by Asher Intrater
Asher Intrater has found an amazing two-word prayer that has the potential to bring national revival from Philippians 1:18: "So what!"
Two-Word Prayer for Revival | by Asher Intrater
When a nation is on the verge of a great revival, there has been a level
of success in the congregations and ministries.
The number of people is growing.
More donations are coming in. The
spiritual leaders are becoming well-known, influential, sometimes even wealthy
and famous.
This level of blessing gives the Ecclesia the tools that could affect a
national transformation. This is a
necessary stage, like a woman who has come to full term in her pregnancy. Yet
the very success itself contains within it the obstacles that can at the same
time hinder, and even halt, the growth of the kingdom of God.
God’s blessings carry with them the inherent temptation to turn away from
God and concentrate on the blessings. People can become lazy, carnal,
entertainment-oriented, greedy, prideful and rebellious. Moses referred to this syndrome as “Yeshurun
became fat and kicked” – וישמן ישורון ויבעט – Deuteronomy 32:15.
The temptation to worldliness is dangerous for any human being. Yet there are two dangers that are
particularly dangerous for spiritual leaders: ENVY and COMPETITION.
Philippians 1:15 | Truly there are
those who proclaim the Messiah out of envy and competition, but there are those
who preach from good intentions.
Spiritual leaders can try to out-do one another. Instead of working together to bring a
revival to the whole nation, they begin to pull against one another. Instead of
seeking new territory and new people to touch for the kingdom of God, they
become protective of their own resources and accomplishments.
Envy and competition then lead to the leaders speaking negatively about
one another; criticizing the others to make themselves look good in comparison.
In essence, they unwittingly begin to curse one another in the guise of
“spiritual discernment” and “warning the flock”. This leads to division and
destruction among the people of God.
When Paul wrote this, he was in jail.
All of the work he had done was being taken over by others (some with
good intent and others not). Some were
becoming famous and speaking badly about him.
He was lonely and suffering. However, instead of looking at the problem,
he chose to see a blessing in it.
Philippians 1:18 So what? The result is that one way or the other,
whether from deceitfulness or from pure motive, the Messiah is being
proclaimed, and in this I rejoice and will continue to rejoice.
There it is, the two-word prayer that can bring national revival: “SO
WHAT!” If all the leaders would ignore feelings of envy and competition towards
one another, and just rejoice that someone else’s work is growing and affecting
many, the whole kingdom of God would leap forward.
This is a necessary purification of the heart for every spiritual
leader. Paul dealt with it concerning
Apollos (I Corinthians 3). Peter had to
deal with it concerning John (Yeshua challenged Peter not to compare himself to
John, even if Yeshua asked Peter to be crucified and John to live forever –
John 21).
I have seen this challenge in almost every country where the work of God
is growing and blessed – USA, Far East, Africa, Brazil, Europe, and certainly
here in Israel. It seems insurmountable,
yet by God’s grace, it can be overcome.
Let us put away all envy and competition. Let us pray for the other groups’ work to be
even more successful. Let us see one another as one family of faith, even
though we are totally different.
Someone else seems to be growing more than you? So what! As long as more people are being touched by
the love of God, that’s great! Someone is getting credit for something you did?
Someone else is working out of selfish ambition? So what! We put aside all
comparisons. When one is blessed, we are
all blessed. We are one family.
Let’s pray this great two-word prayer for victory over competition and
envy. “SO WHAT!” And let the revival begin.
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: Listen my Israel supporting friends. I know we in the USA all love Netanyahu, but I am learning that because he prevails with the help of the religious parties, that the PERSECUTION of the Israeli Messianic believers has grown untenable.
The reason is that the
religious persecutors have been growing and growing under Netanyahu's reign.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE BODY OF
MESSIAH IN ISRAEL I will stand against the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu and
trust God that HE is well able to preserve and
protect Israel from being overrun by her enemies.
The persecution of Jewish
believers in Yeshua in Israel is becoming extremely dangerous once again.
Netanyahu is not as important to me as them! Please put the people of God,
the followers of Yeshua ahead of political preferences for a system of
governing in a complicated nation that we barely understand, and pray that
God will put in place the person who will remove power from the religious and
stop turning a blind eye to the illegal persecution of Messianic Jews in
Israel!
|
Arrows from Zion
Summarized
from the Weekly
Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Ron Cantor shares the story of how his HOT news, a real game changer for
Israeli outreach, came into being. In the gist of it, Israel's largest
television provider made an offer they couldn't refuse: a TV channel- in HEBREW
- to share the Gospel. Understand this has NEVER happened before and they are
going live in 1 month! Ron writes, " We are challenging the
body of Messiah here to make powerful content. We already have some really good
stuff. Our friends at One for Israel have dozens of Hebrew testimonies and we
have great music videos in Hebrew. Israeli evangelist Yakov Damkani is giving us
a ton of material in Hebrew, too. There are others, as well, but we need more!"
The first 7 years air time have been paid for but there remain many
expenses including essential hires for communicating with those who respond.
I'm not going to go details - you can write Ron to get on his list for more
details - but he is asking for two things: help raising the $100,000
for the follow up expenses, and for prayers over the following: That
Israel will hear the Gospel in Hebrew! No hiccups! | That HOT will promote the
channel. | That we will have teams to follow up on people (still in process). |
That Israeli believers would invest in making powerful content for the channel.
| For God to open the eyes of the Israelis. | Minimal to no resistance! And
pray that HOT will not give in to Orthodox pressure.
Next, one of the anointed, native Israeli evangelists, who shares so
naturally with the people God puts in her path, we have an update from Rachel
and Gilad Netanel. (Gilad is from Austria). Many people come to their home
which is built in a cave in Ein Karim, including brought by Israeli tour guides
who don't yet know the Lord - but they are drawn by the caring couple who share
meals and their faith with all who come. They also have a place in the desert
at Zukim which also attracts the secular people who live in the village. Please pray for them and all the seeds they
are planting, also for the health issues that I have shared below in Healing
Needs.
From Chaim Malespin of the Aliyah Return Center 2020 Kingdom Vision 4th
Focus: VIDEO Worship & Bringing the Jewish People Home. In the worship
video, he also talks with Arni Klein.
Tikkun
Global features the honor that was given to
Acco pastor Guy Cohen and Messianic Pastor Efraim Goldstein, plus a
group of volunteers from Tennesee & Georgia who pitched in to hlep with the
flooding clean up in Nahariya. They were honored by the Nahariya mayor. Ron also features the May 29-31 Tikkun Family
Conference in Ellicott City Maryland. Register here. AND Eitan Shishkoff's book What About
Us? The questions for many Gentile believers
who struggle with God's plan for mankind in general and Israel in particular.
From Revive Israel an article about a whole generation of younger
Christians who are missing the understanding of Yeshua's plan for Israel and
the nations. Revive Israel Netherlands & Tikvah Messianic ministry, Eelco
Schaap writes, Coming into Fullness of Destiny.|Two
VIDEOS Cody Archer w/Samuel Whitefield Son of Man – Why Did Yeshua Use This Title?
and Cody Unity's Full Expression | plus Asher's
book Covenant Relationships Why do our
conversations with other people seem to stay superficial and never reach a
deeper level?
Here is a A VIDEO Message From Pastor Israel
Pochtar
Howard and Randy Bass have given their daughter Tamar in marriage to Ezra
who works with Jewish Voice. Many blessings to the entire family. In other
news, Howard talks about a reluctance among leaders and pastors in Israel to
talk about the time of Jacob's Trouble which is not going to be trouble just
for Jacob! Besides being an uncomfortable topic, Howard believes there is
reluctance because "they think it will be bad for fund-raising and bad for
generating prayer for Israel and the Jewish people! They say that people won't
donate to Israeli Messianic/Christian ministries if God is just going to judge
His people and nation; and why pray for Israel if God is going to judge
them?"
Howard advises: "Brothers and sisters, do not base your stand and commitment to Israel based on appearances! Stand with Israel; pray for Israel; donate to congregations and ministries that are active in evangelizing the Jews and Arabs and others; donate to ministries and congregations that help the poor and needy, especially within the household of faith, and also to those outside who need to see the love of Jesus/Yeshua through our good works shining for the glory of the Father. God's judgments are still His Fatherly chastisements upon those He calls His children, even though -- and because -- they are rebellious."
Howard is teaching on a new series which he invites you to drop in on
once a month: Daniel,
The Prophet for Our Days.
Avi Tekle from Tents of Mercy in Kiryat Yam talks about the welcome
abundance of rain this year even though it has caused some trouble it has also
filled up the Sea of Galilee which is Israel's fresh water source. But it did
give the ministry opportunity to give out food baskets to some even during the
local flooding, and they were blessed to do it. Avi writes, "Passover is
now two months away and we are already anticipating what God will do among us.
We look forward to sowing into our community in an obvious and practical way.
Our aim is to distribute 800 bags (even 850 if possible). Each bag costs $75.
We invite you to join with us in this outreach by helping purchase bags for
distribution. With thankfulness for His provision and our partnership."
From Joseph Magen, the founder of news.kehila.org,
which has put out a Pro-Life edition. (You may not know this but in Israel
abortion is even more accepted than it is in the US, which is why the Messianic
Pro-Life organization Be'ad Chaim is such a powerful ministry and force for
good in the Land. Read some of these
article featured in Kehila: Find Healing - Plant a tree in the Gardens of Life
for remembering aborted or miscarried babies | Pro-Life celebrates 30 years in Israel and
challenges Israeli congregations to get involved | Personal stories of babies saved by Pro-life Be'ad
Chaim by Be'ad Chaim director Sandy Shoshani.
Ronit Bender is another one of those Israelis gifted with a heart of love
to share the love of God with those He puts in her path. She shares about
several of the people that she is having an ongoing relationship with in the
coffee shop, the news stand and the deli. She writes about the opportunity she
had to share with her Kerem El congregation and how "the Lord encouraged
me the other day, saying that all the seeds that have been sown over the years
[there are many], are about to bear fruit, and people will be saved! Israel is
not an easy place to witness, and people often seem to have a hard heart and
stiff neck, but let me tell you: THE
LOVE OF GOD, THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD AND HIS GRACE ARE AT WORK! Please continue
to pray and stand with us who here live in Israel." She will be touring in
the US May 4th-26th in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Rhode Island.
Evan Levine of HaTikva Families
wrote about their recent presentation of Trust Based Relational Intervention
(TBRI) for professionals in the fields of adoption and foster care, in
partnership with Anchor of Hope Counseling Center and Adoption Wisdom. TBRI is
an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex
needs of vulnerable children. They are not doing a once-over-lightly approach
(same with the pro-life group, those ministering to PTSD trauma victims in
S'derot, and other groups believer groups ministry to deep needs in Israel). Evan
Levin writes that these are living-giving tools....The orphan crisis seems
insurmountable, but we know our God is bigger.
From Maoz Ministries prayer points for the great success of Boris Johnson
in getting BREXIT done at long last! Bravo Boris! They write: "The EU
has largely been anti-Israel and pro-Islam and the UK has been forced to go
along with the majority vote for decades. It has also been forced to allow the
unchecked flow of illegal immigration from Islamic nations – who have long
declared their ambitions of conquering Europe through childbirth." Pray
blessing on Boris pro-Israel stance, and pray also for a full opening of Boris
Johnson's eyes on what Israel needs to be fully defended. There is much more in
the Maoz weekly prayer points which you can read in my Weekly Summary, if you
have a subscription, and of course you can directly contact any of the
ministries we feature each week to subscribe to their ministries directly.
Maoz (the Kobi and Shani part of it) will be traveling
in the US this summer with their 5 kids in tow and would appreciate prayers
over all the details of that trip.
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
NEW: Please pray for full recovery for Rachel Netanel for food poisoning 3 wks
ago that sent her and Gilad to the hospital it was so severe. Gilad has
recovered, but Rachel still needs prayer for complete recovery. She also
injured her back and continues to suffer from having to overdo it. | Ronit Bender
says On Feb 23 I will be meeting a cardiologist regarding an irregular
heartbeat. Although we don't look to doctors for healing, the Lord has given to
men wisdom for helping people identify ailments and medicines for seasons.
Please pray the Lord will give the doctor wisdom so I can continue to minister
in the strength that the Lord continues to download into me. PLEASE do not stop
praying regarding my health. Thanks!
Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani, who remains after surgery locked in
the place of non-communication. Pray the LORD's mercies over Jacob and his dear
wife, Elisheva | Continue please to pray for Ruth Nessim Critical prayer need she is losing sight! Prayers for a
miracle for Ruth.| Olga Bikas
has longstanding severe back pain. please keep praying for Olga. Sadly, she is not getting better and
recently she has even felt worse for a period of time. Please continue
to pray for all the Israeli ministry leaders who contracted influenza - it is a strain that really hangs on | Pray for Rania Sayegh who asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy,
and complete healing.
My 2¢
by Donna Diorio
I hate to see articles like David Lazarus wrote on Israel
Today, Will the local Body of Messiah
in Israel survive the current serious debates?
Even
without being able to see the full content because I am not a subscriber, I
wish David had not singled out MY FRIENDS as the reason for the problems in the
opening paragraph that is visible to ALL who go to the link. It plants the seed
of doubts against Tikkun leaders among all who read it, and I doubt it gets any
better if we could see the whole article. One-sided
journalism is not journalism.
WHY ARE THE ACCUSERS NOT THE STORY? Because that is
where the REAL STORY is from my point of view. Why are the accusers in a
special protected class, where we might discuss the motivations behind the
accusations?
This isn't the first time an Israeli Messianic
publication wrote about the conflict that has been going on for more than a
couple of years and in both cases, the Tikkun ministers were treated as
"the Accused" — assumed guilty until they prove their innocence! At
least in the previous article, Hannah Weiss did not hide her criticism of the
Tikkun leaders behind anonymity, although she did not name any of those who
were making the accusations an issue among the leadership of the Israeli
ministries. Not the original witch-hunters or the
Also the accusers and those pushing the issue are
NEVER named, they enjoy complete anonymity whereas several Tikkun ministers are
being slandered not only in their leadership meetings but in accusations that
are going out to believers outside of Israel. How is that righteous or godly
justice?
If the Messianic body in Israel are headed for a
split, it will not be because of the Tikkun ministers who have been bending
over backwards throughout the inquisition to reassure their fellow ministry
leaders in Israel that the accusations against them are false. When will the
accusers come out from behind the protected wall of anonymity and prove their innocence
in falsely accusing their brethren?
UPDATE: I finally got to read the article by David Lazarus, who I have always liked since I met him in Israel in 2003. From where I have been sitting, this is not an entirely non-partisan handling of the situation because it continues to put Tikkun in the seat of the accused being demanded to prove their innocence.
In reality, this is about the accusers and I would not even know about it if one of the accusers had not reached out to me in 2017 making false accusations about the ministers of Tikkun. I know they are false accusations because I know them as brothers and have followed closely all of their ministries for years. I know what they teach and it is not what the twisted perceptions of their accusers.
Now I read in Lazarus’ article that the national leadership committee which is called Kenes Artzi, in David’s words, “The Kenes Artzi called for a ban on publications covering the controversy.” Now I can take that two ways: (1) Publications in Israel could voluntarily comply with a ‘gag order’ on the process it was conducting (which didn’t stop the accusers from distributing lies far and wide); and/or publications that covered the controversy were to be banned. Either way, the truth has been suppressed while the lies and false accusations - the slander - has run unhindered through the worldwide body of Messiah. That is unacceptable.
David also writes, “According to the Messianic leaders we have spoken with, there is still a lot of confusion as to what will happen at the upcoming meeting. Will Messianic Jewish leaders be called upon to vote and determine if Tikkun is teaching false doctrines? Will Tikkun leaders and their congregations be considered false teachers or banned from the Kenes Artzi? Meanwhile, a number of Messianic Jews have already left, or are threatening to leave the Kenes Artzi over the controversy.”
From out here it looks like Kenes Artzi has lost its way and is unable to be just. I hope that is not the case, but regardless I stand by my friends, the ministers of Tikkun, because I know them to be blameless.
UPDATE: I finally got to read the article by David Lazarus, who I have always liked since I met him in Israel in 2003. From where I have been sitting, this is not an entirely non-partisan handling of the situation because it continues to put Tikkun in the seat of the accused being demanded to prove their innocence.
In reality, this is about the accusers and I would not even know about it if one of the accusers had not reached out to me in 2017 making false accusations about the ministers of Tikkun. I know they are false accusations because I know them as brothers and have followed closely all of their ministries for years. I know what they teach and it is not what the twisted perceptions of their accusers.
Now I read in Lazarus’ article that the national leadership committee which is called Kenes Artzi, in David’s words, “The Kenes Artzi called for a ban on publications covering the controversy.” Now I can take that two ways: (1) Publications in Israel could voluntarily comply with a ‘gag order’ on the process it was conducting (which didn’t stop the accusers from distributing lies far and wide); and/or publications that covered the controversy were to be banned. Either way, the truth has been suppressed while the lies and false accusations - the slander - has run unhindered through the worldwide body of Messiah. That is unacceptable.
David also writes, “According to the Messianic leaders we have spoken with, there is still a lot of confusion as to what will happen at the upcoming meeting. Will Messianic Jewish leaders be called upon to vote and determine if Tikkun is teaching false doctrines? Will Tikkun leaders and their congregations be considered false teachers or banned from the Kenes Artzi? Meanwhile, a number of Messianic Jews have already left, or are threatening to leave the Kenes Artzi over the controversy.”
From out here it looks like Kenes Artzi has lost its way and is unable to be just. I hope that is not the case, but regardless I stand by my friends, the ministers of Tikkun, because I know them to be blameless.
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donna Diorio donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
Or look up on paypal: donna@israelprayer.com
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.
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