Wednesday, February 6, 2013

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 2/6/2013

Serving the Body of Messiah in Israel since August 2001 
& Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel


Donations: PayPal acct: donna@israelprayer.com
or Donna Diorio PO Box 111302 Carrollton TX 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.

Arrows from Zion May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

Priority Prayer Focus

“The drought is over!”  This is the declaration of Israeli officials after an unusually abundant winter season ending an 7-year drought.  We believe this is also the spiritual declaration that is being made over Israel too.  We may not see it yet but the clouds are full of rain – spiritual refreshing for a dry and spiritually parched people.

"But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God, Who has 
not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me." Psalm 66

Praise Report

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

FULL PRAISE REPORT:  I want to open this week with a praise report on a special appeal we sent out on December 23rd, “Sunday before Christmas, Some Wishes” sharing the heart of Ruth Nessim in Narhariya for the need of Arab pastor Najeeb Atteih of the Immanuel Church and Bible Bookshop in Haifa.  Here is Ruth’s followup report:

On Monday (Jan 16th) I got an email from someone who has corresponded before, and read the letter about Najeeb that you published (Some Christmas Wishes) She asked whether Najeeb had managed to get his apartment.

As you know, we have been praying for much time about the lack of funds to complete the purchase of Najeeb's very modest apartment in one of the poorest districts in Haifa. It seemed as though the heavens were as brass, and when I wrote to you , It was a last desperate attempt, but without much hope. As the old hymn says, "We should never be discouraged, take it to The Lord in Prayer" When I had given up all hope, I went to a Lebanese meeting in Nahariya. I was very depressed. They began to sing the song, "He raised me up". 

The next day I could not get this song out of my mind. In the evening (Jan 16th) I received an email from someone who has corresponded before and read the letter about Najeeb that you published (Some Christmas Wishes).   She asked me whether Pastor Najeeb had been able to acquire his apartment, and I emailed back to say we were still lacking the $30,000. Then I went to sleep, and my soul was singing "He raised me up".  I woke up and my soul was still singing  "He raised me up" . 

I put the kettle on to make some coffee, and then opened my I Pad, and therewas a letter from the lady who had written the day before, saying that she felt the Lord telling her to send $20,000. I sat on the couch and cried, while still singing,"He raised me up." Then I wrote to tell her how I had fallen asleep and come to, still singing, "He raised me up"

When I phoned Najeeb, whom just finished a 40-day fast, the phone seemed to go dead, and I could hear only weird noises.  Then I realized that he was sobbing, and I cried with him, I then wrote back to the good lady and thanked her for her kindness, and told her how I could not stop singing ,"He raised me up".  The same evening, I got a second email saying my email had done her so much good that she was raising up the donation to $30,000. I was flabbergasted!

We should never give up hope even when there is none, He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think! With our God, nothing is impossible.

Thank you too for sending my letter on, and God bless,
Ruth Nessim

Israelprayer: Today I followed up with Ruth to see if the donation had arrived yet and she confirmed that it has arrived.  I wanted to include this as an encouragement to us all.  We never know how the LORD will answer our needs, but it is for certain that when a need exists that sharing it is the first step to seeing it met.  Let’s praise God with Ruth and Pastor Najeeb  for one less expense to worry about!  Hallelujah!


Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Last week we featured an excerpt from Ahavat Yeshua’s Eddie Santoro about how Israeli voters cast their vote with candidates who spoke to the plight of Israel’s ‘middle class’ who are hurting from the high cost of living in Israel and the fact that the economic burden is not shared by many of the religious who are on the public dole.  Eddie wrote that a couple “doing well” might bring home $4,500 a month, but apt cost upwards of $500,000!

This brought an email from another believer I know in Israel who said most believer couples they know are not in the “doing well” income range, but rather as a couple are only bringing in just under $2,700 monthly with  one of the paychecks gobbled entirely by apt rental. 

Also writing: “Renters pay not only the rent and the apartment fees, but we also pay the owner's monthly taxes!  Unlike most places of employment in the states here we are paid once a month.  The average salary is around 5 – 6,000 NIS double that and you get between $ 2685 – $3222 a month.   Woman who do well make around 6 – 8000 NIS, men make more, discrimination, 8,000 to 10,000.  I know that there are professional and IT people who make more, but it seems like the average Joe is just that – average!   You can see why we need miracles!”

Here is the situation:  Some better known ministry leaders do get living support in the neighborhood of $5,000 a month, but certainly not all are doing that well.  It has to do with being able to establish a lot of outside support for their ministries and their own living expenses which in turn takes quite a bit of travel for speaking engagements outside of Israel.  It takes years to build up a good support base and is not that easy to even develop the venues willing to receive Israeli ministries raising support. 

One day, my belief is that this will not be the case.  Many, many Christians donate to causes wanting to “bless Israel” but the greatest blessing of Israel – bar none – is the support of those carrying the testimony of Yeshua and the gospel to Israelis.  Please pray for the believers of Israel, the ministry leaders, their support staff and also the congregants, for God to open new resources and income streams.  Pray also for those worldwide believers who are already giving to “bless Israel” to awaken to the mandate we have to begin that endeavor at the household of faith in Israel – the believer ministries.

Speaking of Eddie Santoro, he writes this week about the amazing winter rains that ended a 7 year drought and brought up the water levels so that Israel will be well watered in the coming year.   He spoke of a word he received from the LORD of the “certainty of the harvest” that “The cold, dark rainy season that we were passing through contained within itself the absolute certainty of the harvest to come.”

Continuing, “And then the Lord expanded the natural promise to a far greater spiritual one. As surely as the rain was coming down on a dry and thirsty land, I saw how God was pouring out his rain in the spirit. As the angels proclaimed in Luke 2, God’s favor is resting upon those of us who believe. We may not be able to see or feel the rain with our natural senses, but there is most certainly a downpour of grace and power that is continually washing upon each one of us. And as this favor rests upon our lives, it is a “deposit guaranteeing the inheritance”.  As surely as the flowers will blossom in the coming spring, so too the spiritual fruit will abound in all of our lives. This is the inevitable result of a people who walk and live in the grace and love of Yeshua the Messiah.”  Read more inside the attached Weekly Summary.

Santoro also writes of the miracle of living in Israel and about the Love of Yeshua Messianic congregation he leads with Asher Intrater in Jerusalem.  One comment, “Living in Israel is a miracle that reminds us each day of the goodness of the Lord. First of all, just to be a part of the end time destiny of the Jewish people returning to their promised land is an incredible blessing. And then how much more wonderful is it to be a part of the spiritual restoration of this people to their Messiah!”

Pray for those who are anointed by the Holy Spirit to carry the testimony of Yeshua abiding in their lives and sharing the good news to Israelis of the free gift that is to all who will call upon His Name.

Howard Bass sends an update of his family including a recent blessing of his son and another IDF officer who were honored for being not only active IDF soldiers but were also active in their local congregations.  This was a nice recognition that was presented before the Beer Sheva congregation. “Please pray for them – Tal and Keti - and all of the military personnel among the Messianic community.  One of the young persons in the photo is Victor, who will be inducted next month.”

Howard also asks prayers “for our older 'fathers and mothers', who suffer from various pains and ailments 'normal' for their age and the life they live: Sofia, Israel & Luda, Olavi & Esther, Demitri & Maria, Lera, Vera, German & Anna.” 

Living in society (like the U.S.) where elders are not honored or even much cared for, this is a very important testimony how Messianic Israel cares for those among them in advancing age, as well as the Holocaust survivors and needy elderly.  Please pray for all the Messianic ministries who are caring for the elderly – that God would grant a blessing of resources for these outreaches of compassion and care in the Name of Yeshua.

Another prayer request: Pray also, please, for Assia, who directs our children's ministry, both during the week and for the Shabbat school during our services.  She has been an outstanding and faithful servant through the years for the children, a number of whom come to our congregation although their parents may go to another, or are not believers.  (If they are not believers, we have their written consent that their children are with us.) We trust the Lord for these children to grow up in the knowledge of the one true God and of Yeshua the Messiah whom He sent.  Practically speaking, those parents who do not themselves belong to our congregation or who do not believe, neither do they contribute towards the financial costs of the ministry blessing their children.  We are glad that they trust us with their children and pray that the name of Yeshua is honored in them.

 You can check out many articles of interest in the website www.streamsinthenegev.com which Bass says he has just brought up to date with new articles and teachings.

Ron and Elana Cantor, who serve at the Tiferet Yeshua congregation in Tel Aviv with the Sorko-Rams, are asking for prayers as they have been asked to take on more responsibility at the congregation – now to devote 70-80% of their time to the congregation.  Their increased duties will be leadership training, meeting with young couples, training those called to preach and strengthening the congregation through teaching and preaching.  Pray for them in this transition.  Ron writes, “As I will be traveling less, which means less offerings, please pray for more monthly partners who believe that God wants to touch Tel Aviv!”

Also pray for Ron’s book “Idenity Theft” which is being released for major distribution by Destiny Image Publishers.   Pray that this book will help many Christians “understand the New Testament in its original Jewish context and how this Jewishness was removed over the centuries.”  And that it would also open Jewish eyes to the Jewishness of Jesus so they might be saved.

Mazal tov to Evan and Maala Thomas on the marriage of their only child, daughter Sara.:  “There has never been a prouder moment than when Abba Evan walked his daughter down that aisle!  Please uplift Sara and Beni in your prayers.”

A short list of prayer requests for their congregation, Beit Asaph in the coming year:
-Seek to strengthen the vision for outreach to a desperately needy society all around us.
-Equip the saints through sound teaching of God’s Word.
-Provide a national example of biblical reconciliation by participating (young and older) in various initiatives that demonstrate reconciliation between Arab and Jewish Believers as part of their core values.
-Support and encourage couples who have announced their intentions to marry this year
-Effectively serve our youth who have declared their desire for baptism. Many of our young people are discovering how important it is to allow Yeshua to be ‘Lord’ and not just ‘Savior’ as they face the struggles of adolescence and prepare for army service.
  These are prayer requests that could be applied to all the ministries in Israel.

Ari B and Yonatan M at Revive Israel Ministries write about Rumors of War...and Israeli Tourism .  They are so right!  If we allow the rumors of war to stop us from visiting Israel, we will never go, and the Israeli economy that is so dependent on tourism will suffer. 

I have personally been to Israel three times. In 2003, 2005 and 2007.  In 2003 it was during the Second Intifada which ended more or less in early 2005.  My two companions and I made it our second purpose while in Israel – the first being to visit Messianic ministries – but the second to visit those places which had been suicide bombed in the Intifada.  We wanted to not only support the rebuilt business, but also to say along with the Israeli people, we are not afraid to go on living even in the places the enemy went to strike terror and death.  When in Israel, you will see that life goes on.  Go with God, and do not be terrorized from enjoying one of the most spiritual journeys a person can ever embark upon.

A Caspari Media Review email this week summaries an article from the Israeli business publication, Globes about the Arab Christian community.  This is something that is not talked about nearly enough – likely because of the negative repercussions in the Palestinian territories when Christian Arabs speak honestly about those who are causing them trouble.   You can read the Caspari translated summary inside the Weekly Summary – and get the contact information for their weekly translations of articles that have appeared in the Hebrew press.

Jacob Damkani of Trumpet of Salvation leads teams from the nations in evangelistic outreach on the streets of Israel. Damkani is an evangelist who like the Energizer bunny has often ‘taken a lickin’ but kept on tickin’!  (Meaning he has often been beaten up sharing the gospel on the streets, but he does not let it stop him.  He keeps going forth with the good news of Yeshua’s love.)  His ministry also does other kinds of outreach, one is demonstrated in their  latest video clip.

Urgent HEALING 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 God’s complete healing of Katya Morrison at Tents of Mercy (recovering from bone marrow transplant for Acute Myeloid Leukemia);  Brookie in the Galilee and Tom both are believing for victory over cancer in Carmel.  Pray for Kay Wilson still suffering from PTSD after surviving a stabbing terrorism attack that her friend did not survive.   Continue to pray for baby Netaley who just finished another round of chemo.   The Grandmother of the Bat Mitzvah girl mentioned in Eitan Shishkoff's prayer letter is battling cancer. Please pray with us for this family, as they endure a difficult time.

Praying the Headlines

Rick Ridings of Succat Hallel 24/7 House of Praise and Prayer in Jerusalem has a new Prayer Alert video:

“I believe most of you are very aware of the need to pray for Israel and Syria at this time, especially concerning the threat of the use and transfer of chemical weapons.  We have just released a new YouTube prayer alert which you can view via this YouTube link”

Eddie Santoro adds these Israel Security Prayer bullets (See full excerpts inside the Weekly Summary):

Pray for a(n Israeli) government (coalition) that would be strong on security, effective in meeting the economic and social needs of its citizens and would stand united and strong before the nations of the world.

Pray that the house of our enemy (Egypt Muslim Brotherhood govt) would continue to be divided and ultimately fall.  Pray that the US would put a hold on the export of advanced weapons systems to Egypt until that nation’s stand towards Israel, the United States and the entire western world would be very clear.

Pray that Israel would stand firm against the wave of condemnation that followed last week's attack (convoy of Syrian trucks carrying advanced Russian made anti aircraft missiles was destroyed on its way to the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon) and pray that the promised retaliation from our enemies would not be successful.


Teaching Articles

By Daniel Juster
Director of Tikkun Ministries International

Many pundits, especially on the left, teach that social justice is equality. This understanding is problematic since it seeks a leveling of individuals and groups. . . . Political correctness is an abusive manifestation of this perspective. In part, this is why, in the Western world we can no longer make (or are sometimes no longer allowed to make) good distinctions. . . . My concept of justice is rooted in Scripture, not in these false ideas of equality. I believe that a comprehensive reading of the Bible yields the following definition of social justice or a just social order.
   Read the full article online by clicking title link above.

Israeli Ministries on Tours
BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for Howard Bass of Nachalat Yeshua (Yeshua’s Inheritance) Congregation;  Arni Klein of Emmaus Way; Brian Slater of Yeshua’s Fresh Bread in Israel;  Evan Levine of HaTikva Project; and Carolyn & Richard Hyde of Heart of God Ministries.

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week

Jewish New Testament Commentary Translation into HEBREW!
EXCITING NEW PROJECT that you can be a part of bringing David Stern’s NT Commentary to Israelis in the Hebrew language.  This is a first and you can help!

My Jewish New Testament Commentary is going to be translated into Hebrew and published in Israel!  This will fill a huge gap in what Hebrew-speaking Israeli Jews can understand about Yeshua the Messiah, the New Testament and Christianity.

We are partnering with Maoz, Inc. to raise the funds needed for the translation.  The total cost for the translation is $55,000, of which we the Sterns need to raise half ($27,500).   I invite you to have a part in this historic project by praying for the translation into Hebrew and by contributing to it financially.  To contribute, click this link   -- David and Martha Stern  on Facebook: Jewish New Testament / David H Stern (“Like” this Facebook page for weekly updates)

Fuller information inside the attached Weekly Summary.

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 

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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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