1. We started by praising our great and wonderful God.

    • Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatever He has pleased.

      Psalm 115:1-3

    • Worthy is the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

    • We thank and bless You for gathering us together this morning to seek Your will for this nation at this time.

    • …I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

      Deut. 32:3-4

  2. Israel has had some rain recently, but she still needs more.

    • Abba, we bless and thank You for the rain.

    • We are so grateful that the Kinneret - the Sea of Galilee - has risen over the red line.

    • Yet we need lots more. So we ask for rain in this time of the latter rains (Zech. 10:1).

    • God, watch over Your promise:

      I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

      Isaiah 41:18

    • Please send water from heaven and let it fall in the right places to fill up the Kinneret and all of Israel's aquifers.

    • Multiply supernaturally that which You have already given us in the natural.

    • Be glad then, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

      Joel 2:23

  3. The south of Israel is under siege. Yesterday, a school bus was targeted with an anti-tank missile. Just minutes before, most of the teenagers got off the bus, thank God. One 16 year old boy is in critical condition. Also, hundreds of missiles and mortars have been fired on Israel's southern communities in the past weeks - including 45 yesterday.

    • Use Israel's Defense Forces [IDF] to destroy Hamas, and all the other Gaza terror organizations. (Jer. 51:19-23; Zech. 9:13-15; 12:6).

    • Please protect innocent civilians, both in Gaza and in Israel.

    • Raise up in both the political and military realms, sons of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chr. 12:32)

    • We ask for Your wisdom and courage to rest on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

    • Bring them into one accord concerning what Israel should do and how she should do it.

    • Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war… For by wise counsel you shall make war. In multitude of counselors there is safety.

      Prov. 20:18; 24:6

    • Lord, do not allow Israel to retake Gaza and then hand it over to the Palestinian Authority's Abbas and their Fatah terror organization.

    • We thank You for the new defense weapons systems Israel has recently put into play - the Trophy anti-tank missile defense and the Iron Dome against other missiles - but we trust You and not man-made systems to defend this nation.

    • The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

      Prov. 21:31

    • Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

      Psalm 20:7

  4. We next prayed for protection over the southwest part of Israel and all of the people who live there. Also, that they would cry out to God themselves.

    • Please cause Your people to cry out to You.

      Call upon Me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

      Psalm 50:15

    • As they call, save many.

    • Use the Messianic Jews who live in that area to be ready to share the reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3:15).

    • Minster Your comfort and strength to the parents and all others who are living under this constant pressure.

    • We remind You of Your promise to bring back and protect Your people.

      He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep/guard him, as a shepherd does his flock.

      Jer. 31:10

    • We bless You for protecting most of the teenagers in yesterday's attack.

    • Press the government to be proactive in protecting all of Israel's citizens and not just the ones who live in the big cities.

    • Make this government a godly government.

      For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.

      Rom. 13:3-4

  5. With Israel surrounding by continual upheaval in this region, her overall security is a major concern. Remember, for all Israel to be saved, the Jews need to be alive!

    • Abba, with Hizbullah in the north and Syria next to the Golan, Hamas in the south and an Egyptian government that Israel is not sure what it would do in a war situation, we need Your divine protection all the time (Psalm 121:4).

    • We need for You to impart Your wisdom with those in Israel who have the responsibility to protect this nation.

    • Lord, the enemy wants to wipe Israel off the map.

      Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

      Psalm 9:19-20

    • Confound our enemies as in biblical times. Let them attack one another (Psalm 129:5).

    • As per this week's prophetic portion - send out the lepers (2 Kings 7:3-16)!

  6. In May, Israel is facing two very real threats. The May 15th Facebook call to all Arabs to march on Israel's borders to retake the land is being called the Third Intifada. They are hoping to gather tens of thousands of Arabs to come against Israel. Also in May, a huge flotilla is going to try and break Israel's legal sea blockage of the Gaza Strip. With over 50 ships and thousands of people, this will be another major problem for Israel to deal with. At least we never get bored in this neighborhood.

    • Abba, Israel is in a trap - but You are the trap breaker. We trust You for Israel's survival.

    • If it had not been the LORD who was on our side… when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us… Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

      Psalm 124:1-8

    • Enable Israel's navy and air force to protect her border on the Mediterranean Sea.

    • Give to the IDF wisdom on how to prevent these attacks on Israel's sovereignty with as little bloodshed as possible , but do not allow them to be more merciful than You.

    • We would prefer if You would stop both of these events sovereignly.

      The LORD is King forever and ever. The nations/pagans are perished out of His land.

      Psalm 10:16

    • Lord, arise and scatter Your enemies (Psalm 68:1,30).

    • Watch over this promise of Yours when the nations arise against Jerusalem and Judah.

      In that day will I make the governors [allufim = generals in modern Hebrew] of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the people round about… and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

      Zech. 12:6

  7. Although Israel is surrounded by enemies and is looking at a very danger-filled future, the Israeli Hebrew media is concentrating much of their attention on what is know as the "Bibi-tours affair". The accusation against PM Netanyahu has been proven false - yet still the media and now many in the political arena are demanding a formal investigation. This is nothing more than trying to get rid of Bibi Netanyahu in an underhanded way because although the people are for the most part with him - the extreme left wing is not. The result: instead of Netanyahu being able to concentrate on the real dangers to Israel - Iran, whatever is rising in Egypt, the UN, the Palestinian threat to unilaterally declare a state in September, Obama and friends, terror attacks, etc. - he is being distracted by having to defend himself and his wife Sara.

    • Lord, reveal the truth. If Bibi did something not legal, we want to know (Phil. 3:5).

    • Lord, resolve this quickly.

    • Expose the heart intent of Netanyahu's accusers (Psalm 31:11).

    • Stop the media onslaught against Israel's Prime Minister.

    • Empower Netanyahu to lead this nation at this time.

    • Speak words of encouragement to him - and may he know that it is You speaking.

    • Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people you shall divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them.

      Josh. 1:6

    • Surround him with godly counsel (Prov. 15:22).

  8. We finished our time this morning praying for aliyah - the immigration of Jews in exile back home to Israel.

    • Abba, many Jews throughout the world will be celebrating Passover (evening of April 18th). Remind them of the original aliyah - when You brought us out of exile in Egypt to the land You promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - the land of Israel.

    • We end the seder [Passover meal and readings] by saying, Next year in Jerusalem. Lord, do something special in the hearts of people when they say that.

    • Speak to Messianic Jews in exile. Remove all fears and encourage them to step out and walk on the water.

    • For the over one million Israelis living outside this land, use this feast to make them really homesick for both this nation and their families and friends.

    • Provide all the funds needed for all the organizations that are aiding Your people to return.

    • We bless You that bringing Your people home is for Your glory, as You said in Isaiah 43:5-7, Fear not: for I am with you. I will bring your seed 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 far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; I have made him.

Shabbat shalom and much blessings from Zion
The IFI Team