Arrows from Zion 8/1/2018

"I see men like trees walking" Mark 8:22-26

Priority Prayer Focus

My sense is that the critical health crisis of several of the Israeli ministry leaders is part of the demonic attempt to thwart God's restoration of the healing ministry of Yeshua in the land of Israel. Healing was not an incidental part of the ministry of Yeshua, it was a dramatic spiritual eye opener too. As healing is restored to the ministry of the Body of Messiah in Israel, it will also be a dramatic spiritual eye opener. That is why, I believe, the enemy has been attacking the leaders of the Israeli Messianic body attempting to turn faith into unbelief.  Elisheva Damkani mentioned it sometime over the past days, Mark 8:22-26 when Yeshua healed a blind man, but at first he only got partial sight. He said, I see men as trees walking." This blind man was not instantly healed, his restoration was partial, but at last his sight was fully restored.

We are standing for the restoration of spiritual sight to the blind in Israel. My sense is that healing will play a major role in the ministry of Yeshua as the body of Messiah goes forth in the land. We know there is always a battle involved when God is restoring what has been lost. It should not surprise us that the battle would try to overtake the men and women of God who are leading the restoration of faith in Israel. Please pray that God will complete the good work He has begun in these leaders, raising them to health as a testimony to His love and greatness.

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com

Sadly we report the passing of Esther Ridings Moore, the 28 year old daughter of Rick and Patti Ridings of Succat Hallel in Jerusalem;  the wife of Will Moore and mother of 4-year old Caleb. Esther was a worshipper whose recorded and live music touched many. She is a beloved young woman to many in Israel - her Facebook page, and that of her dad's is overflowing with thoughts and remembrances of her.  We who are left behind mourn the loss of our loved ones, but the consolation we have with those who have died in Messiah is that they are the ones wrapped in the glory of His embrace now unlike anything we can experience here on earth. Farewell to Esther and we ask our Father to comfort all those who mourn her loss in Zion.  You may still contribute to her medical expenses here.

Eddie Santoro writes about the border conflict(s), how Israel is aiding the Syrian civil war victims, and also about how he and Jackie have be warring in the spirit for the lives of several believers, as well as his own 3-year battle.  When others who have experienced God's healing touch, then are struck again, it has a ripple effect on others in similar battles. The enemy pushes hard to collapse our faith. Let us keep praying earnestly in faith for all these on our Urgent Prayer list. Also for their loved ones standing spiritual intimate guard over them.

As always, Eddie reports that he and Jackie continue to witness to those they meet and pray for healing in the name of Yeshua.  Healing is the children's bread. Matthew 15:22-29. If you have not read Eddie's book, Lifted Up: Overcoming through the Power of Love - why not now?

This morning there was a new update from Elisheva Damkani on her Facebook page: "We had a good day yesterday. Jacob seemed to react to quite a few things. His nose was itching and he made this funny face moving his nose. That was the first time I saw him reacting to a discomfort. It was great to watch! Encouraging. Then I thought he should regain control over more parts of his body. I moved his hand so he could feel it, feel the muscles, the nerves and then asked him to move his finger. And he did!" Although Jacob remains in a coma, we pray and believe that it is a restorative one and that Jacob will emerge from it with a mighty work of God done in him.

In Arad, the Hebrew congregation is concerned for the future of the city with a big push on to elect a new mayor who will cater to the desires of the ultra-orthodox sect that are in such large numbers in their "small sleepy city". The elders of the Hasdey Yeshua have been delighted with the changes that were brought about by their current mayor who helped the seculars of the city as well as those Messianics in Arad seeking relief from the continual harassment of the ultra-orthodox.  Now they are concerned that Arad will go back to city government that allows the religious party to rule over everyone else. It hasn't been pretty when that was the case. Please pray with them for a government that will uphold the welfare of all Arad's citizens.

Also on the Hasdey Yeshua prayer list is for their Bedouin outreach "Please pray for safety and wisdom for those involved in reaching out to the Bedouin and that their efforts will bear fruit for eternity." And for their kids enjoying regional Messianic activities - from summer camps to their mandatory IDF service preparations. Finally, for the ongoing drive for funds for their congregational building. They have been without a 'home' for years.

From the Israeli Tikkun-affiliated ministries:  The Craze for Ancestry Information | By Dan Juster, Restoration from Zion | Let’s enjoy some knowledge of ancestry but let’s find the center of our identity in Yeshua. Also: You can also follow Dan's official page on Facebook for his observations about current events and spiritual trends. Perhaps the wisest of the wise men of the international Messianic community, Dan is always well informed, thoughtful and penetrating in the spirit of the Word of God.

Tikkun also gives the link to the excellent article by Ron Cantor that I hope everyone will take the time to read, When an Israeli Soldier Dies in Battle…The Country Stops. Plus Hope and the Hyacinth | By Avi Tekle, Tents of Mercy. A VIDEO from Leon Mazin's Return to Zion congregation on their Compassion Ministries. And the BOOK by Eitan Shishkoff answering some of the Questions about Israel and God's plan  that many in the church struggle with: "What About Us?".  Here also is the link to their retreat project FieldsofWheat

 
The Intercessors for Israel (IFI) in Jerusalem send out a Friday Prayer Points that focuses on the current events in Israel with scripture verses to pray over it all with.  Recently, of course, the prayer points cover the violence of Israel borders with Gaza, Syria and by intrusion into both of those areas, by Iran. Also, like the congregation in Arad, believers in Jerusalem are concerned about who will be elected to govern their city and Jerusalemites are concerned that it could be either an Ultra-Orthodox or Arab candidate based on current evaluations.  They write: "Unless we are totally off the mark – do not allow an Arab or an ultra-Orthodox win the election. As this is Your city, and You are the Great King, choose the one whom You want to rule under You. We ask for a mayor who has Your heart and Your zeal for Zion (Isa. 62:1; Zech. 8:2).

From Cody Archer, who often hosts the Facebook Revive-Live interview videos, is an article called 4 Key Ingredients for Discipleship which Cody says are keys he has found to help bringing disciples to maturity. I you would like to take part in helping Revive Israel build a modern Global Ministry & Media Center in the Hills of Jerusalem, considering partnering with them in this project and reaching and discipling Israelis.

Now here is a super short video from Revive that I really love where Asher Intrater speaks about the importance of husbands and spiritual father figures supporting women as they grow in their prophetic gift: Women Who Prophesied. In fact, I asked my husband to watch it and he said it really clicked with him.

Orna Grinman's A Sign & Example blog has part 3 of her Back to Beit Lehem series: It Is Being Produced Again " Briskilla and Tian Jie arrived on the morning of May 15. The season of wheat harvest was at its peak, the sheaves ready to be harvested. Hermana picked them up from the airport and escorted them to one of the nearest fields. They could not resist it. As tired as they were, they had to stop and glean."

Sally Shiff is back, rested and refreshed from Norway with fresh vision in two stages: first a US trip Sep 3-Oct 17 where she will be speaking on the fall feasts - which are yet to be fully fulfilled. Sally writes to those who consider scheduling her, "I am under the covering of Tony Sperandeo, my Pastor at Hamaayan Congregation and can hardly wait to see you and see what God is going to do while I am there. Email her for information.  The second stage of her vision is for intercession and ministry in Israel as she seeks to minister to the lost sheep of Israel.

From Beit Hallel and Voice of Judah Ministries, Israel Pochtar is delighting in a recent wedding in their congregation with two young people - the groom with the call of an evangelist and his bride who grew up in the congregation from her childhood. Israel says it signifies a fulfillment of Jeremiah 33:10-11 "Thus says the Lord: 'Again there shall be heard in this place...the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride"

He is also glad that they have completed their building renovations:  "This building, that is fully Messianic-owned, will serve as a vital and important hub for the work of the Lord in the south of Israel. It will centralize so much of the work we do in many different cities and communities, whether it is humanitarian outreach, social work, evangelism events, leadership training, discipleship, youth ministry, and so much more." Did you know they have congregational plants in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Rishon Le-Zion, Jerusalem, Ramle, Lod, Kiryat Gat, Be'er Sheva and Eilat? Please pray for all of them, also to be able to raise all the funds needed to equip the new building with chairs in the main sanctuary, audio and sound equipment, furnishing the lobby, as well as equipping children's classrooms.  There is no doubt that they are pressing in to advance the kingdom of our dear LORD.

Finally, this story in KehilaNews.com  is so important, I have lifted extended excerpts to encourage you to read the article and understand the issue that faces the believers in Israel:

Shocking case of Israeli believers targeted by efforts to revoke their citizenship | by Cliff Keller | Israel's Ministry of Interior is attempting to revoke the citizenship of a Messianic Jewish family for no apparent reason. Yet in 2012, an Israeli Judge declined to revoke the citizenship of a convicted terrorist bus bomber, stating that revoking [citizenship] is reserved for extreme cases. Please pray for justice regarding Ariel and Shayla Hyde's case.

VIDEO with the Hydes

               

Because of their religious beliefs, Ariel and Shayla Hyde, a young married couple from Haifa, are two among many in Israel and abroad who find themselves targets of what amounts to a discrimination campaign by Israel’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) to protect the nation from Messianic Jews.

Ariel’s parents, Richard and Carolyn Hyde, are also longtime targets of a religiously motivated quest by the Ministry of Interior to deport them, and more recently, Ariel’s brother, Avi, and his wife, Liora.

Historically controlled by Shas, a small, ultra-Orthodox Jewish religious political party in Israel, but one which wields much power, the MOI regularly employs arbitrary administrative bullying and quasi-legal maneuvering to obstruct aliyah (immigration to Israel) and deny citizenship to those who do not share their rabbinically held beliefs. In some cases, they also attempt to revoke the existing legal citizen status of family members of those targeted, although, up until now, unsuccessfully.

“In a democratic country, citizens shouldn’t have to fear being stripped of their citizenship,” declares a Haaretz editorial from Dec. 26, 2017.

....None seem more threatened than the Hyde family. The common theme behind the MOI’s efforts: The Hydes are believing, Messianic Jews.

“After some Messianic Jews have already immigrated to Israel, the Ministry of Interior can refuse to renew their passports, refuse to register their newly born children, and in extreme cases (although it has yet to happen) revoke their citizenship,” Michael Decker, lawyer and partner at Cohen, Decker, Pex & Brosh, writes in The Law of Return with a Focus on Christians and Messianic Jews.

....the Shas party, with under 6 percent representation in the Israel Knesset, has somehow become inordinately empowered to dictate who shall and shall not be part of the people of Israel, and continues with impunity to fly in the face of fairness, decency and legality as well as the words of the prophets.

....Update: At a subsequent court hearing, characterized by the Hydes as “sudden,” the presiding judge accepted the Ministry of Interior’s  proposal to grant Shayla permanent residency while the MOI continues to attempt to revoke the citizenship status of Ariel and his parents. This despite the fact that, as noted in the story, their efforts lie outside applicable guidelines established by the Israeli Vice Attorney General.

It may seem reasonable, at first glance, to allow the courts to continue to work through the Ministry’s cause, but a recent ruling by Tel Aviv District Court Judge Varda Meroz seems to put the process to shame. Haaretz.com reported in 2012 that Judge Meroz declined to strip the citizenship of a convicted bus bomber, Mohammed Mafarja, whose crimes include attempted murder and aiding the enemy during Operation Pillar of Defense.

    “Revoking [citizenship] is reserved for extreme cases,” she ruled. “Mafarja’s case, despite its severity, doesn’t fall within the bounds of such cases.”

How can it be reasonably argued that making videos and expressing one’s faith is more “extreme” than attempted murder?

Ariel and Shayla plan to appeal their case to the District Court. “The Ministry of Interior asked for the appeal to be erased,” Ariel told Kehila News, “as if they had adequately responded and justice was done, but our lawyer demanded [that] the judge…make an official ruling… Thankfully, he agreed, which means that we will be able to appeal it to the District Court.”

The Hyde’s attorney told them afterward that, if they had won the case at the current level, it would have set a limited precedent. “But now that it is apparently going up to a higher court, if we win at that level, it will set a precedent for many believers in Israel, hampering the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to revoke others’ citizenship. So we believe that what the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for good.”
   Read the whole story on Kehila News here

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

Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs

CONTINUED URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI and EDDIE SANTORO | Following a 2nd brain surgery EDDIE SANTORO has now started a biological drug which drug is given intravenously twice a month. According to the doctor, this particular treatment is very effective in 60% of the cases. | See latest update on Jacob Damkani above |  Ruth Nessim appears to be on the repair and currently out of the country with her son after suffering from severe Gastro-Enteritis which she had 5 attacks of within a 2-month period. Con't prayers  | Rachel Netanel took a fall and has broken her leg. Pray for quick healing. In April she learned she had a polyp on her vocal cords. Please pray for complete healing for this evangelist in Israel.  | Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments but without any substantial improvement | Sensitive Information I cannot share names of several who have asked for prayers for the last several months for certain of their grandchildren who are afflicted, even tormented. The enemy not only strikes at us through our children, but also our through our grandchildren. Please pray for these Israeli grandmothers crying out to God silently for their grandchildren.

Pray also for Israel intercessors/supporters in Israel & other nations with urgent health needs:  Jeurgen, Karen and Yonit in Israel.  Debra Koen Abernethy, Cecelia Toth, Arlene Stucki, Una Gere, Mo Murray, also from our friend Steve in the UK for his wife Elizabeth.

Praying the Headlines

From Barry & Batya Segal's Jerusalem News Network: reports on a riot of 7,000 at the Gaza border; Police Officers injured in Temple Mount unrest; and the huge gaps between Republicans and Democrats over Israel in a recent Pew Poll. Get this by subscribing to JNN directly, or by subscribing also to the Weekly Summary (write donna@israelprayer.com)

Teaching Articles 

David Lazarus of Beit Immanuel in Jaffa gives these tips for your children in summer congregational services | Summer is upon us sun filled days, plenty of cold drinks and lots of kids in Israel, everywhere. And who doesn't love kids! Right. So here are a few guidelines we try to live by during the Summer, and all year at Beit Immanuel Congregation that will probably make you smile, and hopefully encourage you to go that extra mile (or 2, depending on how fast your child tries to run!).

To the parents of our young children:

     1. God put the wiggle in children. Don't feel you have to suppress it in God's House. All are Welcome!

     2. Sit in front where it is easier for your little ones to see what's going on. They tire of seeing the backs of others' heads.

     3. Quietly explain the parts of the service and actions of the worship team, pastor and others.

     4. Sing the songs with them.  Children love to copy you.

     5. If you must leave the service with your child, feel free, but do come back. As Jesus said, "Let the children come to me."

     6. Remember that the way we welcome children in our congregation directly affects the way they respond to God and to one another. Let them know that they are home in God's house of worship.

     7. Please welcome children and give a smile of encouragement to their parents. They really need it!

________________________________________

Donna Diorio 
donna@israelprayer.com  or donna@d10r10.com
 
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