WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 6/15/2016

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 Jun 15, 2016

I returned to my childhood faith at the end of 1982; From the beginning I looked around the church and wondered out loud, 'This is great, but where are all the Jews?' My Bible was filled with Jews from beginning to end and it made no sense whatsoever to me that Jews were not enjoying the same great discovery I had just made: that God is not faraway and disinterested in our trials and tribulations in life.

Sometime during Yitshak Shamir's second term as prime minister of Israel after 1986, I began to pay attention to Israel in relation to my own faith. I knew instinctively that God was not done with Israel. In fact, when I was first reading the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit in 1983, I fell in love with the book of Isaiah because if God expressed such devotion to Israel after all of Israel's failings, it was a comfort and reassurance to me that He would be the same way towards me.

From the beginning of my awareness of the modern state of Israel's significance to my own faith, I could not escape paying attention to Islamic terrorism. As I have grown up in the faith of Yeshua, the understanding that Christians and Messianics are being brought into a "one new man" reality in Yeshua, I have also grown up in the understanding of Islamic terrorism.

I could never adequately explain why God drew me so strongly into seeking to understand Islamic terrorism, but I knew that it was God who focused my eyes to observe, study and report on Islamic terrorism.  For such a times as this, It has become a part of my faith to engage in this battle.  I believe it is a key arena of spiritual warfare that many more Christians will have to prepare themselves to enter into. The threat of Islamism can no longer be dismissed just Israel's problem; the enemy of God is YOUR enemy.

To understand how Jihad fits in to the end time scenario, I would like to recommend this excellent audio teaching by Asher Intrater at the 2009 IHOP-KC Israel Mandate Conference. It is called The Harlot and the Beast, or Jezebel & Jihad. It is a message I continually return to as more and more of this is manifesting.

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

We start this week with an article by Leon Mazin who leads the Return to Zion congregation in Haifa (Shavei Tzion is part of the Tikkun network of ministries in Israel).  In The essence of Shavuot, Mazin writes: " From the Book of Acts we find out that the followers of Yeshua remained faithful to the Lord and continued observing the holiday. This was actually the reason why they happened to be in Jerusalem during this time of the year. What happened within the following days, however, has been viewed differently by the Christian world. The standard teaching claims that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this day, commonly known as Pentecost, has ushered in the era of the Church, leaving Israel’s glorious past behind."  Read more on line by clicking the linked title.

Mazin also writes about Revival of the Apostolic ministry in Israel |(Scroll down on linked page to read):  " Looking back in time when our elders, Dan Juster and Eitan Shishkoff, were talking about the rise of the apostolic generation from within Israel, I remember having reservations in regards to the scale of such developments. After all, Apostle is the title that carries weight in the spiritual realm. But praise be to God! By His grace, our small congregation (which consists of no more than 150 members) was able to bring the word of the Messiah to the distant lands. We have been privileged to share about the secrets of the letter to Ephesians as well as the rights of Jews to the Land of Israel with the Japanese and to teach about “the images of Yeshua in the Torah and in the temple sacrifices” in Finland. We believe that these are the first green shoots of the greater things that are yet to come. And even though it may appear as a far cry compared to the work performed by Paul, Barnabas and Apollos, it is very reminiscent of the great promise found in the Bible: “For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3) 

For the rest of news from the ministry work in Haifa and Nazareth - their ministries to Holocaust survivors, believers who are completing their IDF service, and new immigrants, see more inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary where each week we also include contact and donation information for each of the Israeli ministries featured.          

Blessed to have re-connected with Brian Slater in Netanya of Abundant Bread of Salvation, which reaches out with humanitarian food supplies for the needy and Holocaust survivors. Brian is currently in the UK-England from June 15th-27th. He asks: "Pray for many divine appointments and a great impact of love towards our Jewish People and our ministry outreaches." They are now able to help "over 350 poor and needy people, single mothers, widows, Ethiopian and Russian Jewish immigrant families every month.  Over 50 of that number are Holocaust survivors that come to us and receive a bag of food with over 24 products in each bag, as well as lots of love and personal care. Sadly, many of them are dying every month.  Please help us reach them before it is too late." 

The ministry also  honors Holocaust survivors "Royalty Dinners" - an evening at a nice restaurant to show them how much they are valued. According to recent figures, one third of Israeli Holocaust survivors are living in poverty. Learn more about this wonderful ministry inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary including contact and donation

Israel Pochtar of the Ashdod Beit Hallel and Voice of Judah network ministries send us two good reports: the first on their summer outreach to help supply the practical needs of new immigrants to Israel in their region. Find out how you can help inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary Also, Pochtar reports on their outreach over Shavuot when they took 350 non-believers to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast. Following ministry time, more than 250 of the people stood to pray and 300 rushed forward for prayer for healing as the prayer teams came into place. Read the testimonies of those who received healing and all of the good things in this outreach inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary   

From the KehilaNews.com site and email, we have selected 3 out of the many exceptional articles and reports Kehila (Congregation) News makes available: First a report on a Messianic Business Fellowship, Building the Messianic Business Community; Chris Mitchell's VIDEO: Jerusalem Dateline: Millennials Meet Israel at the Jerusalem Encounter and the report of an IDF soldier Terror Can Occur Anywhere

Arni Klein of Emmaus Way in the Galilee writes that we have entered the days that when God gives us a correction about something in our lives, we must respond with immediacy. He writes, "One can look at the Israeli Messianic Body from outside…or from inside…and see cliques, cracks, walls, divisions, offences, situations, and a rather lengthy list of lacks and issues needing fixing. Perhaps because we are relatively few in the center of the world with nowhere to hide, every little glitch can take on a significance of monumental proportion. However, the truth is, beyond all that, we know that we are a body...a family…bound and knit together by something bigger than our unresolved issues.  Many might be surprised at how frequently, for a wide variety reasons, Israeli believers from around the country gather together.  It’s remarkable to have a strong point of disagreement with someone and yet still experience a very real love and true personal affinity. The Body in Israel is an amazing entity.  We have much reason to be encouraged…not withstanding our constant need for help and support." Read more of his exhortation inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary              

From the Revive Israel team in Jerusalem (hope you took part in the Shavuot prayer event that streamed live from them) we have Asher's article on Moral Accountability and Dan Juster's video on The Passover : Key to Understanding Book of Revelation. Also in the beginning of Dan's teaching he explains the new configuration of the Tikkun network.

Revive Israel also shares two great opportunities to volunteer with their ministry which you can read about in full inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary where contact and donation information for each of the Israeli ministries featured.    

A report from the Dugit ministry about the monthly city wide prayer meeting that Avi Mizrachi attended in Tel Aviv the night before the terror attack there at the Sarona resturant near the military headquarters.  They write that Avi shared, "the night before the attack we had our monthly city wide prayer meeting in the VIP prayer tower.  During the meeting, they felt a strong leading to focus on government, military, and police.  On his way home from the meeting, Avi heard about the attack. We count it as a MIRACLE that two terrorists armed with machine guns opened fire in a busy market and were only able to kill 4 and wound 7.  ...  Please lift up the victims and their families and all those affected.   Please continue to lift up the people of Israel, that God would thwart all terrorist attacks and would supernaturally assist all military and police forces."

Also, the Mizrachi's daughter Orel has entered her military service and they ask prayers over her. Please pray for all of the believers serving their nation in the military, police, intelligence and government.

A dear sister, Orna Greenman, who ministers beautifully in her A Sign & An Example ministry (Ot Ol'Mofet) to widows, orphans and single parents, now is communicating primarily through her new blog which you can sign to to follow (and receive notices of new ministry entries).  Her latest entry is Two Women on Ruth and Orpah. The book of Ruth, as you may know, is traditionally read during the Shavuot feast.  Read more online by clicking the linked title.

From Rick Ridings at Succat Hallel we get a request for his daughter Bethany who has developed the flu - and just a little less than 2 weeks away from a worship training camp she is the overseer for over 80 Jewish messianic, Arab and Palestinian youth. Please pray no weapon formed against her or the event shall prosper. Read more about the event inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary

Ridings also updates us on his daughter Esther who we have been praying for on this list for cancer. she had surgery and her MRI was "cancer free". Please continue to pray for Esther.

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: 

Eddie Santoro;  Nanci, an intercessor treasured by the Boskey's in the Negev just underwent open heart surgery; Evan Thomas in still painful occupational therapy phase after serious arm fractures; Richard Hyde, Rick Ridings daughter, Esther Moore; David O., Eddie Beckford, David Davis; an unnamed forefather of Messianic Judaism; Ruth Nessim; 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. Miriam Abramov, incisional hernia.

Ripped from the Headlines (of Facebook)

Jonathan Moore, who is Daniel Juster's son-in-law, posted on Facebook: I interact with a lot of pastors. Some are leaders of huge churches or ministries. Sometimes we get to talking about theology and once in a while, we talk about how to reach Israelis. They don't get how it's different for us than for the rest of the world. I propose the following points/questions to help them understand:

1. When an African tribalist, or an Indian Hindi, or an "unchurched" American comes to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) what do they remain African, Indian, or American? When a Jew comes to faith in Yeshua do they remain a Jew?

2. When the above examples come to faith you say they convert. Can the same be said of a Jew who believes in the same scriptures you believe without the New Covenant (Testament) portion? Is it conversion to find the Messiah you've been looking for as a people and strengthen the covenant between God and man via his Messiah?

3. When you use scripture to prove that Yeshua is the Messiah, you probably use the Old Covenant scriptures. Your case will probably be weakened by the fact you are "preaching at them" in the translated English from the Hebrew that they have read since childhood. Are you able to take the time to understand the original Hebrew so that you can back up your claims about virgin birth and other prophetic references?

I recently listened to a native Israeli share his faith to another native Israeli and... was... amazed. His use of the prophets was incredible. I realized in that moment that we need more sabras equipped to share their faith. And we need our pastor friends all over the world to recognize that the barrier to evangelism in Israel is not like evangelism in most of the world. In fact, the word missionary in Israel is as bad as adulterer, criminal, conman, or crook in the rest of the world.

My comments: Years ago I saw that there is an anointing for ministering the gospel to the Jews that is different from the anointing for the gentiles and that was according to the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul/Shaul in Galatians 2:7-9 The Council at Jerusalem: 

...On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the Jews, was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles. And recognizing the grace I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.…

It is a little high-minded to think the "pillars" today can bypass what the apostles Paul, James, Peter and John acknowledged publicly to be a spiritual reality in this matter.

This also reminded me of a woman who I knew in the 80's who said she had a heart for native Americans. She took in a native American teen as a foster child and one of the first things she did was take that girl to a hairdresser and cut off her long tradition Indian hair into a short pixie cut (like her own), completely shutting down the spirit of that girl towards her and the faith. Many Christians do the same thing trying to minister to Jews from a place with no comprehension of the Jewish experience.

Moral of the Story: There is an anointing from God to minister the Gospel in Israel that rests upon fellow Israelis who are followers of Yeshua. That does not discount that some Jews come to faith through Christians sharing with them, but the kind of nationwide wave of salvation sweeping Israelis into the kingdom is going to take the anointing that God has put on Israeli ministers in the same was as it was on James, Peter and John.

My Word

By Donna Diorio

During the Shavuot prayer event, during one of the last prayer sets, Asher Intrater came forward and shared that the Shavuot holiday does not just appear in Acts 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but it also appears in Acts 20 when Paul tells the elders of the Church in Ephesus that he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Shavuot).

Now this mention from Asher just thrilled me to know end because it forms the basis of my Israelprayer/Arrows from Zion ministry. Early in the 1990's God began to open my eyes about the apostle Paul's ministry and the Holy Spirit began leading me on a connect-the-dots revealing of scriptures that are related to the apostle's revelation of how in Yeshua, God was bringing Jew and Gentile into "one new man".

A major feature of that is in how Paul was modeling the type of relationship the Gentile church was to enter into with the Israeli Messianic believers. Why was Paul hurrying to get to Jerusalem by the Feast of Shavuot? Because he was bringing with him the collection from the churches he had been gathering over several years to bring to the leaders in Jerusalem for distribution in the work among the Jewish people.

Remember, Paul was in Jerusalem when King Herod had James executed to please the Jews who were opposed to the Jewish believers; and he also had Peter in jail. He was there delivering a contribution from the church after a coming severe famine throughout the Roman Empire was prophesied in Antioch. Knowing the opposition against the believers in Israel, they determined to send special help to the believers in Judea.

I came to the conviction that while these things unfolded before Paul's eyes - a man who had been radically set free from his own religious hatred of the Jewish followers of Yeshua - Paul came to understand that the Jewish opposition to faith in Yeshua was going to be around until the very end.

Not only that, but that the gentile Church would have a mighty role to play in succoring the Jewish believers who stood as a witness of Yeshua in Israel - exactly like the believers responded to in the face of the prophesied worldwide famine.

I also came to the conviction that it was not enough for a Christian to support Israel in a world that hates Israel and the purposes of God. But that the apostle Paul had modeled to the Church what her relationship to the believers in Israel is actually: We are SPIRITUALLY connected to the believers in Israel and we are to help them to fulfill their ministry in Israel, in prayers and in material assistance.

Paul was hurrying to make it to Jerusalem with the collection from all the churches under his oversight. Paul knew that the Shavuot feast is the one that is a prophetic picture not just of the outpouring of Acts chapter 2 in the beginning, but it is also the prophetic picture of the outpouring in the end times. In our days, when the Church and the Israeli Messianics are truly joined together in the unity of the faith as "one new man" in Messiah, this will be the final outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh.

Together we are pressing into the purposes of God in restoring salvation to all Israel and the great outpouring of God's Holy Spirit in a great wave of salvation in all the nations.

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Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
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Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to: Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006  Or go to www.PayPal.com My account is:  donna@israelprayer.com  I do not have tax exempt status.