1. From the prophetic portion of the scriptures read by the Jewish people throughout the world this week:

    I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? and you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; you have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, that he should not die in the pit, and that his bread should not fail. But I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared- the Lord of hosts is His name. And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, You are My people.

    Isaiah 51:12-16

    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion.

    Isaiah 52:7-8

    As we looked out over Jerusalem in the early morning sunlight we cried to the Lord:

    • Cause the people of this city and this land to lift up their eyes and see that their God reigns.

    • Thank You, Lord that You sent Your Son to this city, He was crucified here and will return here.

    • Thank You that we are seated in heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua (Ephesians 2:6). Help us to pray from that position of authority so that You, Lord will be glorified.

  2. Ceasefire

    In Israel today there is much confusion regarding the present ceasefire. Many believe that Israel should have destroyed Hamas completely and are dismayed at their ability to claim and celebrate victory. Netanyahu has experienced a large drop in his popularity ratings. But as intercessors we and many others have been praying fervently for God's will to be done in the war with Hamas, not knowing what His will is for the final outcome. We need to believe that He has been and is answering those prayers.

    • Thank You, Lord for the prayers You have answered especially when we haven't known what to ask.

    • Thank You that our God reigns.

    • Thank You that You are not confused and that You know the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:10)

    • Thank You that Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89) and You are always the victor.

    • Thank You that Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

    • Please God, just show us what we need to know to take the next step and to pray the next plan into being.

  3. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu

    Although most of the stated goals of Operation Protective Edge have been accomplished, Netanyahu looks exhausted and in need of our continued prayer. We continue to pray for him and the other leaders of Israel in response to 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Before the last General Election we prayed for a government through which You could be glorified and we believe that that's what You have given Israel.

    • The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1) This has been prayed much for Bibi Netanyahu and we thank You that You have answered.

    • Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, (Psalm 80:17). Benyamin means "son of my right hand", so please continue to put your hand on Netanyahu and refresh him.

    • Pour out on our Prime Minister Your spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).

    • Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves (Psalm 66:7) against Mr Netanyahu, especially as voices are rising up within his government, even the Security Cabinet in apparent rebellion against him.

    • Give little Benyamin, our leader (Psalm 68:27) the grace and wisdom to look to You, Lord. Lead him through these difficult times after the battle is over (as it appears at the time of writing).

    • Place men and women around Bibi to encourage and support him so he will know he is not alone. Continue to bless his relationship with Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. Make his family a comfort and a strength for him, especially his wife Sara.

    • Please bless Benyamin Netanyahu with rest and refreshment this Shabbat. Draw close to him and speak with him.

  4. The Israeli people, particularly living in the South under constant rocket fire for these past weeks. Many are emotionally scarred and traumatized, angry that the conflict appears to be ending with such uncertainty. Families and friends of the 70 people killed in the war in the midst of their loss are asking the question whether these deaths were for nothing.

    • Lord, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).

    • Bring new life to those who have lost all hope (Proverbs 13:12).

    • Minister to the children who are traumatized by the war. Wash away the scars. As the new school year starts on 1st September, make teachers vessels of Your love to these children in Southern Israel.

    • Cause the people of Israel to turn to You and the truth of the word of God.

  5. Salvation of Israel

    We have entered the month of Elul which is traditionally a time of preparation and reflection for Israel leading to Rosh Hashannah/Feast of Trumpets. In the aftermath of the war, this is also a perfect time to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to His people.

    • Thank You, Lord for those who came to faith during the war. Please ensure that they are rooted and grounded in Your word. Put them in fellowship to support them.

    • All soldiers in the IDF are given copies of the Tenach (the Hebrew bible). May they read these bibles and hear You speaking to them, o God of Israel.

    • Make the believers in the IDF a light for You. Give them the boldness to share the hope You have put within them (1 Peter 3:15).

    • Bring back the children of believers who have strayed from the way. (Malachi 4:6)

    • Save the Netanyahu family.

    • Reveal Yourself to Your people as Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah.

    • Pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on (You) whom they pierced. (Zechariah 12:10)

  6. Israel Defense Force

    With a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict the armed forces need to be careful not to drop their guard. There have been some incidents in the North and firing over the borders with Lebanon and Syria. On the Syrian border a group of UN peacekeeping troops have been captured by one of the warring groups in Syria.

    • Thank You, that you promised to make Israel an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10). Do this, o Lord, for Your holy name's sake (Ezekiel 36:22).

    • Keep them alert, especially in the North and on the border with Gaza.

    • Give them rest from the battle and renew their strength. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

    • Keep the troops covering one another and guard and prevent any more kidnappings.

    • Bring Your comfort to all who have lost family or friends in the war. (Isaiah 40:1-2)

    • Wipe away the traumas of the soldiers returning to normal life.

    • Give wisdom to the leaders to know how to continue to defend the borders of this land.

  7. Hamas/Islamic State

    Even when faced with the horrors caused by the Islamic State ruthlessly executing those who stand in their way, much of the world refuses to see how Israel is up against the same spirit of militant Islam in Hamas, preferring to eqate the sufferings of the Yazidis in Iraq with the sufferings of the civilian population of Gaza! We may at least expect the Church to do better than this.

    • We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

      Ephesians 6:12

       

    • Lord, lead Your people in the Church into truth in the face of such lies. (John 16:13)

    • Open the eyes of Your people to the truth. Remove the veil of understanding from the eyes of the Church.

    • Raise up clear voices for the truth in the Church throughout the nations.

    • Place people of understanding in places of influence in the Parliaments and medias of the West.

  8. Aliyah

    Aliyah is increasing. Despite the trials Israel is going through, more Jewish people are coming home. It is typical to hear many different languages being spoken on the streets and in the supermarkets of Israel's towns and cities. In part this is because anti-Semitism is dramatically on the rise in the nations of the world. The hunters are being released (Jeremiah 16:16).

    • Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.

      Zechariah 8:7-8

       

    • Thank You, Lord that in our day we are privileged to see what the prophets of old only dreamed or hoped for.

    • Let a good report go out from Israel which will make the Jewish people want to come home.

    • Open the eyes of Your people in exile that it is time to make Aliyah. Show them that the anti-Semitism isn't going to go away and that their hopes to assimilate are an illusion.

    • Let them get out with their wealth now before it's too late. (Isaiah 60:9)

    • Bring back the yordim (Israelis living overseas).

    • For Jews with relatives already in Israel, plant the desire in their hearts to unite the family in Israel - and not only for the High Holidays!

    • Bring home the Jews from Ukraine.

    • Set free the Jews of Iran.

    • Change the thinking of the Messianic Jews who are blind what Your word says so clearly and repeatedly about Aliyah.

    • Turn the Interior Ministry upside down so they will welcome all the Jewish people home.

    • And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

      twice - Isaiah 35:10 and 51:11

       

Shabbat Shalom

The IFI team