WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 8/2/2017

In the coming week I will celebrate by 66th birthday. August is also the 16th anniversary month for this Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries. So I was really surprised to see that my birthstone, the peridot, is also the stone that is given at a 16th anniversary.

It was such an interesting coincidence that I wondered what the biblical symbolism of the peridot was. Doing a little research opened a line of study that fascinated me because of the 3 strategic passages in scripture where peridot appears. Not by the name "peridot" but it is a gem referred to in the high priest's ephod breastplate, in the foundations of the New Jerusalem, and in the 9 out of the same 12 gems in the description of Lucifer's covering.

I have lots more study to do on this, but at least one Christian expert on gems believes that the peridot symbolizes God's Spirit and Counsel, that when we receive God's counsel we are receiving His purpose and plan for our lives.

In 2001 when I started this weekly summary of prayer requests from Israeli Ministries, I believe it was surely God's counsel that led me to it because through thick and thin these past 16 years, it has been my great joy to continue in it. There has never been a time that it bored me, or seemed too burdensome to continue on with through many obstacles.

Also, I have no doubt that in aligning myself and my efforts to the body of Messiah in Israel that I have been fulfilling God's purpose and plan for me.  I have discovered a new love for my birthstore, the peridot, which just learned in the original Greek is derived from the word "peridona" which means "to give richness".  Surely doing the Weekly Summary for the past 16 years has given great richness to my life and my faith in God's goodness.  - Donna Diorio, August 1 2017

Priority Prayer Focus Aug 2, 2017

In a world that is reeling and stumbling because it lives on "narratives" we must thank God that His word is eternal and that it never returns void, but will accomplish what He pleases and will prosper in what He sends it to do. For we have a more sure word of prophecy than all the narratives the world seeks to impose by the false prophecies of narratives.  

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

This week we begin by introducing a ministry that is new to Israelprayer, and which we thank Beer Sheva Pastor Howard Bass for bringing to our attention. The ministry is Michael and Dina Beener who live and have a congregation in Sderot, which you may recognize as a city so close to the Gaza Strip that it has been the targeted by Gaza in literally thousands of missile firings. The citizens of Sderot have been shell-shocked beyond imagination since 2001 - imagine growing up or being elderly in such a place! But this is where the Beeners chose to stay to minister after moving there in 2000. 

One of the interesting things about this ministry is their stand in Sderot to minister to the needy, the Holocaust survivors and the city residents living just a short distance across an open field from Hamas-controlled Gaza. Because Hamas has spoken threats over the people of Sderot calling it "the city of the dead," the Beeners have called their Messianic congregation,  Ir HaHaim, or City of the Life. This along should encourage you to open the attached Weekly Summary to learn more about this ministry and how they are impacting a city in need of comfort and hope. 

Kobi and Shani Ferguson of Yeshua Israel Ministries write, "For the past few weeks tensions have once again reached their tipping point and spilled over into our lives here in Jerusalem. Collective chants of Allah Akbar echo across the ancient stones of buildings built long before Mohammed ever declared Allah the one true god." Read More of the article online. Inside the Weekly Summary attachment they write about their move out of Arab East Jerusalem where it has become increasingly unsafe for their children to even play outside, to a safer neighborhood in the western side of the city.

From Revive Israel an Article by Asher Intrater, Be Perfect!!! - Are You Kidding??? and also a video teaching from him called Synergy.  Dan Juster has a video called Temple Mount Metal Detectors. In case you didn't know Dan Juster has some interesting short commentaries that he posts directly to his Facebook page like what he wrote about Sec of State Rex Tillerson "has to go" and the mention "I am planning some new articles on the Ultra Orthodox control of Israel. It is of real concern."  Revive Israel is also represented on Facebook with daily postings - often live streaming video of morning worship, prayer & teachings at Revive Israel Media.

Repeating this article from Asher Intrater just because it is a timely message:  Trouble Ahead. Also inside the Weekly Summary attachment there is a report about the ordination of Ari Blumenthal as the 5th elder in the Ahavat Yeshua congregation. This ministry is a believer in establishing accountable, covenant-connected relationships for all leadership in Israel and this is what we continue to see as they are raising up the generation that will take the gospel of the Kingdom forward in Israel.

The Kerem-El  congregation, which means God's Vineyard, is an offspring of the Mt Carmel congregation in northern Israel.  Israeli native Dani Sayag is the senior pastors of both Carmel and Kerem-El, with his young pastors, Yonatan Arnold and Stefan Silver at Kerem-El. This month they are quite excited about the evangelism online initiative Medabrim. Read more about that sensitive subject inside the Weekly Summary attachment. Watch the latest man-on-the-street Medabrim videos here, "The Great Jewish Leader". Pray for those involved in this great outreach which has religious opposition upset and seeking ways to stop them.  For more of the news from God's Vineyard, and to see their specific prayer requests see inside the Weekly Summary attachment                             

Arni Klein of Emmaus Way in the Galilee writes more about laboring to press into what God is saying to the body through the current events of the Temple Mount tensions. He writes regarding the timing of this occurring during the 3-week "Dire Straits" period, what has taken place in history and what God might be speaking through these events.  Read it in full inside the Weekly Summary attachment           

Sally Shiff of the Kfar Saba congregation, Kehilat Hamaayan, writes about "Tisha b’ Av (the 9^th of the month of Av in the Jewish calendar).  On this day, Jews in Israel (and throughout the world) are remembering what happened on this day."  See the historical list, and also how their intercessory team was encouraged to internalize the fasting and prayer of this day, inside the Weekly Summary attachment     

Ron Cantor is in training to swim across the Sea of Galilee on Sept 16th as a way to raise funds for the much-needed expansion of the Tel Aviv Tiferet Yeshua congregation. Not only can you donate money to sponsor his swim, but another ministry has promised to match up to $50,000 for donations received by the end of Sept. Learn more inside the Weekly Summary attachment  

From KehilaNews.com, here are just a few of the items available in the past several weeks:

A personal story of Israel’s long and regrettable opposition to Messianic Jews | Cliff Keller | After having been denied membership in the kibbutz he had risked his life to help defend, Pound returned to England over 40 years ago. But he is not bitter about his experience nor does he regret having made Aliyah.

New video asks Israelis what they think of Messianic Jews | Dee Catz | A video uploaded to YouTube earlier this month that shows the host asking random members of the Israeli public what they think of Messianic Jews seems to indicate that Israelis are generally okay with Jews who believe in Yeshua.

Observations on Messianic Jewish aliyah | Hannah Weiss | Hannah writes, "As worldwide anti-Semitism inspires increasing numbers of Jews to make aliyah, the difficulties of Messianic aliyah are receiving more attention. I'm not an expert on this issue, but from firsthand experience and 30 years of observation, I can suggest what not to do."

Confusion and anger as Greek Orthodox Church sells land in Jerusalem and across Israel | Dee Catz | In recent weeks, it has come to light that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate sold hundreds of acres of land in Israel to foreign buyers.

Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

Lebanese Christian Pastor Najeeb Attieh will have to undergo two surgeries on his thighs & a hip replacement after returning from Germany where he is currently being cared for by friends | Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments that will hopefully improve her condition | Eliyahu Ben Haim, IFI's chairman, had back surgery 7/6. The operation was a success. Pray for his wife Hannah, and that his recovery from the surgery be complete and speedy | Esther Ridings Moore for cancerous tumor to yield to treatment and prayer with full healing | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for HaMaayan congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts,  David Ortiz, Ami Ortiz, Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of David at Revive Israel; Gila in Arad, Chaya Mizrachi | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K.

Teaching Articles

Supernatural Moves & Theological Stability | by Dan Juster | Restoration from Zion, Tikkun Ministries INT | Revival Leaders Sometimes Write Theology | When God moves in powerful supernatural ways and when people experience revival, revival leaders often write theology - sometimes they write good theology and sometimes they write bad theology. If they write wrongly and the matter is minor, it may be of little consequence. But sometimes, if they write on a significant subject, bad theology can lead to damaging and harmful consequences. Read more online by clicking the linked title.

Fanning the Flame or Just Getting By? | Eitan Shishkoff | "I know your works ... you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent" (Revelation 2:2-5). Read more online by clicking the linked title.

Praying the Headlines

Inside the Weekly Summary attachment               is part 1 of a lengthy commentary by Chuck Cohen of Intercessors for Israel on many vital political issues that impact Israel that have been taking place recently. This commentary is concentrated on the Trump administration. Although there is much to be pleased with, there are also some very displeasing things regarding Israel. Read this first part, and I will attempt to bring more of it in the coming weeks. These are issues that I have been following here in the USA, and agree that it is information worthy of understanding and for prayer.

Israeli Ministries Special Event for Sukkot

SUKKOT EVENT October 2017

WELCOMING THE KING OF GLORY  Isaiah 52:8 | Psalm 24:7-10

We are a group of Israeli, Messianic leaders who have come together to “Welcome the King of Glory.” King David was the first to welcome the King of Glory when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. He did this both as an individual worshiper, but also on behalf of his people, Israel.

For many reasons, we believe that this year of 2017 is prophetically significant. Together with a remnant of believers from many tribes, tongues and nations, we desire to welcome the King of Glory into Jerusalem once more. We believe we are on the cusp of a new season of His glory residing in His Body worldwide—according to Isaiah 60. We also believe that this will mark a new season of God’s presence among His people in Israel–and the beginning of a season of the fulfillment of many End Times’ events. (We are NOT necessarily declaring this season as the time of His 2nd Coming!)

We want to invite you, your family, your tribes and nations, to come up to Jerusalem for this special gathering during Sukkot 2017. Please see if this bears witness with you to participate and help spread the word or invite people in any way. Learn more at the event website

This is the unique gathering we have been praying and preparing for the last two years. FINALLY the LOCAL MESSIANIC leaders are the ones INVITING THE NATIONS - and the indigenous (covenant people) especially - to come from the four corners of the earth to Welcome the King of Glory.

[Among the Israeli Messianic ministry leaders who are involved in this gathering: Tony Sperandeo (Kfar Saba), Shmuel Birnbaum (Bat Yam), Michael Yaron (Rishon Letzion), Israel Pochtar (Ashdod), Guy Cohen (Acco), Claude Ezagouri (Tiberias), Benjamin Berger (Jerusalem), Avi Mizrachi (Tel Aviv), Asher Intrater (Jerusalem), and Ariel Blumenthal (Jerusalem).

________________________________________

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
Please pray about making a financial gift donation

Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 
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Log in to www.PayPal.com Send donation to:  donna@israelprayer.com 
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Inside the subscription only Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries
Arrows from Zion can be shared freely.  Just copy and paste this email into a Word document to make it easy to print.  However, we ask the Weekly Summaries not be forwarded or information republished without consent of the specific ministries. The Weekly Summary is by subscription only, write arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 7/26/2017

Priority Prayer Focus

By now you may know that the crisis on the Temple Mount has somewhat been superficially settled with Israel removing the metal detectors but not the hi-tech security cameras.  The temporary 'calm' is not for long as already Hamas and Fatah are urging more Friday 'day of rage' protests to intensify on the Temple Mount.

This is spiritual. Everything is about who will be worshipped on that mountain. “For on this mountain the hand of the LORD will rest…He will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands.” (Isaiah 25:10, 11b)

Keep this in your prayers. It may sound like Jordan and Israel have struck a deal to settle the matter but the Palestinian terror groups are not party to the deal and obviously are ramping up for greater conflict and acts of terror. Pray God's hand will be open Israelis for safety from those who breath out hatred. Also pray for Palestinians to be granted the Light of life that allows them deliverance from the chains of hatred that keep them from Yeshua's peace.

Praying the Headlines

Martin Sarvis gives an excellent summary of the Temple Mount crisis - the murders of two Israeli border policemen and the conflicts that resulted from the terror attack, including a terror massacre on an Israeli family in the town of Halamish. Read this to understand what has taken place and also for the prayer points Martin give at the end of his piece.

Also, we are referring readers to KihilaNews.com as the whole July 24 Special Issue of Kehila is devoted to articles from within the Messianic community on the current Temple Mount riots and crisis. To deep dive into the various issues involved from the spiritual point of view of believers in Israel, go to KehilaNews.com
  

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

The weekly ministry letter from Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram's Maoz Ministries asks a very important question:  "Why does the world refer to this place as the Temple Mount? Is it because of the mosque located at the top of it?  Or is it because the First and Second Jewish Temples once stood there, the Temples where the Living God chose to put His name? Even those who claim that Jews have no ties to the Temple Mount, call it by the name that directly proves our heritage on this mountain—Mount Moriah—the same mountain where Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac thousands of years ago, foreshadowing the amazing grace of God, who would not spare His Only Son so that we could be saved."  Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment

Also in this weekly Maoz ministry letter is a short piece on how the situation in Gaza under Hamas rule is worsening.  "Last night, one of the main newscasts played a recorded phone conversation between a Gaza citizen and a Fatah official in the West Bank. In that recording, the Fatah official, who is powerless to actually provide any help, encourages the people of Gaza to rise up and overthrow Hamas.  He says that it's their responsibility to make things better for themselves, and that there are enough weapons in Gaza to get rid of Hamas."

These are things you are never going to hear on your nightly local or national news about what is really going on in Israel and the Palestinian territories.  If you want to pray specifically you have to know specifics. It is just that simple. Read the prayer pointers on the Gaza situation, plus get prayer requests for the Maoz Israel ministry inside the Weekly Summary attachment

From Revive Israel in Jerusalem, an article by Ariel Blumenthal One New Man: The Mystery of Messiah, a video from the Revive Team who joined in the Watchmen Gathering Montreal 2017 Report. Also a short article "I Will Make You Fishers of Men" by Greta Mavro of the Romans 1:16 Jewish Greek Bridge

A good report from Howard Bass of the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation in Beer Sheva about their worship leader, David, "the soldier whose hand was badly injured (but who has wonderfully recovered, thank-you all!)" Howard is commenting on the blessing it was to hear the soldiers & teens gathered in their home to praise and worship several days ago. Howard writes, "Please continue to pray with us that some of these young ones -- and the right ones among them -- in whom we have invested so much into their lives would choose to remain in Beer Sheva, and in Yeshua's Inheritance Congregation. to carry on the work that the Lord has begun here until He brings us to His completion.  Moses needed a Joshua; Elijah needed an Elisha; Paul needed a Timothy.  Yeshua knows who that is among us, and others to work together for His purposes and glory."

Howard also comments on the Temple Mount situation, and has some follow up comments about the prisoners in Arizona who raised a surprising collection for the Nachalat Yeshua congregation, a story you can read in KehilaNews.com here.  Bass also recommends " Kelvin Crombie did a one-hour interview with Simon Barret on Revelation TV at the end of June on THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE REESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL. Kelvin is a historian and an expert on the geo-political build-up for the restoration of the Jewish people to God’s covenanted land to them in fulfillment of His promises sealed by oath. He connects four major events which occurred on Oct 31 in modern history which impacted the Body of Messiah and the nations towards the Jewish people’s return to the land of their fathers: the Reformation in 1517; the visit of the German Kaiser to Jerusalem in 1898; the Battle of Beer Sheva in 1917; and the British government’s approval of the Balfour Declaration. You can view the very interesting and informative interview here. God bless you all, and thank-you for your interest and support."

Ron Cantor of Messiah's Mandate writes again with great excitement about what God is doing among them in the Tel Aviv Tiferet Yeshua congregation - especially in terms how they are 'takin' it to the street'. "I have lived here for 14 years and I have never seen more believers, more determined, to be Spirit-empowered witnesses for Yeshua. This is exactly what Yeshua told His soon-to-be apostles in Acts 1:8. “You will be endued with power to be My witnesses. . . . There are teams going out every day in the greater Tel Aviv area to pray for the sick and share the good news of Yeshua. We have a ...group made up of over 100 believers from all over the country to coordinate outreaches and share testimonies. But even more than that, Israeli believers are becoming more proactive in their outreach. We are waking up each morning expecting to share our faith with someone. We are actively looking for those divine appointments. ”  Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment

We have an important testimony from the Arad Hebrew congregation, Hasdey Yeshua, or Mercy of Yeshua, from the Christian Arab woman who works with them among the Bedouin. She writes, “I heard the command, ‘Go to the Neglected Woman!’ very clearly from the Lord all the way back in 2003, but had no idea where the journey would lead. My name is "Sara" and I’m an Arab Christian from Nazareth." Please read this inspiring testimony of how this eventually led "Sara" to connect with the congregation in Arad to lead their work among the nearby Bedouin tribe. It is quite riveting & inside the subscription only Attached DOCX Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Read also inside the Weekly Summary attachment the prayer requests from the Hasdey Yeshua congregation.

Ben Juster, who is the Operations Director for the Tikkun International Ministries writes a monthly update on the combined Tikkun Israel ministries, including:
                1. We have hired several new staff this past week to help with further developing a strong US ministry center for the Tikkun family of ministries. This is very exciting, yet there are lots of logistics to put into place. Please pray for wisdom and clarity for how to effectively place each person into their right role and calling.

                2. Dan and Patty Juster returned from the United States this month. They had a very fruitful trip. Pray for their reintegration into the rhythms of life in Israel and for productiveness in supporting the training and releasing of more young leaders in the Land.

                3. Asher and Betty Intrater also returned from their time in the US and Canada. Praise God that Asher finished the body for the text of his new book titled 'Alignment'. We are filled with anticipation about the timing and potency of this book. Please pray that we can move this book forward quickly into final publication and that the wide release will be both impacting and inspiring.

                4. Ahavat Yeshua (Jerusalem) ordained a new elder and leader, Ariel Blumenthal, during the Shabbat service yesterday. It was a powerful testimony to have Dan, Eitan, Asher, Eddie, Ben, Youval, Jonathan, and many from the Revive Israel team present to lay hands on Ariel and to further expand upon the healthy leadership of the congregation. Pray that Ariel and his wife adjust well to the new levels of responsibility and governmental oversight for the community. Pray that they are able to grow daily in their pastoral and shepherding gifts.

                5. Many of the congregational and apostolic team leaders are continuing to travel this summer. Please pray for rejuvenation for our families during the times of vacation. Pray for divine connections and strengthening of kingdom partnerships during the ministry travels. Pray for Leon Mazin in Canada, Cody and Liat also in Canada, and Youval in Switzerland.

     Mazal tov to Ben & Lorena who just celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary, also see more inside the Weekly Summary attachment

Ruth Nessim in Nahariya of the Light of the Galilee congregation shares some startling news in her prayer letter (we hadn't heard from her for a long time!). She writes, "One of the reasons for the delay is that I had a severe bug, (probably Salmonella from a bought chicken), which got me rushed to Rambam Hospital and on a drip for many  hours. It could have carried me off but for the prompt reaction of Najeeb in getting me to hospital. I was very weak for days and it took weeks to recover."

Najeeb is Pastor Najeeb Attieh of the Immanuel Church and Bookshop  and Refugee Ministries in Haifa. To offer a little background, ten years ago when Ruth's husband Albert went to be with the Lord, there was no one who stepped up to continue to pastor their fellowship in Nahariya, until finally Lebanese Christian pastor Najeeb came to Ruth's side to keep the congregation going. Najeeb and his wife Elizabeth became constantly mentioned and obviously beloved colleagues in Ruth's ministry letters from that point on. Eventually the congregation would receive a Jewish pastor, but the Atteih's and Ruth would continue on to minister together - especially as Ruth became very drawn to outreach among the Muslims.

Among many things shares in her ministry letter which you can read inside the Weekly Summary attachment, Ruth also shares that "Najeeb is not at all well and is at present being cared for by friends in Germany. Pray for this warrior who is currently also very down. When he returns, he needs two operations on his thighs, and then a hip replacement. This has been a big blow to him together with other problems." Please keep them all in your prayers, plus Ruth's other prayer requests in the Weekly Summary attached.

Ronit Bender, our friend in the Carmel region recently played host again to the young people who come to Israel from the Faroe Islands each year. This is something Ronit and her husband Tom, who now resides in Heaven, did for many years with great joy.  This year Ronit wrties, "I’ve supported these precious young people for over a decade, but now I believe God is telling me 2017 will be my last year hosting them. Of course, I will always be here for them, whenever the need arises. I want to thank these wonderful Faroe Islanders for these special years, and I love them with all my heart, and I know Tom felt the same way." You can read one of the four testimonies from these young people inside the Weekly Summary attachment that the love is mutual.  Ronit also writes, "Currently I’m working on the preparation for a new project which I’ll be helping with. I’m hoping by the time the next newsletter is sent to you it will be “off the ground” and I’ll be able to provide all the exciting details. I can’t wait!"

Eddie and Jackie Santoro of the Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem also write about the intense past week of rioting after the terror attack on the Temple Mount, the terror attack on a family in Halamish, and the Palestinian terror attack on an embassy guard at the Israeli Embassy in Amman, Jordan. "Please join us in prayer at this time. Keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem and endeavor to be a voice of truth in the face of so much incorrect and discriminatory press. Pray that this wave of violence will cease and that tourism will not be affected.  Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government for wisdom, understanding and discernment."

Eddie also shares about the ordination of a new Elder in the Ahavat Yeshua congregation, another testimony of personal outreach in their life in Jerusalem with encouragement to be BOLD, "Look at those who are around you, listen for God's direction and step out in faith. We are the light of the world and the time to shine forth in His life is NOW."

Also this morning an update arrived from Eddie about his latest brain MRI and again, "The doctor reported that my brain looks clear- no sign of growths, no tumors!"

This morning we have also received a special set of prayer requests from the Dugit Ministries of Avi and Chaya Mizrachi, who also lead the Adonai Roi congregation in Tel Aviv. Here are their prayer requests for healings need in the congregation & for peace and stability in the region:

    Please pray that the God of Peace would bring a calm and stability to the region, that all terrorist plots would be thwarted.  Please lift up all military and police personnel as they put their life at risk protecting Israelis.

    Sarah, the wife of one of our beloved worship leaders, has just been diagnosed with Cancer.  She has begun treatment, but we are believing for a complete healing.

    Mark, a faithful member of our congregation, recently had to be rushed to the hospital to have a stint placed in his heart. Thank you for lifting him up as he recovers.

    Chaya is recovering well from her wrist surgery, but is also experiencing complications in her shoulder and eye.  We ask that you would continue to lift her up.

Friends, we know that victory is the Lord's.  Thank you for joining in this battle with us as we continue to press into Yeshua and His heart for His people Israel.

Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

Lebanese Christian Pastor Najeeb Attieh will have to undergo two surgeries on his thighs & a hip replacement after returning from Germany where he is currently being cared for by friends | Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments that will hopefully improve her condition | Eliyahu Ben Haim, IFI's chairman, had back surgery 7/6. The operation was a success. Pray for his wife Hannah, and that his recovery from the surgery be complete and speedy | Esther Ridings Moore for cancerous tumor to yield to treatment and prayer with full healing | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for HaMaayan congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts,  David Ortiz, Ami Ortiz, Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of David at Revive Israel; Gila in Arad, Chaya Mizrachi | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K.

A Perspective
By David Lazarus  Netanya/Jaffa
 Beit Immanuel Congregation, David’s blog http://abbalazarus.blogspot.com/

I imagine that like myself, many of you have gotten caught up in the whirl of news casts fighting to attract our eyeballs with the latest on Trump, Netanyahu, the UN, EU, LOL or whatever. But can we take a minute together and try to get some perspective on this?

   Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 

Please pray about making a financial gift donation. 

Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 
With PayPal, you can send money to anyone with an email address.
Log in to www.PayPal.com Send donation to:  donna@israelprayer.com 
I do not have tax exempt status. 

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 7/19/2017

Priority Prayer Focus

Thank you, Lord, for you peace in the midst of the storms.

Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel
Contact info for all the ministries included inside the subscription-only Weekly Summary.

The first thing I want to draw your attention to this week in the midst of all the crisis that the world is getting pounded with, "God's grace," as Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel writes this week, "Is always sufficient."  He notes that to carry the work and vision God has entrusted us with is often challenging but "when we see the fruit of this work, the far reach and the impact our labor has, we can't help but glorify God for the changed hearts, transformed lives, families and communities."  That is really what it is about, isn't it?

That being said, I do want to share with you that the very last thing Pochtar mentioned in his prayer letter I have reversed and put at the beginning because I want Israelprayer subscribers to realize that the religious opposition is real and it is stalking our brothers and sisters in Israel now. In the midst of all they are doing to advance the kingdom of God in their communities, and as much as they downplay it, intercessors must be aware of the spiritual battle so we can pray into it and hold up our brothers hands in the battle.

Israel Pochtar writes, "Recently the religious orthodox have mobilized their people to advance furthermore their persecution of us and our congregation. They even tried infiltrating our services, just to spy and find out about upcoming events so they can send people to disrupt and disturb people attending. Pray for protection of the people, both leaders, whose families are being severely persecuted, and also protection for new believers and people who come to our congregation to our projects, not to be deceived into believing they are doing something wrong by coming to us. The pressure the religious put on people is intense and we need your prayer covering. "

Learn more of what this thriving community of believers are doing in their communities that would earn them so much religious opposition inside the Weekly Summary attachment      

Ye'shi Reinhardt of Hands of Mercy humanitarian aid in S'derot makes an appeal for volunteer workers in short and long term volunteer programs. Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment 

The Maoz Ministries of Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram talk about the UN voting to designate Hebron as a Palestinian heritage site.  It's a win that "literally has no real value, since there are no legal implications to any UNESCO vote. In the meantime, a humanitarian disaster is breaking out in Gaza, and the world is silent. For years Israeli Electric Company has been supplying power to Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and to Gaza." Learn more what's a stake and get their prayer points in order to pray for "the innocent men, women and children in Gaza and that God will somehow break the yoke off them and set them free."

See also the Tiferet Yeshua prayer requests submitted by Maoz Israel  inside the Weekly Summary attachment

We have an update this week from the family of Antony Simon, who was preaching the gospel in Iraq in May when he was struck in a fatal car accident. His family is continuing the Voice in the Wilderness Ministry. They write, "The loss for Voice in the Wilderness is a great one but as we knew Antony, we know that he believed the gospel should be a lifestyle and that the work of our Father in Heaven is of utmost importance. That is why we see the work continuing. Our church life is continuing as usual, as we have our leaders teaching and undertaking the responsibilities of the church. In the church we had a baptism last week on Thursday performed by Leonid our elder and one of our deacons, Kang, which was a great blessing for us as a church. " Read more inside the Weekly Summary attachment             

Over the weekend a relative of mine that I have tried to work with to get him free from opioid addictions, even living in may home many times over the past several years, came to do work in my suburban Dallas town. There have been so many betrayals that my husband will not allow him in the house anymore, and when he comes around now, my anxiety level goes through the roof. I see that I am not equipped to help him as I have painfully learned over the last several years. That is why I am always so touched to share the reports of the Israeli ministries who work exclusively with the addicts on the streets and in their rehabs.

This week Dov Bikas of the Aviv Ministry which works in a ministry center in Tel Aviv and also in their congregation and rehab in the Negev has some encouraging reports on the things they are seeing in the Tel Aviv outreach and also the Negev rehab where they generally have 8-10 people living. It was especially touching to read the testimony of one man who has been at the rehab for five months. He had visited the outreach many times over the years for food but finally he was persuaded to go into the rehab.  This man had been estranged from his family and had not even seen his son for the last seven years, so in rehab, his heart was turned toward finding his son.

Imagine what God did next:  "All this time I did not give up hope to find my son and prayed about it. The Lord revealed Himself in a wonderful way, albeit through sad events. The director of our rehab received a call from a young man who asked to start a rehabilitation program. It turned out this man was my son! My joy had no limits, because it turned out that he also had a wife and a son, whom I had never even heard of. I had an opportunity to tell my son about Christ and deliverance from addiction. I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but I'm sure of one thing: while I'm with God, I'll be alright. Once again I want to thank the leaders of Aviv Center, for allowing Aviv Center to be a place in which I could go to rehab and get to know Christ.”

Read this and another encouraging testimony from the Aviv Center, along with the ministry prayer requests from Dov Bikas. It is a work that is close to the Lord's heart to reach those who have lost everything important in their lives to sins they are helpless to extract themselves from.

From Revive Israel an article by Asher Intrater Fruit of Self Control and a video by Cody Archer Intentionality . Also read about their Arab Christian team members who were baptized and the couple learned they were pregnant the same day inside the Weekly Summary attachment              

Rick Ridings of Succat Hallel, a 24/7 worship and prayer in Jerusalem sends this Prayer and Encouraging Sign from the Lord at the Border of North Korea Read it in full inside the Weekly Summary attachment        

Here are just a few articles from recent issues of Kehilanews.com

A really encouraging article about a group of Arizona inmates who took up a collection in order to bless an Israeli Messianic congregation: From the ends of the earth: Kingman prison inmates raise support for Beer Sheva kehila  Also a report on the annual SAYF Jewish, Arab leaders sit together at Yeshua’s feet

The political power in Israel has put its religious parties into driving their agendas with boldness, which means they are turning up the heat on the Israeli Messianic believers, and we need to pray about that. Two articles to give you insight on the issues:  Prayer request regarding Israeli citizenship issues and It’s time for a change – Messianic Jewish immigration to Israel

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Urgent HEALING Needs
Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please see inside the attached DOCX Weekly Summary to keep in prayer the Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs including the fight for their very lives: 

Olga Bikas continues to suffer from chronic, acute back pain. She is getting medication and physiotherapeutic treatments that will hopefully improve her condition | Eliyahu Ben Haim, IFI's chairman, had back surgery 7/6. The operation was a success. Pray for his wife Hannah, and that his recovery from the surgery be complete and speedy | Esther Ridings Moore for cancerous tumor to yield to treatment and prayer with full healing | PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYER FOR for HaMaayan congregant Danny Meyuseff suffering poor health on several fronts,  healing  for David B., the wounded soldier/worship leader from Beer Sheva congregation, , David Ortiz, Ami Ortiz, Ruth Nessim,  Eddie Beckford | PRAY for RECOVERY of David at Revive Israel; Gila in Arad, Chaya Mizrachi | LONG TERM BATTLES |  David Stern,  David, Leah and Ami,  Moshe M.;  the son of an Arab pastor, Ghazi, who is suffering from Leukemia. Michael E, Claude Ezagouri; Baruch & Karen Maayan, Judy, wife of pastor Yaakov K;

Teaching Articles

In this Guest Post by Arni Klein of Emmaus Way in Israel, Arni contemplates the high cost in the Church to knowing Israel is special to God, but not acting on that truth. Read it inside the Weekly Summary attachment or online here.

Praying the Headlines

Inside the Weekly Summary attachment               Martin Sarvis provides spiritual background on the current controversies in Israel regarding two holy sites, The Temple Mount and the Cave of the Patriarchs. He notes, on July 18, Israel enters the second week of Bein haMetzarim —“Between the Straits.”

My Word

Familiar Spirits & the Python

I believe in miracles but I am somewhere between those who deny miracles are for today and those with a spirit of divination who promote supernatural miraculous signs that are not from God. Even to say such a thing I know I risk being called a heresy hunter. I'm not, but I do have an aversion to all the craziness that has been accepted in prophetic circles over the past several decades.

Last week while doing Israelprayer I had a strong urge to find out what the original Hebrew definition was of the translated term "familiar spirits". In its biblical usage and definition it is a spirit of divination. I would say that means calling something a prophecy that is obtained through sources other than from the Spirit of God, whether it is from evil spirits or from our own intuition or knowledge.

It seems to me that many traffic in this today - and let me tell you right off the bat that I repented yesterday myself for this very thing.  Read more at my blog

Israeli Ministry Tours

Living Stones Tour with Avi Mizrachi & Dugit |  We are pleased to announce that our annual "Living Stones Tour" will be from December 3-12.  This year we have decided to lengthen our trip to 10 days in order to spend more time at special places.  It is our goal to immerse each guest in the reality of living in Israel as a believer.  To maintain the intimate nature of this trip, we only have 45 spaces available. For more information including tour cost and itinerary click HERE!   

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Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
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