Ron Cantor's early
2019 tour group LOVED visiting Israel and the Israeli ministries.
Don't watch this video unless you want to come to Israel!
For more info go to UpToZion
Don't watch this video unless you want to come to Israel!
For more info go to UpToZion
The
Book of Acts is Stupid if
by Ron Cantor, Messiah's Mandate
by Ron Cantor, Messiah's Mandate
Over the past few
days, a video in Hebrew has been circulating about the evils of spiritual
manifestations in the life of the believers. The video condemns 24-hour prayer
movements, as well as much of what we see and read about in the book of Acts. The
creator of this video took some of the more bizarre videos out there and made
it seems as if those strange manifestations were the norm in charismatic
congregations. Any normal charismatic believer would look at a
video of a person barking like a dog and think it abnormal. The sad thing is
that it is causing division in our small body of believers here in Israel. Please pray over
this situation.
Condemning Acts!
| The fact is, if some of the experiences recorded in the book of Acts happened
today, many leaders would condemn them as being of the devil. Indeed, the
Pharisees said that Yeshua was able to cast out demons, because he was
possessed by demons. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of
demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” (Matt. 12:24)
Even today, people sometimes mistake the work of God as the work of
Satan. But how do we know that Yeshua was being used of God and not the devil?
Simple: A house divided against itself cannot stand. Satan doesn’t attack
Satan; God does! There was lasting fruit. People who were healed and set free
of demons, stayed healed and free. It accompanied the preaching of the Gospel.
Mark 16 says that signs and wonders will confirm the truth of the Gospel.
Not for Today
| Some teach that the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12) are not for today. The
teaching is that after the New Testament was written, there was no longer a
need for healings and miracles—as we only need the written word of God. This is
based on one passage that is often misinterpreted. "But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are
tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For
we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is
in part disappears." They believed that the completeness that would
come was the word of God. And once the word of God was completed with the book
of Revelation, there was no more need for miracles.
So, whereas Yeshua healed suffering from leprosy, God now wants them
to suffer and just read stories about people being healed in the Bible? Whereas
Yeshua cast demons out of people, setting them free, it is now God’s will for
people to keep their demons? This goes against the teachings and acts of Yeshua
himself who said that it is the same authority to forgive someone as it is to
heal. If forgiveness is for today, and it is, so is healing. Yeshua said, in
John 14:12, that we would do even greater works than Him.
So, what does Paul mean in 1 Cor. 13? He is referring to the coming of
a new heaven and a new earth that John speaks of when he quotes from Isaiah
25:8: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their
eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:3-4) The perfect thing that we
wait for is the coming Kingdom of Yeshua.
All or Nothing
| Some teachers say God still heals today, but they don’t really expect it.
They don’t boldly pray for the sick with the expectation of healing. They
cannot tell you the last time they laid hands on someone and they were
healed—or demons came out. In fact, many would run if a demon manifested! The
fact is, either the book of Acts is a picture of the normal believing life or
there is no place for the supernatural today. It is not somewhere in the
middle.
It is not like God
Himself got turned off by some of the excesses and put a moratorium on
miracles.
I was talking to a pastor the other day from a large US-based network
of churches. Recently, one of their pastors had a face-to-face encounter with
Yeshua that caused quite an uproar. He was saying that their movement prides
itself on being charismatic, but not flakey, and then God ruins it by appearing
to one of the pastors. Of course, he was laughing at the irony. At the end of
the day, God is not a moderate! “Yeshua
the Messiah, the same, yesterday today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) Every
miracle you find in the book of Acts is happening all over the world.
“Everything you read about in the book of Acts is happening in China
right now. The Spirit of God is at work mightily. Everything you read about in
the book of Acts—God is doing today.” (source)
What do we see in
Acts:
The
dead raised. (Acts 9, 20)
People
having visions/dreams of Yeshua or hearing His voice. (Acts 9, 18)
People
having visitations from angels. (Acts 5, 8, 10, 12, 27)
People
being healed by Peter’s shadow. (Acts 5)
Philip
traveled supernaturally from one city to another. (Now be honest, if I told you
that happened to me, would you believe me?) (Acts 8)
People
lying to God and immediately died. (Acts 5)
Demons
were cast out. (Acts 8, 16, 19)
Supernatural
weather to protect believers. (Acts 16, 27)
Now, if you are struggling with that and you are a Bible believer, I
have to ask, why? Angels appear to people all throughout the Bible. Why not
today? I could share hundreds of testimonies like that. Personally, I have
never seen an angel, heard God’s audible voice or seen Yeshua. I can tell you that
the first time I preached in 1984 at a prison in front of four prisoners, the
most humble setting, I was enveloped in what felt like a liquid cube of heaven
for about five minutes. It was amazing, pure, and drew me closer to Yeshua. I
didn’t seek the experience, nor did I expect it.
The fact is that the
book of Acts is the stupidest book in the Bible IF it is not a roadmap for the
believer today. Why would God put a book in the Bible, one of the
most amazing books, as a list of things we can’t do? He didn’t. The book of
Acts is there to encourage us! It encourages us that (baptized with the Holy
Spirit as in Acts 1:8), we can do with works of Yeshua (John 14:12-14). What
are any of us waiting for?
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Leon Mazin
who leads the Return to Zion congregation in Haifa writes in THE GIFTS & Recovering Man's Calling
about the correlation between man's obedience to God and his ability to
"bear fruit" or be creative. Also about hearing from God to build a Prophetic Studio Haifa and obeying even
not quite understanding what it meant. What is mean was a space dedicated to
prayer, worship and prophecy open to the community of faith in Israel and international
visitors. Click the link to read & see more.
Eric
Benson's House of Victory is an addiction rehab in northern Israel affiliated
with the Carmel Congregation. In his
monthly ministry letters, Eric shares the updates of the men they are working
with, and others they hope to minister to more. Not sharing those here, but
urge you to sign up for his letter Eric Benson at House of Victory if your
heart is for the men who are trying to break the grip of addiction that has ruined
their lives. It is a difficult realm of ministry, but men are spiritually
rescued at HOV and set upon a solid foundation of faith in Yeshua, both Jews
and Arabs. In this letter Eric also
shares about their participation in the annual Shavuot picnic at Yad Hashmona
with believers from across the nation, and a Messianic concert in Jerusalem. It
is all part of showing these men another way to live - with hope and the Spirit
of God.
Lebanese-Israeli
pastor Najeeb and Elizabeth Atteih of Immanuel Church in Haifa have had to give
up the Bible Bookshop (to the Bible Society) because lack of funding. This
cutback in financial support is hurting all the ministries of Israel who find
themselves reshuffling to continue their ministries in the spiritual harvest
fields they have cultivated for the LORD. Two areas of outreach besides their
congregation, are to the Christian Arab soldiers in the IDF. As an example of
how much need there is for spiritually-based support of these one Christian
Arab soldier was arrested after being attacked in his hometown by Muslims who
objected to his IDF service. He is on trial for defending himself and under
house arrest, thankfully at the Christian Soldier center the Atteih's run. Pray
for this young man to prevail in the trial and to be returned to the IDF as he
loves. This ministry outreach is a great testimony, even to military leaders
who learn of it. The Najeeb's also do "Heart to Heart" ministry to
Refugees in Jordan and elsewhere. Some of the stories of people they are
touching are in heartbreaking situations. Please pray for their laborers, and
consider helping them with financial support. Email for details
From many
of the Tikkun Ministries across Israel:
Avi Tekle writes about how Tents of Mercy are Beacons of Hope and Help
in Kiryat Yam even after being fire bombed, ridiculed, rejected and
bad-mouthed!
| Leon Mazin of Return to Zion in Haifa shares A Testimony out of Domestic Violence. |
Eric Morey,
creator & founder of The Galilee Experience, is also the
founding elder of the Poriya ("Fruitful") Congregation overlooking
the Sea of Galilee. | Cody Archer of the Revive Israel team in Jerusalem writes
about our new citizenship (Phillipians 3:20) Worshipping
Into the Kingdom. | Moti Cohen in the Tel Aviv Tiferet Yeshua writes
about how their congregation sits on the borderline between Tel Aviv's booming
financial district and South Tel Aviv, home to some of the poorest, most
marginalized and needy communities in the country. It inspired their Project
Feed Tel Aviv | Guy Cohen writes about Trusting In the Little that God can
multiply the little we have ...instead of trying to protect (hording) the
little we have. | and Ron Cantor brings us up to speed on breaking news this
week: Amid criticism Israel opens Pilgrimage Road,
connecting City of David to Temple.
[DD: How
ridiculous of anyone to call out these ministries as dangerous to
the spiritual health of the rest of the Israeli body! Get real.]
Kerem El is
the daughter congregation of the Carmel Congregation in northern Israel. One of
their summer highlights is the congregational retreat, a family getaway for fellowship,
food, laughter, games, worship and learning God's word together. The
weekend-long scavenger hunt for discovering the "treasures" within
members of the congregation sounds like such an excellent and innovative idea!
They also give a report on their Kerem-El youth activities including leading
the weekly Shabbat service in mid-June and raising funds for a Fall trip to the
Negev. Among their prayer requests are for couples expecting their first births
in the coming months, also for financial provision for this growing body of
believers. For many other facets of the congregational life, Connect directly with the ministry to learn
more or in the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber
Chuck
Cohen of Intercessors for Israel continues on with the 7/5/19
Friday Prayer Points after the recent loss of associate Eliyahu Ben
Haim. Click the link for the full latest prayer points, that Iran features prominently
in. They prayed: Please remove their scepter of
authority – quickly (Jer. 49:38). What a
joy to hear of You building Your Church in Iran (Matt. 16:18). Increase it in
both numbers and maturity (Acts 2:46-47; Heb. 6:1-3). Strip our Iranian
brothers and sisters in Messiah of any anti-Semitic, anti-Zionistic tendencies
and replace them with a biblically-driven desire to bless Israel (Gen. 12:3a;
Num. 24:9b).
From a
person I hold in high regard, Asher Intrater who leads the Tikkun Global Family
of ministries and his personal ministry in Jerusalem, Revive Israel, this
article on the positive mechanism of receiving blessings from God through our
parents, Parental Transfer (Part 2).
Also Revive Live VIDEO of Cody Archer with Diane Bickle in It's Time to Reset. | From
the new VIDEO series Learn from My Mistakes: Stop and Listen Youval
Yanay talks about how he was acting on life emergencies before listening for
God.
Also the
Revive Partnership with Arab Christians | In
1979, Asher Intrater attended his first reconciliation meeting as a new
believer, and from that time through the 90s, he continued to attend such
meetings while witnessing the development of the modern Palestinian narrative.
While this lead to a lot of dialogue within the body of Messiah in Israel, it
also created a lot of relational friction. Throughout this experience, he heard
and saw the complexities of what being an Arab Christian in Israel meant and
still a solution had yet to present itself. Then,
after 20 years Asher decided that he was done attending reconciliation
meetings. They had become redundant gatherings with the primary purpose of
airing grievances and asking for forgiveness, but never did they progress beyond
that. So Asher began to pray together with the Revive Israel team and asked
the Lord what were the next steps to advance this subject. A few years later,
God told us to move from reconciliation to cooperation, and the one thing we
could all agree on was evangelism to Muslims. Click title to read more
Israel
Pochtar writes about their efforts to help the families in their communities,
many immigrants without even mattresses and furniture in their homes, with
necessary household items and even some fun activities for the children who are
now on their summer break from school. Pochtar says they saw this need within
their own congregation first and it has become their passion to help those in
similar situations in their community. There is also great financial pressure
on these parents to build up all the return to school supplies their children
will be needing in the fall. You can help with this and many other great
humanitarian outreaches that they do as a congregation and as Voice of Judah Israel (on the site under
the Projects tab)
Ruth
Nessim is a sweetheart, and don't all the Arab cabbies in Nahariya know it even
after several years since they last saw her, they remember her name. That is a
testimony in itself how to be a light unto the nations. Ruth has a health
update in the Urgent Healing Needs section, and also writes for prayers for her
grandsons serving in the IDF with the ever looming next war with Hezballah,
Gaza and Iran. She is continuing to minister everywhere she goes(or to those
who come to her) and in her congregation led by Efraim Goldstein (and founded
by Ruth's dearly departed husband). Her autobiography, The Roofed Gate is on
sale via CJF Ministries
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
CONTINUE to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of Jacob
Damkani | Ronit Bender is awaiting results from
her heart echo test results although she has she feels so much better - but has
had a persistent cough for months now. She will have to go to a lungs
doctor...and the heart valve is still leaking. Please continue to pray for
Ronit. She has been released to travel to Australia in Oct, and Holland in Nov
despite the outstanding issues.| Martin
Sarvis has undergone arthroscopic surgery and is now in the healing
process. Surgery was successful and now will have physiotherapy for a couple of
months. | Shlomy Abramov of Awake
Israel, because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it
should, he was advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his
leg because of the blood flow issues. Shlomy has to wrap his legs daily because
of the blood flow issues. Please pray for Shlomy | Ruth Nessim has recovered from a strong 2-month bout with Sciatica, but
her most critical prayer need which she says may required an operation. Please
pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems
to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in
the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on
our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Albert a Messianic leader
from southern Israel, has had a successful surgery and an amazing recovery but
keep praying for total restoration | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy,
and complete healing.
Some Important or Interesting News Stories I Noticed This
Week
Prime
Minister Netanyahu's Son Yair Affirms the Jewishness of Jesus | American Islamist Linda Sarsour tweeted "“Jesus
was Palestinian of Nazareth and is described in the Quran as being brown copper
skinned with wooly hair”. Yair Netanyahu tweeted back: “Are you that stupid? On
the cross above Jesus’ head was the sign ‘INRI’ – ‘Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex
Ivdaeorvm. Which means in Latin – Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews! The Bible
say that Jesus was born and raised in Judea!”
Yair was quite informed on the facts, don't you think?!
First
there was the "Green Prince" — the son of Hamas co-founder &
spiritual leader Sheikh Yousef — but now a 2nd son has escaped
Palestinian-controlled territories and is exposing
Hamas as corrupt, power-hungry, racist and bad for Palestinians! It has
created an earthquake in Hamas and the Paletinian Authority who are calling it
(of course) "a Zionist plot. Pray for all Christian Arabs in the
territories who are more vulnerable as the truth is told.
UNESCO,
the United Nations World Heritage Committee, has added Babylon to the list of
World Heritage sites. Saddam Hussein
worked for decades to have Babylon named, even
holding rock concerts there in 1989 and 1992 to attempt to draw world
attention to the site which he restored "as a symbol of defiance against
the United States and its Gulf war allies". Like other despots in the Middle East,
Hussein imagined himself as historically great, like the Iraqi leader mentioned
in the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar. But as one article puts it:
"In
Babylon today there is more of Saddam Hussein than of Nebuchadnezzar, the king
who restored the city to glory more than 2,500 years ago, captured Jerusalem
and forced the Jews into exile. The name of the Iraqi leader, like that of
Nebuchadnezzar before him, has been stamped into millions of bricks used in the
massive reconstruction of the city 100km (60 miles) south of Baghdad.
"President
Saddam has spent millions of dollars in a bid to revive the greatness that was
once Babylon. On top of huge artificial mounds, with terraced trees and
flowers, imitating Babylon's Hanging Gardens, he has had built palaces and
recreation centres, which overshadow the remains of the monuments to
Nebuchadnezzar's greatness."
But
as we know, millions of bricks with the name of Saddam Hussein stamped into
them is also a testament to the rise and fall of would-be Muslim world
dictators. Saddam is dead and so will the Ayatollah in Iran and the dictator in
Turkey be before realizing their world domination fantasies. Both of them, like
Saddam, see themselves as the prophesied Islamic world dictator, but they will
not prevail...as it is written.
Here's My 2¢
Lashon
Hara: Slander
Isn't it ironic. The Charismatic church for the most
part has little interest in what God is doing among the Israeli believers, yet
the Israeli ministries who operate in the gifts of the Spirit are under an
unprecedented attack for connection to Christian charismatics. And not only
that, but they are being slandered by an extremely small ministry in Israel as
being related somehow to some of the flakiest of the charismatic flakes we've
seen in recent decades. These men under attack in Israel have nothing to do
with all that craziness.
It is a disgrace what one self-righteous man has taken
upon himself to stir great opposition to a group of Israeli ministries. I stand by his targets 100%. They are
producing fruit unto salvation, Michael N. is producing slander and great
division among the brethren in Israel with his articles and videos.
I am watching his video production right now and I am
appalled that the leaders in the body in Israel have brought my friends up for
examination based on these accusations, yet they see no problem with allowing
this type of slander and accusation to go unchecked. No repercussions for
slandering brothers in the LORD, but doubts from false accusations are free to
spew out against my friends.
I ask all my subscribers and followers to bring this injustice before
the LORD. That God would arise
and show who is right and who is wrong. That no weapon formed against my
friends shall prosper.
If anyone needs to be exposed for bad acts within the
Israeli ministries, it is those who slander their fellow brethren in the LORD
who are ministers of good standing and reputation among the Body of Christ
worldwide. The division being brought to the body in Israel is not one lick
different than the attacks of the ultra-Orthodox against the faith. This is a
stain on the whole body that such accusations are being allowed to stir trouble
for going on three years now.
No, I cannot keep silent. May God grant repentance to those involved in
this slandering of some of the finest ministers I know in Israel.
I must add that I do not back any of the extremes of
charismatic Christian ministry shown as examples in this video. Also I have
never seen my Israeli ministry friends participate in such excessive displays
either. I have long distanced myself from charismatic excesses believing them
to be fleshly. I have seen powerful operation of the Spirit in the meetings of
Eitan, Dan, Asher and Ron - but I've never seen excess, fleshly indulgences at
all.
IN FACT, let me go further: I BELIEVE that the Israeli charismatic ministries are to bring greater
BIBLICAL balance and accountability to bear among international Christian
charismatics. I believe this is what the apostolic-prophetic Israeli ministries
are meant by God to bring to the table as the unity of Jew and Gentile
believers - One New Man - continues to manifest.
The Israeli ministries who are being slandered for
their associations with some Christian charismatic leaders do not practice the
excesses shown in that video, and if anything will bring more balance into the
Christian apostolic and prophetic circles, it will be their association with
these Jewish brothers that challenges them to greater accountability and much
less shows of flesh when the Spirit of God is truly moving among us.
It is flat out bogus to claim these ministries have
anything to do with the excesses portrayed in this video, nor do any of them
believe as falsely accused that "It's not obligatory to believe." All
of them know and teach that it is necessary to come to faith in Yeshua, no
matter who you are. For the accusation that they enter into covenant
relationships with Christian ministry leaders is a "covenant with
death" as this video producer claims is a twisted misuse of scripture.
The brethren who have been accused, whom I have known
personally for years, I stand by their integrity, moral character and fidelity
to the LORD Yeshua without hesitation. What is most appalling to me is for Dan,
Asher, Eitan & Ron to be under a microscope of inspection by elders because
of such false accusations, but lying brothers are free to slander and defame to
their heart's content. It is lashon hara: slander.
"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." Proverbs 6:16-19
My Israeli ministry friends fit in NONE of those categories.
"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." Proverbs 6:16-19
My Israeli ministry friends fit in NONE of those categories.
That's my 2¢ —Donna
DiorioDonations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
Or by postal mail make
donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
I do not have tax exempt status.
THANK
YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
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