1. As we started, we read from Isaiah 60, this week's prophetic portion.

    • Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of YHWH has risen on you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but YHWH shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you.

      Isaiah 60:1-2

    • As this word is specifically for this nation of Israel, we do welcome the signs of it coming to pass today.

    • We bless You that this word is being fulfilled in Messiah Yeshua. The gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning. (Isaiah 60:3)

    • Praise You that You are our light in whom there is no darkness (1 John 1:5).

    • Bless You for shining Your light on us in wisdom and grace in these dark days (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5).

    • While the world is shaking – we are so grateful that You are our unshakeable Rock (Psalm 62:2).

    • "Give thanks with a grateful heart…"

  2. We briefly prayed for our brothers and sisters in the path of Hurricane Irma and all the other disastrous events taking place in America and elsewhere at this time.

    • We thank You for the word of encouragement found in Psalm 91 for Your remnant experiencing natural disasters: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the Almighty's shadow. I will say of YHWH, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust. Surely He will deliver you from…the destroying plague. He shall cover you…and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler. You shall not fear the terror by night, the arrow that flies by day, or the plague that walks in darkness… (Psalms 91:1-6)

    • Guide all of our brothers and sisters who are facing these "natural" disasters to look to You.

    • Give elders of Christian and Messianic Jewish congregations a word in due season for their flocks.

    • Lord, even if some of these events are judgments, still we plead for mercy (Habakkuk 3:2b).

  3. This past week there was an "explosion" in a Syrian arms factory that apparently was producing chemical weapons. Suspicions are that this was an Israeli attack as Hizbullah was just about to take over this factory from Syria. Also, other explosions near there destroyed other weapons. Hallelujah!

    • Thank You for this answer to prayer, to give Israel's leaders the courage to pre-empt when need be.

    • Continue to give its military and political leaders wisdom and courage to do what is needed to prevent game-changing weapons from being transferred from either Syria or Iran to Hizbullah.

    • Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of the king of Assyria, or for all his multitude, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is YHWH our God to help us and to fight our battles.

      2 Chronicles 32:7-8a

    • Continue to give actionable intelligence to Israel and protect all of its intelligent sources in enemy areas.

    • Since Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu had already warned Russian President Putin about Israel's red-lines, may his words become even more impacting on Putin in the coming days (Jeremiah 1:17).

    • Hinder Syria, Iran and Russia from any successfully retaliate against Israel.

    • Alert all IDF forces on the northern borders to be ready for any retaliation attempts.

    • Lord God of Israel, may Your fear descend upon all Israel's enemies as they hear of this report (Exodus 14:14, 25; Deuteronomy 2:25; Joshua 2:10-11; 2 Chronicles 17:10).

    • Abba, shut the mouths of the media lions that are constantly fear-mongering against anything Netanyahu or Israel does.

    • Thank You for watching over this operation and for Israel being silent about it (Psalm 121:4).

  4. We then prayed for Israeli leaders who are responsible for this nation's security. This is vital for God's end time Kingdom purposes, as for all Israel to be saved they need to be alive.

    • There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the counsel of YHWH shall stand.

      Proverbs 19:21

    • The king's heart is in the hand of YHWH…He turns it wherever He will.

      Proverbs 21:1

    • God, these are just two of many verses saying You often lead men even when they are not aware of You doing it. So we ask this for all in Israel who have the security of Your nation on their shoulders.

    • Impart Your wisdom and directions to them – for this very time (Psalm 95:7).

    • The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is from YHWH.

      Proverbs 21:31
      Amen.

    • Please help Israel's leaders to prepare all its horses and chariots for that battle (Psalm 20:7).

    • Give to these people a deep sense of unity and the ability to hear and understand each other.

    • Remove all distractions from them – whether in their public or private life.

    • Speak to them words of encouragement– even while they are sleeping. Be strong and of good courage, for you shall divide for an inheritance to this people, the land which I swore to their fathers…Be strong and very courageous so that you may carefully do according to all the Law which My servant Moses commanded you…For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall act wisely. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed. For YHWH your God is with you in all places where you go. (Joshua 1:6-9)

    • As Netanyahu travels the next few weeks, anoint those who remain to watch over this nation.

  5. The investigations and insinuations against Israeli public figures continue – especially against Bibi Netanyahu and his wife Sara. This must be a huge distraction for him when he needs to be focused on current existential issues for Israel.

    • Lord, please deal with the liberal left-wing press who constantly portray the Netanyahus as Israel's main problem (Psalm 3:1-3).

    • In all these investigations, we pray for the truth to prevail (Psalm 85:11).

    • If Sara Netanyahu is indicted, protect her husband's heart from any grief he will experience.

    • Also, protect their marriage and make Bibi all the husband she will need (Ephesians 5:25, 28).

    • Expose all criminal intent in all of these investigations – especially in the "submarine" affair.

  6. It seems that we are seeing a breakthrough in the endless "peace" process. There are reports that US President Trump's team is not sure as to whether there can be that "ultimate deal" Trump crowed about. This is a huge answer to prayer. Yet, since this is still the goal of most of the world community, we must continue to stand our watch and pray for God's land not to be divided.

    • Lord, thank You for helping some in the Trump administration to see with clear sight and insight.

    • We thank You for a backing away from a "two-state" solution from these same people (Leviticus 25:23).

    • Continue to work in Jared Kushner's heart and mind to see the futility of this process when there is no "peace" partner to speak with. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalms 120:7; cp. 28:3; 55:20-21; 62:4)

    • Impart wisdom to Israel to know what to do next (Proverbs 16:1, 9).

    • Impart wisdom to Israel to know how to respond to the next Palestinian terror attack.

    • Prepare Israel to know how to deal with Palestinian President Abbas' successor – whoever that may be.

    • Focus the frustration of the common Palestinians against their real enemy – their demonically inspired leadership – and not against the Jews or the nation of Israel.

    • Lord Yeshua, reveal Yourself to more Palestinians and turn them into born-again Zionists (Isaiah 52:7)!

    • God Almighty, show Western nations how racist they are acting and thinking when they refuse to hold the Palestinians to the same set of values that they hold Israel or themselves to (Proverbs 18:5; 24:23).

  7. Aliyah – the immigration of the Jews in exile to Israel – was next on our minds as we considered that Netanyahu will be making an historic first-ever trip by an Israeli sitting prime minister to Latin America. Bibi will be making stops in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico this week before heading to the annual UN General Assembly meeting in NYC – which also starts this week.

    • Lord, please use Bibi's trip to pop the cork on Latin American aliyah (Isaiah 62:10).

    • As with champagne, may the Jews gush out and return with great joy and celebrations (Isaiah 51:11).

    • Enable family members already in Israel lovingly draw family members in exile (Jeremiah 3:14).

    • Use Netanyahu's words to stir up and unease in the Jewish heart to remain in exile (Psalm 137:4-6).

    • Open up the eyes of the Jews in Houston who are now receiving foreign aid from Israel because of their disastrous encounter with Hurricane Harvey that the excuse of Jews remaining in America because Israel needs their money – no longer holds water.

    • Do the same with the Jews who are preparing to encounter Hurricane Irma in the next few days.

    • Put it on the hearts of Jews who have lost so much in these storms that now is the time to relocate and not to rebuild (Jeremiah 50:4-5).

    • Lord, is it not time for rabbis in America to speak out of the truth of Your Word (Zechariah 8:16a)?

    • Alter the expectations of Western Jews when they do make aliyah to not expect to be able to transpose their lifestyle – but their life; not to count their quantity – but the quality of what awaits here.

    • Lord Yeshua, since the government is on Your shoulders (Isaiah 9:7), please open wide the gates in this land to receive all Jews who want to/need to come home (Isaiah 62:10).

    • Bring in all those Jews who live in the "third world" who would return now if they could

  8. There are two important elections in this month that both will impact Israel by their results. On September 24th, Germans vote in their federal elections. The next day, the Kurds in Iraq will vote in a referendum for Kurdish independence.

    • Thank You for the Kurds and their excellent relations with both the Jews and the Jewish State.

    • Have mercy on them and allow a Kurdistan to arise in the Middle East (Numbers 24:9b).

    • Give them peace to come out and vote and make their desires know before the whole world.

    • Guard them from the threats of Turkey and Iran to stop this referendum by any means (Psalm 64:1).

    • Wake up the German Church to not just look at the past sin of the Holocaust but to also look at the current sins of the current Germany government against this nation (Numbers 24:9b).

    • Do not allow German Christians to think that they should not pray for the elections and even vote – as that is political and they are now only dealing with the spiritual.

    • First of all, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

      1 Timothy 2:1-4

    • Have them pray for a vote for a godly government, one that lines up with the criteria Paul lists in Romans 13:3-4: For the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the bad. And do you desire to be not afraid of the authority? Do good and you shall have praise from it. For it is a servant of God to you for good. For if you practice evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, a revenger for wrath on him who does evil.

  9. Israel is in great need for water from on high. While we have enough water for drinking and most of our daily needs via Israel's desalinization techniques, the natural springs and lakes and aquafers are all drying up from a lack of water from heaven.

    • When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue fails for thirst, I YHWH will hear them, I the God of Israel will not leave them. 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. I will plant [all sorts of trees] in the wilderness…so that they may see, and know, look on, and understand together, that the hand of YHWH has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

      Isaiah 41:17-20

    • Abba, as You use the Hebrew word for "create" that You used in Genesis 1:1, we ask for You to create miraculously water in high places, in the wilderness, in dry river beds, all over this thirsty land.

    • Lord, we commit to giving You the glory when this is answered (Psalm 108:1).

    • Make the early rains that are due in the fall – come earlier (Psalm 29:3).

    • Thank You for the cooler nights and the heavy dew in the mornings.

    • Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall sprout; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

      Isaiah 43:19

Blessings and thanks; Shabbat shalom

The IFI team

May all of you who are in the path of Irma find peace and safety under the shelter of His wings.