From Chuck Cohen, IFI director: This past week I have been recovering from eye surgery and IFI's administrator Judy has taken a well-deserved and much needed holiday in Eilat. While our weekly prayer meetings were cancelled, I want to send out this praise report. As I keep up with the news and see the increasingly chaotic path of today's world, I often need to fight with discouragement and anger. Yet when I remember how we have been led by His Spirit in prayer and recall how often God has answered, a renewed spirit of encouragement and faith to press on regardless of the world's events is restored. Also, I know what has just been described is more common in the true Body of Messiah than most believers are willing to admit. So be encouraged by this IFI Praise Report.

Please know that none of what follows is meant to puff up IFI or its leadership team. If it were not for God's calling and His enabling grace, we would have quit long ago. All glory to Him (Phil. 2:9-11).

Finally, as I wrote this I did include a few prayers at the end of many of the sections.

  1. Remember: The Word encourages us to remember God's mighty works in the past in order to stir up faith and patience for today and tomorrow.

    • You shall not be afraid of [the pagan nations in the Promised Land]: but you shall truly remember what YHWH your God did to Pharaoh, and all Egypt;Deut. 7:18
    • But you shall remember YHWH your God: for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, so that He may establish His covenant which He swore to Your fathers, as it is this day.Deut. 8:18
    • O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember You…Psa. 42:6
    • O give thanks to YHWH; call on His name; make His deeds known among the people. Sing to Him …consider all His extraordinary works. Exalt in His holy name. Let the heart of them rejoice that seek YHWH. Seek YHWH, and His strength; seek His presence always. Remember the marvelous works that He has done; His miracles, and the judgments of His mouth;Psa. 105:1-5
    • But these things have I [Yeshua] told you, that when the time come, you may remember that I told you of them beforehand.John 16:4

    • Thank You Lord for encouraging us to recall Your promises and to pray based on them (Jer. 1:12).

  2. Praise: We serve a God who does not change but is totally faithful and able to answer all prayers that are in line with His will. His very nature, which is what His "name" often means in the Bible, is what we depend on and look to.

    • The name [nature] of YHWH is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe.Prov. 18:10
    • For I am YHWH, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.Mal. 3:6
    • Call on Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.Psa. 50:15
    • …the prayer of the upright is His delight.Prov. 15:8b
    • This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of Him.1 John 5:14-15

    • Lord Yeshua, continue to lead us in prayer as it seems we are racing towards Your return (1 Pet. 4:7)

  3. Water: We have prayed about Israel's water situation for decades. For the past two years we have seen the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, open up the heavens over His nation.

    • Lord, thank You that Israel has a full to overflowing the Sea of Galilee this year, and bless You that many Israelis actually praise You for it (Isa. 41:17-20).

    • We are so grateful that You have led us by Your Spirit to ask for this (Zech. 10:1).

    • We bless You for giving this nation scientists who have made Israel a world leader in desalinization.

    • Thank You for the rainfall that seems to have fallen in the right places this past winter (Isa. 30:23).

    • We praise You for the relatively mild weather Israel has been having right now.

    • Are there any among the Gentiles' idols that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are not You the One, YHWH our God? So we will wait on You, for You have done all these.Jer. 14:22

  4. Israel's government: For over a year Israel had no permanent government. As we prayed, we asked God to give Israel a government through whom He might be glorified, which meant to us a government that is in line with His declared will for this nation – at this time. Israel now has a Bibi Netanyahu-Benny Gantz unity government that – while not the answer to all our prayers – has been in many ways a nice surprise.

    • So I exhort, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all; for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;1 Tim. 2:1-3

    • Lord, thank You for having mercy on Israel (Psa. 118:2; 130:7)!

    • We rejoice that You kept most of the Bibi-haters out of the governing coalition (Psa. 35:19; 86:17).

    • Lord, we thank You that the Arab Joint list is not heading up the opposition (Psa. 129:5).

    • We bless You for doing this by miraculously breaking apart the Blue & White party (Rom. 8:28).

    • What a joy it is to pray for those ministers of integrity that have places of authority in Israel today, among whom are: Foreign Minister – Gabi Ashkenazi, Health – Yuli Edelstein, Education – Yoav Gallant, Immigrant & Absorption – Pnina Tamano-Shata, plus many others.

    • Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.Prov. 14:34

    • Lord, help us to not be weary when praying into this very vital issue (Gal. 6:9).

    • Abba, bring this government into unity over the contentious issue of extending Israel's sovereignty in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley (Judg. 2:1-3).

  5. Security – the IDF: On reason IFI prays for Israel's security is because for all Israel to be saved – they must be alive. We also see that God promised to protect Israel when He restores it to the land in two ways – supernaturally by Himself, and by also creating out of Israel a mighty army.

    • He that scattered Israel will gather him, and guard him, as a shepherd does his flock.Jer. 31:10b
    • So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceeding great army.Ezek. 37:10

    • We praise You for IDF Chief of Staff Avi Kochavi who is an answer to prayer in that he seems to be both a righteous man and is also preparing Israel to fight the next war and not the last one (Psa. 3:5-6).

    • We give You the glory for all the recent breakthroughs in weapons systems – in laser and cyber tech, unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned naval vessels, advance Air Force planes, improved tanks and armored personnel carriers, for the IDF's ability to coordinate all its forces together in combat, and so much more (Psa. 18:34).

    • While we do not rejoice in our enemies' deaths, we do praise You for answered prayer (Psa. 18:3) by giving Israel's government and military the courage, accurate actionable intelligence and tactics to pre-empt most of Iran's attempts to establish itself militarily in Syria (Deut. 20:1; Psa. 5:8; 6:10).

    • We also thank You for Israel's successful attacks against Iran's constant attempts to transfer game-changing weapons to Hizbullah in Lebanon.

    • Now also many nations are gathered against you, that say, 'Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion'. But they do not know the thoughts of YHWH, nor do they understand His counsel, for He shall gather them as sheaves into the threshing floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze, and you shall crush many people, and I will devote their gain unto YHWH, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.Mic. 4:11-13

    • Lord Messiah, You know that praying into this area is not easy as we would prefer to pray prayers of revival and peace and healing – yet war is a reality in this sin-cursed world, and as Israel is often the target for annihilation, please help us to keep our eyes on You and to follow You into battle – for Your holy name's sake (Psa. 44:4-8; 115:1-3).

  6. Peace plans: Since 1993's Oslo Accords, most of the world and, until recently, a majority of Israelis wanted a "Palestine" created in Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and Gaza, for the sake of peace. And since 1993 we have stood before God's throne saying, "No!" Under the Trump "peace" plan the Palestinians are being offered at best a "state-minus," and that depends on them becoming, as US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said, "Canadians" – that is, non-threatening neighbors!

    • We bless You Lord, that there is still no Palestinian State on Your Land (Lev. 25:23; Prov. 22:28).

    • Lord, You have taught us to intercede not based on what is best for the Jewish people, or any people, but based on what brings You the most glory (Psa. 50:15). So we thank You that this biblical insight helps us to continue to pray against a "Palestine" being created in Your land.

    • Praise You for the reports that many Arab nations are fed-up with the Palestinian cause and are now ready to have good – even open – relations with Israel (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kin. 5:1-12; Isa. 19:24-25).

    • Thank You God for the gift Israel has now been given – we believe orchestrated by You – to extend sovereignty over more of this land (Isa. 54:2-5).

    • Thank You for building Jerusalem and gathering together her outcasts (Psa. 147:2).

    • Thank You for the growth of the Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley (Isa. 49:8, 19-20; Ezek. 36:35-36; Zech. 12:2-8).

    • We are excited to see Your prophetic Word coming to pass before our eyes as we see award-winning wines being produced in Samaria (Jer. 31:3-5).

    • Abba, how awesome to see You settling Your people back in Your land and that You the next step is seeing You bringing them back to Yourself through Messiah Yeshua (Ezek. 36:24-28; Zech. 12:2-10).

    • Lord, we see the first act in this story being fulfilled in massive numbers of Jews having returned since 1948. We ask You to complete the other part with massive numbers as well (Rom. 11:26).

  7. Aliyah: That last request leads us to this topic, which is always close to our hearts and minds. Israel has received about 30,000 Jews a year recently and now with a rise of anti-Semitism, the Covid-19 plague and the chaos in the cities of many Western nations – the expectations are for an increase.

    • We praise You that this is clearly declared to be for Your glory (Isa. 43:5-6).

    • Thank you for giving us the privilege to pray for the Jews to return home – and to be living in this day to see it being fulfilled (Mal. 1:5).

    • We bless You for the new Israeli minister of Immigrations and Absorption, Pnina Tamano-Shata, an Ethiopian woman who has a genuine heart to help Jews return and to get settled in Israel. Thank You for this awesome answer to prayer (Isa. 57:13-15; 62:10).

    • Abba, thank You for declaring that many Sephardi Jews will settle in the Negev (Oba. 1:20).

    • Praise You for reading that 37 Peruvian Jews just immigrated home this past week (Jer. 31:3)!

    • What a joy to see the old folks strolling in the streets of Jerusalem (Zech. 8:4).

    • What a joy to also see children playing in the streets of Your city as well (Zech. 8:5).

    • Lord, please change the hearts of all our family in Messiah who think that praying for Your people to return is "nice but not really necessary" to Your kingdom purposes today (Luke 13:35).

  8. The Church: We often hear testimonies of how people in the so-called 3rd world and in Arab and Islamic nations, after they are saved, become lovers of Zion and raise their voices in prayer for Israel. We also know of a growing remnant in the Western Church who are being pulled out of a deceptive replacement theology poisoned slumber and are joining the ranks of the army of Messiah interceding for Israel in these days.

    • King of Israel, we praise You for waking up more Christians to their biblical responsibility to carry Your people home – in prayer and in deed (Isa. 49:22).

    • We bless You Messiah Yeshua, that many in Your Body are seeing the full picture of what Israel's restoration is a clear sign of Your return (Matt. 24:30; cp. Zech. 12:10).

    • We give You the glory for watching over the seed You have graced us to plant both in prayer and in word concerning what the Bible really says of this nation and its people (1 Cor. 3:6).

    • Thank You for the encouragement to hear of many ex-Muslim believers with a love towards – and a heart to pray for – Israel and the Jewish people (Rom. 10:1).

    • Lord Yeshua, we know that You said You would build Your Church (Matt. 16:18). Show us how to co-labor with You in prayer to see that come to completion (Eph. 5:25b-27).

  9. Salvation of Israel: The Messianic Body is growing as more Jews are coming to know their Lord, Messiah Yeshua, both here in Israel and in exile. This prayer is so much in line with His will that whether we ever hear specific reports or not, especially at this time in history, we know without a shadow of a doubt that praying for Jewish people to meet Messiah Yeshua pleases God the Father.

    • Lord, thank You for opening many Jewish hearts to see the reality of who Yeshua is right after the 1967 Six Day War – when Jerusalem was no longer under the heel of the gentiles (Luke 21:24).

    • Thank You for the growing, maturing Body of Messiah in Israel (Isa. 28:16; Matt. 16:18).

    • We bless You for the many Yeshua-centered worship songs coming out of Zion (Psa. 9:14; 147:12).

    • What a joy to hear that often Messianic Jews, the redeemed of the Lord, are able to enter Israel and become citizens (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

    • Lord Yeshua, many Israeli believers are seeing at least a third generation of Messianic Jews raised up before our eyes. To You, O God, be the glory for the great things You have done and are doing!

We do hope that this report has been an encouragement to many of you.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team

Kings of the earth, and all people, princes, and all judges of the earth,
both young men, and maidens, old men, and children –
let them praise the name of YHWH, for His name alone is excellent;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.Psalms 148:11-13