WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 5/24/2017

Priority Prayer Focus Jerusalem Day

In Martin Sarvis' May 8th Update he wrote about the severe drought in Israel - the fourth in a row for northern Israel - and after hardly any rains in Israel this Spring.  Martin remembered that, "Ten years ago—on Israel’s 40th “Jerusalem Day”, long after rain was considered to have halted for the summer, a sudden violent storm erupted over Jerusalem.  Pavilions were blown down, parades and other festivities were halted.  And there was flooding—unusual for this city—serious flooding with water up to the middle of cars!  Then it was gone.  In just over two weeks, Israel will celebrate her 50th birthday as a united city."

Israelprayer:  Last night at the start of 50th Anniversary of  Jerusalem Day and the end of the US Presidential visit to Israel, on Twitter the spokesman for the Jewish Agency for Israel tweeted:  "It's drizzling. In Jerusalem. In the middle of May. Bizarre."

It appears that God is speaking to us on this 50th anniversary of the taking of Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six Day War, that He remains committed to His promise of Isaiah 44:2-4, Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; and you Israel whom I have chosen. For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; And they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water.’

We are living in prophetic times - times of great darkness but also the rising light of the LORD upon us.

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.

Starting off this week with a short video from Asher Intrater, Jerusalem Day,  which he discusses US President Trump's visit to Israel during Jerusalem Day and what the significance of Jerusalem is. Does this year's 50th anniversary (jubilee) of the capturing of Jerusalem have any significance? Is there yet more to be accomplished concerning the reunification of Jerusalem in God's plan? In this video, Asher discusses these questions and more!

In the Maoz ministries report of Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram last week, prior to the Trump visit to Israel, Katy Smith asked a question that has been swirling in the news media: Does the Western Wall belong to Israel? She also posted at critical prayer request that we urge especially our American subscribers to keep on their prayer list throughout the Trump presidency: "PRAY that God will remove ungodly counsel from the President and surround him with people who know His Word and the importance of standing with Israel."      

Maoz also wrote about the new "Jesus Storybook Bible" in Hebrew that just went into print and another that will be out later this year. Please pray over this part of their ministry which is an important and valuable equipping for the families of faith in Israel. For the other prayer requests and happenings of Maoz, please read more inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

It has been almost a year since we heard from David and Leah Ortiz in Ariel, as they have sought to go quietly about the Father's business. You may or may not know that they were targeted in a religious bombing in their home where they came very close to losing their youngest son, Ami who opened the package bomb and took the full brunt of the blast. It is only God's intervention that pulled the 15-year old through after the Purim bombing of 2008.

Leah writes that Ami's wounds continue to be an issue although he is doing well having graduated with a BA in Psychology, working as a caseworker for abused children, and with a goal of pursuing his Masters in Clinical Psychology. Soon Ami will have to undergo yet another operation, this one for one of his ear drums. Please keep Ami in prayer, as well as the whole family. To catch up more with the rest of Ortiz family and their ministry, please read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

It has also been a few months since we heard from Pastor Najeeb and Elisabeth Atteih, the Lebanese Christian pastors of the Immanuel Church and Bookshop in Haifa. Elisabeth explains that a much busy schedule and some health problems of Najeeb have prohibited their ministry reporting. The critical issue they bring to the fore for us is their need to restock their bookshop shelves, especially with Arabic Bibles for all age ranges. If you have read the prayer letters of the past you will know that their Bible bookshop gets all kinds of people from Muslims to religious Jews, to international visitors.  They welcome all with open arms and the message of the gospel. You will also know that they are quite instrumental in nurturing the Arab IDF soldiers, of which their son is one. Please read more about the ministry which in my view is a major testimony of the power of Yeshua to bring reconciliation. Read it inside the Weekly Summary attachment.  They need about $10,000 to restock their bookshop shelves, and write: "We are not simply book-sellers, but an evangelistic enterprise, but we ourselves do not have the funds." Contact information is supplied in the Weekly Summary attachment.

Even though the Trump visit to Israel has past, Ron Cantor's call to pray over this issue and the information shared in this article are still valid. Please read A call to pray for President Trump before Israel visit - as he Backtracks on Promise to Move Embassy

               

Howard Bass in the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva also writes about the Trump visit to Israel and the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem coming back into Israeli control. But, Howard writes, "It has been 50 years (on the Hebrew calendar) since Israel captured Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in June, 1967.  It is clear now for many years already that this did not bring the "times of the Gentiles" to fulfillment.  Jerusalem is still being trampled underfoot by the Gentile powers, and East Jerusalem -- the Biblical Jerusalem, where the Old City and Temple Mount are located -- is still being offered as the capital of some potential Palestinian state.  Jerusalem's peace will only come with the return of the rightful Heir to the throne of David. Until then, there is still much unrest and trouble.  Keep Jerusalem in your hearts and prayers, for the sake of the name of the Lord, who has chosen that city as His -- the city of the great King!  For now, she has the spirit of Sodom and Egypt (Rev 11:8), and awaits her full redemption." 

Read more from the ministry inside the Weekly Summary attachment including the news that one of the congregations soldiers, "Mark Lampert, was a recipient of the Presidential Award of Excellence on Independence Day!  I have heard that there was also another believer who received the same honor.  This is award is given to 120 Israelis serving in the military, and they come from every stream of the society, from all parts of the country, from across the religious sectors of those serving the country in this way."

Guy Cohen of the Harvest of Asher congregation in Akko sends a word that will encourage you to rehearse who Yeshua says you are more than any other source of input in your life. Get his scriptures of "Who I Am" inside the Weekly Summary attachment along with multiple prayer requests from their Katzir Asher congregation.

Eddie and Jackie Santoro are also participating the "incredible season here in Israel - so much is happening!"  Eddie notes that on the "incredibly significant prophetic event [of Jerusalem Day], not only for Israel but for the whole world, President Trump has come to Jerusalem." He also prays, "May God fill him with boldness and courage as he considers Jerusalem. It is and will be the undivided capital of Israel forever. God promised it. May the United States walk in this truth and support God's promises and may His blessings be poured out upon America as she stands as a friend of Israel."

Truly the failure to consider what significance God continues to place on Israel and Jerusalem as the point of Jesus' return to earth, we see not only the leaders of the world go far astray from the solutions to the horrific problems they face, but we also see a great swath of the Church completely missing what God is doing in the hour at hand. No one that fails to see that Jerusalem, Israel and the Jewish people are in the center of what God is doing in this hour can lead others into safety and security. Keep praying for our spiritual and political leaders to receive from God "eyes to see and ears to hear" what the Spirit is saying.

Read more about the ministry of the Santoros, and the upcoming Shavuot/Pentecost activities inside the Weekly Summary attachment                       

"What can I say in your honor, Jerusalem, that hasn’t already been said? Everyone wants to crown you and say “she’s mine”, or “I was here first.” Is there a place left on your head for me to set some crowns of my own? A head stand or a nod?"  Orna Grinman of A Sign & An Example writes in a new blog post Who will stand on his head for her?

From the Jerusalem Institute of Justice another short word on the history of the city of Jerusalem and how the nations have restricted religious freedom in Jerusalem with "Israel's victory in the Six Day War resulted in the reunification of Jerusalem and freedom of worship was restored to members of all faiths."  This, of course, relates to the work of the JIJ, "dedicated to confronting discrimination and exploitation by promoting human dignity to ethnic, religious and cultural minorities in Israel and throughout the Middle East."  Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment  

         

Kobi and Shani (Sorko-Ram) Ferguson, Yeshua Israel Ministries & Israel Prayer Tower in Jerusalem, write about the Trump visit and Jerusalem Day. " President Donald Trump just completed his first visit to Israel. Despite the huge levels of security it required, his trip was said to be largely personal in nature. He explained he wanted to come pray at the Western Wall to ask God for wisdom." Hallelujah! May God grant this prayer of the President of the United States beyond his wildest expectations! 

They also note this extremely important fact, in that Trump is the FIRST SITTING PRESIDENT to ever visit and pray at the Western Wall, which is in the eastern side of the city claimed by the Palestinians. No sitting president ever wanted to wade into the dung storm of to whom that piece of property belonged.

As stated earlier - no one that considers what God has stated in the Bible about it fails to understand that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel. But nations discounting this information fool themselves into believing they can make the rules according to what is convenient to them. Not so. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil." False worship on the Temple Mount - God's HOLY MOUNTAIN - is coming, not by the hand of men, but by the hand of God. At that point no doubt will be left in anyone's mind but that the City of The Great King, Yeshua, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, is Jerusalem, Israel.

Also noted by the Ferguson's "Ivanka Trump, known locally by her Jewish name, Yael, also visited the Wall and was seen crying as she prayed." Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment          

Sally Shiff, who is the Liaison and intercessor for the Kfar Saba Congregation of the Wellspring writes, "As I watched the ceremonies at the Western wall, I was struck with the new chapter that God is turning with this historic event. Fifty years is significant in the Jewish Religion. It’s the year of Jubilee. And all this month, there is much jubilation going on in Jerusalem as well as Israel. But how does this impact you??? I hope it’s a reminder that God is STILL in the business of promises fulfilled in each of our lives. In today’s real life, it might be hard to see God’s hand working. With terrorist activities throughout the world, maybe some of your families going through hard times of enduring death, divorce, and lost relationships. But, in spite of these troubled times, we still need to hold on to the Hope of the Nations, the Lover of our souls. " Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment       

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: 

New report on David Ortiz who was hospitalized for Pericarditis in March for 3 days. He is healing slowly - pray for full recovery and healing for this heart disease.  Also for Ami Ortiz who must undergo another surgery for one of his ear drums | HaMaayan congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for healing  for David B., the wounded soldier/worship leader from Beer Sheva congregation, Olga Bikas, Esther Ridings Moore,  Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of Patti Juster, Eddie Santoro, Gila in Arad, Cookie, Howard Bass, | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K; PLEASE PRAY ALSO for all the caretakers.

Update from Esther Ridings Moore: We would appreciate continued prayers and support as I (Esther) continue on with the treatment plan I am following and as we keep believing for the miracle to happen and this lump to dissolve fully. (See fuller details inside the Weekly Summary attachment)

Praying the Headlines

Succat Hallel Rick Ridings Update on Turkey imprisoned pastor Andrew Brunson. This is from the Presbyterian Church that oversees Andrew and Norine Brunson inside the Weekly Summary attachment
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Martin Sarvis in his May 22 update on the Muslim month long fast of Ramadan beginning Friday night (5/26) inside the Weekly Summary attachment   

Teaching Articles

Trouble Ahead | by Asher Intrater | All the prophets describe a time of trouble in the end times. This is called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” in Jeremiah 30:7, and the “tribulation” in the gospels (Matthew 24; Mark 13). The second half of the book of Daniel contains a series of prophecies concerning the end times.  Click title for an abbreviated and simplified survey of Daniel’s tribulation prophecies.

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The Israeli Messianic Feature of the Week
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Jewish Giftedness & World Redemption: The Calling of Israel
by Jim Melnick

Jim Melnick is a good friend and a great lover of Israel and the Jewish people. You will be greatly blessed by his book on this overdue subject. -Donna Diorio, Arrows from Zion

Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers. This book looks at the undisputed fact that Jewish people excel in so many fields, and relates that to the fact that, as the Chosen People, they were called to be a “nation of priests” and “a light to the nations.” 

Jim writes, "I’m very excited about the book’s potential impact. I think it will bless Messianic believers greatly, but I also wrote it evangelistically, with secular Jews in mind as potential readers."

Endorsements:

Fascinating, wide-ranging research, with careful and sober treatment of the relevant issues. Biblically-based conclusions are eye-opening. Highly recommended! --Michael L. Brown, Ph.D., author Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, Volumes 1-5

The most comprehensive research of the unique achievements of the Jewish people. The author comes up with the only reason that makes sense of this mystery. — Daniel C. Juster, Th.D., Restoration from Zion of Tikkun International

An excellent book to challenge unjust hatred and envy. --Howard Bass, Messianic pastor in Israel