:6).

   • Assist Israel's intelligence services to interpret properly all data it gets from Gaza, as well as from Judea and Samaria and to expose all terrorist plans (Job 42:2; Jer. 11:18; Dan. 2:22; 1 Cor. 4:5).

   • Let all who need to decide what to do with this intelligence, make the right choices (Psa. 119:173).

   • Hold Israel's political leaders to their stated goal of destroying Hamas (1 Sam. 15:32-33; 30:1, 18).

   • Thank You for Israel's leaders currently resisting international pressure to turn Gaza over to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas is defeated, as the PA is a huge part of the problem (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Lord, lead Israel's leaders to decide to repossess Gaza as it is a part of Judah's biblical inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Zeph. 2:6-7).

3. Government & society:

   God has brought good out of this ghastly attack (Rom. 8:28). Most Israelis now reject any "land for peace" deal. Now this must to be openly declared by Israel's political leaders and so this is one of the reasons for the first prayer below.

   • Lord God, especially at this time of Chanukah, raise up more Sons of Zion, and change or replace every Son of Greece, in Israel's current and its future governments (Psa. 62:8-9; Zech. 9:13).

   • Encourage PM Bibi Netanyahu as he resists the nations' pressure to limit what Israel must do both during, and after, the war against Hamas (Num. 23:9b; Prov. 8:15-16; Jer. 27:5).

   • Continue to use him to confront the hypocrisy of nations and various NGOs, especially about their lack of condemnation of Hamas' sexual terrorism against Jewish women (Prov. 24:11-12; Gal. 4:16).

   • Abba Father, pour out Your comfort upon Your people, in particular those who have lost loved ones, or who will lose loved ones, or whose loved ones remain hostages, or their fate is still unknown (Psa. 46:1; Isa. 12:1; 49:13; 51:3; 52:9).

   • Miraculously stimulate Israel's economic growth at this time, and let Israelis see Your gracious hand in multiplying their so-called "loaves and fishes" (Psa. 35:27; 118:25; Zech. 1:17; Luke 9:13-17).

   • Lord, aid Israel's military industries to expand their production of needed armaments and cutting-edge weapons so that Israel need not look to any nation for its resupply (Psa. 146:3-10; Isa. 31:1).

   • Use Hamas' attack to persuade all Israelis that dividing Your land only leads to war, destruction and death, and turn them away from this anti-scriptural concept (Psa. 80:19; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Also finally demolish the "two-state-solution" idol and strengthen Israel to just say no to much of the world who perceives this as the final solution (Lev. 25:23; Num. 23:23-24).

   • Let Israel shout from the rooftops how the Palestinian Authority and a large majority of Palestinians support Hamas' crimes – thus proving that Israel has no real "peace" partner (Job 34:2-6; Isa. 21:6).

   • Carry on helping Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan to speak the truth in the UN (Psa. 81:10).

   • Thank You for the support and quiet from most Israeli Arabs today (Gen. 12:3a).

4. Internal security:

   Israel's security forces are battling against Hamas and other terrorists in Judea and Samaria, and having great success. Some of the reports we are getting of how these internal terrorists are responding to Israel's very aggressive acts against them is an encouragement to continue to pray into this and to again realize the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 8:11.

   • Thank You Lord for Your continual protection over Israel (Psa. 121:4).

   • We bless You for how You normally do that though the IDF (Isa. 41:10-16; Ezek. 37:10).

   • Lord God, promote more Sons of Zion throughout Israel's military (Psa. 56:11; Rom. 8:31).

   • Sustain Israel's battle against Arab terrorists in Judea and Samaria until every Hamas member, and every other terrorist there surrender, or are captured or killed (Isa. 54:3; Obad. 1:18; Zech. 12:6).

   • Allow Your terror to fall on Israel's foes wherever they are in Your land (Gen. 35:5; Psa. 10:16).

   • Lord, fulfill Your warning against the Palestinians that is written in Jeremiah 12:14-17, and in mercy save a significant number of them (Matt. 5:44).

   • Grant wisdom in the deployment of troops to all the various areas of conflict (2 Sam. 10:9-12).

   • Shield Israel's spies and collaborators, both inside and outside of Your land (Gen. 12:3a; 27:29).

   • Guard Israelis living throughout Your land, especially in the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, as well as on the Golan and other places in the north (Psa. 33:22; Prov. 18:10; Joel 3:16; Nah. 1:7).

   • Let those Israelis be alert and ready to defend themselves and their families (Psa. 143:11-12).

   • Let the war make it an absolute necessity for Israel to spread its sovereignty over all of Your land – from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea (Psa. 10:16; 35:19-23; 37:34; 85:1, 9, 12).

5. External security:

   Iran is at war against Israel via its proxies around it. Israel is battling back against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and on a regular basis it strikes Iran's activities in Syria. Also, it was reported that Israel hit a Houthi base in Yemen recently.

   • If it is Your will, use a multi-front war to help Israel defeat many of its enemies at once (Psa. 44:4).

   • Send massive confusion upon Iran and all of its proxies, and cause them to make major geo-political mistakes that even the weak-willed West must respond to (Psa. 35:26; 70:2; 129:5).

   • Thank You Lord, for building Your throne in Elam [ancient Iran] through the amazing growth of the Iranian Body of believers (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Now Lord God, please fulfill the next part of Jeremiah 49:38 and destroy Iran's Shi'ite leaders.

   • Use the Iranian Body as salt and light to influence their entire nation (Psa. 121:3; Matt.5:13-16).

   • Inspire them to intercede for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Gen. 12:3a; Psa. 122:6).

   • Lord, let the earth swallow up all of Iran's nuclear facilities (Isa. 24:19-21; Nah. 1:5).

   • Release the IDF to respond devastatingly against the rocket and missile attacks from Hizbullah in Lebanon which are hitting Israel's northern communities (Isa. 41:15-16; Ezek. 25:14; Joel 2:17-21).

   • Use our prayers like arrows hitting the floor to erase all ungodly restraints which are holding the IDF along Israel's northern border back from responding more forcefully (2 Kin. 13:18-19; Mal. 1:1-5).

   • Lord, draw Hizbullah into Your trap and prepare the IDF to finish them off (Mic. 4:11-13).

6. Aliyah:

   God is regathering His people for His holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:22-24; Luke 11:2). For believers to be oblivious to this leaves a huge black hole in their perception of end-time events.

   • Abba, in the face of antisemitism's coming out of the closet, especially in the West, we ask for Israel to be able to multi-task and as it fights Hamas, to also prepare to receive the millions of Jews who could soon be landing on its shore (Psa. 106:47; Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 30:10).

   • Let many of the houses that the EU has illegally built for Palestinians in Area C eventually be used to house Your people (Deut. 6:10-11; Hos. 11:10-11).

   • Allow this dangerous increase of Jew-hatred and anti-Zionist actions in most of the world's nations to cause Jewish hearts and minds to turn to Jerusalem (Psa. 137:4-6; Jer. 16:16; Zech. 8:7-8).

   • Shatter the lie of many Jews who tell themselves that their once-comfortable life among the gentiles will be restored shortly, and remind them of Jewish history over the past 1900 years (Isa. 52:1-6).

   • Do away with any other lies that hinder the return of Your people (Psa. 119:104, 128; Prov. 12:17).

   • Wake up Jews living in exile who look unto gentiles to protect them, and encourage them to make aliyah and be protected in a Jewish State with its exceedingly great army (Ezek. 37:10).

   • With many Jews in exile being very hesitant to display Chanukah menorahs in a prominent place, use that to let them realize You are shutting the door to the exile once and for all (Ezek. 39:28).

   • Speak to them to come now while they can still bring their silver and gold with them (Isa. 60:9).

   • Let Israel's recent travel warning to its citizens of about 80 nations which they should avoid shock Jews in those nations of their danger, and use it influence them to come home (Jer. 51:6-8).

   • Show more believers that it is time to help carry the scattered Jews home (Isa. 49:22; Jer. 31:10).

   • Place it on the hearts of multitudes of believers to inspire their Jewish friends and acquaintances to return to Israel quickly – and to help them to do that (Psa. 126:1-3; Isa. 60:3-11; Rom. 15:25-27).

7. Salvation:

   When "all Israel" is saved, God receives all the glory (Psa. 79:10; 85:9; Isa. 46:13)! Now for this to occur, "all Israel" – which actually refers to a remnant – must be alive, and so Israel's salvation is one of the goals we keep in mind as we intercede for Israel's security.

   • Shepherd of Israel, enlarge Your flock over Chanukah (Psa. 80:1-3; Ezek. 34:11-16; John 10:14-16).

   • Lord Yeshua, You were anointed to heal those who are traumatized by the recent events, so we ask You to do just that during this season and to save them (Isa. 63:1-3).

   • YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7). We lift up the following groups and ask You to pluck out a remnant from each for Your name's sake: all of Hamas' remaining hostages; hostages who are now free but have experienced hell while in captivity; hostage's families and friends, in particular those do not even know if their loved one is alive; IDF soldiers and officers in all ranks and divisions; the families of these soldiers; Israel's emergency medical personnel and all who collect and identify dead bodies or body parts; Israel's politicians who need to make life and death decisions daily; worldwide Israeli diplomats; Jews internally displaced; Jews in the captivity who are suddenly very uneasy about their safety; Holocaust survivors, whether in Israel or outside; children, wherever they are, who will be celebrating Chanukah; students in and outside of Israel; teachers and professors.

   • Yeshua Lord, anoint believing soldiers as lights through their love for You (Rom. 11:14).

   • Open up doors for genuine Christians in Gaza to provoke Israeli soldiers at this time (Rom. 11:11).

   • May a definitive Israeli victory result in the salvation of millions of Muslims in the Middle East and through the rest of the world (Psa. 83:16-18; Matt. 5:44).

8. Body of Messiah:

   Each member of the Body should ask God where on Jerusalem's walls He wants them to be today, having both a sword and a building instrument (Neh. 4:17).

   • Lord, promote Sons of Zion and replace all Sons of Greece in Your Body (Zech. 9:13; Eph. 4:8).

   • Give us with discernment to know what You see as evil and as good today (Psa. 38:20; Isa. 5:20).

   • Let us see how vital it is to pray for our birth-nation's relations with Israel (Isa. 60:12; Zech. 12:9).

   • Teach us to use Your Word to judge today's often twisted media reports (Psa. 119:130; John 17:17).

   • Reveal to the Body how Israel's destruction would also be a death sentence for them (Rom. 11:18).

   • King Messiah, cleanse Your Body of all anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirits (Eph. 5:27).

   • We also pray for You to cleanse the Arabic speaking Body of replacement theology (Eph. 4:11-15).

   • Help them to discern that the Allah [God] of the Bible is not the Allah of the Koran (1 John 4:1).

9. Water:

   Let's ask God to use the rain falling on His land to refresh His people (Psa. 68:9).

   • We know that You have absolute control over the weather, and so we ask You to use it for Your nation's good today (Job 5:9-10; 36:26-29; 38:22-23).

   • Father, provide Israel with all the water it needs during this season (Deut. 11:11-12; Matt. 5:35).

10. IFI:

    Thank you for praying with and for us and for Israel.

Shabbat shalom and hag sameach from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

1 Tim. 1:17