WEEKLY ArrowsFromZion Mar 14 2012

Serving the Body of Messiah in Israel since August 2001  

Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
ARROWS PRAYER POINTS FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

When I started Israelprayer in August of 2001 I determined from the beginning that I was not going to be open to only the Israeli ministries that my home Messianic congregation partnered with, or those that held the same views about things that I do – not even eschatology!  Instead I determined to gather prayer letters from every indigenous Israeli ministry that I could make contact with and give them all consideration (unless they just expressed biblical error so deep that I could not in good conscience pass along!)

I am really glad I did that because before as I looked over the Christian ministries sharing information about the Israeli Body of Messiah, mostly what I saw was people staying completely within their own stream of the faith – preaching to the choir from the choir.  What Israelprayer has done over the past decade of weekly mailings is listen to all the voices within the Messianic community and giving ear to all the various concerns, the differing positions and viewpoints.

In the journalistic world this is what gives reporters the ability to really serve the public instead of what we see today where reporters only report the things that support what they already believe to be the truth. The truth is a resilient thing. It will find its way to the top of the pile when all the viewpoints are covered.

Today, as I am editing together the weekly Israelprayer which deals heavily with the still swirling controversy of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference, I am glad for the determination to listen to all the voices. The only way to get to the truth is to be open to listen to all the voices. The truth is not the loudest voice but it always manages to stand out in the cacophony anyway. – Donna Diorio

Priority Prayer Focus

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance....Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:25, 27

Pray for a spirit of true peace and seeking the will of God to prevail over all the believers.

Arrows from Zion

Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

As of today March 14^th after 200 missiles were fired from Gaza into Israel, there is a ceasefire that appears to be holding.  Pray this ceasefire will continue – although few expect the ceasefire to hold.  The Top IDF General calls the ceasefire “fragile” while the Prime Minister is vowing that ‘Terror base in Gaza will be ripped out.’  See Gaza War Focus Inside the attached Weekly Summary

Also in Weekly Summary are several prayer requests and also reports from the Israeli ministries concerning this current battle front with Gaza, as well as the other fronts seriously concerning Israel at this time.  There are also opportunities for lovers of Israel to connect with Israeli ministries preparing for the war season that is so obviously breathing down Israel’s neck.  There are opportunities for believers to connect with the believers in the Land who are stockpiling provisions for their communities, providing gas masks for children, doing humanitarian aid work among war and terror victims.  Before you donate to the unsaved rabbi, please ask God if HE would prefer you bless Israel through the Israeli Body of Messiah instead.

The Christ at the Checkpoint conference continues to be a major controversy in the Messianic world and in the Israeli Messianic community.  Israelprayer is following the various statements and offers several of those in the attached Weekly Summary.  Please be aware that there is strong opposition to the Messianic participation in the conference, but as a result wrong information and wrong understandings have been forwarded by those who did not attend the conference.   

We encourage subscribers to open the Weekly Summary and review the statements made by those in attendance who not only saw with their own eyes what was said from the podium, but also participated in much behind the scenes private conversations with key leaders of influence.   Those who were involved in engaging the Christ at the Checkpoint are godly, discerning and respected members of the Messianic Body.  Let’s keep open to what God may be doing at this entry point to real dialogue.

Inside on the Christ at the Checkpoint issues we have: 
       -      Brief Response to “Christ at the Checkpoint” from Messianic participants

-          The Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto

-          Evan Thomas' personal review of the conference

-          Clearing up an erroneous report about the closure of the Bethlehem Baptist Church/Pastor Khoury

-          Howard Bass who left the Musalaha board in 2008 shares a few thoughts about the conference and encourages us to pray for two upcoming events that will put Israeli Messianic and Christian Arabs together again hot on the heels of this ongoing controversy.

o    The first is the Musalaha Women's Conference:  Please pray that these women will be used of God to find His way in dealing with the conflict here in truth, just as the men must, and with the live issues of the CATC conference and the rocket attacks on southern Israel.

o    The second is the SAYF (Sitting At Yeshua's Feet)  Next week, March 21-23, once again leaders from around Israel will gather together at Sde Boker in the Negev.  These will include Jewish, Arab, and other leaders and younger men who are active in some measure of a leadership capacity.  It is interesting that this prayer retreat (no set agenda) follows on the heels of the CATC conference, and includes some of the organizers and speakers.  Sitting at Yeshua's Feet is supposed to be a safe place to come together under His loving authority and inclusion of all who would come to Him.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to lead us and to accomplish the Lord's will among us at this critical time.

-          An excerpt from Daniel Juster an attendee of the  Christ at the Checkpoint conference

As one who attended the CatC conference as an observer in 2010 and in 2012 said privately, the Messianic presence was more than just a manipulative “fig leaf” for the conference.  Several attendees noted that there was “significant” impact registered in a group of powerfully influential Christians who have long held a less than charitable view of Israel.  Zechariah 4:10 says, For who has despised the day of small beginnings? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."

Let’s position ourselves to pray for God’s best to come out of this conference.  Many are fearful that to let down our full-throated opposition to the views that have dominated the views of many of the speakers of this conference means that we are relinquishing ground to Israel’s right to exist in the Land.  This is an opportunity to eradicate distortions on all sides.  Let’s pray that the LORD will anoint those given to that end this window of opportunity to make a difference in many hearts and minds.

Revive Israel thanked all those who joined in with the Israeli Messianic family in the Esther Fast last Wednesday.  They noted that among their gathered group there seemed to be a special emphasis in the Spirit in praying for Arabs, evangelism among the Muslims, and for the nations of the earth.

From Akko is a report of one who attended a believers conference in Turkey for Israeli Messianics and believers from the surrounding Arab nations.  They heard reports of how God is moving with salvations even among the Taliban in Afghanistan.  We rarely get to hear of these reports because God works under the radar.  Please be in prayer for the Arab nations which scripture is clear on will be among those who come to faith before the end.

For those who are not receiving the DAILY Arrow from Zion, you have missed the immediate notice of a bomb scare the Ortiz family suffered last week during Purim when the bomb squad arrived to remove the family from the residence via a window while the bomb team dealt with the unidentified package at their home.  Whether an uncanny mistake (not likely) or someone’s idea of a sick joke, this was a terrorizing incident.  We also heard from others of harassing pranks on Purim, including what may have been an attempted home invasion by the ultra-Orthodox on the Beckford’s in Arad.  Pray for all of the believers in Israel to be alert and for the “angelic dome” of the LORD to be over them all.

Messiah’s Mandate head Ron Cantor writes eloquently about the financial challenges of a ministry in Israel.  Whether an immigrant or a sabra, whether Messianic Jew or Arab Christian – the life for believers ministering in Israel is often ‘threadbare’.  Please consider before the LORD how to best invest your blessings to Israel.  Many are giving to good projects and many are giving to TERRIBLE ones that actually fund persecution, but those who give into the needs of the Israeli ministries are making an eternal investment.  The good, the bad & the Divine.

Again from Akko we heard a plea for the Humanitarian Aid needed for distribution to needy families in upcoming Passover meals.  Not only is there need for outreach in the community, but there is also much need for families within the Messianic congregation.  Pray about how and whom to help.

Pray for the ministry to widows and broken women that is going forth in Israel.  A weekend event on Mar 23-24 will aim to teach women how quickly God hears their cry and about the amazing effect their prayers can have, if they will learn to bless those in authority, versus constantly complaining about them.

From the Ferguson’s of Yeshua Israel Ministries has an article on the Iranian published plan to target Israel’s nuclear reactor site and 3 of its major cities. …and a link to the new video for Shani’s Garden of Secrets.

Gaza War Focus

Beer Sheva pastor Howard Bass reports that despite the dangers from raining missiles from Gaza, the Shabbat service was well attended and blessed. Bass asks prayers for the officials making critical judgment calls on how to deal with the situation, and also for the Christian believers and general population in Gaza that are unprotected pawns of those creating a battle zone in their neighborhoods.

The Santoros give a good report of the performance of the Iron Dome missile defense, but also ask prayer for their son called up to reserve service.  One of Asher Intrater’s sons is also stationed near the Gaza border.  Pray for these and for all of the young believer’s – men and women – who are serving right now.

The Segals bring our attention to the needs that multiply in times of war.  They are working to supply gas masks for children.  You can find out more inside the Weekly Summary.

Ye’shi Reinhardt also sounds the “Prepare for war” cry.  His humanitarian aid organizations do ongoing work providing aid to terror victims, war injured and the general needs of the missile barraged city of Sderot.

Urgent Needs: Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please keep in prayer the Israeli believers who are fighting for their lives or other urgent health needs: 

Pray for baby Netaley Bakker in Israel whose doctors operated today to remove a brain tumor.  The father wrote: The operation took about 5.5 hrs. It was difficult, she lost a lot blood (amounts that would be a lot for adults. Because she lost so much blood there is a higher possibility of complications.) Her heart stopped at some point, but they were able to get it running again. The next few days are critical; she'll be asleep in intensive care. She is still in a critical condition.

Pray for God’s complete healing of Meir, Bob, Fruma and Katya and Rivka (an elderly member suffering severe back problems)  at Maoz Ministries, Sofie Benson in Carmel/House of Victory, Ariela in Arad and Brookie in the Galilee.  Tom, Nataly and Larissa who have all recently been diagnosed with cancer in Carmel.  Pray also for Kay Wilson suffering from PTSD after surviving a stabbing terrorism attack that her friend did not survive.

Inside the
Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries
By subscription only, write israelprayerdotcom@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com

Teaching Articles

First Button by Asher Intrater

If one buttons up a shirt and starts with the correct button, then all the others will end up in the right place. If one starts with the incorrect button, in the end, all the buttons will be in the wrong place. So what is the "first button" of the Bible?

Israeli Ministries on Tours

BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for Steven & Keren Silver/Out of Zion Ministries; Ron Cantor/Messiah’s Mandate; Sean & Ayelet Steckbeck/ Simeon’s Cry Ministries; Brian & Rachaeli Slater/Yeshua’s Fresh Bread in Israel; Shlomy and Miriam Abramov/ Awake Israel Ministries; Lura & Eddie Beckford/ The King’s Men; Carolyn & Richard Hyde/ Heart of God Ministries.

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace 
Feature of the Week Shani Ferguson’s music video of “Garden of Secrets”

A Ministry of Israelprayer.com
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 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
My Israel Blogs:   Israel Watcher – A Second Opinion   Mostly political or current events commentary
| Fruit of the Fig Tree   Spiritual insights   |  DAILY Arrow from Zion

If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry to share both the  challenges and the great things God is doing among the Israeli indigenous ministries, please pray about making a financial gift donation.  Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:

Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
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