1. We began by reading the following verses from this week's prophetic portion:
    • Thus says the Lord YHWH: When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and have been sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their land that I have given to My servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely in it, build houses and plant vineyards. Yes, they shall dwell safely when I have executed judgments on all those who despise them all around them; and they shall know that I am YHWH their God. Ezekiel 28:25-26
    • What a privilege to be in the kingdom of Messiah and to see You fulfilling this very word in our day.
    • Thank You for watching over Your Word (Isaiah 55:11).
    • Bless You for being a faithful God - all the time (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
    • Lord Yeshua, we rest secure in You who are our hiding place (Psalm 32:7).
    • We praise You for being a covenant making and a covenant keeping God - and for having all the power and authority to see that Your covenants will be fulfilled (Isaiah 55:3; Jeremiah 32:40; Matthew 28:18).
    • What a joy to see You are building Jerusalem and gathering together its outcasts (Psalm 147:2).
    • We are so grateful to serve a prayer hearing and answering God (Psalm 50:15; Proverbs 15:8b; 29b).
  2. Tel Aviv was rocked with a terrorist attack to bring in the New Year. As of today, that terrorist is still on the loose, so we asked God to help our security forces to find him quickly.
    • Abba, nothing is hid from Your sight. Reveal his location quickly (Psalm 139:11-12).
    • He discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. Job 12:22
    • Hinder this terrorist from having any success in any other terror attacks he might be planning.
    • Cause him to make a mistake and inadvertently reveal his position.
    • Impart wisdom and courage to the police and the Shin Bet - Israel's internal security organization.
  3. The current wave of terror attacks against Israelis, which is in reality a part of the global jihad against Jews, Christians, non-Muslims and all others not following radical Islam, is still continuing. We prayed for our security forces that seem to be on high alert all the time and yet do such a great job.
    • So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37:10
    • Thank You Lord, for making out of the dry bones of the Holocaust this very capable army.
    • We are grateful to You for the new neck protectors that have been developed vs. knife/scissor attacks.
    • Lord, please help Israel's security forces to protect the innocent and deal swiftly with the wicked.
    • Give much discernment to our security forces to know the difference.
    • Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11
    • Abba, please establish close cooperation between all the branches of Israel's security forces.
    • Thank You for the recent change in the rules of engagement to a more biblical standard.
    • Please prevent all future "friendly-fire" accidents, especially those resulting in death or severe injury.
    • Heal minds and emotions of any security forces who have had to kill another person and are struggling with the reality of what they had done (Psalm 50:15).
    • Lord, You see that the spirit of Islam has made an agreement with death and the grave (Isaiah 28:17-18). Protect Your nation and Your people from this (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10; Zechariah 2:5)
  4. Still on the topic of security, we switched our attention to the threats on Israel's borders.
    • Your eyes shall see, and you shall say, YHWH will be magnified upon Israel's border. Malachi 1:5
    • Lord, with all the internal dangers, do not allow the IDF to be diverted from the external threats Israel faces today (Habakkuk 2:1).
    • Abba, bless the Israeli Druze who are loyal to Israel and send their sons into the IDF (Genesis 12:3a).
    • For those Druze who are not, hedge them in that they can cause no damage to anyone or anything.
    • We thank You for the good working relationship between Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian securities.
    • Thank You for so many haters of Zion in the Middle East being confounded today - finding themselves in a dangerous situation and not able to turn their eyes upon Israel at this time (Psalm 129:5).
    • May these Zion-haters fall into the traps they were setting for Israel (Psalm 35:1-8; Romans 2:6).
    • Enable Israel's governmental and military leaders who have threatened an overwhelming response to any attack by Hizbullah from Lebanon or Syria, to have the courage to do exactly that.
    • Lord, deal a death blow to Hizbullah as an organization. They are already under Your curse as they have continually cursed Israel and the Jews - and therefore, they have cursed You. Whom have you mocked and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Even the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 37:23)
    • Gracious God, please break apart this "Shi'ite Crescent" that Iran is trying to solidify - running from Iran through Iraq, Syria and ending with Hizbullah.
  5. Part of the "confounding" that God is orchestrating against Israel's enemies is the recent flare-up between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Also, as there is a close relationship between Iran and North Korea, last week's NK test of a nuclear device could also be a test to see how the world reacts, showing Iran how much trouble it would get into if it tested a nuke. So far, the response has been dangerously absent.
    • Lord, is this conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia one of the ways in which You are answering our prayers against an Iranian nuke? If so, continue to let this situation brew.
    • Further, if this is the case - please show us how to pray (Luke 11:1; James 1:5).
    • Continue to divide the house of Islam and bring it down (Luke 11:17-18).
    • We remind You that You said You would destroy the King and the princes over Iran [Elam]. Use this situation to do that which You have said (Jeremiah 49:38).
    • Provide Israel's Mossad all the accurate intelligence it needs to know exactly what Israel's enemies are planning.
    • We ask for the same for South Korea's version of the Mossad - especially concerning North Korea.
    • Give new Mossad leader Yossi Cohen Your priorities for that organization at this time (Proverbs 19:21).
    • If Israel needs to militarily strike Iran - let it be in Your timing and using Your plans (Psalm 33:10-12).
    • If need be, just like you did in the Six-Day War, force Israel's hand to strike.
    • God of Israel - You have said many times that You are the Captain of heaven's armies [LORD of hosts]. Please release Your angelic hosts to defend this nation against Your/Israel's enemies (Psalm 83:1-4).
    • Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the Angel of YHWH drive them away. Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the Angel of YHWH pursue them. Psalms 35:5-6
  6. Israeli Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu seems to be always under attack - both internally and externally. Yet we are convinced that he is God's man for this time to lead Israel. And that is most likely why he is always under attack. As per 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we lifted him up in prayer before God's throne.
    • Thank You for Israel's leader - Bibi Netanyahu. Let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, on the Son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself. (Psalms 80:17)
    • Lord, protect and defend him - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and politically (Psalm 3:3).
    • Surround him with the advisors who will give him counsel from on high (Proverbs 15:12).
    • Give him discernment to know godly counsel from that which is not of You.
    • Protect him from the sin of pride (Proverbs 16:18).
    • Release all pressure on him to appoint Ari Deri as the next Interior Minister.
    • Show Bibi to whom to give the various portfolios to that he is currently holding.
    • Release him from the constraints of being politically correct. Make him biblically correct instead.
    • Thank You for him speaking truth and seeing it as supremely important.
  7. Aliyah - the return of Jews in exile to Israel - is always something to pray about as it is directly linked with God being glorified here on earth, as He already is in heaven.
    • 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; to the south, Do not keep back; bring My sons from far and My daughters from the ends of the earth; everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:5-7
    • I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles, which you [Israel] profaned in their midst, and the gentiles shall know I am YHWH…when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes. For I will take you from among the gentiles and gather you out of all nations, and will bring you into your own land. Ezekiel 36:23-24
    • Thank You for the increase in aliyah last year. What a wonderful answer to prayer (1 John 5:14-15).
    • Thank You for all the lone soldiers who come to serve in the IDF and then decide to stay.
    • Bless You for the Birthright program which brings tens of thousands of young Jews to visit Israel.
    • Touch the hearts of many and open their minds to know that this is home (Isaiah 62:4-5).
    • May Jews in exile see how the anti-Zionist movement has quickly morphed into the new anti-Semitism.
    • Do what it takes to shake up the complacency and comfort of Jews trapped in exile (Jeremiah 50:4-5)
    • Lord, may this be the year when multitudes of Israelis living outside Your borders, return (Amos 9:15).
    • Bless all those who are searching for the "lost" Jews in far-flung places like India, Africa and China.
    • What a joy to see You bringing Your people back from all the places where You have scattered them.
    • Lord, let there be an internal aliyah: decrease the abortion rate in Israel.
    • We thank You that it has gone down, but Abba even one is too many (Proverbs 6:16-17).
    • Save Your people Lord, and so change their hearts concerning the life in the womb.
  8. And so we prayed for all Israel to be saved.
    • …Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the ends of the earth, and with them the blind, the lame, the woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; a great company shall return there. Jeremiah 31:7-8
    • Lord, You are building Your Body in Israel and we bless and thank You for it (Matthew 16:18).
    • Continue to use Israeli Messianic Jews to impact their neighbors, doctors, friends, etc.
    • Thank You for Messianic Jews being so accepted in all branches of the IDF today.
    • Lord, You are harvesting multitudes of Muslims at this hour. Bring some of them to provoke Israelis to jealousy (Romans 11:11).
    • Many Muslims are saved by dreams and visions. Yeshua, do the same with Jews (1 Corinthians 1:22).
    • In fact, like Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, is it not time for You to do that which is clearly an anti-type of how many in Israel will be saved (Genesis 45:1-3)?
    • Lord, like You did with Paul, reveal Yourself to Ari Deri and all the other people in Shas.
    • Make Israeli believers a sweet savor of Messiah to all they are in contact with (2 Corinthians 2:15).
    • Guide young believers to find out where in the Body they are to be so that they can grow.
    • Raise up righteous, anointed elders to minister to Your Body (Jeremiah 3:14-15; Ephesians 4:11-15).
  9. We ended by praying for the IFI International Prayer Conference, Jerusalem which is starting on the 25th of this month. Please continue to stand with us in this regard, for God to bring all those here whom He has ordained to be here - and to keep away all those who are to be elsewhere; for the leadership team to be in unity, anointed and have ears to hear what Yeshua, the real leader of this conference, is saying to His sheep. Also, pray for our protection - physically, mentally, emotionally and, of course, spiritually. And please remember the families of those who will be at the conference - that they will be protected and remain healthy, and will be anxious about nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Shabbat shalom and thanks for standing with this nation and us at this time
The IFI team