WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 2/24/2016

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

Arrows from Zion May be copied for use in Prayer Gatherings

Priority Prayer Focus Feb 24, 2016

This is from Rachel Netanel, "Every year there is a festival in Ein Kerem to celebrate the blossoming of the almond tree.   In Jeremiah 1:11 – 12, it speaks about the almond tree, “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word ready to perform it.”

"Almond in Hebrew is ‘shaked’ and the verb form is ‘shoked’ which means “watching over”.   It was not a coincidence that Aharon’s rod blossomed and bore almonds and this rod was put by the Ark of the Covenant.  

"This ‘almond’ tree is the first tree to blossom in Israel and it is also the last tree to bear fruit.  This is a symbol of Israel.  We were the ones given the Torah and one day Israel will see the One whom we have pierced and everyone will come to know the Lord."

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

I am always thrilled to read how God works through the Netanel's in Ein Karim, outside of Jerusalem, just with a simple openness to people, including extending them hospitality, and the obedience to the gospel with those that God puts in their paths.  It inspires me - and I hope you, too - to see people as they really are: looking for something real because they are without the LORD.

This month the Netanel's relate a recent encounter with many people in a Nazareth hotel that eventually even drew in the hotel rabbi (who ended up leaving angry because he was ill-equipped to deal with a person full of the Holy Spirit and brimming over with understanding in the Word of God. 

The rabbi had to admit he did not know the Hebrew scriptures that he was being asked about because he had not read from the Tenach (Bible) since his Bar Mitzvah at the age of 12!  When Rachel asked what he did read, he said the Gamara, the Zohar and the Talmud but not the Tanach.  Think about that!

Does Israel need spiritual leaders who know the Word of God, or only those that have read the commentaries?  I believe the Word that says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  This is what the Israeli Messianic believers are carrying in their hearts for Israel, and what we are carrying in our hearts for our own nations.

For more of the inspiring accounts of ministry by the Netanel's over the past month, see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

From Asher Intrater and Revive Israel, What Does "Maranatha" Mean? showing how the expression "maranatha" is connected to the prayers "May Your kingdom come" and "Blessed is He who comes". 

Also part 3 of Dan Juster's video teaching, No Longer Strangers and a video invitation to the annual Esther Fast  |  Every year during The Fast of Esther we hold an all-day, live streamed event of worship, fasting, and prayer. We invite you to join us on March 23, 2016 from 8am - 18:00 Israel time, for this important time as we rally together to stand for God's plans and purposes to prevail over every wicked scheme against God's people in our generation. We will provide translation from Hebrew to English.

Revive Israel also asks prayers for "repentance and integrity in government" as a former president is jailed for sexual assualt and previous prime minister jailed for financial corruption. One of the top rabbis in Israel is in jail for trying to manipulate the police department. "Well, this does show at least that our judicial system is functioning, and that some efforts are being made to bring more integrity to the government.  The Bible says that when a people (particularly Israel) humbles itself, repents, and turns to the Lord, that God will heal the land (II Chronicles 7:14). Let us pray that our people will do just that. Then God's great destiny for this nation will be fulfilled."

Also requesting prayer of protection for Mike Bickle:  "Pray for protection and wisdom for our friend Mike Bickle of International House of Prayer, Kansas City.  He has always been attacked because of the worldwide network of prayer, praise, and prophecy that has been fostered by his work.  Recently he has come under more attack because of his endorsement of Ted Cruz in the Presidential primaries. And even more recently, the attacks were intensified because of twisting of remarks he made about Israel and the fact that he partners with Messianic Jews for the salvation of Israel.  His profound explanation of his teaching about end times in order to encourage Christians to stand strong in support of Israel in the difficult times ahead was published in one of the newspapers that attacked him. To read Mike's response, click HERE!

Avner Boskey of David's Tent also writes on the subject this month in his article online: Jewish suffering and anti-Semitism – A hot-button issue in the U.S. elections?  |  Over the past few weeks Israeli newspapers have been focusing on Mike Bickle’s endorsement of Ted Cruz in his campaign to become U.S. President. Bickle is the Founder and Director of the Kansas City based International House of Prayer. The Times of Israel, YNET, the Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz all referred to sermons from 2005 and 2011 where Bickle referenced Adolf Hitler as being a hunter of the Jewish people …read more at above link

Ron Cantor also has An Open letter to the TimesofIsrael.com re: Mike Bickle

The Immanuel Church and Bookshop in Haifa, by Pastor Najeeb Atteih, is full of great news regarding ministry to Syrian refugees in Jordan.  They share some of the stories of those they have been sharing the good news with, as well as those that enter the Bible bookshop.  There is a report on their distribution to the poor of Haifa and Nazareth during Christmas - food parcels for extremely needy families.

You may remember that Pastor Atteih's son Tino is one of many Israeli Christian Arabs now swerving in IDF fighting units. This has brought a heart to start a home for these soldiers who are often put out of their families and communities, to "come home to."  This is the vision that is guiding the home that is already housing two pre-army recruits - a place where these courageous young Christian Arab believers can find spiritual, emotional and financial help as the soldier for the Israeli Defense Forces. 

" The Christian soldiers' home is a registered charity with the Israeli Government. All documents may be inspected. The Army and Najeeb are in constant touch. The project is only at its beginning. It will need ongoing support, office equipment, and more importantly, we lack at least one if not two concrete shelters in case of bombing (which could start any time) and these come at a cost of about 150,000 NIS each, about $39,000. This is admittedly no mean sum and we are looking to God and His people to help us with this project. But it will limp along until we have them!  Is there any way that any of you would consider supporting these utterly pro-Israel Arabs, who have dedicated their lives, and also put their life on the line to defend the Jewish State?"

Learn more about the ministries and activities of the Christian Arab pastor Atteih inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Ron Cantor shares this video about the grand opening of the Tiferet Yeshua Coffee House outreach in Tel Aviv.  It was really great to be able to meet Ron Cantor face to face for the first time after many years of following his ministry in Israel through his email and online communications.  I honestly felt like I knew him so well that I wondered as I was getting ready to go to Gateways Church in Southlake, Tx, if this really could be the first face-to-face meeting.  It was. I will tell you that Ron speaks as well as he writes, and also that his wife Elana is a true beauty.  This is a blessed young man and if you ever get a chance, go see him.  Learn more about what was on Cantor's mind inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Israel Pochtar writes about a reconciliation conference that his ministry participates in each year in Turkey, where Jewish and Arab pastors come together in the spirit of brotherly unity.  He writes, "It's such a unique opportunity for us Jewish believers from Israel to meet and fellowship with mainly persecuted Christian pastors and leaders from Arab countries who face incredible hardships because of their faith. . . . Turkey is still the only safe place for Israeli and Arab pastors from the Middle East to come together. We're really looking forward to this time of fellowship, hearing their stories and testimonies, pray and worship together for 3 days is absolutely priceless. Please keep our team in your prayers for our traveling and our time at the conference. We trust it will be an enormous blessing, this year even more than before. "

Two upcoming conferences Israel Pochtar asks prays for are the Church-Planting and Pastoral Training  and the Regional Youth Conference. Get more details inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary  

Howard Bass opens with the somber note that one of their young medical students at the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation has passed into eternity leaving a wife and five small children. They thank you for prayers that were made for him, and ask for prayers for the family he leaves behind.

Howard also speaks about Purim which begins in about a month and which we see is on the minds of many in Israel - the story of Esther, a hatred of God's people and how God raised up an intercessor on behalf of those He had chosen to survive against all odds.  Bass also writes about his teaching on  the letters to the seven churches of Revelation, to his return trip to Kenya on March 4-13, and the work they support in Israel prison ministry:

"We contribute to the support of an evangelical prison ministry carried on by the House of Light, an Arab multi-faceted work. They have legal authorized access to Christian prisoners located in prisons around Israel. The system in Israel for prisons is that Jewish prisoners have rabbis, Christians have either traditional clergy, depending on denomination, or, in the House of Light’s case, an evangelical Protestant. I am able to only pay visitations to prisoners by personal acquaintance or request. I am not allowed to have any personal extra time for Bible studies or other such meetings, since I am a Jewish believer in Jesus, which the government does not accept. Therefore, not only can I not meet with Jewish prisoners who might be interested in looking at the Bible together, or for prayer, I also cannot meet with Christian prisoners, since I have no formal recognition. It is one of the realities here in Israel, and why we are happy to support the House of Light, directed by our dear brother and sister, Anis and Nawal Barhoum."

From Katy in her weekly prayer letter from the Sorko-Ram's Maoz Ministries, are these events concerning Israel last week:
                Palestinian Authority representative said this week that they (the PA) will never again sit down to direct talks with Israel.

                Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday, while PM Netanyahu is paying an official visit to her country, that she doesn't think the time to implement the two-state solution is now.

                Hezbollah's Supreme Leader Hassan Nasrallah again threatened Israel, this time explaining that his terrorist organization is in possession of an atomic bomb.  And while they don't actually have one, they know a target in Israel (Ammonium reservoirs) they can launch rockets to, and if they should reach their target, the explosion will have an effect of an atomic bomb.

                IDF spokesman confirmed that this threat is real and there could be anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of casualties.

                Also, yesterday on one of the local news channels it has been reported that the U.S. Customs have been labeling goods made in Israel's Judea and Samaria settlements as goods made in the West Bank. The story is that they were supposed to label goods produced by the Palestinians, but something happened and settlers' products are being marked as well. Israeli officials are refraining from making a big deal out of it for now, since the relationship between our two countries is already hanging by a thread.  Please pray for Israel. PRAY for Israel's leaders and commanders to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly, recognizing the importance of their role.

Joel Jelski from Succat Hallel writes that he has wrapped up school and is off to Dallas to meet with his wife and child already visiting family in Mexico. They ask prayers for a fruitful visit in America, and also for their ministry work back home.  One is the Succat Hallel partnering with other local houses of prayer to do training of young people and teams for worship and prayer sets.  Read more from the Jelski's inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Barry and Batya Segal announce their Passover event in London with Dr. Michael Brown April 16 (Saturday) to celebrate and teach on the Passover feast. Together with Barry and Batya Segal and Pastor Alistair Scott, the event will be held at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster from 10:00 AM- 6:00 PM. The registration fee is 10 British Pounds for the whole event but free for children and teens 18 years and under. Call now to register in the UK at 01793-279111 and visit our website at www.josephstorehouse.co.uk

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

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives.

Rick Ridings pregnant daughter, Esther Moore; David O., Eddie Beckford, Polly Siglium; David Davis; an unnamed forefather of Messianic Judaism; Ruth Nessim; Eddie Santoro;  Evan Levine; Rachel Slater; Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; Moshe Morrison;  Shelly wife of pastor Eitan; Claude Ezagouri; Patti, wife of Dan Juster; Baruch and Karen Maayan; Michael E (see update below) and unnamed Israel-related ministers.  Pray also for Ghazi, the son of an Arab pastor, who is suffering from Leukemia. Tal Bass.
   See some progress updates  inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Teaching Articles

A’YELET HA’SHAHAR—the MORNING STAR by Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem

Ayelet and Shahar are two lovely Hebrew words often used as personal names in Israel,  Ayelet for girls, Shahar by both men and women.   Ayelet (ah-yeh-let) is a poetic name for a hind, a doe, a female deer.  We find it in Proverbs 5:19 used as a simile for a beloved wife, “a loving deer, a graceful doe.”   Shahar (the second syllable pronounced with a slight rasp in the throat) means the dawn, daybreak, the morning light.  

There is one place in the Hebrew Bible where these two words are found joined together to make a compound word.  It is in the instructions to musicians at the beginning of Psalm 22, “For the choir director, on Ayelet-haShahar.”  It may have been referring to the name of a known melody, “To be sung to the melody of ‘The Hind of the Dawn.’”  Or perhaps there was a musical instrument with that name, which would have been used as an accompaniment when the psalm was read. 

In any event, the expression  Ayelet haShahar has survived into Modern Hebrew, almost always used as a poetic simile for the Morning Star—imagined as a graceful deer making its way across the sky.  It was this ancient symbol, Ayelet haShahar— the Morning Star, which was to set the atmosphere for reciting Psalm 22.

   Read more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

My Word

 ISRAELPRAYER:  There is a warfare that attaches to anyone who sees and preaches what God's plan is to bring Christians alongside the Body of Messiah in Israel to be like a Ruth to those laboring in the LORD's harvest. The enemy will mount a siege on any Christian who advances that message, and it will be a siege akin to the siege we have seen among the nations politically opposed to the modern state of Israel in every conceivable way. 

To be a Christian who sees and preaches God's plan for the "one new man" unity that brings about the greatest spiritual harvest in the world through the salvation of Israel, means having the same spirit that we see in the Israelis who are holding their ground despite international opposition to their survival or existence.  Mike Bickle is one of these Christians and he has the wounds of the enemy to prove it. We just have to remain steadfast not matter how the winds of opposition blow against us.

Others have started down the path to support Israel, and for various reasons have greatly diminished commitment to connecting with the Body of Messiah in Israel. Just connecting with Israel is not enough to accomplish the plan of God that is laid out clearly in Romans, and in symbolism in many other places of scripture, including the book of Ruth. Whatever is said about Mike Bickle to tear him down - whether it is regarding Israel or not - that is the Accuser of the Brethren opposing the plan of God. Do not mistake it for anything else. 

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