WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 4/1/2015

Arrows from Zion

Priority Prayer Focus Apr 1, 2015

Since this is April Fool’s Day in the USA, I thought of this verse. Then after reading the apostle Paul’s context of speaking to the Corinthians about the Jewish apostles, it really seemed to fit how small and mostly without honor the Israeli Body of Messiah is in comparison to the greater Christian Church, with all its mega ministries and major names.  Couldn't help seeing an application of the passage from 1 Cor 4:9-11 could be made again in our day:

“For, I think, God has exhibited us (Jewish) apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.  We are fools for Messiah's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;…”

As we enter the Passover, part of the preparation is to rid ourselves of any leaven.  Surely this is an attitude of leaven worth ridding ourselves of. 

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

It’s Passover which means during the break in Israel, the youth from believer families will be gathering again to participate in a 3-day youth conference headed by Eitan Shishkoff, Ohalai Rachamim (Tents of Mercy).  This year the theme is “Yeshua Brings Transformation.”  If you would like to pray over this spiritual gathering see inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary all of Eitan’s prayer requests for the event.

Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem addresses the meanings of Passover and Passover week, which is called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  This is a Divinely strategic annual appointment by God for Jews the world over to observe this biblical feast.  If you are new to the biblical Feasts of the LORD, you will want to read Martin’s post inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Back to Eitan Shishkoff’s ministry letter, he shares that they have not yet received a final answer on the Hospitality Village they have been negotiating to buy in the Galilee.  Please continue to pray for this village to become a reality as it will be made into a facility and property for the whole national Body of Messiah to enjoy and use.  It’s a big vision and your prayers are coveted.

The Revive Israel prayer letter this week has several messages we are passing along.  See Asher’s message - The Conflict of the Cross, Who is the King of the Jews - in Praying the Headlines as he draws a powerful parallel about missing unity in Netanyahu’s government coalition building, and that same lack of unity that marks the international Body.  Also see Dan Juster’s article on Irrevocable Calling of the Jews.

Another short piece by Cody Archer of Revive Israel speaks to the building of unity with the nations that Revive is doing in Jerusalem as they have been hosting waves of visitors from the nations each week. Cody writes: “Having the opportunity each week to pray, prophesy, teach, encourage, and build relationships with those hungry for connection is very humbling and can even feel overwhelming at times. A challenge we face is finding the balance between the local and international sides of ministry. It would be much simpler just to focus on one of the two, but this is a tension God has called us to.”

  

“Last week, while meeting with a group of church elders from the US, of whom their pastor sent them to Israel to 'spy out the land' in search for local believers to partner with, they told us that the time they had with our team was the highlight of their trip. This is something we are hearing more and more. The One New Man unity and partnership of Jew and Gentile, really is growing in our day!”

Carolyn and Richard Hyde are out and about making themselves available for God to use in a region of the Galilee where many of the religious Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox live.   This is a powerful  way to share the message with Israelis and reminds us of how the Lord sent Philip in Acts 8 to walk along a road where he was led to an influential Ethiopian who was trying to understand a passage in Isaiah.  They share a couple of recent encounters with sharing Yeshua with religious men met along the way.

See more about the Hyde’s ministry inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary including how you can bring your next tour group to their home for dinner, worship, Israeli folk dancing and testimonies of how the LORD is moving in Israel.  Their balcony has a fantastic view of the Sea of Galilee, the Golan and Jordan valley.

We have a good update from Brian Slater in Netanya who recently has restructured their ministry which does outreach to feed the needy and Holocaust survivors from Netanya.  Brian shares about two recent older men who have come to Yeshua the ministry.  Brian’s ministry does such treasured work among Holocaust survivors that they have great relationship with other organizations and the survivors themselves.

Brian writes, “A Genuine Need That Hundreds of Chosen People Are Depending On  |  While we are restructuring under our own non-profit, we have lost our previous food donor and are now trying to raise funds to rebuild this important part of our ministry.  This outreach is to the poor of our community, including Holocaust Survivors, new immigrants, widows, single mothers, Ethiopians and Russian Jewish Immigrants as well as local Native Israeli believers in Yeshua.”  To learn how you can Donate  see inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Dov Bikas who heads the vvangelism and outreach among drug addicts and victims of sexual abuse in south Tel Aviv and is the pastor of a Russian-speaking messianic congregation in Beer Sheva, writes to say that they are very happy to be partnering with the Victory House Israeli believers rehab in Haifa. 

Dov notes, “Thus at present we have got teams from six men’s and one women’s rehab that come to volunteer in Aviv Center every week. Each team also takes those addicts who are willing to start a rehabilitation program into their rehab centers. Recently we asked one woman from Tel-Aviv streets how she had learnt about Aviv Center, and she replied: “Everybody knows about Aviv Center in this area”. It’s very encouraging to hear such words and also to see that the center’s daily attendance is up to 30 people.”

In their Beer Sheva congregation, Bikas writes, “We are happy to see that these days our church place is 100 per cent full during our Shabbat services; some people even stand in the back of the hall. Please keep praying for our congregation, as it still needs more leaders and ministers.”

Yeshua is always willing to help those who have fallen the lowest and the way back to wholeness is not always a quick work.  As someone how knows the heartache of loved ones trapped by severe addiction, I know it takes a real heart of God to minister effectively to those trapped in self-destructive lifestyles.  Thank you to all who are laboring among those who are generally considered the ‘refuse’ or ‘trash’ of society.  God sees their humanity and need of salvation.

Howard Bass who leads the Beer Sheva Nachalat Yeshua, Yeshua’s Inheritance, says they will be celebrating the congregational Passover/Resurrection with the Arad congregation, Hasdey Yeshua (Mercy of Yeshua) on Saturday.  They will also have their family Passover seder as many enjoy.

Then on April 18 the Yeshua’s Inheritance congregation will have its Shabbat service at the Negev archeological site of Tamar.  Bass writes, “The small 3-day "conference" is being organized by a sister in the congregation, and the focus is on God's promises for the Negev:  it will bloom and blossom like a rose, and become like the Garden of Eden!”

Bass includes this startling Iranian billboard, writing:

“Here is a very telling poster billboard in Iran, which shows their expected Mahdi leading the throng, with Isa (the Islamic counterfeit of Yeshua, who is not the Son of God, did not die, and therefore did not resurrect) walking behind him.”

“By Yeshua's death and resurrection, being celebrated around the world this coming week, He has been declared with power to be the Son of God!  The kingdoms of this world and covenant breakers are conspiring together to deceive and be deceived regarding His absolute pre-eminence, who alone gives peace to all who believe that He is the Savior.”

To read much more on many subjects of interest Bass has included this week see  inside the attached PDF Weekly Summary

Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel in Ashdod has been raising contributions for humanitarian Passover food, and now also for Passover gift bags for IDF soldiers, boys and girls, serving.  You can see the items included in the soldier’s blessing parcels, which a $65 donation will deliver the parcels.  See more inside.

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: 

Carolyn Hyde seems to have experienced another TIA, mini-stroke.  Please pray for Carolyn, that the LORD would keep her in the palm of His Hand and no weapon formed against her shall prosper.

Please continue to pray for Brian Slater’s wife Racheli who is recovering from hip surgery in a Tel Aviv rehabilitation unit.  Pray also for Brian and the kids in Netanya who are very much missing home life without her.

An update on Donna’s husband, Tony Diorio:  Tony's back is feeling great for him, so he is mainly just dealing with the nerve damage pain which he experiences in his right upper thigh. He says the pain level gets up to a 10.  But nerve pain is normal for the type of operation he had. The nerve had been trapped in bone calcification and when they excavated it, the nerve was further traumatized by being moved around during surgery.  It could take up to 6 months to a year to heal (although Tony told me, "I don't receive that!")  He still has a way to go, but there is improvement and he is able to direct his workman, although he gets worn out pretty quickly.  It's the hardest thing in the world for him not to be hands on.  Thank you so much for you prayers for Tony. There were really dark stretches in all this and I'm so glad the dawn of morning finally broke through.

Teaching Articles  

Irrevocable Calling by Dan Juster  |  The Jewish people, the nation of Israel, has an irrevocable calling. Israel's preservation and return to the Land of Israel is a great testimony to the faithfulness of God and His ultimate Lordship over history.

Israel's testimony memorializes God's action in the history of the nation and points to the end days and the Age to come. For example, the Sabbath is a testimony to the fact that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. It is a foreshadowing of the Age to Come, when all will enter into a total Sabbath rest in Him.  Passover leads to the Exodus from Egypt, and foreshadows...  Read more here

Praying the Headlines

The Conflict of the Cross: Who is the King of the Jews? by Asher Intrater  |  Much prayer happened leading up to the recent elections in Israel, but now there is an equal or more urgent need for prayer as the government coalition is being formed.  There are two parts to forming the government of Israel:

1. Election - who is to be the "king of the Jews."

2. Coalition - who will form the government.

We tend to think of the cross only in terms of atonement—the forgiveness of sins. Amen. But at the time, the great contention that led to the crucifixion surrounded another issue: is he really the Messiah, the "King of the Jews." (John 18).

 Today, the prime minister of Israel sits in the earthly position of the 'King of the Jews,' but obviously does not "wear" the full messianic and divine mantle. . Because Israel ceased to be a nation for nearly 2000 years, this "king of the Jews" issue similarly disappeared. But now that Israel is again a nation, this leadership position has returned and is again the most contested and attacked position in the world.

The spiritual battle over the Israeli government has to do with unity to form the coalition. You cannot form a government without a coalition and you cannot have a coalition without unity among the party leaders. This same issue is found in the international church today. The King is Yeshua, He's been elected (Ps 2), but there is not enough unity among His followers for His kingdom to function and advance. (John 17).

To watch Asher's message, click here

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

3/25/15  Kehila.com Newsfeed from the Body in Israel
Kehila aggregates publicly accessible material from the Israeli Body of Believers
admin@kehila.com  http://www.kehila.com/

Just one excerpt from the Kehila.com mailing on 3/25/2015

Messianic Israeli Business and the “Ripple Effect”
The Israel Business Forum sponsored by Israel Firstfruits Center for Economic Advancement is Apri 28-30 in Jerusalem. If you want to meet Israeli believers who are entrepreneurs and business people, this is the place!

 

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