ARROWS from ZION

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Seed Time & Harvest | Arrows from Zion 6/12/19

Shavuot / Pentecost
by Daniel C Juster, Restoration from Zion

I write these words as the Feast of Shavuot, known as Pentecost in the Church world, is just ending. It is the same Feast, the one emphasizing seven weeks after the First Fruits Feast of Passover week and the other Fifty Days after First Fruits or Resurrection Sunday.

The Biblical Feast is a harvest Festival of the first large harvest of wheat. This year the date on the Christian Western Calendar and the Jewish Calendar are the same.

The Jewish community celebrates this Feast as the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, or the Law, though the Word Torah is broader than law, though it includes it. It is the instruction of God and his statutes and laws are instruction. The Bible does not tell us to celebrate this Feast as the Feast of giving the Law or the Ten Commandments, the Covenant of the Ten Words more precisely. Rabbinic calculation, which is quite reasonable, calculates the time of travel to Mt. Sinai and Moses ascending the Mount, which was at least close to this date if not on it.

For Christians, the celebration is the anniversary of the outpouring the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) and the reference is explicit. The occasion of the Feast for me always brings to mind the opposition of Law and Spirit that is so pervasive popular Christianity today. Spirit is opposed to Law, Grace is opposed to Law and Faith is opposed to Law. Yet, this certainly is a huge mistake in interpretation.

Actually, the Bible makes it quite clear that the benefits of the New Covenant, the grace of God, the way of faith, and the power of the Spirit all enable the fulfillment of the Torah (Law in its essence). Two verses show this clearly, Romans 8:4, “The righteous requirement of the Torah/Law is fulfilled in us who walk by the Spirit.” Romans 3:31 as well states, “Do we nullify the Law through faith? On the contrary, we establish the Torah/Law.”

What is usually not understood in todays’ popular Christianity is that the historic Protestant Christian teaching got this mostly right. Most taught that we are only saved by grace, but that this grace embraced by faith enables obedience to the Law by the power of the Spirit. Richard Hooker, who at the end of the 16th century established the foundations of Anglican teaching, argued for a principle approach. One can ask and determine usually why a particular law is there and can usually see the underlying principle. He opted for a flexible application approach that does not enjoin the exact civil penalties and particulars but does enjoin the principles with civil flexibility in penalties for a New Covenant Age.

In this he responded to Puritan Calvinists who wanted to literally follow the whole Law as exactly as possible, including the civil penalties for violation. Calvin’s teaching in Book II Chapter 7 of his Institutes of the Christian Religion, allowed for more flexibility. It is a magnificent summary.

This approach to the continued applicability of the Law/Torah in the New Covenant was also the view of the Wesley and the Methodists, the revivalist Charles Finney and is found in the greatest statement of Baptist theology by Augustus Strong at the end of the 19th century. This approach was held by the great Old Testament Scholar at Wheaton, Samuel Schultz (my professor of dear memory) and today by Walter Kaiser, emeritus President of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. I could go on and name many more who have argued for this approach.

The weakness in the classical statements of Protestantism was the too easy bifurcation of ceremonial and moral law. The ceremonial law included those markers that made Israel, the Jewish people, a distinct people. Sabbath, keeping the Jewish Feast days, circumcision, and food laws are all dismissed. However, the Church was not consistent since they celebrated a Christian version of Passover First Fruits (Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday) and Pentecost. This should have given the lie to this too easy a distinction. It was really based in replacement theology.

Messianic Jews and the growing number of Christians who share our theology on these matters celebrate both the giving of the Torah and the outpouring of the Spirit as the key to fulfilling the Torah on this day. The emphasis has been shifted. Our concentration is secondarily on the Torah but primarily on being led by the Spirit and walking in his power. However, the Torah continues in importance and is applicable in the New Covenant.

Arrows from Zion

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

As some of you learned in my Friday mailing, the health update for Eddie Santoro is not good, but please continue to pray in faith for God's perfect will for Eddie to manifest and pray for Jackie, the other love of his life next to Yeshua. As always, I am flipping the order of their ministry letter to put the health update in first place instead of being the last mention. It is the way they are ever since I first began to be exposed to their ministry in 2002.

Jackie Santoro writes in the June Glory of Zion ministry letter, "We are sad to report that Eddie's condition has deteriorated significantly in these last few weeks. Yet as we walk through these challenging days, our heart is overwhelmed with the love of God as he pours out his blessing upon us in so many wonderful ways. One of the most significant was that He provided a wonderful couple to come live with us to help with our every need. This was truly a miraculous provision for which we are eternally grateful. Please pray for Robyn and Rodney as they give so selflessly and with hearts of love to care for the both of us. Pray for health, strength and endurance as we press on in Him.

Even in Eddie's current weakened condition, his love continues to shine through and our home health workers just love us and love coming to our home. Our doctor who is a religious young man said that he feels like we are more like family than patients. In his words; "Eddie has that effect on people." We thank the Lord for this witness that goes forth in our greatest trial and in our weakness. May his name be glorified in us and through us and may we continue to touch those with his truth and love. Even as we walk through the "Valley of Baca", we make it a place of springs (Psalm 84:6).

Avner Boskey brings it home with this Shavuot message: We wish you a kosher Pentecost! | "My Polish Jewish grandfather used to say, 'A goat may have a beard, but that doesn’t make him a rabbi!' In the same way, some Jewish traditions may have beautiful beards, but that does not make every last one of these traditions biblical or authentic. Shavuot is a good illustration of this proverb. Let’s look at this together."

In the June Maoz Israel Report are articles about Pay it Forward - The Harvest (Katzir) Youth Camps | An Ancient People Reclaim their Ancient Heritage: The Golan Heights | Israel Shoots For the Moon. Then in the Weekly Maoz prayer letter prayer requests for the "unprecedented political drama" in Israel; continued fire fights against terrorist arson fires and the laying to rest of Israel's First Lady, Nechama Rivlin - with prayer points included.

Marianna Gol who heads the Streams in the Desert ministry to widows and orphans lays out what their ministry does, plus gives an appeal for coming alongside their work with financial support. Her comments are copied at the end of this Arrows because I believe she gives voice to what a great many of the Israeli ministries are experiencing. "I really don’t like talking about money. I grew up in a culture where that was a deﬁnite taboo.... We need money and I am not great at ﬁnding it." Connect directly with the ministry to learn more or in the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber

Israel Pochtar, whose congregation and ministry are enduring religious persecution steadfastly and rarely mention it, has a great report about their women's conference "Accept Your Challenge" where believer and seeker women drew together to be uplifted in their calling as women. Watch this VIDEO. Also a mini-teaching on Shavuot & First Fruits. If you want to help them with their many humanitarian and outreach projects where you will find a list of projects to support under the "Projects" tab

From founder Asher Intrater's Revive Israel Team (Director Youval Yanay) Get a taste of the annual Shavuot Worship Event which live-streamed connecting believers all over the world to praise the Lord as in Acts 2 when the Spirit was poured out on the believers in Jerusalem: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." This is not just another get together of believers, but a prophetic act in expectation of another outpouring of the Spirit in Jerusalem that will impact the salvation of Israel and reverberate around the world with the same Spirit of revival.

Also from Revive: VIDEO To the Jew First - Really? Cody Archer and Troy Wallace | VIDEO Learn From My Mistakes Jeremiah Smilovici on overcoming fear of what others think of you | TIKKUN PDF June Israel's Restoration newsletter| Lifted Up | Book by Eddie Santoro | Three years ago, deadly cancer exploded in Eddie's brain. The doctors declared a certain and quick death. But God declared life!

Orna Grinman of A Sign & Example ministry to widows and orphans has a new blog post: As usual, the depth and beauty of Orna's teaching article “Faces or Mask?” truly astounds me. A woman of God, Orna is mightily anointed and has blessed me so many times over the years reading her articles that speak directly to my heart, my hurts, my longings and my love. God bless Orna and I pray that more and more will come to know what a deep insight and anointed ministry she is walking in.

The Aliyah Return Center is a village at the Jordan River which takes in new immigrants to help them get situated in the Land. It's not so easy, but the ARC helps greatly. Making aliyah is not just about the travel expenses getting to Israel, it is about arriving needy and having no support system. So many of the Israeli Messianic ministries do humanitarian outreach among the immigrants. Learn more about this one in their latest email online here.

Guy Cohen who leads the Harvest of Asher congregation in Akko shares the vision God gave him 15 years ago about how to build His house in the area of their city, it came in a passage of Luke 10:2-12 with a series of key words: Pray, go your way, if a son of peace is there, remain eating and drinking, heal the sick there. It is the grounding vision of their work in Akko.

Also this article from Marty Shoub about the launch of the Akko congregation in Napoleon's Park because they did not yet have a meeting space: "Guy heard the Holy Spirit answer, 'Tell them, you are the living stones. Buildings are not important; the community of believers is being "built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Yeshua the Messiah."(1 Pe 2:5)."

KehilaNews.AllIsrael.com/ Here are two more important articles on the religious riot against the believers recently: Shelly Greenberg's Love thy neighbor – On the attacks at the worship concert in Jerusalem and Kehila Staff One personal experience from the violent protest at the Messianic concert in Jerusalem

One of the portions read in synagogues worldwide during this week is from Hosea 2 about his prophetic straying wife and her restoration back to Hosea. This is the opening of the Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem Friday Prayer Points - and surely you see the prophetic significance to Israel today? The first prayer topic: Salvation for Israel

Dan and Patty Juster's June Restoration from Zion letter is online here. In it read about the second part of Dan's TJCII Asia trip and the Tikkun America Annual "Restore" Leadership and Family Conference which just took place in the USA. As Dan notes, "Our American efforts are supported by the Tikkun America network. However, all the overseas travel, and all of the ministry in Israel is supported by your giving. We are so blessed by you ongoing partnership with us in furthering God's kingdom through this ministry." If you read through this online email, you will begin to get a small sense of the great significance of Dan's ministry impact - and that is not even touching his great impact as a writer and his decades of contributions as a theological 'steering wheel' to the Messianic movement.

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice June JIJ newsletter is online here with positive information from the region and some things to review as we just celebrated Israel's 72st birthday - including 5 Fun Facts to Remember

Last but not least, Ron Cantor had me going with this video on Facebook: 3,000 Jews Come to Yeshua During Powerful Gospel Presentation in Jerusalem! :-) And unfortunately there is also this As thousands mark Jerusalem Day, clashes erupt on Temple Mount. Plus Go here to see details and videos of sites that will be covered on the Up to Zion Dec Tour with Ron & Elana Cantor

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

CONTINUE to make fervent PRAYER for the urgent healing needs of EDDIE SANTORO and Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender is awaiting results from her heart echo test results although she has she feels so much better - but has had a persistent cough for months now. She will have to go to a lungs doctor...and the heart valve is still leaking. Please continue to pray for Ronit. She has been released to travel to Australia in Oct, and Holland in Nov despite the outstanding issues.| Martin Sarvis has undergone arthroscopic surgery and is now in the healing process. Surgery was successful and now will have physiotherapy for a couple of months. | Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel, because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, he was advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his leg because of the blood flow issues. Shlomy has to wrap his legs daily because of the blood flow issues. Please pray for Shlomy | Ruth Nessim has several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent her to the hospital many times. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, has had a successful surgery and an amazing recovery but keep praying for total restoration | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.

This is a touching tribute to the steadfast faith of Eddie and Jackie Santoro, who we have been praying for over the last nearly 4 years. Eitan Shishkoff has titled it Heroes of the Faith. You can read Eddie Santoro's own experience in his book, Lifted Up: Overcoming through the Power of Love on Amazon.

Seed Time & Harvest

It is unnaturally cool out there this June-10th morning. Cool like we in Dallas would expect in early March not in almost the middle of June. It should already be hot 24/7. This must be in the aftermath of the severe storms yesterday. It is the hot southern air meeting up with the cool northern air that creates tornado weather.

The other day a friend asked me about Jeremiah 31:35-36 because there is a promise of God to Israel in it which paraphrasing says, God GAVE the sun for light by day, and COMMANDED the moon and the stars for a light by night, and ONLY if those ordinances depart from before Him, the seed of Israel will cease to be a nation "before Me forever"

No matter what anyone teaches theologically, that word of the LORD settles it for me definitively: there is no replacement of Israel in God's heart. His heart is big enough to include all the nations without turning His back on Israel. No matter what Israel has done - and if the Church were more honest with itself, it would see that it has failed every bit as the Bible records that Israel failed. His love is bigger than our measly human concepts of love.

But the unnatural coolness reminded me of a series of Dispensational prophecy teachings I went to for many weeks at a church when I was 18 or so. It was being taught from a book by Clarence Larkin. I remember that his interpretation made something out of another promise of God from Genesis which Larkin misinterpreted as a cataclysm in the last days where the seasons would cease, running together, not keeping to the normal patterns of spring, summer, fall and winter. I thought today about how some may be thinking this weather year has been like that.

But Genesis 8:22 is not about that, it is about God's promise not to destroy the whole earthly creation as He did with the flood. Today, the earth absorbs the evil of mankind, that is why it groans, waiting to see the revealing of the sons of God.

God's promise was, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done."

Leviticus 18:27 says there are abomination sins that cause the land to "vomit" out men from itself. That vomiting is the natural disasters and in the context of the rest of Leviticus 18, these are caused by the "abomination" of sexual sins and child sacrifice. It isn't climate change, friends, it is rampant sexual abominations and abortions.

Leviticus 18:27-29 "For the men who were in the land before you committed all these abominations, and the land has become defiled. So if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you. Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people.…"

If you preach this, people think you are speaking of that alien, awful "God of the Old Testament" but in the new Testament, the Word says that in James 1:17, James refers back to the Genesis 8:22 verse saying, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

God is unchanging, so are His ordinances and commands. He has not dropped the bar to accommodate us, He has given us the power of His Spirit to rise to the bar He set before us to become like Him. — Donna Diorio

THANK YOU to those who responded to my pressing appeal for financial support last Friday. I greatly appreciate your help. My husband and I are looking at an unsure financial future, so please pray that God will help us to find creative ways to generate the remaining income we need to support ourselves through our aging years.

Also, I want to say again that all of the Israeli ministries have been in a major decrease of funding over the past two years or so. If you will read Marianne Gol's comments on this, she expresses her own ministry needs, but she really expresses how all the Israeli ministries are feeling the pinch. It is hard to describe how when you are so finance-strapped it's like the old sailing ship term, being "dead in the water" without wind in your sails to propel you forward. It is so difficult to do anything God has put on your heart to do, so there is a fight against depression about it.

As Marianne Gol wrote: "I really don’t like talking about money. I grew up in a culture where that was a deﬁnite taboo. ... We need money, and I am not great at ﬁnding it. I believe that all of our present partners are doing their best in helping us do the work. A few of our long-term supporters had to discontinue support last year for diﬀerent reasons. We are struggling. I am having a very hard time. I am battling to hold on to faith for the vision and for provision for it, and battling to not allow anxiety to grip my heart. It’s not easy. I need your help. First and foremost, I am asking you to intercede for ﬁnancial breakthrough for Streams in the Desert. Please pray for God’s clear leadership in the area of ﬁnances for us. Please pray for me to stand strong under this ﬁnancial burden.

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

THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
Or 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, June 5, 2019

Controversy of the Gospel ArrowsFromZion 6/5/19

How can we say we love Israel & eschew Messianic Jews who profess Jesus?

The Controversy of The Gospel
by Asher Intrater, Revive Israel

We as Messianic Jews believe it is our right and our calling to share the gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) to our people in love. Who we are and what we have to say is at times controversial, both in Israel and in the Church.

Here are a few examples from the last twenty years:

· Pastor John Hagee, in the promotion of his book, "In Defense of Israel" made the statement that Jesus did not come to be the Messiah of the Jews, just savior of the world. This statement is to explain his position as head of Christians United for Israel, that there is no need to be sharing the gospel with Jewish people.

· Some years ago, a large demonstration was planned by ultra Orthodox Jews against the tiny community of Messianic Jews in Arad, in front of the home of Polly S. Polly is a widow and foster mother to 3 children. Thank God, that time the new police chief did a fine job of restricting the number of demonstrators and keeping the demonstration from becoming violent or disorderly.

· Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, which has a tourist hotel and convention hall, has hosted many Christian conferences in the past. One year they were attacked by the ultra Orthodox because some of the conferences had Messianic Jews participating. Although the kibbutz was angered by these attacks, they were under great pressure to cancel any conferences featuring Messianic Jews.

· In 2001 during the Feast of Tabernacles Jerusalem March, amidst tens of thousands of Christian Zionists and tens of thousands of secular Israelis, the police blocked a small group of Messianic Jews and pulled us out of the parade. Everyone else was allowed but the city government refused to let us march.

In response, let me answer a few questions:

Do we proselytize? Honestly, no. We evangelize. Proselytizing is converting someone to another religion. Evangelizing is sharing the love of Yeshua so a person can be born again in his heart. Yeshua did not come to start another religion. We are promoting revival, not religion. We have a religion: Judaism. We are Jews who believe in our own Messiah: Yeshua (who happens to be the savior of the entire world as well). Nothing could be more Jewish than that.

Is it against the law in Israel to share the gospel? No. There is an "anti-missionary" law which says that it is illegal to do two things: one, give financial benefits to someone in order to induce them to change their religion; two, forcibly baptize a minor without the consent of his parents. We would, of course, never do either of those things. Nor would we want to. We do have a "mission" from God, but according to the definition of the word in Israeli law, we are not "missionaries."

Are we against Christian Zionists who do not believe in Jewish evangelism? I do not believe that any truly born-again believer would not want someone else, anyone else, to receive eternal life as he has received, and that includes Jewish people. If the gospel is for everyone, it is certainly "to the Jew first" (Romans 1:16). We as Messianic Jews in Israel are willing to risk our lives to see our beloved people receive salvation (Romans 9:1; Acts 21:13).

Over 30 years ago, I wrote that there would be 3 great movements which would ultimately lead to a national revival in Israel. Those three "prongs" are: 1) the demonstration of love by Christian Zionists, 2) the evil hatred of worldwide Islamic Jihad, and 3) the witness of Messianic Jews that it is possible to believe in Yeshua and still be Jewish.

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

See Tikkun-TV mails out many excellent, short teaching and ministry articles each week from Tikkun ministry leaders, like these: From Dan Juster The Replacement Theology Challenge Today, Who Can We Trust to Teach Us? and The Inability to Enforce Standards in Western Society | The Temporary, the Calamity & Eternity by Guy Cohen| Seven Reasons why Israelis are going to Elections Again by Ron Cantor | Eddie & Jackie Santoro are Sharing the Light in Jerusalem | Asher Intrater on A Strategic Alliance and Avi Tekle's The Preparation and the Harvest

Arni Klein writes about "A spirit of slumber -- a stupor -- is over the Land." An immutable foundational principle is laid out in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10. Simply said, those who turn away from truth, become too blind to see. It’s the result of repeatedly choosing the ways of the world -- loving our life, loving the world, seeking the praises of men, trusting in man rather than God, and finally, not knowing the fear of the Lord.... We share these thoughts that we might see what is, exercise discernment with sound judgment, and understand what is coming" It is a truth that hounds Israel, just as much as it hounds the Western nations of the world.

The Joseph Project letter this month focuses on the attacks from Gaza which were followed by fires, mostly terrorist-arson fires. Two who cities were burnt to the ground and Joseph Project invites all to have a hand in re-supplying the residents of those towns as they must relocate to new homes with the clothes on their backs. They are also focusing on the Lone Soldiers who serve in the IDF but have no home or relatives in Israel. This is a sacrifice they have made to come to Israel to serve in the IDF and many through the years have tried to make their off-time more supportive & nicer than being all alone. Learn more at the website. Also, while in Israel, you can be a volunteer for a day at their distribution plant email for info.

The Return to Zion (Shavei Tzion) congregation in Haifa is led by Leon Mazin who shares with us the Passover Events Hosted by Return to Zion. They write it is an important time to help those in need and to bring some joy to their lives — and that they did with a festive Pesach dinner in honor of Holocaust survivors, an event especially for new immigrants many of whom heard for the first time the story, traditions and true meaning of Pesach and the central role of Yeshua in it, and serving the needy and children suffering from cancer with the 120 food baskets & Passover supplies. Also their collective call to prayer. Read all about it by clicking the title above.

Hasdey Yeshua write about their journey since starting the Arad congregation in 2000. From a small home group, to a rented home where they met for many years until the religious ultra-Orthodox in the city pressured the landlord to kick them out, then began the many years they have met for services in outdoor spaces which left much to be desired! They have searched high and low for a permanent, affordable space for the congregation to meet and ask, "Please pray for us to have wisdom from the Lord." They give an good report on their Bedouin outreach and for Jewish Bedouin they have also encountered - Bedouin who practice some form of Judaism that is without the Rabbinic additions.

Intercessors for Israel write about the new - 3rd elections - for the Israeli government, with prayer points. Also you can read the whole Friday Prayer Points online here.

From Revive Israel Cody Archer writes Worship in The Kingdom and also interviews Bassem Adranly in VIDEO Social Clashes of Islam. Asher does a video on how the Holy Spirit has worked from Genesis to our day - a progression which he calls Holy Spirit: 5 Stages of Dwelling. There is also an invitation for this weekend: SHAVUOT LIVESTREAM INVITATION: Join Revive Israel & others on their annual prayer and fasting night vigil livestream broadcast on the eve of Pentecost, Erev Shavuot. It will start at 7pm to midnight Israel time on June 8th. Click link to learn more.

Israel Pochtar writes about the work they have launched in Ashkelon with a New outreach center & Alpha Course in Ashkelon. The building is currently used for humanitarian relief, distribution of food and clothing, bible studies, meetings and discipleship courses - and they have been able to be a great blessing to elderly Holocaust survivors who are mostly house-bound. They also do much among the new immigrants who have so much need. As Israel writes, "We invest a great deal of work and passion into our evangelism, as well as humanitarian outreach, and we see a visible result; people's response is amazing!" Their Alpha program, which is designed for seekers, not yet believers, sounds so innovative. Israel writes that "Most come with such an open heart, eager to learn more about God and faith in Yeshua." Do you want to become a part of this new work? They would love to have you.

Howard Bass writes with an update from the congregation and return of four of their people after being abroad for 2 years. Howard asks for prayers for them all as the LORD directs their steps forward, as their decisions will also affect the future of the Yeshua's Inheritance congregation. Also Randi Bass is in the US with her 92-yr old father who is slipping into eternity. Pray for her. Howard has teachings here and here and a special spot on KehilaNews.allisrael. He also shares his firsthand account of the Messianic Worship Event that was attacked by the violence-prone Jewish group called Lahava. Howard offers wise counsel: "Israel is still the enemy of the gospel, so as you pray, please do not be naive: the Jewish people, and Israel as a nation are still in opposition to the God of their fathers, and need to repent and believe the gospel."

Ronit Bender sends an update (including her medical update, see in Urgent Healing Needs below). She still has a leaking heart valve but is still awaiting results of the latest echo. In the meantime she is re-connecting, some by design and some by Divine...appointment, that is. She ran into someone who had bullied her in school was able to speak forgiveness to him for it, which opened doors for her to minister to someone overhearing the exchange. She also went back to her first ever school reunion and again was able to speak of her life of faith since she last saw her school mates. This is how it is done in Israel, and it is meaningful because it is from someone who shares the same challenges as other Israelis and have done so for a long time. Ronit's email was brimming with good reports - including how she is cleared to travel to Australia in October and Holland in November. Please continue to pray for Ronit, and consider helping with financial support.

“Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit”

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

Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders and believers with urgent health needs

NEW: Shlomy Abramov of Awake Israel, wife Miriam sent out the Facebook urgent prayer request after Shlomy's leg was cut. Later she reported that because of a condition where blood does not flow to his legs as it should, he was advised by a specialist in case of injuries, he could lose his leg because of the blood flow issues. Shlomy has to wrap his legs daily because of the blood flow issues. When his leg was cut Monday Shlomy was bleeding profusely. Doctors did get it under control and are monitoring the dressing. Please pray for Shlomy | CONTINUE to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of EDDIE SANTORO and Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender is awaiting results from her heart echo test results although she has she feels so much better - but has had a persistent cough for months now. She will have to go to a lungs doctor...and the heart valve is still leaking. Please continue to pray for Ronit. She has been released to travel to Australia in Oct, and Holland in Nov despite the outstanding issues.| Martin Sarvis has undergone arthroscopic surgery and is now in the healing process. Surgery was successful and now will have physiotherapy for a couple of months.

Ruth Nessim has several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent her to the hospital many times. Please pray for Ruth in Nahariya| Olga Bikas’s health condition that seems to have become chronic, with no hope from the doctors for any improvement in the future. This, no doubt, puts an additional emotional and physical burden on our family. Please pray for her acute back pain. | Albert a Messianic leader from southern Israel, has had a successful surgery and an amazing recovery but keep praying for total restoration | Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing.

by Donna Diorio

In 1998, as Benjamin Netanyahu's first term as Israel's Prime Minister was coming to an unplanned end, there was a strong campaign among the religious parties to legislate against the Israeli believers in Yeshua from sharing their faith. I have always believed that God removed Netanyahu from power because he allowed the religious parties to increase too powerfully and threatening to the Israeli Messianic Jewish believers ability to fulfill their mandate from God.

With new elections, the liberal party took control and Israel became less safe in national security because of it, but Messianic believer-citizens became more safe. That seems to be the trade-off politically for Israel. My trust is that God will keep both of those needs balanced. That balancing act may be exactly what we are seeing unfolding again in the chaotic Israeli political situation. While Netanyahu is strong on protecting Israel from international pressures, he is miserably weak in protecting the religious freedoms of Israeli Messianic Jewish believer-citizens.

Here is another troubling fact: the Israel-supporting Church generally has the exact same strength and weakness as Netanyahu. When Netanyahu failed to adequately speak up for the Israeli believers in 1998, I believe God sovereignly removed Netanyahu from office. He moved to limit the damage that the religious parties were set on doing to the Israeli believers sharing their faith. In God's eyes, the believers are every bit as important as the whole nation of Israel because, in fact God's plan to save Israel from annihilation in the end times is inextricably entwined with His plan to bring "all Israel" to faith in Yeshua through the testimony of Israeli Messianic Jews.

Fast Forward to 2019. Netanyahu's political problems may be of God because once again Israel may be getting a course-correction so that too much power is not given prematurely to religious parties in opposition to the Gospel. There are again increasing reports of aggressive religious persecution against the Israeli believers.

Just this morning the Times of Israel tweeted about a meeting where the Israeli President gave reassurances: "Rivlin to Christian leaders: Israeli sovereignty will never erode religious freedom". The problem, of course is that this promise is pointless if it does not extend to Israeli Messianic Jews who profess Yeshua.

And that brings us to the religious riot at a private Messianic worship event in the Clal Bldg Pavillion in Jerusalem last week. It was reported on Facebook the next day by Shelly Greenberg, a law intern and Messianic believer who witnessed the riot. Because of her experience in Messianic events, she also helped to get arriving guests of the event into the facility, past the rioting Lehava organization.

Shelly Greenberg wrote that "Kids were crying, mothers and old people were terrified. . . . I must say, I've been dealing with those kind of things for years, but I have never seen them so possessed. They were in craze." Even the police & SWAT teams that arrived failed to control the crowd she said.

Inside the concert proceeded but outside, after two hours the riot area was finally pepper sprayed. As far as we know there were no arrests made and we have not been able to find any coverage of the riot in the Israeli newspapers. See coverage in Messianic news here and here. Some videos also captured a small measure of the riots posted on Facebook here and here.

We need to understand that God has placed a mantle of great purpose on the Jewish believers in Israel, and He will defend them waiting for us to step come alongside them 100% as He intends. They are paying the price for our failures to support them in prayer, in finances and in the political influence we hold.

The religious persecutions of 2019 are a continuation of the opposition to the Gospel we see in the Acts of the Apostles, and which has shown itself time and again since Israel's modern re-birth in 1948. We must know this and not let it deter us from cooperating in the vision God has for the faith of Yeshua to bloom again in Israel.

"Those that do not learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat it." | In 1998 the Zvili bill sought to stop the gospel from going forth in Israel by Israeli Jewish citizens was stopped due to months of tireless efforts by the Messianic Action Committee. Through their informing Christians about the threat they faced a strong worldwide outcry rose among Israel-supporting Christians. Israeli politicians noticed. But the political realities were that Netanyahu's promises to Christians not to let the bill pass was too much for Netanyahu to uphold. He was under the same pressures to allow the religious parties too much power in order to maintain a coalition government.

Meanwhile Israel-based Christian organizations came up with their own solution to deal with the religious opposition in proposing what was known as "The Understanding". What they hoped for was their agreement would ease the religious political resistance to their own presence in Israel. It certainly did not ease the resistance for the Israeli believer-citizens and was viewed by many as a betrayal of them and of the faith, as well.

Here is some of the wording of The Understanding:

"We believe that the covenant which God concluded with the people of Israel was never revoked. We deeply respect the Jewish people in their identity and integrity not engage in activities, which have as their intention to alienate them from their tradition and community. Nor will we exploit, for the benefit of our denominational interests, such economic, social or psychological needs as may emerge.

"We earnestly call upon the government of Israel to maintain its enlightened policy which allows our Christian communities in this country, both native as well as expatriate, to freely follow our vocation, which includes among others, caring for our members; engaging in many social and charitable projects; welcoming and assisting pilgrims and visitors from abroad; and maintaining schools and institutions for teaching and research - to the end, that the Christian communities in the State of Israel may flourish in harmony with those of other faiths."

I am among those that believe the understanding expressed in The Understanding falls short of what God wants to see from Christians in terms of supporting His plans for Israel. The reason is because it fails to see Israel is coming to faith in Yeshua now and they are coming by the anointing of God on the Israeli Jewish believers to bring them to faith.

The Understanding ultimately left the Israeli Jewish believers vulnerable to un-protested persecution by the very Israeli religious organizations that "non-proselytizing" Christians have entered into agreement with. It has encouraged the Israeli believing community to suffer in silence. Why talk about what your family doesn't want to hear about of your hardships? We really have to do better, don't we?

Increasingly Israel-supporting Christians are learning the truth and coming to cooperate with the plans of God for it. We can love our Israeli brothers and sisters in Messiah, and put them in the forefront of our desires to support Israel with the full knowledge that this is what God wants from us.

Post Script I have sat for over a decade on the article I wrote originally on The Understanding from which this new article has been drawn. For the sake of the Israeli Ministries, I believe it is time to acknowledge the past so we don't repeat it once again in 2019. Our alliance is to God's plan for Israel. We can't brush the Israeli Ministries aside as inconsequential to Christian ties to Israel.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

David Slew Goliath | Arrows From Zion 5/29/2019

David Slew Goliath with 5 Smooth Stones

A Dallas Messianic friend, Marla Hoener recently visited Glenn Beck's TV Studio snapping this inspiring message. It's a good reminder for the days in which we are living. No enemy is too big to fall with even the humblest of personal ability we have to offer to the LORD.

The Contrast of Life in 2019
...yet David slew Goliath with 5 smooth stones

The recent pictures above from Israel underscores what we are up against in life in 2019. We were just rejoicing over the blessing of God this year in a super abundance of rain and immediately following are racing to stop the fires set all over Israel. Israel has always been a roller coaster to cover in my perspective, but it does seem the contrasts of the ups and downs are more intense than ever before. Which is why it is good to remind ourselves how young David approached the Goliath battles he faced.

David didn't have much going for him in terms that are respected in a worldly sense, but he did have this, a strong understanding of God's intentions toward Israel and the recognition that the giant that stood mocking the armies of Israel was no threat to His God. "Just who is this uncircumcised Philestine, that he should defy the armies of God?"

While everyone else was intimidated by the brute force threatening them with a flood of insulting words and promises of murderous violence, David just saw an "uncircumcised Philestine. To David, Goliath might be strong and huge, but he was on the wrong side of history picking a fight with the armies of Israel. He was not called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for nothing.

It has been a few thousand years since that scene has played out so it is easy for many to forget that our God is still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We all may be fighting battles that seem unwinnable to the natural eye, but to the spiritual eye we see the contrast spelled out in the blessings of rain from above upon the land of Israel. "What then shall we say of these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Still it is good to know the facts about the battles we face and not retreat into a spiritual bubble. Ignoring reality doesn't change reality, but praying about it can. This is why it is good to keep a balance between the two contrasts we face —in our own personal lives and in the prayers we make to under gird the Israeli ministries.

As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor 1) 8-11 "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many."

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

If you follow the news then you know that anti-Semitism rising at an alarming rate. The increase is so acute internationally there should be warning bells going off like the phone notifications for incoming Gaza rockets. Just in the most recent news: It is not safe for Jews to wear kippahs in Germany; home invasions of French Jews are more frequent - beaten in specific-targeting of Jews; Jews in Brooklyn, New York City are targets of "skyrocketing" frequency of anti-Semitic attacks. Anti-Semitism is a plague which is why it is particularly alarming when the rhetoric comes from Christians.

Although Messianic Michael L. Brown is not an Israeli ministry, his report on the Christian anti-Semitism of the TruNews evangelistic broadcast is NEED-TO-KNOW for us all. Dr. Brown reports,

"...in what must be one of the sickest moments in the history “Christian” broadcasting, one of the hosts of this network — ironically named TruNews — gives an altar call for Christians to repent for standing with Israel....The host, Doc Burkhart, leads his audience in a “sinner’s prayer”.... “Lord, I’m so sorry. I don’t how I was so deceived. ...“I thought it was a good thing to support the people of Israel. I thought it was a good thing to help Israel. But now I see it’s just people using the name of Israel, people using the people of Israel in order to line their own pockets, in order to build their own kingdoms, in order to make themselves feel important.”

While I point out that Christians giving to Jewish organizations who despise Jews who believe in Jesus, this Christian anti-Semitism is equally appalling. Please read Michael Brown's The Stream article, Jesus is My Everything, And He Confirms God’s Promises to Israel. There are two sides of the ditch we can fall into. This article will help keep us on the straight and narrow path of God's will.

Barry & Batya Segal of the Jerusalem News Network give us the flip side, how Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon gave a Bible Speech at the UN that went viral around the world and has been translated into Spanish, Polish, French, Portuguese and even Turkish. (Watch on YouTube) It was covered on websites worldwide dubbed the "Biblical speech" and "the speech defending the rights of the Jewish people." In it Danon read an extremely important "thus saith the Lord" from Genesis 17:7-8: “I will maintain My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now residing as aliens, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.”

Cody and Liat Archer are a couple who are part of the Revive Israel team in Jerusalem. You probably recognize Cody as the interviewer on Revive-Live videos on Facebook. The Archer's write in their personal ministry email, "Our vision is a tribe of transformed young people! For us, this looks like young people who are rooted in the Father’s love, are laid down lovers of Jesus and are led by the Holy Spirit as they reach the lost, make disciples and advance the kingdom of God in all spheres of society." Here is a video by Cody that will give you an idea of their vision.

The HaTikva vision is "Bringing Hope to the Needy of Israel in the Name of Yeshua" which they do practically through several much needed avenues including providing Dental services, help for at-risk children through fostering and adoption, and strengthening Believers in the Name of Yeshua. Dental services may seem odd to you but dental is not included in Israel's free medical for citizens. It is very high and out of the reach of most people. This is a practical outreach much appreciated by needy Israelis. They write, "In April we treated 268 dental patients while sharing the love of God with each of them."

From KehilaNews.AllIsrael.com/ here are a few of the offerings last week: Sons of God, or sons of the Devil — 1 John 3:1-10 | by Howard Bass | Dugit's outreach More than coffee - HaOgen Cafe redefines hospitality | by Estera Wieja | VIDEO Song of Victory | Dani Sayag msg at Carmel Congregation | Haredi conscription law about to foil Netanyahu’s attempt to build a coalition | Kehila Staff

Revive Israel is dedicated to raising up the next generation of leaders which a great many are already operating in top leadership positions throughout the ministry, including Youval Yanay who operates as the Director of Revive Israel which was founded by Asher Intrater. The focus of this project is Help Reach the Unreached - Project Paul | As Paul said, "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where the Messiah was not known." Romans 15:20. The leaders, Asher Intrater, Youval Yanay, Tal Robin, Jeremiah Smilovici, explain it this way: "Our agenda for reaching out to different nations of the world is one thing only – to help bring revival there through partnership and ministry, as ‘one new man’ in Yeshua (Ephesians 2:14). We want to raise up apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-16), anointed to bring transformation to societies and cultures. We want to establish ministry centers in Israel, equipping believers to go and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God." Click the link to read the vision in full.

From Maoz Ministries Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram in Tel Aviv , the weekly prayer letter focuses on the unveiling of the financial aspect of the US peace plan - which Palestinian leaders have rejected outright. Israelis are also wary, although no one knows what the rest of the plan even involves. Pray over this, also pray over the election turmoil in Israel. Only God knows what He wants for Israel right now because the issues are too thorny for us to be too adamant about. Among other prayer requests are for the persecution that is plaguing the Beit Hallel congregation in Ashdod. Pray for strength and unity among the leaders and congregation - with great fruit and breakthroughs for them. See other prayer requests in the Weekly Summary, if you are a subscriber or connect directly with the ministry.

A beautiful revelation from Eric Benson of the House of Victory ministry to addicts which is connected with the Carmel congregation in Haifa: "One of the rare and little-noticed flowers that are blossoming at this time are the flowers on the olive trees. For a brief moment these precious little flowers beautify the olive trees. These delicate flowers are formed in the shape of a cross and they help to germinate what will eventually become the olive itself. As I closely gazed upon one of the trees on our property, a deep insight came into my spirit. In order for the olive to be birthed and developed, it needs to be embraced by the flowery-shaped cross. If we want to grow as children of God, we also need to embrace the cross. The only way to produce fresh oil and move in the anointing of God is through the work of the cross in our lives. There will be no oil and no anointing without the cross. It is our prayer that in this new season, fresh oil will be produced abundantly." This is also a profound sign of how Israel is to be saved - not apart from embracing the Cross of Messiah Yeshua! There is no dual covenant, Israel will only come to faith the same way every man, woman and child do: through the sacrifice of Yeshua.

The report of all that is going on in this dedicated, compassionate ministry to men so addicted that society has given up on them is available for reading in the Weekly Summary if you have a subscription, or you can contact Eric by email

Ron Cantor's weekly news roundup comes by subscribing to his mailing list & it is quite good covering things you might not otherwise see. Several other things from another email Ron sends: VIDEO Developing Mountain Moving Faith | New Israeli Government May Fall Before It Is Born | PODCAST How the Kibbutzim Saved a Nation Pt.1 | Learn about our December Up to Zion Israel Tour

An important message by Avner Boskey Hansel, Gretel and Cohen, who writes: "The gospel is not only a message birthed in Israel. It remains a message with a Jewish priority. And it will come into its prophesied zenith when a Jewish King sits down on a Jewish throne in a Jewish city, and all the nations come up to Jerusalem, rejoicing in this prophetic fulfillment and worshiping the King of the Jews. It is not only Jewish people who need to understand the Jewishness of the gospel. The majority of Gentile believers need to understand it and embrace it as well!"

From Asher Intrater's Revive Israel: When a person receives a revelation of Yeshua, he becomes a member of the Ecclesia, the universal New Covenant community of faith, Rock and Key | VIDEO How to succeed in Ministry | Cody Archer sits with Daniel C Juster | VIDEO End Time Revival & Tribulation | Yeshua Chai is an internet TV channel that broadcasts 24/7 Messianic content.

Israel Pochtar has exciting news: "We are so excited and thankful to announce that we have passed all of the permit requirement for our new building! Hallelujah! Now the time has come for our official application to the city hall of Ashdod for a permit of occupancy (Certificate no. 4 in Israel), allowing us to physically start installing equipment, furniture, and decor, and hosting our Shabbat services."

Israel continues, "It is no secret that if you preach the Gospel, you will encounter opposition. That has been the case for us for many years, we haven't stopped actively preaching the gospel, and as a result we are continually facing with persecutions and harsh opposition." Please remain in prayer for the congregation!

This weekend they are putting on their Women's Conference "Accept Your Calling". "This conference has made tremendous strides throughout the past few years, and the lives of hundreds of women have been touched by the love of God and the saving knowledge of Yeshua through this conference. Many of the women in attendance are new Jewish immigrants who have emigrated from lands where they knew tremendous hardship due to anti-semitism and poor economic circumstances. Watch our video."

Ye'shi Reinhardt of the humanitarian Hands of Mercy ministry in S'derot says THANK YOU to "ZION'S HOPE reaches out once again with HANDS OF MERCY to provide volumes of food and comfort to hundreds of victim families and individuals who recently suffered waves of deadly rocket attacks in S'derot from nearby Gaza. Though the gracious support of SAMARITAN'S PURSE, international volunteers enthusiastically spend hours to pack sacks of emergency food for the hungry and traumatized families."

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

CONTINUE to PRAY for the urgent healing needs of EDDIE SANTORO and Jacob Damkani | Ronit Bender is awaiting repair of leaking heart valve. Please pray that no weapon formed against all three of these shall prosper & that miracles of healing will flow. | Martin Sarvis has undergone arthroscopic surgery and is now in the healing process. Surgery was successful and now will have physiotherapy for a couple of months.

by Donna Diorio

When I was about twenty-one I read a book called, The Jewish Mystique. I had a job with a success guru who put on seminars for chiropractors six times as year. It was there I first became fascinated by all the Jews I was meeting, most of them from the East Coast.

Recently I remembered this book so I searched it out online. One review referred to "the Jewish Question" several times and I was almost embarrassed that I had read the book. Then I saw that Dennis Prager names it as one of the books that most influenced him, so I guess I am safe in saying it was the foundation of my first attempts to understand the Jews. It would be another ten years before I began to really being to understand the Jews as the Bible became my sole guide for understanding.

It has taken thirty-six years of going through all the learning curves, and finally being strategically focused in observing the Israeli Messianic Jewish ministries for the past eighteen years, but I am no longer fascinated by all things Jewish. Fascination drew me to discovery of the Messianic movement, but fascination matured into an earnest desire to see God's plan for the Jews and all the nations to be fulfilled. Without the increase of the faith of Yeshua in Israel, God's plan is in a holding pattern.

Just as surely as God puts a stirring in our hearts for the Jewish people, a fascination, if you will, it is a phase that Christians drawn to the Messianic movement need to mature out of. Don't be shocked, but we need to move from our of our fascination with "all things Jewish" and let our hearts be captured by God's ultimate plan in drawing us to them. It is for His return to the Jewish people with salvation through Yeshua - the gospel that is preached by the Israeli Jewish ministries in the way that only they can.

There has always been a remnant of Jewish faith in Yeshua, but today God has begun to restore His Jewish people in Israel, and not just physically, but spiritually. Not just the restoration of their homeland Israel, but to the faith that He promised He would one day open their eyes to. It is a restoration of faith that is going on worldwide, but the restoration of Messianic faith in Israel is God's epicenter of what He is doing in our day.

If we remain fascinated by Jewish things more than by God's plan for faith to arise in Israel, that we will easily downplay or dismiss entirely the great mantle of Israel's salvation that is upon the shoulders of the Israeli believers and the ministries who are leading and discipling them.

Most often I hear the idea that the Christians from the nations have the mantle from God to win the Jews because they are "to make Israel jealous". If we want to make Israel jealous of our faith, we can't do it by disregarding the Israeli Messianic Jews who are of "like precious faith". Will any unsaved Jew have respect or jealousy for our faith if we are so easily convinced to treat Jews who believe in Jesus as "traitors" to the Jewish people, and to be avoided by any Christian who wants to have a relationship with organizations helping Israelis? Lots of Christians need to think this point through!

To make Jews jealous of our faith, Christians must not only have hearts to help Israelis, but we also have to respect, love and support the Israeli believers who are as "living letters" to their countrymen of the faith in Israel's Messiah. As Isaiah 8:18 declared: "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion."

We will never make Israel jealous with this support become complete. It is time for Israel-supporting Christians to put off the spiritually childish fascination with Jewish things and grew into the mature focus of God's plan for the salvation of "all Israel". The hour has come. — Donna Diorio