1. We began by reading from Hosea 2:14-20.

   • Therefore, behold, I will lure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her. And I will give her vineyards to her from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be at that day, says YHWH, you shall call Me, My Husband, and shall no more call Me, My Lord… In that day I will cut a covenant for them, with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens… I will break the bow, the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and injustice, in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know YHWH.

   • [Israel celebrates Shavuot/Pentecost this coming Tuesday evening through Wednesday, believing that Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai on this holyday.]

   • Precious Lord, we do bless You for giving us both Your Word and Your Spirit.

   • Great is Your faithfulness, O God of Israel.

   • Thank You for the privilege of being called to live and intercede in Jerusalem - the city of the great King (Psalm 48:1-2; Matthew 5:35).

2. The Syrian-Lebanese border: Israel attacked Syria twice over last weekend, both times preventing 'game-changing' weapons from being transferred to Hizbullah in Lebanon, from Iran via Syria. Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu has said repeatedly that this is a red line for Israel - and now has shown the world what it means to guard a red line. Obviously, this has caused Iran/Syria/Hizbullah to threaten to repay Israel for this. We prayed into this situation in a number of different ways.

   • We asked God to give Israel's leaders - both political and military - wisdom and courage to know what to do and to do whatever it takes to defend the citizens of this nation.

     • For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil… For they are servants of God to you for good. For if you practice evil, be afraid, for they do not bear the sword in vain; for they are servants of God, a revenger for wrath on him who does evil.

       Romans 13:3-4

     • Abba, give Israel's leaders sound judgment and excellent counsel (Proverbs 20:18; 24:6).

     • Do not allow them to be intimidated in the event that they need to strike again.

     • Thank You for the boldness Israel has shown in this matter.

     • Give Israel intelligence concerning any and all plans of her enemies - especially Iran and Hizbullah.

     • Expose all things that are needed and that may have been hidden by the current Syrian chaos. He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. (Job 12:22)

     • Lord, we trust You and not in chariots or horses (Psalm 20:7) - yet we do thank You for raising up the IDF as per Your prophetic word (Ezekiel 37:10).

     • Bring all the IDF command structure into one accord concerning what Israel must do to protect itself.

   • We prayed next for the IDF soldiers on Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria. UN peacekeeping forces are under threat from the Syrian rebels, with some being kidnapped. Because of this, the nations who help supply those soldiers are considering whether to withdraw from this assignment. While we do not blame them, this would remove any barrier between Israel and the chaos in Syria - and possibly in Lebanon.

     • Help the IDF on all of Israel's borders to be super alert - to watch and not sleep.

     • We thank You that You never slumber or sleep as You watch over Israel (Psalm 121:4).

     • Protect all Israeli soldiers from harm or kidnappings or accidents.

     • If the situation arises, may they be released to do whatever it takes to defend this nation from her enemies.

     • Protect the IDF base on the top of Mount Hermon. Enable it to operate at 100% capacity as it sees and hears what is going on in the nations directly to the north of Israel (2 Kings 6:8-12).

     • Block all of Russia's attempts to sell advanced anti-aircraft missiles to the Syrian army.

     • Lord, please overrule all plans of the UN peacekeepers. If they are to remain, stop them from leaving - but if they are to leave, do not allow them to stay.

   • The major danger in this situation with Syria is Iran's connections and plans.

     • Whatever ultimately happens with this Syrian chaos, may one of the 'good' fruits be a disconnecting of the Iranians from Syria/Hizbullah.

     • Lord, continue to confound the Zion-haters (Psalm 35:4; 129:5).

     • Confuse the communications between these three groups that are all fighting side-by-side in Syria: the Syrian army, Hizbullah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

     • As You have done in biblical times, set Israel's enemies against one another (Judges 7:22; 1 Samuel 14:20; 2 Chronicles 20:23; Psalm 83:9; Isaiah 9:4-5).

     • Use the June Iranian elections to cause Iran's leadership to be double-minded and unstable (James 1:8).

     • Use the June Iranian elections to bring down the evil Mullah reign that is currently ruling that nation. I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy the king and the rulers from there, says YHWH. (Jeremiah 49:38)

   • We ended this prayer section by asking God to have mercy on the people in Syria, Lebanon and Iran by revealing Messiah Yeshua to them. There is no greater victory we can see over God's/our enemies than to have them become part of our family. Do it Lord - for the sake of Your holy name! [We give] thanks to the Father, who has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son - in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14)

3. The 'peace' process: Albert Einstein said insanity is trying the same thing over and over - while expecting to get different results. This is an excellent description of the current Israeli-Palestinian peace process. It is insane to think Palestinian Authority President Abbas will budge one iota on his demand that all the so-called Palestinian 'refugees' be allowed to return to inside of pre-1967 Israel or on his adamant denial of ever recognizing Israel as the State of the Jewish people. Yet we see this is as God hardening the heart of Israel's enemies and protecting His land and His people from the anti-biblical plans of the nations. The question though is whether US Secretary of State John Kerry is insane - since he is totally obsessed with seeing a 'peace' deal between Israel and her enemies. Thank God, Kerry (nor Obama, nor Cameron, nor Merkel, nor the Church of Scotland - nor even Netanyahu), has the last word! God has said it - that settles it, whether we believe it or not!

   • Lord, bless and keep Kerry - far from Israel.

   • Help him to see that there are some other important issues that he could be dealing with - like North Korea threatening to nuke America, the massacre in Syria, Iran's ongoing push for nuclear weapons, Russia's rise back into power, Islamic terrorism spreading globally, etc., etc.

   • Lord, release Kerry from his obsession with this 'peace' issue.

   • Give Israeli leadership wisdom on how to navigate the rough waters that the nations are stirring up for them.

   • Blessed is YHWH, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth.

     Psalms 124:6-8

   • Continue to give clarity to PM Netanyahu, Minister of Trade Naftali Bennett, and all other Knessets members who take a strong stance against this land being divided.

   • Lord, this is Your land and Your purpose is to settle Your people settled here. Therefore, do whatever it takes to prevent the establishment of a Palestine in this place.

   • Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will truly plant them in this land with all My heart and all My whole soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) [This is the only time in all of Scripture where God declares that He will do something with all of His heart and soul!]

   • For, behold, in those days and in that time, when I will bring again the exiles of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will fight with them there for My people and for My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

     Joel 3:1-2

4. Budget: Finance Minister Yair Lapid will present a new budget this coming week. With all the various issues Israel needs to take into consideration - security, economy, poverty, etc. - we prayed for a righteous budget.

   • Abba, help Lapid present a righteous budget that will be passed by the Knesset (Proverbs 14:34).

   • Lord, give us a budget that will line up with Your economic plumb line for this nation today.

   • Use this budget to continue to confound the experts as Israel's economy remains strong.

   • Messiah, the government is ultimately on Your shoulders (Isaiah 9:6-7), therefore please overrule all decisions that are not in line with Your will.

   • Lord, help each minster to see the overall picture and do what is best for the nation as a whole - and not just what is best for their specific ministry.

   • Direct all areas where cuts are needed to be made and all areas where an increase in budget is necessary.

   • Aid PM Netanyahu to be very precise in overruling all cuts or increases in the defense budget.

   • God of Israel, may this new budget be a blessing for those who are in reality poor, orphans and widows.

   • Use this budget to wake up the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities that percentage-wise do not contribute their fair share to the overall running of this nation.

   • Abba, raise up the next Bank of Israel president who will take Stanley Fisher's place. Make him a man of great wisdom and courage (1 Chronicles 12:32).

   • Open Lapid's heart to really listen to Netanyahu and Fisher in their feedback to that which he presents.

5. New legislation: There are several pieces of legislation being prepared that can have a very positive effect on how this nation is run: raising the threshold for a political party to enter the Knesset from the current 2% to 4%, thus forcing parties to need five seats to enter the government. Another proposed legislation is for any 'peace' deal with the Palestinians to be put to a national referendum - giving the people of Israel the ultimate decision on how to handle their God-given inheritance. Also, there is a law to equalize the burden of the citizens - by having the ultra-Orthodox and Arab-Israelis serve this nation in some capacity. The fruit of this would be to open the workplace for both these sections of Israeli society.

   • I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning; afterwards you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. (Isaiah 1:26) Lord, we ask for any and all legislation that will bring Israel closer to that which You promised in this verse.

   • By Your mercy, enable all laws that are in line with Your will, to pass quickly.

   • Surround those working on these bills with wise counselors (Proverbs 15:22).

   • Use the proposed referendum to safeguard that which You have given to this nation and people.

   • Limit the protests and strikes that would hinder this nation from living day-to-day.

6. Shavuot (Pentecost): With this holyday in mind, we prayed for both salvation of those who do not yet know Yeshua, and a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for those who do.

   • For thus says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.

     Jeremiah 31:7

   • Lord, we ask for You to save Your people during this Shavuot holyday.

   • As You did on the day of Shavuot in the Second chapter of the book of Acts, Lord Yeshua, please add at least 3,000 Jewish souls to the Body of Messiah this coming week.

   • As many Jews will stay up all night studying Your Word Tuesday evening, we ask You to watch over Your Word and not allow the traditions of man steal that which You plant in their hearts (Isaiah 55:11).

   • Yeshua, we bring to You all the Israelis who knowing what we, the Messianic Jews believe, yet they have received us as fellow Israelis. You said, He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. (Matthew 10:40) Therefore, look with favor on these people and reveal Yourself in all Your wondrous glory.

   • Thank You for having a living, maturing Body of Messiah in Israel in 2013.

   • During Shavuot, fill all of us afresh with Your precious Spirit (Ephesians 5:18b).

   • I will pour on the house of David, and on the people of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look unto Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be bitter over Him, as the bitterness over the first-born.

     Zechariah 12:10

Shabbat shalom, hag sameach and blessings from Zion

The IFI team