WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 3/20/2015

Arrows from Zion
Serving the Body of Messiah in Israel since August 2001 

Arrows from Zion May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

Priority Prayer Focus Mar 20, 2015

Netan-YAHOO!
Despite powerful opposition forces at work against him, Netanyahu prevails in elections.

If Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had been running for election in the United States, he would have won by a landslide. Americans do love him and especially appreciate his strong leadership against terrorism that we are sorely lacking in this country.  Israeli opinion, however, was not as pro-Bibi and there was a strong opposition against him in the secular news media – which like in the U.S. tends to lean Left.  There is even the strong possibility (which the US Congress is investigating) that State Dept grants were used to attempt to defeat Netanyahu in the election.  When news of this began to leak, regardless of what I was hearing from inside Israel, I did not expect Israelis to react well to that news. The sabra cactus is the prickly symbol of the Israeli national character.  Outsiders trying to manipulate the head leadership position in Israel would elict the exact opposite reaction from Israelis. 

All the Israeli ministries asked for prayer for God’s choice to be made known in this election, rather than asking prayers for one party or another.  So we have a strong answer about God’s will in this matter. Now the next prayer assignment is for the formation of a government that will also reflect God’s will for Israel in the next few years.  We will point out that a strong religious representation in a coalition government will work against the believers in Israel.  So please pray for just the government that God wants assembled under Netanyahu will prevail.  God has His own purposes – so this is not just a matter of what men want.  We will never lose getting on God’s side of any issue.

Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.
Arrows from Zion Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

Last week in Jerusalem there was a meeting of the Tikkun Ministries Leadership Council and Friends

Starting at the top left, Todd Westphal, the pastor of El Shaddai in Maryland; Avishalom Tekel of Tents of Mercy in Kiryat Yam; Ben Juster of Tikkun USA; Asher Intrater; Ron Cantor of Tiferet Yeshua in Tel Aviv, David Shishkoff of Tents of Mercy in Galilee; David McQueen of Beltway Park Baptist church in Abilene, TX; Guy Cohen of Harvest of Asher in Akko.

Lower left: Matt Rudolph, Director of Gateways Beyond in Cyprus; Youval Yanay of Revive Israel in Jerusalem; Daniel Juster; David Rudolph of Gateways Beyond in Israel; Paul Wilbur (of Paul Wilbur Ministries); Eitan Shishkoff; Paul Berube of Grace Fellowship Church, NH; Leon Mazin of Return to Zion in Haifa. 

Dan Juster, Eitan Shishkoff and Asher Intrater are the founders and directors, and along with David Rudolph and Paul Wilbur, have been in committed covenantal relationships to each other for 30+ years.  Their focus is on spiritually mentoring the next generation of Messianic leaders in Israel and around the world – many included in the picture and many others actively serving in congregations and ministries not pictured here.    {Inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary is Dan Juster’s report on the week of meetings.}

Israelprayer has always been committed to the smallest ministries works in Israel to the largest.  Being a 1-person shop myself, I believe that one person working in the will of the LORD can accomplish great things.  But I also want to give credit where credit is due, and this is an organization that has been mainly hidden away from view as these men sought to put down strong, solid roots into the soil of Israel ministry.  Many organizations outside of Israel have been more well-known, but this is an organization inside Israel that is bearing tremendous fruit.  So hats off to all the men and women of Tikkun International Ministries and may God continue to bless you as you set out an example of quietly building towards the Divine vision.  It has not always been easy and better known organizations are also better funded, but I believe like these men that God has been building them up for such a time as this.  Please pray for them and for much good fruit to come of their meetings this past week.

We have many important post-election viewpoints to share with you this week – Video from Asher Intrater message on the Revive Israel YouTube page.  A must read analysis and historical perspective from Dr. Daniel Juster who says that “since the election of Menachim Begin after Labor party rule since the founding of Israel in 1948, there has not been an Israeli election result more “fraught with more weightiness and danger.”  (If you believe news reports that Netanyahu has “flip flopped” on a Palestinian state, then you MUST read the background Dan Juster provides.)

Ron Cantor of Tiferet Yeshua in Jerusalem who also gives a Special Elections Episode - The Results Are In! 

Eddie Santoro of Ahavat Yeshua asks for prayers covering Netanyahu’s forming of a new government to set in place for the dangerous days ahead for Israel:  “Please pray for Israel as this nation faces the unjust wrath of a frustrated world. The coming period will most certainly usher in a new and more difficult period as Israel aligns itself with God's promises and not the wishes of men.  Please pray that President Obama would receive revelation on the purposes of God concerning Israel and that the USA would continue to stand with this nation.”

David Davis of the congregation of Mt Carmel in the Haifa Bay region shares “High Noon in Washington” as he and wife Karen viewed Netanyahu’s US Congressional speech from Prague in the Czech Republic, “ministering in the final session of our “Israel, Islam and the Church” conference.  The timing of the last session literally coincided with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the American Congress in Washington, D.C.  Just before this final meeting of our time in Prague, the Israeli ambassador to the Czech Republic met with about a dozen Czech pastors in the church that was hosting our meetings. He told the pastors that Iran was Israel’s greatest threat, and that Hizballah, Hamas (both supported by Iran), and ISIS were the immediate threats to Israel.  After the church leaders prayed for the ambassador, he left in order to watch Netanyahu’s speech. ”

Inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary you will find David Davis’ prayer requests for the congregation on Mt Carmel, and for the many outreach programs they operate in the area to addicts, alcoholics and other outcasts in their community to bring the life of Yeshua to them.  Also for their Beit Yedida meeting room and their steadily growing Hebrew-speaking Kerem El Congregation.

Eitan Shishkoff of the Ohalai Rachamim (Tents of Mercy) congregation unveils a vision opportunity they have for a parcel of land overlooking the Sea of Galilee which they want to develop for “the national body of Messianic believers (both Jews and Arabs) and to provide our friends from the nations with an opportunity to participate in Israel's redemption.”  Shishkoff writes, “The portion of land we're seeking to purchase can be immediately renovated as a ‘hospitality village."  There are other goals, including a sizeable facility, that are longer range – goals all of which you can read more about inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

From the Netanel’s in Ein Karim are more good reports of their home outreach receiving many guests to hear about Yeshua and the good news.  They continue to deal with opposition from the Waqf, who are the Muslim religious authorities, over making the path to her home more accessible.  Pray for this situation as the muslims even put poison out which killed the birds and plant life, then when the police came, they accused the Netanel’s of doing the poisoning!  This lie did open a long conversation with the Muslim man afterwards – God uses everything!   Read more inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Like all the ministries in Israel, Howard and Randi Bass in Beer Sheva in the Negev, are beginning to prepare for the Passover celebration in 3 weeks.  Howard writes, “…the paradigm of YHVH bringing His covenanted people out of Egypt and from hard bondage still remains the great act by which people know the God of Israel.  For us who know Him personally through the Passover Lamb, Jesus, and His sacrifice of Himself on the cross to deliver us from the world, and Satan's cruel bondage, and from all our sin -- we celebrate a greater Passover -- from death to life -- as we eagerly wait for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies in the resurrection at the coming again of the risen and exalted Deliverer, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!  Yeshua's Inheritance Cong. and the Hasdey Yeshua Cong. in Arad will be doing the Passover together at the "Old House", our congregational home in Beer Sheva's historic Old City.”

Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel in Ashdod shares that their “Ukrainian Refugee Relief project from this week brought much glory to God and much relief to those in need!”  They were able to assist about 150 families monthly with food, bedding and kitchen utensils.  As Pochtar has noted before, many of those fleeing the Ukraine have done so with little more than a suitcase of belongings.  If you would like to become part of helping these refugees read more more inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

David & Michaella Lazarus who lead the Beit Immanuel congregation in Jaffa write this week about serving the elderly of their congregation.  “Last month we gathered the elderly folks from our congregation for a special meeting to listen to their needs and see how we can serve and care for them. It was fascinating to listen to their stories. We decided to begin a special ministry for them and want to walk alongside them and assist and support them according to their needs. We are encouraging opportunities for the youth and children together with the older folks to enjoy companionship and build friendships together.  If any of you have experience working with the elderly and would like to share your ideas or experiences with us we would love to hear from you.” 

As families in the world become more estranged or separate, it is a true mark of Messiah-likeness for such care for the elderly to come from within the congregations.  The Lazarus’ also write about their serving of single-parent families and the fun of Purim for the congregational kids.  Read more about their congregation  inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary including a report of a miracle that has been wrought among them for one family – the mom healed of cancer, the dad rehabilitated from addiction, his work restored and the family put back together in renewed wedding vows.  Changed – rescued! – lives is the what the Messianic Body brings to Israel. 

Our friend Ronit Bender in Carmel, who has had some mighty challenges over the past couple of years, as her husband went to be with the Lord, then she suffered from health issues, pays tribute to “3 special people here in the land that have helped and been a huge blessing to me”.  One is a “pre-believer”; another an Arab believer, and another the wife of an evangelist from Tel Aviv, Jacob Damkani, who also operates a Messianic hotel in Tel Aviv called Gilgal.  Read Ronit’s tribute to these three and others inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Great news from Evan Levine of the Jerusalem HaTikva Project about the Dental Clinic.  They are finally securing the key to the clinic location on the famous Ben Yehuda Stree in the center of Jerusalem!  They could still use help as they set up a dental clinic that will offer the Body of Messiah in Israel at least 1/3 discounts on dental work, and will also be an opening Messianic Dental Clinic outreach in the community.  Read more more inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Finally, from Calev Myers and the attorneys of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, they have just published two new extensive reports asking for accountability and justice:  “Hidden Injustices is a broad overview of various areas of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza, and Freedom of Religion deals with religious discrimination in the Palestinian Authority territories and Gaza. Please share these reports!”

Read more amout the advocacy Calev and JIJ are doing presenting these reports to the Belgian and Swiss governments, as well to the Human Rights Council of the UN in Geneva.  They are also raising funds to counter the “the growing trend to delegitimize Israel, and the fundamental Islamic advocacy sweeping through academia and decision making bodies. Do more than care, help me educate many by bringing these reports to more universities and campuses this year. We need to raise $5,000 per campus, our goal is to reach at least 5 campuses.”

A Word for Your Consideration: The Esther & Ruth Identities

Donna - I would like to interject some thoughts that have come from the developments of recent days:   Maybe a decade ago Asher Intrater preached a message about how Israel is the most direct, visible example of how spiritual warfare touches down on earth to impact the physical warfare. It really impacted my thinking for good.

There is a disconnect in that concept for most of us in the Western Christian world - we have a mental assent to the truth that prayer changes things, but not a true grasp of how spiritual warfare is played out in actual, physical and immediate real time in the many battles Israel faces.

We read in the Bible for example, how when Moses arms were lifted up then Israeli soldiers prevailed in the battle; but when his arms drooped down from weariness, the tide turned to the enemy. We understand that as a "story" bearing a spiritual truth, but we don't quite make the connection of such things happening in Israel today. Israel is still the most embattled nation in the world by the demonic spiritual forces.  Israel still is the ‘picture story’ of how spiritual warfare works – where prayer ascends to heaven and returns in impact where the rubber meets the road with Israel’s battles with terrorism, war and even international politics.  It is the manifestation of the connection between prayers returning prevailing in war which is the CONTINUAL STATE or experience of Israel. Although we all have our times when we see this in our own lives, Israel is living in a continual state of spiritual battle onslaught. Few of us experience that continual spiritual battle.

This is one of the primary reasons that God has appointed a "Ruth" and an "Esther" role in this hour for Israel. The Esther role is to appear before the King to appeal for the deliverance of the Jews from those who mean to murder them, committing genocide.  It has long been assumed that the Esther role was fulfilled by the Gentile Christian Church, however, I am coming to believe that is not exactly the case. 

Esther was Jewish even though her Jewish identity was hidden, so the Church could not be Esther as far as identity goes.  However Esther’s real Jewish identity was only revealed as she became the intercessor for the King for Israel not to perish because of the evil edict Haman enacted.  Over the events of the past several weeks, with Netanyahu speaking before the US Congress, against the wishes of the ‘king’ of the US to appeal against a deal being made with Iran threatening to annihilate Israel, AND the day before Purim (!), many made the correlation between these events and the story of Esther in Purim.  However, I believe there is a stronger correlation that will be made to Esther in the days ahead, and it will be the role that the Israeli Messianic believers take before the throne of the King of Kings for the salvation and deliverance of Israel.   

For this purpose – as standing before God on behalf of Israelis – are the Messianic believers in Israel today.

Like Esther, many in both Jewish circle and Christian, don’t consider the Messianic Jews to be either still Jewish or to be significant in delivering Israel from their mortal enemies.  But the Israeli Messianic community, like Esther the hidden Jew in the harem of the king, could not be more significant in securing that deliverance and salvation. As we speak, the Israeli Messianic Jews have been going through preparation for their ultimate intercession, prepared with special food, anoints and clothing – all speaking to the spiritual preparation to not only please the king, but to be able to stand in the same position of jeopardy on behalf of the people of Israel.

No one in the King's court knew she was really a Jewish woman.  In this sense, this 'king' is Israel itself, but as Esther, the Israeli Messianic believers are not only appearing before the human authorities (kings) but spiritually they appear before the King of Kings for their intercession for the Jews.

This isn't an exact parallel - but in many ways the same challenges that Esther faced, the Messianic Jews are facing in the greater community of Jewish Israel.  Where they are not recognized by so many Jews and Christians as still Jews - but they are being spiritually prepared (and do believe this is especially true of Israeli MJs) and in their dealings they are being recognized for excellence of spirit. 

I say it is especially true of Israeli Messianics, not because Israeli Messianics are better, but because God is calling the Jews in the nations back to Israel for these final dealings.  There need to be Messianic Jews in the nations as long as there are unsaved Jews in the nations - but as nations begin to clear out in Jews returning to Israel, like France, Ukraine, then those Messianic Jews staying behind better be sure their stay put order comes from God and not their own spirit. It is not for nothing that God is ingathering to Israel again.  Even the Jews of the U.S. will ultimately leave. One way or the other, American Jews are going to have to make that choice. the rise of anti-semitism on college campuses is an early warning sign of this. We have let Islamists get away with too much here.

In a very real sense, the Messianic Jews are pictured in Esther far more than the Gentile Church.  They are in Israel not as a periphery presence, but as the sustaining presence! Their presence as Messianic Jewish believers and Israeli citizens is the pivot point for the deliverance and salvation of Israel.  Consider this: Prayer is fueled by love – and God puts power behind the fervent prayers that spring from real love.  Who more than family - the Messianic Jewish believers –truly love the Jewish people more fervently?  This is why the Esther intercession is a necessity within Israel, and they will see the power of God’s answer of deliverance and salvation.

This does not take anything away from the role of the Church because the Ruth role is also a love story – the love of Ruth toward Naomi - for the Gentile Church who sacrificially loves the Jewish people.  Now Ruth did not become a Jew. She was always known as Ruth the Moabitess – she never lost her Gentile identity even when she married into the family and brought forth a son.  Ruth’s role was  and therefore the Church’s role, is, to come alongside the Father's laborers in the Israeli harvest field - the Messianic Jewish believer citizens - to assist them in their harvest labors.  This is done through prayer, but also practical ASSISTANCE. When we do this, the SON that restores Naomi's (Israel's) spiritual inheritance is brought forth.  

This doesn’t mean that the Church cannot pray for Israel’s deliverance – we should!  But we must recognize that this is exactly the Esther role that the Messianic Jews stand in for their kinsmen. They are making intercession before the King at their own peril for the sake of the deliverance of the Jews, their families.

So the Esther role is fulfilled in the Messianic Jewish community and the Ruth role is fulfilled in the Gentile Christian community.

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace 
Feature of the Week: From Ari & Shira Sorko Ram, Maoz Ministries

Scripture-based books in Hebrew are an important tool we use to both encourage believers and spread the Good News to those who do not yet know Messiah Yeshua.  Maoz Hebrew Book Publishing division has just completed work on three new books, which are now available to readers around the country.

In addition to the many books currently in the publishing process, this year we are working on our first Children’s book - You Are Special by Max Lucado.  ou can be a part of this important project, giving the opportunity to many Israelis to hear the Gospel and many believers to have victory in their daily lives.  Your gift to Maoz Hebrew Books Publishing will put the Word of God into the hands of those who are hungry and thirsty for the Truth.  Give a book - change a life! Donate Now

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
Online each Wednesday at Israel Prayer Dot Com  |  Israel Watcher – A Second Opinion   Mostly political or current events commentary | Fruit of the Fig Tree   Spiritual insights 

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 Or click on the PayPal account:  donna@israelprayer.com I do not have tax exempt status.