The Fig Tree Blossoms
by Donna Diorio
I tell you I am giddy with joy! I just got what to me is a spiritual sign! When my husband Tony came in to tell me, I was so overjoyed he thought I was mocking him. I told him, 'No! I take it as a sign,' and he said when he saw it, he did too.
Our fig tree is loaded with tiny fruit! You may think, 'So what!' But for all these years it has been barren, and to me, it felt like a spiritual sign of mocking me for barrenness in my ministry. I am not kidding. I would look at it and feel defeated, seeing nothing but an unfruitful fig tree.
I think everyone reading this probably knows that the fig tree is an often used prophetic symbol of Israel. In fact, in the parable of barren fig tree that Yeshua told in Luke 13:6-9 is what I always thought of.
Of course there is the instance recorded in Matthew 21:20 when Yeshua cursed a fruit-less fig tree and it withered and died instantly, much to the shock of His disciples. Every Messianic Jew is aware of these verses, because these are the verses have been used so often in Christian circles to say it is an indication of God having abandoned the Jews, cursing them as a people with barren, fruitlessness.
Of course, I don't believe that at all, and I have never given up my faith that one day the time of God's choosing to turn the trickle of Jewish salvation into a mighty river would come. In the meantime, what I was watching for has been symbolized for me in that fig tree in my back yard.
We brought it back with us when we left Delaware in 1997. We lived there for 2 years where Tony's Italian dad, who was a fig tree nut lived. Tony, Sr. had hundreds of fig trees in his residential yard, and he moved heaven and a lot of earth to keep them alive in the bitter winters of the northeast. When we returned to Dallas we brought a couple of PopPops cuttings back in a planter of soil.
At first we were in an apartment and the potted didn't do much. When we moved to this house in 2003, it still didn't do well. I think it produced maybe 3 figs in the first couple of years, then it stopped producing even the start of fig. That went on for years but we kept trying — watering, fertilizing with manure only, digging a circular water trench around it. I ended up moving it about 3 times trying to find the correct place for it. Now the fig tree has been in the same place now for a decade or more, barren as could be. It was tempting to give up at times but we kept trying.
In this Spring of 2020, as usual it never formed a single fruit. Now in late October as the transition to cold weather is underway, our fig tree has bloomed and is truly loaded with tiny fruit formations! I am elated. It is marking a very good day for signs from God for me because I had another one earlier today as one of the Israeli ministries sent me just what I needed in a financial donation. When I wrote to thank her, she wrote back, "You are a faithful servant of the Lord and you love those He loves. And what you do, you do because of that love. He will never fail you. Be blessed."
Seeing fruit on my fig tree after that was a strong confirmation to me. Never give up, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not. The fig tree is blooming. It is coming with great certainty. "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor." —Isaiah 54:1 My time of birthing children is long past, but I look now to helping bring to spiritual birth the nation of Israel. I don't want to be barren in that.
Arrows from Zion
Summarized
from the Weekly
Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
With a perfect follow to The Fig Tree Blossoms, Ariel Hyde sent a powerful testimony from Tree of Live ministries in Israel who are doing such a blessed job of reaching Israelis both online and on the street. Some of the online people they are reaching would not be possible on the street and this testimony of a 20-something ultra-Orthodox woman is one of those. Stuck indoors because of the Coronavirus lockdown in an already tightly insular community, she found the evangelistic videos of Tree of Life in Hebrew. She began to call the hotline, ask questions, get prayer, pray herself and the Holy Spirit began to touch her with His presence. Pray for her, as she is deciding because it has been explained to her what the cost could be for her in following Yeshua. She is already questioning if she should enter an arranged marriage, because her faith would be opposed by any husband her parents matched her with. These are strong issues in the life of someone as sheltered from the world as ultra-Orthodox women are. But God!
In their campaign over Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Tree of Life got a whopping 130,000 views of the Hebrew evangelistic videos. They ask please pray with us for a spiritual awakening amongst the religious and Ultra-Orthodox, for their outreaches to the poor, for a breakthrough with Facebook censoring their ads, for the Egyptian Muslim woman who came to faith and was consequently beaten by her husband. These are the issues that God alone can overcome, with our prayers and help from the laborers in the harvest field.
#IAMWITHISRAEL is the Revive Israel | Tikkun Global humanitarian aid arm. They write, "With the rise of anti-Semitism, experts are expecting record-breaking Aliyah requests this year." For those with eyes to see, a good many of those are going to be coming from the United States, a place that many thought it would be impossible to motivate Jews to make aliyah from, but there is no doubt about the rising anti-semitism especially coming from the intersecting grievance groups of the American Left. That is why #IAMWITHISRAEL is focusing its efforts on their ministry partner, “Hope for Aliyah.” They write, Hope for Aliyah is "to help Jews through the prophetic process of fulfilling God’s plan to bring His people back to Israel and to equip them with cross cultural training before and during their arrival period. Hope for Aliyah has helped dozens of families safely navigate the minefield of “making Aliyah” to Israel. However, they are running out of funding". For just a gift of $100 the Aliyah team can help an individual or family in transition to Israel...."Take your stand for Aliyah. Help those eligible for Israeli citizenship to successfully become part of prophecy fulfilled—and take their place among the people of Israel. DONATE HERE Until all Israel is saved" (Romans 11:26)
Beit Hallel's pastor Israel Pochtar, along with his Voice of Judah ministries, is a real spiritual powerhouse in Ashdod, which is why the religious authorities there are continually trying to silence and stop the ministry. With God's help, Pochtar presses forward in every way possible. One of the major elements of his ministry among Russian immigrants is a passion for our humanitarian relief work. To love God is to love people. Learn more Meetings Needs — Producing Thankfulness also watch this Video message by pastor Israel Blessed is the One Who Trusts in the Lord. They have many Prayer Requests but lead with one for a new believer who has been "been enduring incredible pressure from his family and loved ones" including threats of divorce and pressures for him to return to rabbinic Judaism. Israel Pochtar writes, "It has been extremely difficult and stressful for him, having your entire family pressuring you and threatening to disown you if you don’t forsake your faith. But that is another part of the reality many Israelis face when receiving Yeshua — the possible rejection they face from family and loved ones. It’s one thing when society is pressuring you, but when your own family might reject you, it tests your faith in a whole new way. The road to Yeshua isn’t easy for Jewish people, but we mustn’t forget that He is the Messiah of Israel, and came “to the Jew first…” Pray for "J" and for all Israelis that are currently might face alone the silent battle between their faith in Yeshua, and their family." Like all the Israeli ministries, there is a request for more monthly donors, so they may have financial stability to do their outreaches and ministry projects.
Norma Sarvis in Jerusalem has a new blog post called First Drops "When you live in a nation like Israel that has no rain for almost half a year, the first drops bring great joy and encouragement."
Eric
Benson at the House of Victory in Haifa writes about the baptism of four of the
men in their rehab program in the Mediterranean in September. He writes that
all of them "spoke of their deep love and commitment unto the Lord. Our time together
caught the attention of many Israelis, as we worshipped the Lord and prayed
together freely in public." Another big event was a special video Worship
Night produced by the NYC Times Square church during the Feast of Tabernacles,
with "short clips of the history and “one new man” vision of the
congregation. Also included in this wonderfully produced video event is a
powerful testimony of Johnny, one of our House of Victory graduates. Please click to enjoy this anointed program
featuring worship with Karen Davis and Sarah Liberman."
Eric tells the story of one man who has been with them since summer who has
begun to walk in newness of life —so much so his mother came to visit him after
being cut off from him for the past 7 months. "What a beautiful picture
and process of reconciliation already slowly beginning to take place between a
mother and her son. Pray for "S" to continue in spiritual
growth. Also, you can watch Eric who preached
at Carmel Congregation's mid-week meeting on October 21 2020. View the
message here.
Among the 9 prayer points from Chuck Cohen of Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem Friday Prayer Points 10/23/2020 is prayer for the Nov 3rd US Presidential election: "This will impact the world – regardless of the result."
Evan Levine of HaTikva, the Hope, writes, "I believe with all of my heart that we are living in the season of Israel’s salvation.... Recent world events have only strengthened our belief that NOW is the time for action. NOW is the time that God has destined for all things to be fulfilled as the Gospel returns to His chosen people in power, and you are invited right into the center of the redemption story." Since 2009 the HaTikva Project has expanded from supplying humanitarian aid to needy Messianic believers and others to opening multiple Dental Clinic providing low-cost, high-quality dental care; also facilitating foster and adoption care in Israel, as well has continuing HaTikva Aid. The ministry has been truly fruitful and Evan writes, " I have joyfully given my life to see this day for my people. Will you join me in this grand prophetic destiny as a friend and partner of HaTikva Project? Learn More About HaTikva Project"
For the last 2 weeks we have featured the personal account of Cody Archer on why he and Liat entered a year-long Sabbatical in the Weekly Summary. This week Liat shares from her perspective of how God touched deep and hidden places in their souls, bringing them through to a new level of healing. Liat writes, "Many of us learn at a young age to 'bury' our emotions and ignore them. We run away from pain. This is especially true here in Israeli society where we are known for our toughness and resilience. This country was birthed out of the holocaust (massive pain). We are always at war and army service is mandatory. This life or death reality contributes to our distaste for weakness and emotion. I discovered how disconnected I was from my emotions. I was trying to remain "strong" but really, I was just numb." She also writes, "Cody and I attended a course on forgiveness and were equipped with practical tools to walk ourselves and others through forgiving in a thorough way. Many toxic negative thoughts and thorns of unforgiveness in my heart came to the surface. We had many sweet times of prayer, ministering to each other as we forgave God, ourselves and others for various things that had been buried. Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing us to surrender to God's leading in this way and for your prayers and encouragements."
The Tel Aviv congregation, Tiferet
Yeshua, has been denied tax-exempt status as is the right of all religious
organizations in Israel whether synagogues, churches, mosques, or Buddhist
temples. This is outright religious discrimination because of the faith in
Yeshua and you should be aware of it. They write, "There is very little
real religious persecution here in Israel, and we are thankful to be living in
the only real democracy in the Middle East. However, this vote in the Finance
Committee against our congregation reminds us that religious discrimination is
alive and well in Israel, even beyond what we imagined. Congregation Tiferet
Yeshua is comprised of Israeli citizens to whom the State of Israel and the
people of Israel are dear to their hearts, law-abiding citizens who fulfill
their civic duty to the State, serve in the military and pay taxes." This
tax exemption allows their congregants who make monthly tithes to receive tax
reimbursement at end of the year. Read about the situation in Political Unity in the Name of Religious
Discrimination.
Congregation Tiferet Yeshua sees " see a
reflection of spiritual hostility in this vote, and we know that our battle is
first and foremost spiritual. We want to emphasize that our main goal as a
congregation is to bring glory and honor to our Lord Yeshua here in Israel,
which is far greater in importance to us than being granted article 46. God is
sovereign and will take care of all our needs as long as we faithfully follow
Him in love. We will continue to petition for our rights and would appreciate
prayers for us in those efforts."
More from the Tel Aviv congregation Advancing His Kingdom in Covid Lockdown and teachings on Hebrew Roots, The Hebrew Holiday Circle
A teaching from Revive Israel's Asher Intrater really knocked me out! Praying for Prodigals shows how "There is a
limitation to what you can pray, because the person's free will is running
against God" BUT " we can marshal all natural and supernatural
factors to help the person to return to God’s love." This is a must read
article and here are just the 'headlines; of biblical strategies for prayer
that are shared:
Hedge of thorns (Hosea 2:8) |Cords of love (Hosea 11:4) | Sensitize conscience (II Corinthians 4:2) | Bind satanic blindness (II Corinthians 4:4) | Angels to block path (Numbers 22:22)| Angels to protect them (II Kings 6) | Distance demons from them (Matt 15) | Holy Spirit poured out (Joel 2:28) Holy Spirit reminding (John 14:26) | Lust to be disgusting (Numbers 11:20-34) Lover to become disgusted (II Samuel 13:15) Turning their heart’s course (Proverbs 21:1) | Letting them go (Judges 14:4) | The “Pig-pen Revelation” (Luke 15) | Destruction of the Flesh (I Corinthians 5:5) | Sanctify ourselves (John 17:19) Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34)
Also hear the Revive Israel team's Global Broadcast Live from Israel 10/20/20 and Partner with them to strengthen the Work of Revive Israel in Evangelism, Discipleship, Congregations, and Humanitarian Aid.
Yeshua's Inheritance Congregation pastored by Howard Bass in Beer Sheva continues to meet in small groups due to the coronavirus regulations. Howard writes, "YouTube and Zoom are fine, but they do not compare to actually being together and worshiping together....There are a few of the young adults who are going out occasionally to the local streets and meeting places to evangelize. It has always been a challenging work in Beer Sheva to do street evangelism. It is why we encourage everyone of all ages to be willing, as the Spirit gives opportunities, to share the gospel and their faith in Yeshua wherever they are -- whether school, military, work, random places and encounters. Street evangelism has often over the years brought with it a strong reaction and backlash; yet, sometimes this needs to be the risk taken to witness for the truth of Messiah being Yeshua/Jesus. Please pray with us that effective and real evangelism will be stirred up here." You can find articles and also messages from Howard's Daniel series online - including one on the ANZAC.
I've been hearing about this great work from a friend in Cedar Rapids for a while now, that is the vision of Zvi Randelman for a Jerusalem-based Messianic Seniors Care facility. Now they have the final architectural plans for Beit Hesed which will be set in the Judean hills near Jerusalem. Here is a link to about it. Also see the final architectural drawings of the facility on our Beit Hesed FaceBook page. This is a much needed facility as the pioneering generation of believers in Yeshua are reaching the age they will need loving care from fellow believers in nice facility.
The spiritual battle continues for the city of Life congregation in Sderot
headed by Michael Beener, who writes, "This week I once again had a
summons at the city hall where the Urban Planning Office has opened an
investigation against us under pressure from the city rabbinate unjustly
alleging that our ministry is located in the wrong area of the city and
therefore is operating illegally. Their intention to close the place is very
clear, and although the laws are on our side."
If you don't know, the Negev region is heavily populated by ultra-Orthodox, so
believers in the cities of Beer Sheva, Ashdod, Sderot and Arad are continually
facing pressures that the religious put on city officials against the
believers. The same is true in the Galilee around the Tiberias area, and
obviously even in secular Tel Aviv, and especially not super religious
Jerusalem, the congregations of Yeshua are not immune to religious harassment
in the form of municipalities acting in ways that are not even legal. But this
is like the old Texas saying that "Possession is 90% of the law." In
Israel, there are laws to protect all faiths, but when it comes to Jews
believing in Yeshua, often a blind eye is the course in upholding the law for
them.
So in Sderot, while the lawyers fight city hall to protect the congregation's rights, they also are dealing with a forced upgrade they cannot afford in their Fire Suppression System. They have started the installation phase, but to complete it they really need donations to finish it and keep from being shut down. Meanwhile, they continue to distribute food baskets to the economically striken citizens of this city so close to Gaza, therefore continually battered by missiles from terrorists. This is not a walk-in-the-park area of ministry (haven't really heard of those in Israel to tell you the truth). So if you can help click here.
20 Years of 24/7 prayer & praise in Jerusalem was celebrated in
February by Succat Hallel. Founders Rick and Patricia Ridings shared the eight
mandates that God gave for Succat Hallel at its founding in this video. Also click here to
order the new book from Rick and Patricia Ridings, “Shifting Nations Through Houses of Prayer”.
Kehila News Israel, a site with articles and videos from the congregations of Israel, has a new sister site called All Israel News which gathers the most important stories from traditional news sources that events impact Israel & Middle East. Joel Rosenberg head's the new sister site. In Kehila recently these two VIDEOS: Daniel Yahav on The secret that sets us free from anxiety and a live music recording of Joshua Aaron's latest CD Immanuel (Live at the Tower of David, Jerusalem)
Last, but not least, Hananya Naftali posted a photo on Facebook that struck me as carrying a message from God beyond the obvious request for prayer that Hananya made for a Saudi friend named Mohammad who was sick with Coronavirus and this father having Covid-19 and cancer. First, Hananya Naftali is an Israeli Messianic believer. I first began to see him on Kehila News a few years back and he was such an excellent spokesman for Israel that Prime Minister Netanyahu soon asked Naftali to do it officially.
There was something about this picture that set off something in my
spirit. The Middle Eastern doors opening to Israel are an act of God, not just
for Israel, but it is a sign for the Gospel, for the message of Israel's
Messiah's love for Arabs to go through that open door too. Maybe you remember
when the Soviet Union disintegrated and the doors in Russia opened. I remember
distinctly the call throughout the Messianic community that it was an
imperative to take the Gospel to the Jews into the former Soviet Union. We
heard that we must act with urgency to reach them because we didn't know how
long the doors would remain open. I get the same sense now that we must act with
urgency to bring the Gospel to the Arabs, and that it may be a special mission specifically
for Messianic Jews and Christian Arab ministers from Israel who embrace the
"one new man" understanding.
Also, just prior to wrapping up this issue, I received a message passed along to me from a writing of David Dolan: "I’m hearing from some sources tonight that the current IDF “Lethal Arrow” war exercises---greatly expanded in scope and geography this week from just along the northern border with Lebanon to the entire country, as revealed yesterday by Def Min Benny Gantz--may be due to intelligence that Iran had ordered Hezbollah to launch some sort of pre-election attack to counter President Trump’s contention that he is bringing peace to the Middle East. Further evidence that Iran may be trying to provoke a regional conflict was tonight’s ballistic missile attack upon a Red Sea port city in southwest Saudi Arabia. Successfully intercepted by the Saudis, the missile was built and provided by Iran and launched from nearby Yemen. Lebanese media reports heavy IDF air activity in the skies over south Lebanon after PM Netanyahu warned earlier along the border that “Whoever attacks us will face firepower and a steel punch that will destroy any enemy.” Pray!
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
Moti Cohen of Tiferet Yeshua congregation injured his knee, was experiencing serious pain. Update: First of all thank you for remembering me in your prayers. There is a significant improvement and I am going toward normal. It's just hard for me to go up the stairs. Believe there will soon be a complete healing. | Hadassah Nisim Lerner still requests prayer for rest & healing after successful surgery for a cancerous tumor, no remaining sign of cancer & it had not spread to the Lymph nodes | Carolyn and Richard Hyde's daughter Deborah 10/23 Deborah got out from the hospital after over a month in ICU! And she’s coming to live at our home for long term recovery and therapy. Deborah just kept marveling that she’s alive and she and our family are truly grateful for all your love and prayers! | Christian Arab Pastor Victor Bahbah in a medically induced coma in treatment for Coronavirus is gradually being awakened & his family are just waiting to see how he has fared | Olga Bikas had a successful back surgery and even though she still has pain from the surgery, she can already tell there is improvement. Continue to pray for her rehabilitation & recovery | Also Aleksey Raikhstadt's special needs son tested positive Covid and the whole family is now in extreme quarantine | A prayer request for Naomi, for a dear family that is a part of Israel Pochtar's pastoral team, who was diagnosed recently with colon cancer. "Despite what this battle entails, we are confident in God’s unfailing Word and promises." Read in her own words| Ronit Bender whose cardiologist told her that her irregular heartbeat is SEVERE | Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani for the LORD's mercies over Jacob and his dear wife, Elisheva
________________________________________
Luke
4:24-30
| Yeshua said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of
Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept
over all the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of
Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha
the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed— only Naaman the
Syrian."
On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. They got up,
drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill (Mt Precipice) on
which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. But Yeshua
passed through the crowd and went on His way."
Repentance for Rejection
at Nazareth at the
Welcoming the King of Glory gathering December 2019
What an exciting time this was, we
came from the four corners of the map and worshipped with all our hearts in the
Holy Land! We went to Mt. Precipice and came together as one and asked
forgiveness for rejecting our Messiah. Lift your hands in worship, we will
praise the God of Israel! “All of Israel shall be saved!” Amen! Thank you for
supporting us in these hard times.
Dugit means small fishing boat, our mission is reaching out to the lost people
of Tel Aviv. Preaching the Gospel, distributing food, clothing to the needy,
and sharing God’s love with the people of the book. Join and partner with us!
Be a part of the amazing work God is doing through Dugit Ministry!
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter @DugitOutreach | Instagram @dugit_center
Donna Diorio, August 2020 in the midst of the lockdown
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
THANK YOU to those who support this
ministry with donations. ♥
Donations
appreciated | 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.
