1. Praise :

   From Shabbat's prophetic portion: I will greatly rejoice in YHWH; my soul shall be joyful in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation [yeshu'ah]; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness… (Isa. 61:10a)

   • We bless You for commanding Your people to rejoice over Succoth [Tabernacles] (Lev. 23:39-41).

   • We praise You Abba Father that Yeshua Your Son has become our salvation (Ex. 15:2; Isa. 12:2).

   • Thank You Lord Yeshua, that You become sin for us that we might be seen in God's sight as being righteous – in You (2 Cor. 5:21; cp. Isa. 42:19-21; Jer. 33:16).

   • We are very grateful for the encouragement that Your servant Paul gives us by reminding us that when we are weak in ourselves, then we can be strong in You (2 Cor. 12:9-10; 13:4)

2. Government & society :

   Most Israeli politicians are in election mode so that whatever they say or promise should be taken gingerly. Yet most politicians, wherever they are, need to stretch truth just to be elected. Only when Messiah Yeshua returns to rule as Israel's King will God's nation have a leader who rules in total righteousness and justice (Isa. 32:1; Jer. 23:5). Still there are politicians in Israel who have proven by their deeds that they will do that which is best for their nation.

   • King Yeshua, burden Your disciples worldwide to intercede for Israel's October 27th election and its results, as it will have a major impact concerning Your kingdom purposes today (John 1:49; Acts 1:3).

   • Almighty King of Israel, send out Your light and Your truth, and let them lead Israelis as they vote – and us as we pray (Psa. 43:3a; cp. 23:3b).

   • God of Israel, answer what Moses asked You to do and use Israel's next elections result to set a man who will be a righteous shepherd to lead Your nation (Num. 27:16-17).

   • Lord God, as ex-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, the main threat to a right wing coalition, has just spoken out against Israel building in E1 because of how it will impact Israel's international standing, let Israelis see in this thinking a return to the pre-Oct. 7th appeasement attitude which brought disaster and actually has worsened Israel's global reputation (Psa. 94:11; Prov. 12:5; 1 Cor. 3:20).

   • Almighty, forbid that the various right-wing parties which are being created end up splintering the right-wing vote so that the left has a much easier time to form a coalition (Dan. 2:21).

   • King Messiah, give to PM Bibi Netanyahu, and all other current ministers, godly advisors, and let them speak Your counsel to them in the time they have left in office (Prov. 9:9; 11:14; 24:6).

   • Abba Father, as Israel's restoration is for Your holy name's sake, anoint Israel's political and military leaders to further that goal (Ezek. 36:20-24; 37:21-22).

   • Again we ask You God to fulfill Isa. 1:25-27 and deal in righteousness with Israel's Supreme Court judges who arrogantly act as if they – and not the democratically elected officials – rule over Israel.

   • Lord, we agree with the Haredi that Torah study is an essential part of Your nation, and ask You to draw them back to the Torah and away from their, for the most part, humanistic Talmud (Ex. 19:7-8).

   • We praise You Lord that at least since 1948 when Israel became a nation, You have been fulfilling the blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1-14 in the Torah reading, and for the most part the curses of that chapter (28:15-68), including the final curse – captivity among the nations – is in Your sight finished.

3. Foreign relations :

   God is using the flood of condemnations rushing upon Israel from most nations and global NGOs to hasten the fulfillment of two prophetic words. He is "forcing" Israel to be His nation that is set apart from the rest of the nations (Num. 23:9b), and also to become the head of the nations as Deuteronomy 26:13a and 18-19 states in Shabbat's Torah portion.

   • Abba Father, show believers in nations that either betray Your nation how this makes You furious, and have them stand in the gap to cry out for Your mercy (Ezek. 22:30-31; 29:6-7).

   • God of Abraham, help Israel to become totally independent from needing America, or any other nations, and to keep their eyes and hearts focused on You (Psa. 118:8-9; 123:1-4).

   • Lord God of Jacob, prohibit the next Israeli government from trying to appease any nation, or any global entity, in order to win the world's favor (Isa. 26:13; Matt. 4:10).

   • King Messiah, show Israel which Western leaders who are so-called "friends" are more dangerous than its open enemies and impart Your wisdom on how to relate to them (Psa. 12:1-2; Prov. 27:12).

   • Lord, if the push for a "Palestine" – a "two-state solution" – by many nations is Zechariah 12:2-3 coming to pass, show us and lead us as to how to pray (Amos 3:7; 1 John 5:14-15).

   • Abba Father, as You did with Moses and Jeremiah, so again do with all of Israel's diplomats and place Your Words on their tongues (Ex. 4:11-12; Jer. 1:9).

   • Lord God, Gideon Sa'ar is doing a great job as Israel's Foreign Minister, so promote him in the next government to where he has even greater influence inside and outside of Israel (Psa. 75:5-7; 115:1-3).

   • King of kings, we ask You alone to determine if Bibi should attend September's annual UN General Assembly meeting in NYC – and if so fill his mouth with Your words (Psa. 81:10; Prov. 16:9; 19:21).

4. Gaza :

   Considering what Hamas did to Israelis on Oct. 7th – murders, gang rapes, mutilations, killing babies, burning Jews alive, taking and sexually abusing both men and women hostages, and considering the newly appointed head of Hamas said he would follow the same path as Sinwar, who masterminded the Oct. 7th attacks –for the US administration to negotiate face to face with their current leader we believe is very displeasing to the Lord. It is also breaking their word that Hamas would not be legitimized in these negotiations. It is a sign of how far the world has drifted from true righteousness and justice.

   • Lord Yeshua, burden American believers to cry out for mercy on their nation and for wisdom to US President Trump and his administration (Ezek. 22:30-31).

   • God, thank You that for the most part since 1948 Deuteronomy 28:7 in the Torah portion is a reality, and we ask You to fulfill that verse over all that remains of Hamas in and outside of Gaza (Jer. 1:12).

   • Lord of hosts, untie the hands of the IDF and release them to aggressively go after Hamas terrorists and not be restrained by any outside plans that Israel already knows will not succeed (Psa. 44:4-6).

   • Shield of Abraham, protect the minds and hearts of each IDF soldier who is stationed in Gaza, both the veterans and the new recruits – many of whom are still teenagers (Gen. 15:1; Psa. 89:18).

   • Creator God, shake the earth and bury all of Hamas' remaining tunnels (Num. 16:31; Psa. 99:1).

   • Lord, for both Israelis and any innocent Palestinians in Gaza, fulfill Psalm 10:15 against Hamas.

   • God, reinforce Israel's stance that its buffer zone in Gaza remains part of Israel proper (Isa. 54:2-3).

   • As recent surveys show that about 80% of Gazans want to leave, God help Israel to expedite this as swiftly and efficiently as possible (Job 38:13; Psa. 10:16; Jer. 12:14-17).

   • Lord, show more Israelis that Gaza is part of their God-given inheritance (Zeph. 3:4a; Zech. 9:5).

5. Internal security :

   Jews are reading through Deuteronomy for Shabbat's Torah portions until the end of September. As mentioned previously, Moses states more than 80 times in that book that God has given His land to His nation, and that Israel needs to obey Him and possess it (Obad. 1:17).

   • Lord Yeshua, arouse Your Body to seriously intercede for Your will in relation to Your land to be done, showing them how this is connected to both Israel's salvation (Ezek. 36:24-32; Zech. 12:3-10), and to the sanctification of Your holy name (Psa. 87:2; 115:1-3; Prov. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:3).

   • Lord God, as Jews read this Shabbat's Torah portion, open their eyes to how often You mention the land that You have promised to them (Deut. 26:1; 26:2, 3, 9, 10; 27:2, 3; 28:8, 11).

   • King of kings, as many post-Christian Western nations are so upset with Israel's plans to build up the E1 area east of Jerusalem because it will destroy any hope of a Palestinian State, and as we know that Your will is not to divide Your land to create another entity submitted to Allah, we pray for E1 to be built quickly – even to be started before the elections (Neh. 2:20).

   • Lord God, anoint the next Israeli government to move forward swiftly with everything the current one has started that is in line with Your will for Your people (Psa. 78:8-9; Luke 9:62).

   • Abba Father, honor all Israeli politicians who are openly opposed to a "Palestine" being established on Your land with positions of greater influence in the next Israeli government (1 Sam. 2:30b).

   • Lord God, silence Islam's deceiving spirit that influences world leaders to reject Your will and to actually believe that a "two-state solution" will result in peace (Psa. 28:3; 120:6-7; Jer. 6:14; 8:11).

   • Thank You Lord for the growth of the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria, and we ask for the same to happen in the Negev, the Galilee, the North and on the Golan Heights (Isa. 49:19-20; 51:3).

   • Lord of hosts, release Your angelic armies to battle the demonic forces behind Israel's enemies on Your land (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8; 1 Chr. 15:46; Dan. 10:12-13).

   • King Messiah, as the Palestinian Authority [PA] is an enemy of Israel, divide them internally and set them and Hamas against each other in Judea, Samaria and in Gaza (Job 38:13; Psa. 35:4, 26).

   • God, reveal that the PA's rule over their people is as wicked as Hamas' rule in Gaza (Psa. 55:9-11).

   • Lord, set armed civilians in the right places at the right times to stop terrorist attacks (Josh. 4:12).

   • Guardian of Israel, anoint Israeli security forces to guard its Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian borders against weapon-smuggling – especially from Iran today (Job 28:11b; 42:2; Obad. 1:6).

   • Lord God, thank You for Israel's new buffer zones on its Gaza, Syria and Lebanese borders and for Netanyahu telling Trump that they are necessary and will be maintained for now (Zech. 9:8).

   • Abba Father, oversee circumstances so that they become a permanent part of Israel (Lev. 26:6).

   • God of all gods, use Israel's extension of sovereignty to shame Muslims who claim Your land as "wakf territory" [Allah's land forever], and let that shame turn many to seek You (Psa. 83:16).

6. External security :

   America and Iran's war is being fought today in the economic arena. Yet Russia, China and other various entities are supporting Iran's economy. Israel meanwhile, struck a warning blow to a Turkish plan to set up a base in Syria close to Israel's borders. It seems that almost every week a new and "exciting" development occurs in the ME that requires our prayers.

   • Lord God, Your promises and reputation/name are at stake if Israel is destroyed (Ex. 32:11-13), so burden more believers to ask You to arise and scatter Your/Israel's enemies (Psa. 68:1; 83:1-18).

   • Abba Father, restore the biblical concept of "victory" to Israel (Psa. 44:4-6; 144:1).

   • King of heaven's hosts, continue to create Israel into Your weapon of war against all of Your/their enemies, both near and far (Jer. 51:20-24; Zech. 9:13-16).

   • Lord of hosts; intensify the activities of Your angelic hosts guarding Israel today (Psa. 35:5-6).

   • Iran: Messiah, guide Iranian believers as they pray for their nation (Jam. 5:16b).

   • God, hear the glorying of Iran's leaders who say that as they have survived, they have defeated America and Israel, and arise and repay their arrogance (Psa. 12:3; 86:14; Prov. 15:25a).

   • Abba Father, show Israel how to aid the Iranians to overthrow their evil regime (Jer. 49:38b).

   • Thank You Lord God that Mossad's new chief is aiming for exactly that in Iran (Jer. 1:10; 49:38b).

   • King Messiah, hide and protect Israel's spies and collaborators already in Iran (Psa. 138:7).

   • Sovereign Lord, Psalm 46:9 says You cause wars to cease, so we ask that You, and not Trump, would determine when the war against Iran's radical Shi'ite regime ends (Psa. 76:3-6; Mic. 5:10).

   • Hizbullah in Lebanon: Messiah, guide Lebanese believers as they pray for their nation (Jam. 5:16b).

   • Almighty, enable Israel to be the world's leader in the use of drones, offensively and defensively, and use what You give them to let Hizbullah reap what they sow (Deut. 28:7, 13).

   • Lord of hosts, strengthen Your shield over IDF soldiers in Lebanon against drone attacks, roadside bombs and all attempts to kidnap them (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3; 32:7; 121:4).

   • God, release the IDF to destroy Hizbullah's global drug trade and severely damage their finances.

   • Abba, let Israel see that the best way to hurt its Middle East enemies is to hold on to the land that they capture – like South Lebanon which is a part of Israel's inheritance anyway (Deut. 11:24).

   • Other: Messiah, guide Turkish and Syrian believers as they pray for their nation (Jam. 5:16b).

   • Lord, if You are dragging the current Turkish government into Your trap as per Micah 4:11-13, please reveal that to us and then teach us to pray specifically into this (Amos 3:7).

   • God, use Turkey's President Erdogan for Your glory as You did with Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and many other demonic leaders throughout history (Ex. 9:16; Eccl. 8:8b; Rom. 9:17).

   • Abba Father, enable Israel's intelligence data concerning Turkey and Syria, and their plots against Your nation, to be enhanced by wisdom from on high (Prov. 21:30-31).

   • Thank You that Israel now views Qatar as a hostile-state, yet Trump does not which is dangerous for Israel and the US, so move on American believers to pray for him to see Qatar's diabolic schemes and its total support for Islamic jihad [holy war] against the West (Est. 8:3; Prov. 21:1; Luke 12:2).

   • Lord Yeshua, heed ex-Muslim believers' prayers and save many Muslims (Ezek. 18:23; 2 Pet. 3:9).

7. Aliyah :

   It is God's will for Jews to return to their land as both their salvation and His glory is linked to this (Ezek. 39:28-29). Yet today, despite the increase of anti-Semitism, a majority of Jews still live in "the captivity." Only He knows what it will take to bring them home, so we ask Him to do that – yet with as much mercy as possible (Isa. 54:7).

   • Abba Father, turn the increased interest in aliyah among Western Jews into an urgency to make aliyah as soon as possible (Gen. 19:15-17; Prov. 6:4-5).

   • As Jews in the West will likely hide outward signs of their Jewishness as they go to synagogue over the feasts this year, confront them with their realistic fears and turn their eyes to Zion (Jer. 51:8-10).

   • Lord God, let Jews see that they are no longer welcomed in most gentile nations (Psa. 137:4).

   • God, send dreams and nightmares, to show them their need to move to Israel (Joel 2:28b; Amos 3:8).

   • King Messiah, draw Jews back home with their wealth while they can still leave with it (Isa. 60:9).

   • Lord God, enable Jewish Americans to understand the implications of the anti-Semitic spirit that is now acceptable with politicians, media personalities and often with their neighbors (Isa. 53:1a).

   • King of Israel, clear out all roadblocks from inside Israel that hinders Jews from making aliyah.

   • Almighty God, declare to Israel's ultra-Orthodox rabbis: Let My people come!" (Isa. 62:10)

   • Faithful Lord, watch over Ezekiel 28:25-26 and as aliyah increases also remove Israel's surrounding enemies and reveal Your Son Yeshua to many Israelis as their King Messiah.

8. Salvation :

   We are in the month of Ellul, the month of repentance in Judaism. During this time many Jews prepare their hearts to enter the fall feasts of the Lord in a way that is pleasing to God. A shofar is blown in the synagogue every morning, and many Jews gather to pray prayers of repentance.

   • Abba, regardless of why Jews attend services during Ellul, draw them and save them (Jer. 31:3).

   • God, move on Your people to not just recite prayers of repentance, but to actually pray (Matt. 6:5-7).

   • Lord Yeshua, as Jews read Isaiah 62:11-12 in the prophetic portion open their eyes to the truth that their salvation is described as a Man who will also redeem them.

   • God, draw Jews back to Your Word, which is the Truth (John 17:17), and enable them to compare what rabbinic teachings say with what You actually have said (Psa. 119:99-100).

   • Messiah Lord, strip from Your Body any fear of sharing You with Jewish people and replace it with Your perfect love (1 John 4:18).

   • Abba Father, anoint Israeli believers to be salt and light in the midst of Your nation (Matt. 5:13-16).

   • Lord Yeshua, save Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; ex-hostages and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely injured; Israelis with PTSD; Israeli medical personnel; widows, widowers, orphans, traumatized children; Jewish politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; university students, teachers, professors; scientists; rabbis and Jewish anti-missionaries; Jews in Judea and Samaria; Jews on their death beds; Jews shamed by past abortions; Israeli archeologists and tour guides; Israelis in the nations; Jews who just made aliyah; alcoholics, drug-addicts, hippies, LGBTQ+, new agers; Jews in Iran, Ethiopia, India, Turkey; Jews married to gentile believers; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

9. Body of Messiah :

   To pray in line with what God is doing today, we need an awareness of all of His Word. Most end-time prophecies deal with Israel's restoration and its salvation. If we know this, we can intercede for His will to be done for His nation despite the demonic lies about Israel and its people that deceives so many in the nations and shamefully, even in parts of the Church.

   • Master Teacher, teach Your Body that in the context of the New Testament the word "scripture" can only refer to the Tanach [Old Testament] (Matt. 22:29; Luke 4:21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:8).

   • Abba Father, rebuke believers who do not take Jeremiah 32:41 as seriously as You do.

   • King Yeshua, raise up more gentile believers with a spirit of Jethro who rejoiced when he heard how good You were to Israel in delivering them from their enemies (Ex. 18:8-9).

   • Lord Yeshua, show Your Body the connection between Isaiah 62:1-3 and 62:6-7 in the prophetic portion to help them see that we are called to pray back to You that which You have revealed in Your Word as Your will – and then we can pray with confidence that You will answer (1 John 5:14-15).

   • Divine Intercessor, as Your Body prays for Israel, or any other burden, arm them with ammunition in the form of specific verses from Your Word relating to those prayers (Isa. 55:11).

   • Messiah Yeshua, speak to church leaders to consistently attend the prayer meetings (Acts 2:42).

IFI: Another exciting, exhausting and confusing week. As we get closer to the Lord's return, we expect that this will be the pattern, especially for us to pray for Israel. This is why we treasure your prayers and support for this ministry.

Thank you, blessings and Shabbat shalom
Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team
Isa. 63:7-9 [from Shabbat's prophetic reading]