1. Praise:

   Shabbat's prophetic portion is Ezekiel 36:16-38. This portion is vital to understand God's goal in His restoration of Israel to its land and then to its Messiah, which is that this is all for His holy name's sake, for His glory – and that is the exact same reason why He has saved us!

   • Save us, YHWH our God, and gather us from among the gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, and to triumph in Your praise. (Psa. 106:47) Amen!

   • We bless You for being alive to see the restoration of Israel to its/Your land (Ezek. 20:41-42; 36:24).

   • Thank You for asking us to be a part of this process through intercession (Ezek. 36:37).

   • We praise You for being so faithful to watch over Your word to perform it (Deut. 7:9; Jer. 1:12).

   • Abba, even when we are in the midst of heaviness of soul, we desire to pray like Messiah Yeshua prayed, Father, glorify Your name (John 12:27-28; cp. 1 Pet. 4:16).

   • Hallelujah! We are victorious in and through You, Lord Yeshua (1 Cor. 15:57).

   • We praise You for being our Resurrection and our Life (John 11:25).

   • We rejoice in You Lord Yeshua, and confess that You are risen out from the dead (Luke 24:6-7).

   • What reassurance we have in knowing that Your covenant-love endures forever (Psa. 118:1; 136:1)

2. Government & society:

   The nations have snared PM Bibi Netanyahu and Israel's leaders. Their demands on how Israel should fight the war against Hamas make winning the war much more difficult and deadly. Also, America's pressure on Israel to make a hostage deal is strange. The US acts like an agent for Hamas and treats Israel as if it is equally at fault with Hamas for the war. We need to continue to pray for Israel's Sons of Zion to resist these humanistic diktats from the world.

   • Abba, create more sons and daughters of Zion throughout Israeli society (Jer. 32:17, 27; Zech. 9:13).

   • Use them to be highly influential, especially in Israeli politics and its military (Matt. 13:33).

   • God, overrule Israel's government whenever they wander out of Your will (Prov. 16:9; 21:1).

   • Grant unity to the coalition to work together for Your glory and Israel's good (Psa. 133:1).

   • Maintain and protect Bibi as Israel's leader as long as You want it (Psa. 3:1-3; 80:17; Dan. 2:21).

   • Gather unto him sons of Zion and sons of Issachar to whom he will listen (1 Chr. 12:32; Eccl. 7:19).

   • Thank You for empowering Netanyahu to react like a Son of Zion in rebuking President Biden's administration for allowing a UN Security Council resolution to be passed which demands a ceasefire but does not link it with Hamas releasing all of Israel's hostages (Lev. 19:17; Prov. 24:23-25)..

   • Arise and bring down the media's distortions about Israel – in Israel and worldwide (Deut. 33:29).

   • Lord God, strip the spirit of rebellion and arrogance from Israeli society (Ezek. 20:38a; Mal. 3:3).

   • We again ask You to pour out Your comfort on Israelis with murdered or sexually abused loved ones, or loved ones still held hostage and/or whose fate is still unknown (Isa. 61:1-3; Ezek. 16:8-13).

   • Shield Israel from the emotional blackmail Hamas exerts because of the hostages (Num. 23:23-24).

   • Turn the anger of the hostages' families' against Hamas and away from the government or the rest of Israel who perceives that destroying Hamas must be their nation's number one priority (Prov. 16:32).

   • God Almighty, sustain Israel's economy by Your mighty hand today (Deut. 8:18; Psa. 127:1).

3. Foreign relations:

   This is the arena in which many end-time prophecies are already being played out. The unrighteous and illogical demands of Israel's "allies" to create a Palestinian State are seen by Palestinians as a reward for slaughtering Jews. Israel is under increased political pressure to bow to this demonic concept, yet as it continues to say no – which is what we are praying for – the prophecies of militarily action against Israel could come to pass suddenly (Zech. 12:2-3).

   • Messiah Yeshua, teach more believers of their spiritual responsibility to intercede (Ezek. 22:30; 1 Tim. 2:1-2a) concerning their nation's relations with Israel at this time (Isa. 60:12; Zech. 2:8; 12:9).

   • Toughen Israel's biblically-correct rejection of a "Palestine" created on Your land (Psa. 9:16; 10:16).

   • Implement Psalm 33:10-11 against every anti-God plot against Your nation.

   • Lord Yeshua, apply Your judgmental authority on the UN and its agencies which blaspheme Israel by lies and false and treacherous accusations all the time (Isa. 54:17; Matt. 28:18).

   • In fact, is it not time for You to blow away the anti-Christ infused UN (2 Thess. 2:7-12)?

   • Speak though Gilad Erdan, Israel's UN Ambassador, as a vessel for Your glory (Ex. 4:11-12).

   • Speak truth through all Israeli diplomats regardless of what their hearers might think (Gal. 4:16).

   • Guide them to sprinkle Your Word into whatever they speak (Psa. 119:89; Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12).

   • Guard Israel's leaders against any evil darts from the US' current, or future, leaders (Psa. 105:14-15).

   • Lord God, as Israelis begin to understand that they have very few true "allies" among the nations, use that to turn many to trust in You alone (Num. 23:9b; Psa. 80:19; 118:7-8; Prov. 25:18-19).

4. Israel's "War of Independence" continues to be fought, with its current phase being called "Operations Swords of Iron." Even when there have been brief periods of calm, attacks against Israelis continued. Despite winning each stage of this war, it ends up losing the peace, as the nations refuse to allow Israel to reap the spoils of its victories. This is likely because its victories are witnesses to the validity of God's existence and to the truth of His Word (Num. 23:19; John 17:17).

   • Almighty King, triumph over Islam [Edom] and the Palestinians in fulfillment of Psalm 108:9.

   • Enable Israel to destroy Hamas and restore its deterrence in its neighborhood (Psa. 18:29-34; 144:1).

   • Lord of hosts, as Hamas named their Oct. 7th attack "the Al-Aksa flood," send forth Your Spirit to rest on the IDF and miraculously fulfill Isaiah 59:19b.

   • We praise You for the determined fighting spirit of the IDF, and ask You to maintain it (Psa. 68:35).

   • Lead them to fight in line with Your ways and not the ways of man (Psa. 81:13-14; 86:11).

   • Fortify Your angelic armies protecting Israel during Ramadan (2 Chr. 20:15; 32:7-8).

   • Lord, raise up many more Sons of Zion to have real authority in the IDF (1 Sam. 2:30; Job 34:24).

   • Protect Israel's warriors physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually (Psa. 138:7; 140:7).

   • Also guard over them from any friendly fire or other deadly accidents (Psa. 46:1; 91:3-8).

   • We rejoice that the IDF surprise assault against Shifa hospital was so successful and pray for many more special operations like that throughout the Gaza Strip (Jer. 48:41; 49:22).

   • Thank You that Israel is physically dividing Gaza into zones and constructing a buffer zone along its security fence with Gaza (Josh. 14:5; Psa. 60:6-9).

   • Let Israel continue to do this despite the anger of the nations against it (Ex. 15:13-18; Psa. 78:55).

   • God, oversee Israel's impending invasion of Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold on the Gaza-Egyptian border, and direct both its timing and its tactics (Prov. 21:30-31; Eccl. 3:8b; Amos 1:6-7).

   • Use the delay in entering Rafah for the IDF's benefit (Rom. 8:28).

   • God Almighty, enable the IDF to conquer Rafah and to remain there after the war (Isa. 41:10-16).

   • Forbid that any terrorist escape Rafah by blending in with the fleeing civilians, but shine a spotlight on them enabling the IDF to easily pick them out of the crowd (Jer. 23:24; 49:10).

   • Break the chains the nations have put on Israel, claiming it is Israel's duty to supply humanitarian aid to its enemy's civilians, most of which Hamas steals, and claiming it is Israel's duty to be super careful to protect Gazans – even at the risk of its soldiers' lives (Psa. 124:1-8; 140:1-10).

   • Unless it is 100% in Your will, forbid America from building a pier on Gaza's coast that will be run by the Hamas supporting nation of Qatar (Job 5:12; Luke 1:51).

   • We praise You for having Hamas turn down the latest hostage deal which would have been terrible for all Israel (Ex. 4:21: 11:10; Josh. 11:19-20).

   • Lord, if any Israeli hostages are still alive, supernaturally set them free (Jer. 31:11; Acts 12:5-11).

   • Or Lord, show the IDF where they, or their corpses, can be found (Num. 21:1-3).

   • God of Israel, we again ask that Your "day-after" the war plans come to fruition (Jer. 1:12), and that Israel possesses all of Gaza – which is part of Judah's biblical inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18).

   • Turn Ramadan into a month of fear and confusion for Islamic terrorists (Ex. 15:14-16; Josh. 2:9), and so shame them that they end up seeking Your name (Psa. 83:16-18).

5. Internal security:

   Terror attacks are a daily occurrence in God's nation. His protection is also evident on a daily basis, as most attacks are usually stopped or pre-empted by Israel's security forces or armed civilians. Still, there has been a definite increase in these attempted murders since Oct. 7th.

   • We are so very grateful that You faithfully fulfill Psalm 121:4 each and every day.

   • Use the rise of internal attacks to confirm to Your people the extreme danger of ignoring Your Word and dividing Your land (Num. 33:55; Joel 3:1-2; Mark. 10:9).

   • Also use Oct. 7th to persuade Israelis that the "two-state solution" is a serious error as they perceive that the vast majority of Palestinians support Hamas (Psa. 83:1-4; Ezek. 25:15; Obad. 1:10).

   • Oversee the rapid expansion of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, and in Jerusalem, in the Negev and the Galilee, as well as on the Golan Heights (Neh. 2:20; Isa. 54:2-3).

   • Do not allow the "new" Palestinian Authority [PA] government to deceive Israel into thinking it has changed its stripes – as it still views Hamas and Islamic Jihad as valid partners (Jer. 13:23).

   • Deepen the animosity between the PA and Hamas (Psa. 35:4-6; 55:9) and set Israel's enemies against each other as You often did in biblical days (2 Chr. 20:22-24; Zech. 14:13).

   • Let Israel's intelligence services personnel see their need to ask You about what is vital and what is not as they attempt to decipher the collected intelligence data (Deut. 4:7; Psa. 145:18; Jer. 33:3).

   • Dry up all Iranian support for the terrorist groups inside of Israel (Psa. 125:3-5; Jer. 12:14-17).

   • Teach Israel how to better protect its roads and checkpoints against terrorism (Psa. 121:8).

   • Maintain Your restraining hand on Israeli-Arab citizens at this time (Gen. 12:3a; Rom. 12:18).

   • Lord, guard over Your holy hill in Jerusalem during Ramadan (Psa. 48:1-2; Isa. 31:5; 42:13).

6. External security:

   Iran aims to conquer the world for Allah and cause humanity to submit to Shi'ite Islamic law. Israel is its current target, but then it will turn on the West. Middle East proxies are its main weapons to attack God's nation today, yet a direct war between Israel and Iran becomes more of a reality with each report of Iran's progress in its nuclear development program.

   • Lord, in Your timing fulfill Micah 4:11-13 against Israel's many enemies surrounding it.

   • God, use the boastful pride of radical Muslims to be their downfall (Prov. 16:18; Jam. 4:6b).

   • If a war between Israel and Lebanon – since Hizbullah is in Lebanon's government – will break out soon, guide both the IDF and Israeli society to be fully prepared (1 Sam. 7:12; Isa. 46:3-4).

   • During a war, direct the IDF to attack Hizbullah with such overwhelming force that the nation of Lebanon shakes in extreme fear before Israel (Judg. 9:15; Psa. 29:5; Isa. 2:12-13a; Jer. 22:23).

   • Uncover and destroy Hizbullah's widespread tunnel system and its missile and ammunitions storage sites, in Lebanon and wherever else they might be in Israel's neighborhood (Dan. 2:22; Luke 8:17).

   • If Your will is to use Israel as Your weapon of war and have it pre-empt Iran, let it be accomplished with very obvious supernatural results (Josh. 2:9-11; Jer. 51:20-24).

   • Meanwhile, augment all IDF attacks against Iran in Syria (Ezek. 37:10).

   • Release the Iranians and Iran's minorities from their evil Iranian rulers (Isa. 14:5).

   • Lord, we bless You for the growth and maturity of Your Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a).

   • Arise God and repay Iran's rulers for their curses, threats and attacks via their proxies against Your people and land (Num. 24:9b; Isa. 34:1-2, 8; Jer. 49:38b; Ezek. 35:14-15).

   • Appear to many Iranians over Ramadan, and save them so completely that they end up loving Your brothers and sisters in the flesh – the Jews (Est. 8:17).

   • Encourage the Iranian Body to intercede for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Psa. 122:6).

   • Let Israel see that its Western "allies" can be as treacherous as its enemies, as these "friends" push it to make unbiblical moves that neither You nor Israel wants to make (Job 19:19; Psa. 41:9).

   • Lord, arise and defend Your nation from both its friends and its enemies (Psa. 2:1-5; 9:19-20).

7. Aliyah:

   The Jews being regathered to their land is a major sign of the end-times. So it is very disconcerting to realize that most believers in the West have not made this connection as it is clearly laid out in the Old Testament, the Tanach. And that is probably the reason why they are so blind to this – they resist seeing the Tanach as applicable in God's kingdom today.

   • Abba, continue glorifying Your name through the regathering of Your people (Ezek. 36: 23-24).

   • Lord, reveal to the Body the ties between aliyah and Your return (Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

   • Show more gentile believers that aliyah is not just a "Jewish" matter, but it is primarily a "Kingdom of God" matter that matters very much today (Zech. 8:1-8; 10:8-10; Luke 11:2).

   • Reinstate aliyah as one of the modern Jewish State's main goals (Jer. 32:41).

   • As You are hunting Jews out of captivity and drawing them home (Jer. 16:16; 31:3), please enable Israel to be ready to receive and settle them (Isa. 54:2-3; Amos 9:11-15).

   • Cause a miraculous move of multitudes of Jews to return to Israel – suddenly (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Remove all comforts that trap Your people in the captivity (Psa. 107:2-3; Isa. 11:11-13; 49:12).

   • Use the demonic anti-Semitic demonstrations to drive Your people home (Ezek. 39:27-28).

   • Show Jews who want to come home where to obtain or find all the needed paperwork (Psa. 23:1-3).

   • Set free every Jew in any nation that forbids them from emigrating (Isa. 25:9-12; Zeph. 3:19-20).

   • Do away with the rabbinical restrictions of "who is a Jew?" and open the gates to each person whom You see as "kosher" to be able to receive Israeli citizenship (Isa. 62:10).

   • Bring back the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who live in gentile nations (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

   • Bring whole communities together to offer mutual support in this endeavor (Ex. 12:37-38).

8. Salvation:

   "All Israel" will be saved before the Lord's return (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:26). If "all Israel," which is a remnant, is saved after He returns, then Jews will be saved by sight, while gentiles by faith – which is totally unbiblical. Our prayers do impact the remnant's size (Jer. 31:7).

   • Messiah Yeshua, save a large remnant of Jews who live in Judea and Samaria; Holocaust survivors; Oct. 7th survivors; any hostages still alive and all ex-hostages, their families and friends; IDF soldiers in Gaza; their families; families and friends of soldiers who died in battle, especially new widows and orphans; rabbis in all Jewish sects; anti-missionaries; Israel's politicians and international diplomats; Israelis from the Gaza area and the north who are still living outside of their homes; Jews and Israelis in exile, especially those concerned for their safety; teachers throughout Israel's educational system; medical professionals; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 14:7; Isa. 59:20; Luke 19:10).

   • Turn those who seek You away from rabbinic Judaism to biblical truth (Psa. 36:9; Isa. 55:6-11).

   • Lord, speak to secret Jewish believers to openly confess You now (Matt. 16:24; 2 Tim. 3:12).

   • During Ramadan let many ex-Muslim believers provoke many Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14).

   • Abba, save a remnant of Palestinians, including terrorists, over Ramadan (Ezek. 18:23; 2 Pet. 3:9).

   • Save many Muslims in Gaza, Lebanon, and the rest of the Middle East (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:14).

9. The Body of Messiah:

   We should have some understanding of today's prophetic signs (Matt. 16:3b). Therefore, we must be familiar with all of God's counsel (Acts 20:27; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

   • Lord Yeshua, impart to Your Body Your love for the Tanach (Psa. 119:140; Jer. 15:16; John 4:23).

   • Show us clearly what You are fulfilling prophetically today (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12; Dan. 12:4a).

   • In Your Body, raise up more sons of Zion who love and fear You more than man (Zech. 9:13).

   • Strip Your Body of every foul anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit (Eph. 5:27; 2 Pet. 3:14).

   • Over the weekend, reveal to many in Your Body that when Yeshua rose from the dead He was still a Jew and is today still the King of the Jews, and the Lion of Judah (Isa. 11:10; Rev. 5:5; 22:16).

   • Let believers realize that the huge anti-Israel demonstrations are an attack against Israel's cultivated olive tree into which they are also grafted (Rom. 11:17-18).

10. Water:

    The Sea of Galilee is 67 centimeters [2.2 feet] from being totally full. Please persist in asking God to fill it to overflowing this year and to open the eyes of Israelis to see this as a sign of His mercy (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI:

    There are many examples in Scripture of people persistently praying for what they ask. Whether it is a king hitting the arrows on the ground, or Yeshua teaching His disciples to persist in prayer and not to faint, we are called to pray, giving Him no rest until He is glorified from Jerusalem unto the ends of the earth. With that mind, and with the precarious situation Israel is in, many of our prayers are repetitions before God's throne. We will stop only when He answers them, or tells us to stop. This is our part in the war and it is heavy and exhausting, yet with your prayers as support, we will overcome. Thank you for praying for us as well as for Israel.

Shabbat shalom and abundant blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Rev. 22:21