WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 8/5/2015

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

Priority Prayer Focus Aug 5, 2015

For the second week our theme for the Israeli ministries leaders is 2 Cor 1:8-9 "For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction ...that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead"

For the International Church from Esther 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your  family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

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

This week we are going to start off in an unusual way, this time not gleanings from a prayer letter but instead gleanings from two messages I heard over the past weekend in Dallas from Revive Israel's Asher Intrater.   One message was delivered at a Messianic congregation and the following day a similar message was delivered at a church.  I have summarized many points from the two messages which I have also shared online under the title, New Urgency in Message for Right Alignment of the Body . If there is one word to describe Asher's message before both groups of believers, it was a tone that I have never sensed from Asher in the past 15 years  - Urgency. 

Asher shared about the array of oppressive forces that are bearing down on Israel, and bearing down on the believing community of faith in Israel.  Why?  The same reason the Nazis tried to annihilate all Jews: the demonic fury to cut off God's plan by killing all the Jews before the time of their salvation.  If you want to understand this, start here in these messages. We are talking about a lot of spiritual red meat!

Besides highlighting many, many of the major points of the combined messages frankly laying out the magnitude of the situation, there is also a link to hear or view the message delivered at the Messianic congregation.  This is information that anyone praying for Israel can use to intercede with greater prophetic understanding of all the issues involved.   We hope you will avail yourself of these tools. Read it online, or inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary. 

Our friend Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem, in a similar frame of mind to Asher's, writes on the horrible acts of murderous violence from Jewish religious terrorists over the past week that has had Israel spinning in horror and revulsion over the past week.  As Martin so rightly notes, "As we pray for Israel’s protection from the outside, we must not neglect to intercede and stand against the powers working to weaken and sicken her from within. “Standing with Israel” does not mean turning a blind eye to her faults, her violations, her sins.  For her to become truly strong, there is a cleansing and changing which must take place in the heart." 

Sarvis also notes that "The battle for Israel’s soul extends of course into the areas of sexuality. Early Zionists, in resistance to what they perceived as legalistic and coercive demands of Orthodox Judaism, were often atheist, abandoning Biblical standards of morality adhered to by their forefathers.  Sexual promiscuity permeated the Kibbutz culture.  Today thousands of Israelis find themselves caught in confusion, deception and bondage in this area, extending beyond areas of sexual conduct into those of sexual identity." 

Again, Martin is laying down a powerful 'situation report' for intercessors who want to get really specific in how to pray for Israel, to put a spiritual arrow into the precise point that needs to be pierced.  Please read in full inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

These are not defeated troops - not by a long shot.  They know the LORD's intentions for Israel cannot be overturned - but it is past time for those believers outside of Israel, Messianic and Christian, to take up the place alongside the Israeli Body. Salvation of the Jews everywhere in the world is important, but the raising up of the Body of the LORD in the midst of Israel is a special work that will produce special blessings.

In that vein, we move to the Fields of Wheat, Galilee Hospitality Village that is the vision shared by Eitan Shishkoff of Tents of Mercy - a one of a kind village set aside for the use of all the congregation of Yeshua in Israel, both Jewish and Arab.  Look, the anti-missionaries have already picked up on this vision and already seeking to oppose it, but we believe that it is a vision from God for the blessing of the Body of Messiah in Israel.  Their opposition "will only make the miracle more impressive," Shishkoff responded.

Like your prayers stopped the raging inferno from reaching the Yad Hashmona Messianic village last week outside of Jerusalem, so also your prayers can have a big impact on limiting the damage religious opposition to this village that will serve the whole community of faith in Israel providing recreation, camps, conferences and retreats.  It will also be a place for international volunteers to come to serve in an atmosphere of daily worship and prayer.  Does this sound worth fighting for in the Spirit?  Please read more details inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

From Evan Levine of the HaTikva Project comes the great news that the Dental Clinic is super close to being finished and opening their doors to both believers and the public - at rates that will be a blessing. This vision has been marching forward for about two years now, and it is such a joy to see it coming to fruition.  Please pray for a swift approval from the health ministry to obtain their license. 

If you don't know about this ministry, it is directed by Levine out of Jerusalem, with very strong Christian support from Promise Keeper's Coach Bill McCartney and Dr. Raleigh Washington.  This is a great example of Christians coming alongside the Israeli Messianic believers to help them fulfill their calling.  The HaTikva Project regularly helps provides for needs - first to the household of faith in Israel, but also as outreach to the community.  The dental clinic will help both, because dental is not part of the Israeli health coverage, it is a much needed break for believers in Israel to get dental services at a discounted price.  Learn more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Dov Bikas heard the call of God to the ugly street life of drug addictions and sex trade where they have been working to change lives. It is such a harsh reality of the depths humanity can fall to, and thank God that He has equipped some with exactly what they need to rescue some from the fire.  The Aviv Ministry operates evangelism and outreach to men and women in south Tel Aviv. 

Please pray for them, as Dov writes, " Our new rehab center for women in Haifa has suffered a heavy blow: our main partners in the field can stay in Israel no longer and will have to leave the country soon. They have been working in the rehab diligently and going regularly to Tel Aviv to reach out to the prostitutes. Please pray for them as they look for options to continue their work. Pray also for Svetlana, the center’s director, as it is going to be more difficult for her now to run the rehab. We are trying to help her, recruiting Russian-speaking volunteers from abroad. If we manage to bring those short term volunteers regularly, it is going to be a real blessing for the center (which since this February has hosted about 20 women already – for longer or shorter periods of time)."

Pray for the men's and women's rehab centers, that those who are receiving help and even witness God's miracles in their lives will have eyes to see that it truly is God who is helping them.  Dov writes, "They read the Bible and witness God’s real miracles in their lives, but somehow attribute these changes mostly to 'the good people' that are taking care of them, than to God, no matter how often we tell them otherwise. Please pray that God would open their eyes!"

This reminds me of how Yeshua healed 10 lepers but only one came back to thank Him. In order to thank Him, the one had to have his eyes opened to appreciate that it was truly a miracle of God.  This is the same as Israel in the wilderness, experiencing miracle after miracle, but God had not yet given them eyes to see, so they didn't.  (Deut 29:4)  Pray that God will open the eyes of these men and women who are being helped, so that they will receive full deliverance/salvation and not just relief from the pain of their lives and choices.

Israel Pochtar of the Beit Hallel and Voice of Judah Israel Ministries in Ashdod has also been the target of religious persecution over the years, and he too, just keeps pressing in to fulfill all that God has put in his heart for the people of Israel. Pochtar shares two healing testimonies from his congregation. One a Jew from Belarus who immigrated to Israel for medical last resort, but when all possible help was exhausted God healed the man who now serves regularly in the ministry humanitarian outreaches.

Pochtar also tells the story of Shelly, wife of an associate minister at the congregation. We have had Shelly in our Urgent Healing Prayer section until months ago when we heard the news that Shelly was on death's doorstep and to please pray.  Now Israel tells us that from death's doorstep God has raised up Shelly with a dramatic turnaround from the brain tumor that had already metastasized in her spine and neck.  All that is gone now! The tumor has shrunk from 6 centimeters to 1 cm.  PLEASE KEEP PRAYING for Shelly - a full healing of every trace of every cancer cell in her body.  Praise God for His healing power and willingness to heal us.

Calev Myers founded the Jerusalem Institute of Justice.  He is a Messianic attorney in Israel working for a prestigious legal firm and walking in what looks to me alike a Daniel anointing - he is accepted in the corridors of power in Israel despite his faith in Yeshua.  He is not just a lawyer that fights for Israel internationally, he also fights for believers in Israel - and he is very effective at both.  In the latest ministry letter of JIJ, which several other attorneys of faith work under, Calev writes about the battle they are waging against anti-Semitism in Warsaw.  He writes,  "We are defending the organizers of a pro-Israel rally against criminal charges of disturbing the peace during Israel's "Protective Edge" defensive military campaign in Gaza last year." For more information about JIJ's project against anti-Semitism, see video here.

They are also representing a Christian mother with a child born in Israel to a Jewish man seeking to prevent the deportation of the mother and her daughter.  You can learn more about this Messianic legal group that has fought and won so many battles for the believers of Israel inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Eddie Santoro, who leads the Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem, sends this: A Word to Encourage YOU  Eddie writes, "I am sending you a message I recently shared to encourage you as you press on in all that the Lord has placed within you and set before you. I pray that you will be encouraged. "

Last, but not least, we have part two of Howard Bass' report on ministry in Africa, as Howard and Randi traveled on from Zambia into the remote lands of DRC (Congo Kinshasha, formerly Zaire.)  There is nothing like traveling into a place where the people have so little to give us a reality check on all the blessings we enjoy - like indoor plumbing.  And perhaps the most amazing thing of all is that this people who traveled for days to attend a 6-day conference of 2-daily services in a remote village, what they wanted to learn from Howard was the truth about Israel's vital role in God's redemptive purposes and what it meant to them!  How powerful is that?

These are people and ministries worthy of holding up before the throne of God to say, LORD help them!

I just want to add a word of encouragement to subscribers.  You may not have time to read every page of the Weekly Summary every week, but I will promise you one thing. If you do purpose to read the more in-depth excerpts from the Weekly Summary, you will find that your knowledge of Israel, the Israeli ministries and God's plan for the role of the Church and the role of the Israeli believers in the last days will increase dramatically.  When we want to know something, we apply ourselves to learn.  This is a good place to do as described above. 

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: 

At Tents of Mercy Moshe Morrison (excruciating back pain due to a sciatica nerve problem); Marc Chopinsky (full recovery of his vital functions that has not returned after surgery); Dugit's Avi Mizrachi full recovery after gallbladder surgery; Acco Nastya, 16-yr old with leukemia under treatment; Nahariya Ruth Nessim, being treated biologically for Lymphoma; Jerusalem, unnamed Messianic forefather whose health continues to deteriorate.

Praying the Headlines

In Palestine murderers are heroes; In Israel murderers are prosecuted By Ron Cantor —  August 3, 2015

At 2:00 AM Friday morning, alleged—I only say alleged because they have yet to be captured—Jewish terrorists set fire to a Palestinian home, killing an 18-month-old and severely burning several others. As an Israeli, as a Jew, as a believer in Yeshua, this sickens me.  There is no religious or political justification for such horrific acts of violence.

.... As I mourn over this vile, heinous act, I struck by the contrast between the way Israelis respond to a Jew killing an Arab series the way Arabs react to a Palestinian killing a Jew. If the tables were turned things would be very different. Let me explain. My educated guess is that for every one attack like this from a deranged Israeli against Arabs, there are fifty or more from the hands of Islamic radicals against innocent Jews.

Three Points

1. When a Palestinian kills a Jew—it could be a baby or a new father or a whole family—any Jew—there is a great celebration from Ramallah to Gaza, from Jenin to Nablus. Candies and treats are passed out to the public by both terrorists and very proud Palestinian mothers. Here is just one of the scores of stories that display a culture in love with the blood of Jews http://roncan.net/1IBzmVo. In fact if you search Google images for Palestinians hand out sweets all you will see are images of Palestinians rejoicing over Jewish deaths.

  Read more

Teaching Articles

Isn't it odd that there is so much interest in faith circles for the Blood Moons and similar esoteric signs, yet the ~much greater~ sign of the community of Messianic Jewish believers arising in Israel is ignored or regarded as a 'lesser' sign of the times?

It is odd to me.

Yeshua said of Himself to the people misreading the times in His day in Jerusalem, "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple."

He would say this today to all the Christians enchanted by groups like the Temple Mount Faithful.  In this place of Israel, there is My Body being raised up of Living Stones, and they are greater than all the plans and preparations for a temple made of stone.

And today, His Body in Israel is made of the increasing number of "Living Stones" who are the Jewish believers of Yeshua, the temple of the Holy Spirit of that is being raised up in the midst of Israel. His Body of believers in Israel is also a greater sign to the Jews, and greater than all the signs capturing the attention of so many in the faith of Jesus internationally.

Our focus for Israel is not signs in the heavens, it is the advancing of the kingdom in Israel through the Israeli Jews in the faith of Yeshua/Jesus.  -Donna Diorio

The Israeli Messianic Marketplace  Feature of the Week:

Jacob Damkani Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel Trumpet of Salvation

We are delighted with the release of our timeless, quarterly magazine - EDUT (Testimony) - a publication of powerful stories of redemption hot off the press from here in Israel. God has embedded his extraordinary, transforming message of salvation within the life narratives of ordinary people. These stories are both inspiring and challenging. They show us all that the God of Israel is alive and active here in his land and amongst his beloved people.  View Now

With one foot in Paul’s shoe, I bring this magazine to you, the saints from the nations, to inspire you with fresh stories of what God is doing here in our midst and to invite you to come and be involved. With the other foot in Peter’s shoe, I bring this magazine to the ‘Jew first’ to testify to them the Good News that their promised Messiah has come.

This exciting new production of Trumpet of Salvation is about people and for people. It is another means of spreading the Gospel.

You can buy copies off our Trumpet of Salvation website. By purchasing this magazine you will not only be inspired but you will partner with us to spread the good news of what God is doing here in Israel and also print Hebrew copies to distribute freely here in the land.

Once you have read EDUT I strongly encourage you to pass it on so others can hear the message of such a great salvation!

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