Thursday, October 29, 2020

The Fig Tree Blossoms Arrows from Zion 10/29/2020

 

 

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 

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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


Financial needs are a Fact of Life. Who can do anything without money? In the past almost 20 years, Tony's income mostly funded my work producing the Israelprayer lists, today I just simply need more donor support. I do appreciate your financial love gifts to my love ministry. paypal.me/DonnaDiorio or donna@israelprayer.com

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. 

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Key to Freedom: Forgive | Arrows from Zion 10/21/2020

 

 

Wendy Cohen’s new book, “FREEDOM: True Freedom Lasts Forever” has just been released.  

An excerpt:

    In Birkenau, which is the death camp associated with Auschwitz, I was sifting through the ashes with my hands, when a friend handed me the ash-covered, brittle, inner sole of a woman’s shoe. Did it belong to a Concentration Camp victim or survivor? It is one thing to read Ezekiel 36 and 37, it is another to put your hands into the dust of the chimneys and hold the shoe of somebody whose bones may have been burned to a crisp.

    With my hands in the dust, I began to speak to the LORD.

    “LORD, I’m going to split again from all the pain here, and I don’t want to split. What do I do to stay whole?”

    “My Dear Child, you forgive. You forgive absolutely. You forgive everyone for everything. You forgive victimizers and victims. Hold nothing back. In My Name, forgive.”

    Immediately, His Spirit poured through me, and I went wandering around, up and down every row of the camp, forgiving everyone for everything. I felt God’s blessing pour out from me over the death camp, over the Jewish people, over the nations. Comforting. Releasing. Healing. Nations. People groups. Individuals. Unlimited compassion and understanding. Reconciliation. It brought joy to my heart, a song to my lips. I did not want to leave the death camp. I felt like I was in heaven, resting in the joy of His peace, knowing His blessings. He was there.

    John 20:23 says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they have been forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” God gave me the power, the right, to forgive nations, because nations had hurt my people, and they, through their pain, had hurt me. As I forgave, the habitation of God’s peace became mine.

    Then I heard the LORD say, “Now I want you to write a book about your childhood, about the Holocaust, and about forgiveness; about what you have learned.”

 

Wendy Cohen writes in the foreword: This book is being published in the midst of the coronavirus of 2019-2020. Although I knew the book had lessons to teach for the future, showing us how to stand firmly with the Lord under massive demonic oppression, I was amazed at God’s timing. “Freedom” is being published at the exact moment a global onslaught of fear, disease and death is trapping many into a struggle for their survival. In the meantime, God’s Body is responding powerfully to the LORD’s Call to remain focused on Him, His Love, His Provision, His Purity; to rest in His Goodness in the midst of all circumstances.

    Like pebbles thrown into a lake, our testimonies can expand outward to touch multitudes with God’s love. I pray this book brings its readers into such intimacy with their Lord and Savior that God’s Presence undoes all darkness around them. May His Light expand exponentially, through them, and through those they touch, to cover the globe. Like the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation, may God give the readers of “Freedom” the ability to command the forces of evil to bow eternally before Jesus. May we all rest so firmly in the hand of our LORD and Savior that we transform the world around us with his love. Amen 

    Thank you, Lord God, for guiding us so deeply into Your Love that we can fully respond with Your Weapons of Love and Glory in the times ahead.  In Jesus’ Holy Name I pray.

FREEDOM: True Freedom Lasts Forever  is available through Amazon: e-book and paperback

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

The HaMaayan, or Wellspring congregation in Kfar Saba wrote on the 13th about how they have been meeting the challenges of the many Coronavirus restrictions affecting Israel, with the highest per capita cases in the world last month. We could debate what that means, but what it has meant for the Messianic is two words: Hardships & Opportunities. Like their fellow Israeli Messianic believers, they have searched for ways to keep close to congregants, the needs of the people and to adapt new ways of doing just about everything. The write, "Miraculously, not one of our members has been tested positive with the virus! We hear almost weekly stories of those who have questioned God’s existence but have now turned their lives over to Yeshua and have come to know Him personally. In all this, we give glory to God!" To read the full prayer letter access it at their blog 

Ron Cantor sends a couple of report on what is happening with Shelanu TV which is engaging Israelis in an online TV format of Israelis sharing Yeshua with other Israelis. They have been developing new TV programs, like "The Living Room," a testimony show, and even a travel show with a "very smart and on-fire Israeli believer and tour guide." ShelanuTV now has an Israeli evangelist who fields questions from unbeliever viewers in Hebrew on Facebook. What the enemy meant for evil in shutting down the airing of Shelanu on television, God is making a huge blessing online. Ron writes, "While we would love to parade before you hundreds of stories, it is very hard for Jewish people to deal with the issue of Jesus, much like Muslims. Even if someone receives the gospel online, they may be too scared to share it with anyone at first—particularly people they don’t even know. We are in this for the long haul. However, what we do know is this: some of our videos are being viewed almost 20,000 times!" That in itself is an amazing show of the spiritual hunger. 

Cantor also writes, "One of our key supporters is Al Hayat, a ministry reaching into the entire Arabic-speaking world with the Gospel. God is using Shelanu to bring us together." And this is what God is looking for, isn't it? "Paul tells us that Jewish acceptance of Yeshua will release a 'greater riches' revival in the nations. This is why your prayers and support are so critical."

From Israel Pochtar, Voice of Judah Ministries and Beit Hallel congregation, this article Acts of Mercy - Reaching People in Unreachable Times. They have been receiving  "an overwhelming amount of requests for help from people and families that have found themselves in a near impossible situation due to the current national lockdown here in Israel."  Israel also sends a teaching video on the timeless and relevant the prophetic significance of The Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot.  You can read all of their Prayer Requests here. 

From Claude Ezagouri of the Morning Star Fellowship in Tiberias, they write, "These are certainly challenging times for all fellowships and we are not exempt." But they are thankful for  one of our families who is gradually recovering from corona virus" and are praising "God for the provision of the technical equipment needed to film and record the meetings." Also, " We recognize the enemy’s goals to undermine some of our basic principles of faith (Heb. 10:25) but we pray that the fellowship may keep a vigilant attitude. Please stand with us prayerfully in the present crisis so that the Body of Messiah in Israel may pass the present test successfully and be a light in a dark world." Also "Please intercede for the challenge that we have to guide the teens and youth in the Lord.... We are trying our best to organize Zoom meetings with the youth but there is nothing like fellowshipping face to face. The challenge for them is tremendous as they have to live in a world whose values oppose their faith. By God’s grace they will win the battle but we need your fervent prayers." 

Before sharing some of the new articles in Kehila News Israel about and from the congregations in Israel, I would like to remind you that they have launched a sister-site called All Israel News in partnership with Joel Rosenberg. Where Kehila brings the news from within the body of Messiah in Israel, All Israel News aggregates news and events about Israel and the Middle East that is important to believers. You could say it is like the Drudge Report, only geared toward Christians who want to see news vital to biblical interests. When we read Israeli newspapers as a Christian, most often we as Christians do not have the depth of understanding to know which individual reports to pay attention to, that's where All Israel News comes in. It will launch you to the news stories best to read. 

In Kehila News Israel read two articles by Tuvia Pollack Arab Christians in Nazareth show love of Jesus to Jewish neighbors with aid following massive fire and Messianic pastor's home burned by wildfires around Nazareth. Plus on the day the Catholic pope is breaking news about civil marriages for same sex partners, Chava Stein reports that Judaism is traveling the same biblical off-ramp with Prominent Israeli Orthodox Rabbi Makes an Accommodation for LBGTQ+ Community 

From Jerusalem, Norma Sarvis has a new blog called From this Mountain and her latest article is Taste Him | O Taste and See that the LORD is good  from Psalm 34:8. What comes to mind when you read this verse? 

Chuck Cohen of Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem had 10 new points of prayer in the Friday Prayer Points   10/16/20. Just one is "Thank God for every Jewish person who has met Messiah Yeshua in exile, yet the Scriptures tell us that when "all Israel" gets saved – it happens on God's land. (Ezek. 36:24-27) Therefore, praying for aliyah and helping the Jews come home is one way to work with God for their salvation." 

Part 2 of Fields of Wheat's Cody Archer's transparent, good and enlightening thoughts on what he has learned and endured over the past year of a sabbatical he was led by God to take. I found lots of wisdom in this open speaking of many things God was touching in Cody's life, and I'll bet many of you could related to those things too, like: " Transparency & Vulnerability – Many leaders struggle with showing weakness. I'm guilty here. To compensate we rise up in bravado, our own exaggerated strength. We don’t fully share the depth of our struggles due to the fear of being disqualified in the eyes of others. By 'sucking it up' and silently suffering we do a disservice to those we are leading. We unintentionally communicate that weakness is not welcome. We are not allowing the body of Christ to be the body of Christ by bearing one another's burdens. With wisdom, the right timing, and raw honesty about my past or how I am currently doing-- especially regarding my struggles and failures—I will be far more effective in helping others through their tough spots, instead of holding up the mask of 'all is well.' My brokenness has developed a new level of empathy and openness and I know God will use my experience to bring healing to others." If you want to learn more you should email Cody and ask to be put on their mailing list and to receive the last two letters.

To affirm what Cody is doing in being so transparent, I want to share an email I received last week from a subscriber to the Weekly Summary: "Thanks again for this compilation Donna! The longer I’m reading the letters, the more openness and vulnerability I see in everyone’s sharing. I feel greater kinship with my brothers and sisters because of it. I bless my brothers and sisters in Israel. I remember how scared (or timid) believers seemed to be when we lived there... maybe being afraid to share about their faith for fear of being kicked out of the country. Now it seems like the Holy Spirit is bearing fruit of braveness and a strong desire to share about the Messiah. It makes me marvel to 'get to know' some of them through your compilations."
 

From the Revive Israel ministry, see Revive Israel on Facebook for daily posts of teachings, videos articles and news. Also an article by Dan Juster on the 7th day of Sukkot called Hoshana Rabba. a video featuring Asher Intrater Arise & Shine and a ZOOM Re-play of their weekly Global Braodcast this edition was from their homes.

Chaim Malespin sends a lot of good information from the Aliyah Return Center: Sing Together a 1-hour, one voice professionally recorded music video. Their discipling program Shagririm Ambassador Academy and Volunteering to educate Christians throughout the world about their God ordained role to carry the Jewish people back to the blessed land of Israel with Return Ministries. Plus Vertical Galilee House of Prayer, The Prayer Valley, and book a stay with us in the land of Israel Hospitality.

Avi Mizrachi writes from Tel Aviv where he leads the Adonai Roi congregation and the Dugit Messianic Outreach: " When the coronavirus first hit Israel, it was sudden and drastic. Israel was one of the first nations to close its borders and order a nationwide lockdown. Our local Messianic Jewish congregation—Adonai Roi (“The Lord is my Shepherd”)—was one of the first congregations in the world that was forced to suspend onsite operations. Immediately we saw how critical it was to continue services virtually. We borrowed a video camera and cobbled together a primitive studio so we could begin live-streaming something right away. We hoped this virus crisis would pass quickly."

They began to produce all sorts of programs to meet the needs of their congregants, and then learned they were reaching unbelievers outside the congregation as their people shared the links and "we have been flooded with requests for more videos." Much of what they are doing is recorded and edited on their cell phones! this is why it is critical now to move beyond the "borrowed and improvised video equipment" into " quality video cameras and lenses, tripods, a digital encoder, lighting, a computer for editing, and several more items to assemble an effective studio that we can use to proclaim the love of Yeshua to the people of Israel and beyond. The cost for the equipment is almost exactly $30,000." Please, can you give today?
 

One thing for certain this pandemic has done, it has awakened ALL of the Israeli ministries to the incredible outreach resource of video. That is why we are glad to see the report from the HaCarmel congregation that Dani and LuAnne Sayag lead in northern Israel. They have been able to re-start their Tuesday intercessory worship watch at 2pm Israel time which is live-streamed at the Kehilat HaCarmel YouTube Channel. That is the same place you can watch the replay of this and many other of the services and testimonies from the HaCarmel Congregation. 

A new weekly prayer points letter from Maoz Ministries, with Shani Ferguson writing that Kobi & 3 of their children have already flown to the US, shani and the remaining two children leaving in days. Ari Sorko-Ram will be joining them in Dallas in November, as Maoz will have its final board meeting before Ari and Shiri transfer leadership of the ministry to Shani and Kobi Ferguson at the end of the year. Congratulations to all. I just want to say that I have been so mightily impressed over these many months watching the level of wisdom that Kobi and Shani exhibit. That has to make Shiri and Ari proud.

Because I'm running so long this week, I will refer you to the excellent prayer points letter this week to where it is now also being published on Facebook. 

Also  I wanted to share one of Shira's Facebook prayer posts for the election in the USA. Of course, Shira was born in the United States, but she has lived as an Israeli for decades. Which is why it is a little bit surprising at how intensely she sees the issues here and what is at stake. It is rare, I think. Here is her post from 10/21/20.  And, by the way, Happy birthday to Shira who just celebrated her 80th birthday.

Sitting in Both Seats 

by Donna Diorio

I was very touched by the article by Tuvia Pollack in Kehila News this month, Wife of accused murderer tells of shock, dealing with mental illness and hopes of restoration. Having been raised since childhood by a paranoid schizophrenic mom, I could relate to everything this woman said from not suspecting her husband could be capable of such violence to the recognition that at its root, this mental illness is caused by demons. I urge you to read this compelling article from Israel because it has made a horrible impact as both the murderer and the murdered were members of the Israeli Messianic community. What people who have never been around someone they loved who was plagued with such demonic mental illness can even begin to relate to, this wife and mother expresses poignantly.

           Just a couple of weeks prior to this article, Tuvia Pollack sent out a tribute article, Remembering Bob Knight – A man who exemplified sacrificial love in life and death. Bob was someone I chatted with off and on for several years on Facebook. He was an immigrant from Great Britain, a "Royalist" and we enjoyed talking about the things that are particular to Englanders that I was discovering in a favorite British TV series I was watching. A really nice person and from the accounts of everyone who knew him in the Israeli Messianic body, Bob was truly a nice person. There was shock all around at his murder just this past March.
            The tribute article for Bob came in just as a troubling experience with our neighbor was coming to a head. Just as we were finally told by his family members that the strange and somewhat threatening things he was saying to us stemmed from him being in the midst of a Bi-polar episode. He has been working on our truck since July, always saying he couldn't figure it out, or taking it to work on it for 24 hours at a time without any change whatsoever in the problem. He wouldn't return our texts or calls when he was out with our only means of transportation, but always came back with smooth talk about how he was working to find out what was going on.
            But right after the tribute article about Bob came in, my neighbor came to my door early in the morning to tell me that my husband owed a relative of his $3000 and we better come up with it because the man was out to hurt us!  I lost it and yelled at him that I knew that was not true, loudly enough to draw his mom, dad and sister out to see what was going on. That's when the sister finally told me that he was Bi-polar, not taking his meds and had been like this for a while. Now all the 'crazy' behavior and statements made sense.             
            This 40-ish young man has been responsible over the years of doing many good deeds for husband and me, working on our vehicles doing some repair work on our house. We paid him, of course, but probably not nearly what others would have charged us. I think. But after our experience with him over the last several months, I wonder. I always had a sense that he had a shifty side, but wanted not to believe it about him. Learning that he is Bi-polar helps me make sense of it all — but I have to tell you, I took the arrival of the article about Bob Knight very seriously too. You do not know what demons are driving people to do that are in the grip of their torments.
           
            
This issue has developed with a theme as they often do. Beginning with Wendy Cohen's book about the key to freedom being forgiveness. Having grown up exposed to the mental illness of my mother, the horrible deadening of a human being the antipsychotic drugs cause, the mostly helplessness of the psychiatric professionals to really do anything to help these people, I came to the conclusion it was because of tormenting demons that gained entrance for a failure to forgive. If you don't believe me study Matthew 18, Yeshua's parable about what causes tormenting demons in people God has forgiven.
           I forgive X for any and all times he took advantage when  we trusted him. I do pray that he finds the key to freedom from his torments, and for his family who are also believers and worried sick for him. In the name of Yeshua I release him and ask God to reveal to him what keeps him bound in torment.

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 and experiencing serious pain. Steroids and pain killers prescribed caused him unpleasant side-effects, so he quit using them. Moti regularly serving the poor and needy and preaching the gospel on the front lines in Tel Aviv and needs prayer covering for healing | Hadassah Nisim Lerner had surgery for a cancerous tumor. Latest: No remaining sign of cancer & it had not spread to the Lymph nodes! PTL! Please pray for rest & healing. | Carolyn and Richard Hyde's daughter Deborah 10/14 Today Deborah was moved from the Cardiac ICU. Upon arrival on the regular ward, the doctor who helped revive her after her heart stopped seven times just a few days ago asked, “So how does it feel to come back from death to life?” Carolyn writes 10/20: Todah rabah - thank you for your love and prayers for Deborah's healing but above all, for her salvation as she desperately needs Yeshua.  She's back in ICU but awake and feisty as ever!  But from years of being in a continual state of DKA, diabetic keto-acidosis, the doctors can't seem to get her blood sugar and electrolytes stable. So we watch and wait, hope and pray. Thank you all for standing with us. | Christian Arab Pastor Victor Bahbah who is now in a medically induced coma in treatment for Coronavirus! His life hangs in the balance, please pray | 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 

 


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