Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Israel Story | Arrows from Zion 10/23/2019


The Israel Story

I am really excited to pass along to you something that can help your groups better understand how important Israel is in God's eyes and how significant  it is to all of us in the international Church.
The founding pastor at Shemen Sasson (Oil of Gladness) congregation in Jerusalem, John Myers, reached out to me last week with a wonderful resource he has developed that I think you all are going to love. Currently living in Cincinnati, John and wife Dariel, are still running with the vision. The Israel Story, which communicates the role of Israel and the Jewish people in God’s plan of redemption for all mankind, is the message of our day.

Last week John emailed me,
"I want to share the following with you to see if this something that you would like to share with your readers."

"Two years ago I founded a non-profit called The Israel Story.  Its name reflects its purpose.  Our primary goal is to share the story that God is telling through Israel and the Jewish people.  In a world where the foundations of society are shaking: marriage, family, gender, faith, even climate, The Israel Story stands as an immoveable, unchangeable testimony to the truth of the biblical narrative and a powerful declaration of the gospel message."

After investigating the web page and signing up to view the episodes, I am happy to report that this is something I believe my subscribers will find to be a valuable resource to incorporate in their prayer for Israel groups and to share in special Israel studies their churches.  What is this all about? In their own words,

"There is a Big Story that encompasses all of our smaller stories. It is the story that God is telling and it is found in the pages of the Bible. The central characters in this story are the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, not just in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, not just in the past, but in the present and the future, as well. As you might expect, the hero of the Israel Story is a Jew. His name is Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew.

They write, "We are excited for you to experience God's story in a deeper way through The Israel Story video course & bible study. "

It is 7 hours of content broken into 20 study sessions which you are free  to watch online - for FREE.  You can also watch it through the iOS App, the Google Play App or Roku TV.  Plus, there is a Study Manual with Supporting Bible Verses, Content Essence and Summary, Content and Discussion Questions. 

"In our time, when life on earth is changing at a breathtaking pace, when faith, family, and societal foundations are shaking, when information is zipping around our planet in quantities and at speeds never dreamed of before, the reality of Israel stands as an immovable, unchangeable declaration of God’s faithfulness, the truth of His Word, and the gospel message.  The Israel Story study is built on these beliefs."

"The essence of the Israel Story, it's through-line, central theme, is the gospel message. God’s relationship with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel is the most powerful, in-your-face, real-world declaration of the gospel.


"The Israel Story communicates the role of Israel and the Jewish people in God’s plan of redemption for all mankind.  The story is communicated in a way that is comprehensive, simple, invitational and disarming without compromising truth.  It is a bridge to connect both individuals and faith communities to this important truth at this important time. "

I’ve seen it open the eyes of many who had no understanding of this reality and change the minds of many who previously only viewed Israel and the Jewish people in a negative light.

"The Israel Story video episodes, which were professionally filmed with young adults in an interactive group setting, are available for free on IOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Roku, and our website.  The 270-page supporting manual to the video teaching is currently available on Kindle, iBooks, and in hard copy on Amazon. 

Are you passionate about what God is doing with the Jewish people and in Israel today?  Are you part of  a network or community of people that can benefit from a Bible study about Israel?  If so, we encourage you to lead your own Israel Story group.  We give you all the tools you need to lead your own group!

Please investigate further with these links to help introduce you to The Israel Story:
The Israel Story Website
The Israel Story
Intro Video
The Israel Story
Church Partnership
The Israel Story
group leader guide
The Israel Story
partnership guide  

100% Of Your Donations Go To Furthering The Advancement of The Israel Story | Private donors cover our operating costs and staff which means that every dollar you give goes to advancing the Israel Story.


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

During the Fall Feasts, Israeli ministries are always super busy from the activities in their own families and congregations, to hectic swirl of visitors who flood into Israel to celebrate the Feasts. Typically we do not get a great amount of communications from the ministries during this time for that reason. Next week will be another story!

Israel Pochtar's Voice of Judah ministries has also been in the midst of major things during the festive week of Sukkot. He shares the traditional verses that God enjoined Israel to observe as well as enumerating why "
Sukkot has tremendous relevance to us as believers in Yeshua"  — including the New Testament account of Yeshua at the Feast, and the prophetic future of the feast described in Zechariah 14:9,16. Truly to understand the New Testament, our Messianic Jewish brothers have so much insight to these things! Israel also shares a video of their great outreach
Jerusalem Outreach 2019 - Feast of Tabernacles

We received a short note from the lead pastor, Dani Sayag, at the Carmel Congregation in Haifa: I was thinking of a well-known verse that relates to this holiday "On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old" (Amos 9:11). . . .    ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things’” (Acts 15:14-17). At this Feast of Tabernacles, we remember that God expanded the family in the Succah (Tabernacle) of God to include Jews and Gentiles, one new man together in Messiah Yeshua.

From Revive Israel October Team Update Including a report from Iris Chang: Hong Kong Report and the very interesting story of Revive Team Members Youval and Valerie. PLUS 2 VIDEOS  Healing the Broken Hearted (Best of 2019) and What Is Faith Part 1 | Look together with Asher at the concept of "Faith" in the Bible. Starting with the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, we search the scriptures for God's message on our faith.

The upcoming conference in November in Florida registration overflowed into a larger venue. This is a Tikkun Int'l event "Israel and the Coming Worldwide Revival".  Also check out Ron & Elana's next 2 Messiah's Mandate Up to Zion Israel Tours (Dec and May). 

PLUS some other great news from Ron about the Nov 3rd Annual Christian Media Summit hosted by Israel’s press office in Jerusalem. Ron writes, "My best friend and colleague, Ward Simpson, the CEO of GOD TV, has been asked to give remarks at the President of Israel’s home before the president himself speaks! It is amazing to see how Israel is opening up to evangelicals." Support Messiah's Mandate

KehilaNews.AllIsrael.com/ does a bang up job of covering the body of Messiah in Israel with news, articles and videos. This is a ministry well worth supporting even if it doesn't fit your traditional concept of what constitutes a ministry. Anyone that overlooks the impact of a resource like this - and its ability to plant the seeds of the Gospel, is really missing it like those who thought automobiles would never replace the horse drawn carriage. ;-) 

Here are some of the items that caught my eye in the last issue of Kehila:
Going from bad to worse: Russia creates alliance with Iran & Turkey. Turkey invades Syria. Trump abandons the Kurds. Evangelical leaders speak out. It’s a mess by Joel C Rosenberg | Release of new worship song, Melech, by Jerusalem artist Birgitta Veksler by Karen Royel |  and Sanna Erelä writes about Michael Kerem is a Messianic Jew living in Jerusalem, and a long-term missionary to Muslims in the Middle East. Together with his wife, he is part of the “Isaiah 19 Highway” vision From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth

As the CEO of Tikkun Intl, Ron Cantor announces that GOD TV has committed to donate up to a $50,000 matching donation to the local their Israeli pastors. Ron writes, " Friends, your gift of $50, $100 or $500 will actually be a gift of $100, $200 or $1,000 as GOD TV matches each of your gifts up to a total of $50,000—which will be $100,000!" Each of the congregations has their own specific and unique projects they would apply their share toward: feeding the homeless, a music school for kids, expanding their property to minister to more, serving poor immigrants - and all sorts of outreach materials & evangelistic outreaches. www.tikkunmatch.com

I have a big backlog of articles written by the various Tikkun ministries. (Let me say one thing: if it seems to you unfair that I have so many Tikkun-related ministries, I want you to understand that even though they are associated with each other, I see them like every other Messianic ministry in Israel: individual congregations ministering to the people in their communities who need to know the LORD.)

 
Orna Grinman focuses on the joy she has witnessed during Dukkot, but especially on Water and the special ceremony called Simchat Beit Hashoeva (lit. “Rejoicing over Water-Drawing”). The celebration lasted throughout the night and ended with drawing of water from the pool of Siloam (Briechat Hashiloach). This tradition has much to do with the rain season at hand. Read it online.

Kobi Ferguson sends out a 6-focus list of prayer concerns and prayer points for Maoz ministries this week including the Maoz Israel Team and their activities during Sukkot, Israel's Government, the failing health and old age of the PA leader Abbas and what that means in the future struggle to take his place of power, the incredibly swift alliance-shifting that has gone on in the Middle East: " This is a very volatile situation with a lot of shifting positions and many conflicting reports. Abba, our prayer is for clear and accurate intelligence on what is happening in Syria and on their border. Please give wisdom and discernment to those who analyze this information. Find protection for the Kurds in the midst of the shifts happening. Let them not run into the hands of evil."

Also Kobi writes on 2 issues I want to specifically point out for prayer: "Indigenous Israeli Leadership - When Ari and Shira had two children in the late 1970’s they did not fully grasp the significance that they would be taking part in birthing the first generation of Israeli believers born and raised in Israel in 2,000 years. Even today, as the second generation of Israeli-born believers is being raised up in Israel, there are at most a few thousand of them. Though by default they have a unique ability to understand how to reach Israelis, few of them are in positions of leadership in the Body.  We honor those who came, rooted themselves in Israel and planted solid works all over the Land. Now, we pray for God to raise up mature Israeli-born leadership to lead and help shape the Body of Messiah in Israel."

The second issue: Delegates to the Feast:  It has been a joy to see members of about 100 nations come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.  We bless our brothers and sisters as they return to their home nations with a burden to pray and intercede for Israel. The mandate to pray for Israel is diminishing in many places while it is increasing in others. May those who are in Israel catch the vision and may it rise up from You.

FYI: I asked Kobi to elaborate on the above statement, he wrote: "The older generation still has an overall burden for Israel and praying for Israel. It’s a fact that the younger does not. Again, increasing in places and diminishing in others. Especially globally. We have thousands of older Intercessors in Europe but only dozens of younger people are interested."

My response is:  It is a great concern which I have also been thinking on most of this year. Somehow the younger generation of international Christians have to look up and see something that the younger generation in Israel has that they don't. So many whose parents and grandparents are Israel-supporters, have been hijacked by the social justice Islamist activities at all the colleges and universities. They have been persuaded that the 'David & Goliath' story Palestinians tell is the true story. I do believe it is going to take the Israeli younger generation to turn them from that lie.
     God knows the answer to this troubling development and in fact, the subscribers to this mailing list are exactly the right people to be praying over how God wants to turn the tide. It is our children and grandchildren who have been taken in the web of deception that condemns Israel instead of seeing God's own heart to restore them completely.

Guy Cohen who leads the Harvest of Asher congregation in his own birthplace of Acco, sends a weekly teaching which he also shares on his Facebook page. This week Guy is teaching about how many wonders and signs were done through the apostles (Acts 2:43-47) as they came together " a group of people who are saved by His Grace, dedicated to the work of God, obeying His Word and Will." Unity receives the blessing of God so "there is an awakening in Israel and the world and salvation comes to all nations. The purpose in all we do is to be in one heart and to build the Kingdom of God."

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

Ruth Nessim Critical prayer need she is losing sight! Prayers for a miracle for Ruth.| Continue to pray for Jacob Damkani | 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. | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing. | Ronit Bender says my heart valve  is still leaking but my lungs are fine. I totally have peace about my health, although it is far from great.  I still appreciate prayer, as I need it. I am very grateful they let me travel in October and November both to Australia and Holland. Please continue to pray for Ronit | Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel, because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, was advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his leg because of the blood flow issues. Please pray.

Daniel the Musical

Prayers for South African singer/actor Andile Gumbi, in critical condition and a coma after suffering a heart attack last week in Jerusalem.

Here is an update report on the lead actor/singer in the South African premier of Daniel the Musical in Jerusalem. The production is about Daniel the prophet and the South Africans who put it together desired to do so in order to bless and support Israel.

Performances of Daniel the Musical, a South African production which just premiered in Jerusalem last week, were postponed after the lead actor was rushed to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. Organizers suspended all shows after Andile Gumbi, 36, fell suddenly ill on Tuesday and suffered a cardiac arrest.


Later, the show was rescheduled to continue the following week: “We, the cast and production team of DTM, have decided to keep going to see the vision, of blessing Israel in friendship, through to the end and also now to honor our beloved Andile who is still in ICU in critical condition. Our director will step in for Andile, as King Nebu.”

According to a press release posted by the organizers, “the medical personnel at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre managed to successfully resuscitate him.” His condition remains critical and doctors are continuing to try to determine the cause of his condition.

Even as the last show has just completed and the production team packs up to leave Israel, Andile is still in ICU in critical condition.

One of the production team, Julita, wrote an update, "So many people came and said this should become a world tour, so let’s see what God will do. For now all I can say is, thank God we are at the last show for now. This was hard. Andile is hard. The debt is hard. But amidst all of this, our hearts are filled with joy!! We still believe God is a good God. We still trust Him. We still believe.  He will be glorified in all of this. We have done what He asked. And that is enough."

"We have the seed in the ground. Israel 'cost'  us a lot.  We paid with more than money.  But we were strong and courageous and we did what we came to do. Israel told us that we blessed them and that we should take the blessing back to our own country. Many said Daniel will not happen, but here we are..... it did happen."

Over many years of close connection with the ministries of Israel and those that are heart connected with Israel, one thing I have learned is that you can know the ones who are doing it for the Lord. That's because their testimony even after the price they must pay is evident, is just like this person said — they do not regret having done what they believed the Lord was calling them to do. There is a warfare to tying ourselves to Israel and we have to be ready to live in that.

Please continue to pray for Andile Gumbi to be restored to health, and for the debts incurred by the South African production to be covered. May this production go worldwide and many more be blessed by it.





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

THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio 
Or look up on paypal: donna@israelprayer.com
By postal mail make payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 
I do not have tax exempt status. 


No comments:

Post a Comment