1. Israel is experiencing its first winter storm, with snow in the Golan and rain in the rest of the nation. For Israelis - this is a blessing from on high and a great way to start 2016!
    • In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep. The Spirit of God moved upon…the waters, and God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light. God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness. God called the light, Day, and He called the darkness, Night. Genesis 1:1-5a
    • We are thrilled that You have called us to serve and worship You - the Creator of all. I am YHWH, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. (Isaiah 43:15)
    • As Creator, we bless You for being more than able to watch over Your Word to do it (Jeremiah 1:12).
    • O Lord YHWH! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm. Nothing is too difficult for You. Jeremiah 32:17
    • Yeshua, we thank You for being the Light of the world and the light of our lives (John 1:9).
    • From this Shabbat's prophetic portion: Thus says YHWH, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed…But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. (Isaiah 29:22-23)
  2. January 1st is celebrated by the Palestinians as Fatah Day. It is when Fatah, the leading faction in the PLO, was established. This tends to be a day of increased terrorism in Israel. So we prayed for Israel's security situation.
    • Lord, thank You for this very wet and cold weather that does hinder terrorism. Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow? Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have kept for the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? (Job 38:22-23)
    • Bless You for the physical intercessors - the security forces - who stand in the gap against the terror.
    • We bless each one in the name of the King of Israel - Yeshua the Messiah.
    • Keep them alert and discerning, warm and healthy.
    • Abba, please protect all of the borders of Your land, especially in the north (Malachi 1:5).
    • We bless You for Your promises of protection for this nation (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10, etc.).
    • Yet we know that You often use Israel's army to accomplish that (Isaiah 41:10-16; Micah 4:11-13, etc.).
    • So Lord, continue to make the IDF an exceedingly great army - just as You said (Ezekiel 37:10).
    • God, give Israel's security forces wisdom to defend against attacks using cars and other vehicles.
    • Lord Yeshua, heal the emotional trauma and the physical injuries of security personnel who have to deal with them personally as a result of the latest wave of terrorism in Israel today (Psalm 103:2-3).
    • From this Shabbat's prophetic portion: In that day YHWH of Hosts shall be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the rest of His people, and for a spirit of judgment to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle to the gate. (Isaiah 28:5-6) Today, Lord, today!
  3. We then interceded for Israel's leaders who are responsible for the security of this nation.
    • We thank You for Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu who sees he role as insuring the security of this nation before there can ever be any real peace.
    • Bless him with a deep understanding of Your Word (Psalm 119:18; 73; 105).
    • Protect him from all distractions.
    • May Israel's leaders involved with security - the Defense Minister, the Security Cabinet, the IDF's Chief of Staff, the Police Chief, and any others - walk in unity with one another (Psalm 133:1-3; Amos 3:3).
    • Aid Israel's new police chief, Roni Alscheich, to be all he is called to be and to be a quick learner.
    • Lord, grant to IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Eisenkot, wisdom, courage and humility (Proverbs 15:33).
    • Yeshua, use him as You used Joshua and also - become his Captain (Joshua 5:15).
    • Bring the security cabinet into unity and grant them wisdom in waging war (Proverbs 20:18; 24:6).
    • We bless You for the new Mossad leader - Yossi Cohen.
    • Remind him continually of his declaration that Israel needs God (Psalm 44:4-8).
    • As in the Bible, let Your Spirit rest upon these men and women who have Israel's defense on their shoulders (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6; 2 Chronicles 20:14-15).
  4. The IDF is currently on high alert on the Golan/Syrian border and on very high alert on Israel's border with Lebanon. The latter is the result of several open threats from Hizbullah leader Nasrallah, to extract revenge for the death of a vicious terrorist in Syria. While Israel has not even taken credit for it, for people like Nasrallah - it is always the Jews' fault, so they always have an excuse to kill more Jews.
    • Thank You Lord that the IDF and the Defense Minister are taking these threats seriously.
    • If there is an attack, make Israel's response be swift and non-proportional.
    • Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.(Ecclesiastes 8:11) Let the IDF leadership recall this verse and respond appropriately.
    • Allow the fear of Israel's army fall on Israel's enemies (2 Chronicles 17:10).
    • Since You call Yourself YHWH of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:45), be exactly that and go forth with the IDF in any action that they need to take.
    • God of heaven's armies, we ask You to send battalions of angels to protect Israel's borders.
    • Protect and bring comfort and peace to Israel's northern communities. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4; see also Psalm 119:50; 1 Corinthians 1:3)
    • Turn the nation of Lebanon from Israel's enemy to its friend (1 Kings 5:1-12; Isaiah 29:17; 60:12-13).
    • Give the Messianic Body in Israel - especially in the north - wisdom on how to pray (James 1:5-8).
    • Give us courage and wisdom to not automatically pray against war - but rather for Your will to be done.
    • Abba, because You are merciful, we ask for no further successful kidnapping attempts.
  5. Iran, this month, is set to receive the fruits of its threats and lies - about $150 billion in sanctions relief. It seems whatever Iran does, the leaders of the West - especially the US Administration - makes excuses and pushes to see Iran become a major power in this volatile region of the world.
    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him… He scatters the people who delight in war. Psalms 68:1, 30b
    • Lord, give Israel's leaders wisdom from on high to know what to do and when to do it.
    • Help Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon, and all the IDF higher command to be on the same page.
    • Give to Israel that one stone that will deal with this modern day Goliath's boastful threats.
    • If it is Your will for Israel to pre-empt, give to its leaders all the courage, wisdom and Your timing to do the job completely (2 Samuel 5:24; Jeremiah 51:19-24), and may the result be so obviously miraculous that Israel's enemies will once again be heard to say, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for YHWH fights for them against… its enemies (Exodus 14:25).
    • Thank You for causing Iran's leaders to make major geo-political mistakes - but now set the leaders in the West free from their blindness and give them courage to do something to answer Iran's taunts.
    • Remove the scepter of authority from the Ayatollah and his mullahs (Jeremiah 49:38b).
    • Lord, please halt the release of all that money - or direct that money to actually be used for the people and not to sponsor terrorism worldwide (Haggai 2:8).
    • Abba, shake Iran. Cause the earth to literally open up beneath the Iranian nuclear installations and swallow them up (Numbers 16:31-33).
    • We bless You for the growth of the Body of Messiah in Iran (Jeremiah 49:38a).
    • Open the eyes of Iranian believers to see that their leaders cursing of Israel is bringing their own nation under Your curse. Then lead them to stand in the gap so that You can have mercy (Ezekiel 22:30).
  6. Aliyah - the return of Jews from exile - was up tremendously in 2015. 2014 saw around 23,000 Jews return, while last year's figures are close to 30,000.And that is a direct answer to our prayers! Yet there are still many millions of Jews in captivity/exile in the nations.
    • Abba, we bless and thank You for the increase in aliyah last year (Zechariah 8:4-8).
    • May this year see an even more dramatic increase - especially from the West (Isaiah 43:5-7).
    • Speak to Israelis who have moved away from Israel and to the nations, that they need to return now.
    • Lord, we need an absolute miracle to see the 25,000 Iranian Jews come home. Say loudly to Iran's leaders just like You did to Pharaoh:Let My people go! (Exodus 8:1)
    • Abba, UK Jews seem stuck in the pit of denial of how bad things really are there. Shake them up.
    • The American Jews are also stuck. We ask that whatever the results of this year's presidential elections end up being - that one of its fruits would be a major increase in American Jews moving to Israel.
    • Thank You for the French Jews seeing the handwriting and moving home. More please.
    • Lord, stir up the Jews in Germany to know that that nation is not where You want them to be.
    • Make the Jewish Agency even more effective in provoking Jews to make aliyah.
    • Also increase the effectiveness of all the Christian organizations that are involved in aiding Your people to return home. Provide all their financial needs as well.
    • Lord, open wide the gates of Israel's Interior Ministry so that Jews are welcomed back - regardless of their background, color of their skin, or what they believe.
    • Help expedite the government's wonderful decision to bring back another 9,000 Ethiopian Jews.
  7. Israel needs a new Interior Minister. Rumors are Arie Deri will be appointed. Yet he was convicted of being a thief and taking bribes the last time he was in that position and actually did jail time.
    • Lord, do not allow Deri to be appointed to this very important post of being Israel's gatekeeper.
    • If he is and the decision is challenged before the Supreme Court, may the judges just say "No!"
    • Lord, do not allow this stone of stumbling be placed in the path of Your people (Isaiah 62:10).
  8. There has been an increase of lawlessness and a rise of terrorist acts among a small segment of the religious Jewish community. Thankfully, most religious Jews see this as very dangerous and openly renounce it. Still, the zealot spirit has invaded Israel before and has done very great damage.
    • Abba, thank You for the majority of this nation not in favor of these acts or even this mindset.
    • Lord, deal with the Rabbis who preach and press their mostly young hearers to be fundamentalists in the wrong sense.
    • God, may Israel deal with these folks with justice. To do justice and judgment is more pleasing to YHWH than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3)
    • Yeshua, turn these modern day Zealots into Your disciples - as You did with Paul.
  9. We also prayed that this would be a year of salvation for many in Israel. He has brought us back to save us, so we know that this is a prayer in line with His will and have great confidence that He will hear and answer in His way and timing (1 John 5:14-15). As led, please continue to lift this very crucial matter before His throne of grace.
  10. With IFI's International Prayer Conference Jerusalem less than a month away, we ended our time together praying for it.
    • Lord, we ask You for the unity of the Spirit to permeate both the leadership team and the congregation (Ephesians 4:3).
    • Please bring all who are ordained to be there - and keep away all those who are not (Ephesians 2:10).
    • Protect the health of all the participants.
    • Lord Yeshua, You said My sheep hear My voice (John 10:27a). We ask for a cleansing of our hearts and ears to hear Your voice clearly.
    • Quicken us to the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
    • Abba, this conference is Yours. If You want to change any of our plans - or scrap them all and have us do something else - all we want is to be sure it is You leading us.
    • All plans and messages that are from You for this time - confirm them and use them for Your glory.
Shabbat shalom and may this year of 2016 find us all being drawn closer to our King, Messiah Yeshua. The IFI team