Sukkot 2020 Feast of Tabernacles
by Donna Diorio
2020 has been a year like none in memory, as the world has been shut down
because of virus released from Wuhan, China. Even after all these months there
is still not definitive answers as to the 'Who, What, Why, Where, How and How
Much' questions it has raised. All we really know for certain is that it has
up-ended our lives. Our holidays, births, sicknesses, deaths - everything has
taken a back seat to the terrible fear and dread felt around the world over
this virus which may or may not live up to all the 'black plague' hype.
The High Holy Days are no different. Israel has been in a complete lockdown
apparently because the government felt they could not control the religious any
other way; their non-compliance would be too great and put too many lives in
jeopardy. So the whole of Israel has been put in lockdown throughout the
holidays. We are now in the midst of the Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles, which is
from Friday to Friday Oct 2-9. Usually Sukkot is a time when believers come
together to share dinner with family and friends in the temporary dwellings.
This year not so. Sukkot is being held like everything else this year, with
Zoom meetings, or just immediate family members, not even extended family
members.
That is making a very different atmosphere as we search for what God is saying to us in all the things this year. That is why the picture (above) I chose this week is not of a traditional sukkah, but it is a piece of property where the Aliyah Return Center is building a beautiful amphitheater and area for worship, prayer, meetings, and every other opportunity God gives us in this beautiful place.
It is a
place where people from the nations can gather in Prayer Valley united with
Israel. This unity that Yeshua has been held in Heaven to see forming before
His return. ["Heaven must receive Him
until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago
through his holy prophets." Acts 3:21]
You probably know that Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is ultimately about
Yeshua making His home in us. When the children of Israel were wandering in the
wilderness, the glory of God dwelt among them in the moveable tent called the
Tabernacle. This, of course was the symbolism pointing to the time when, as John
writes in John 1:14, "John 1:14: “And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as
of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Even more power
than that though, is the truth that after Yeshua laid down His life as a living
sacrifice, rising again and ascending into Heaven, His Holy Spirit came to
dwell WITHIN us. We are the tabernacle of the glory of God.
If anything this year, and this particular, unusual Feast of Tabernacles speaks
to me is how easy it is to think this life we live is just going to continue
for generation after generation as it has in the past, but that is not the
truth. For the time is coming that this temporary home and life we live will be
full of stressful events like this past year, and even more so, to the point it
is called "gross darkness" covering the world. That is the time, says
Isaiah 60:2 when "the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness
the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon
you." If this Sukkot is more sobering than festive, at least with joy we
can look forward to which what God has predetermined for us: "For whom He foreknew, He also
predetermined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29
However we may feel about how far we are from being that likeness of Yeshua, in the days of stress and darkness ahead we must encourage one another forward, even as Isaiah is calling out to through time saying, "Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you." It is time to shine in His glory and light up the darkness so others may find their way to Him.
Arrows from Zion
Summarized
from the Weekly
Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
2020 has forced most of us to reassess, reorganize and restructure how we were doing things. Each week I see that truth expressed in the ministry letters of the Israeli ministries. Despite the hardship that has been caused in all our lives because of this world-stopping virus, many improvements have been made to our approaches of how we do things when we are closed in by limitations. In that vein, I received a ministry letter from Ron Cantor this week as the CEO and major spokesman for the Tikkun and Revive Israel group of ministries.
Cantor writes that as they have recently restructured the Tikkun Global Family
of networked Messianic ministries, so now they are in the process of restructuring
Revive Israel as the leading voice of the Tikkun family ministries. Revive
began in Jerusalem 15 years ago as Asher Intrater's ministry, but going forward
Revive will act as the media voice for the whole of Tikkun-connected ministries
with emphasis on global media efforts. The local Revive team will still do
local evangelism and discipleship, congregation planting & oversight, aid
and employment help to needy Messianic believers, as well as their
Hebrew-speaking outreaches online. What's new is the centralization of Revive
to give Tikkun ministries a voice globally. They expect the roll out of this
focus to be seen more and more over the next six months. Tomorrow:
Global Broadcast 10/8 at 3pm Jerusalem time: The Sound of Desire on Revive
Facebook page
In conjunction with that, here are ministry and teaching articles from Tikkun ministers: Jewish Ministry: Why all Should Care by Dan Juster, Restoration from Zion | Revive Israel presents a New Platform for Discipleship and Evangelism to Israelis in its 40 Days of Fire | Leon Mazin, Return to Zion writes Speak to the Children of Israel | Dan Juster on Mutual Blessing | Hannah Tekle, Tents of Mercy: Whose Plan are We Following Anyway? | Guy Cohen, Harvest of Asher: How will we conquer? and Raphael Almeida, a Revive worship minister: Offer Myself as a Living Sacrifice?!
Kehila News Israel also has been able to stretch its wings during the Covid crisis, as it announced at the beginning of September a long awaited fulfillment of a vision for expansion with the launch of "sister websites" called ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS. They have accomplished this with the help of Joel Rosenberg who writes about the news sites here All Israel and here All Arab. If you have been following Israeli news from their newspapers, etc., you know that you cannot always depend on the viewpoints expressed in the secular or even religious news media outlets because they do not share our God-defined world views. That is why these new sites are valuable to people who KNOW they need someone in the know to guide them to the best sources of news information regarding the Middle East. Now, those of you who know me, I believe the #1 best source of information from Israel is always going to come out of the ministries and congregations of the Israeli believers! That's why Kehila News Israel is my MVP favorite.
Some of the articles you can find on Kehila News: Tuvia Pollack: Remembering Bob Knight - A man who exemplified sacrificial love in life and death | by Tuvia Pollack | Hope for recovery - Messianic ministry runs support group for men struggling with addiction to pornography | One for Israel staff: The Biblical Feasts Of Israel All Point To Jesus | Tuvia Pollack: Messianic youth ministry goes online with biblical teachings around Israel
Israel Pochtar of Beit Hallel & Voice of Judah sends Yeshua, Our Eternal Tabernacle | Acts of Mercy during Covid: What is Done with Love is Done Well. Can you help? | Spread Over Us Your Tabernacle of Peace, a VIDEO message from Pastor Israel. You can also get their prayer requests online here.
From Maoz Ministries with Shani Ferguson writing How Gentiles Saved the World and also their weekly prayer points including a really good spiritual pep talk - at least for someone like myself: "High-pressure situations can bring out the best in us, and others the worst. I’m sure you can think of a moment in your life where something went wrong and almost without thinking, you stepped in and fixed it. Things weren’t going right and you were there to “save the day.” You can probably also think of a situation where something went wrong and it caught you off guard—and unfortunately, without thinking, you reacted poorly. While you and I can spend months, if not years, regretting that moment, the book of Jacob (James) tells us that all these situations can be good for bringing us closer to being like Him: “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.”
In other prayer points covered is the rise of Neo-Nazis in Europe, a troubling rise that has been happening over several years (unlike the fake reports of rising white supremacy in the US). There are prayer points on their upcoming travel to the US in light of the ongoing Covid crisis and their efforts to build up the Fellowship of Artists, raising the Messianic Levites in Israel. To get the full prayer points, sign up at MaozIsrael.org/pray
The Living Room is the name of a new Shelanu TV testimony program that has just begun shooting, Ron Cantor writes from Shelanu TV. Their social media evangelist support team member, Michael reports that a lot of people are contacting them via Facebook. This is a wonderful platform for outreach to Israelis and it has been developed for the benefit of the whole body of believers in Israel. Great to Support Shelanu TV
Ron Cantor also sends this news prespective VIDEO & ARTICLE In speech to UN, Netanyahu provides the address of alleged Hezbollah arms depots and a special gift for you If you buy the print version of Birth Pangs, I will send you a free eBook and two messages I preached about the book. He writes, "I truly believe that Birth Pangs is a NOW word to equip you for the days that lie ahead" and will " help you make sense of it all and give you the faith and vision to move forward as we prepare for the coming of Yeshua."
One of many important prayer points that Chuck Cohen of Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem in Friday Prayer Points 10/2/20 is the troubling alliance between "Sunni Turkey and Shi'ite Iran" - it is their mutual extreme hatred of Israel that makes it possible.
Chaim Malespin, Director of Operations at the Aliyah Return Center says you can still watch the Aliyah Return Center's Sukkot Feast of Tabernacles which they streamed live on their YouTube channel
Pastor Najeeb & Elisabeth Atteih of the Haifa Immanuel Church & Outreaches and Refugee Ministries writes about how they are "encouraging believers from all over through our zoom meetings to remain in the Lord and to trust that the Lord is in control and holds all things in his hands." With so many people slipping into depression and despair, an encouraging word is so needed so we can lift our eyes toward Heaven from whence comes our help. They are keeping in contact via Zoom meetings which has also helped them to reach far beyond their local congregation and into the places they have been doing outreach among the refugees and even in Armenia. With the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Atteih's offer a background to the conflict that has been going on for a really long time. With family roots in Armenia, they are attentive to the cries they are hearing from their contacts in the region. One newspaper report I read noted, "... this conflict is distinct, analysts and former diplomats say, for the more direct support that Turkey has offered to Azerbaijan and for the scale of the fighting." That should tell you all you need to know about that! This is a long ministry letter, which I will have to break down over a couple or even 3 weeks.
Avi Tekle of Tents of Mercy in the Haifa region writes about how it is possible to be joyful even in a season where we are in lock down and unable to gather with our extended family and friends. Also they report great success in wiping out their storage shelves of food and provisions they were able to bless needy people with for the holidays. Now! Can you help restock the shelves so they are able to keep the blessings going? If so Give here. They are doing their services online which means if you would like to join in for Shabbat services, you can!
Norma Sarvis in Jerusalem announces a new blog you can subscribe to in order to read her every 7-10 days: From this Mountain
Tiferet Yeshua sends an article with a truly A Powerful Holy Spirit Moment from Moti Cohen who is the associate pastor who runs the Feed Tel Aviv street outreach. This is a must read - it will show you how ripe the harvest field in Israel really is. To Help feed Tel Aviv donate here. They also have two articles to spiritually enrich: Crown of the Hebrew Calendar, Prophetic Promise for the Age to Come and John 7 and an Ancient Sukkot Tradition
The Aviv Ministry also does outreach to addicts in Tel Aviv, Dov Bikas has a huge heart for these wounded people. One major important prayer request: Olga is undergoing back surgery Thursday (10/8). She has been on my Urgent Health Needs list for years but now is having a major surgery that carries only a 70% chance of complete healing. Pray for Olga because the pain is so intense and so debilitating - pray for 100% successful healing and rapid recovery.
Of course the work goes on at their Beer Sheva men's rehab with 13 men currently, and at the women's shelter they are caring for 3 current residents, plus the ministry in the streets of Tel Aviv. Dov reports that " The outreach in Tel Aviv continues despite the new lockdown. The police let our volunteers pass from their cities to south Tel Aviv without any hassle. Please keep praying for the street people, as well as for those who decide to leave the streets and start rehabilitation. Thank you for all your prayers and support!"
Howard Bass sounds upbeat despite the restrictions of coronavirus, but he says his highest concern in respect to the virus is the impact in the senior living homes where seniors are so cut off from contact with others that it is creating excessive loneliness and despair. They have lost one of their seniors who was in her 80's who died last month as isolation took its toll. As for connecting with others in their congregation, they have been able to host small gatherings just before the latest restrictions went into effect - meeting with teens, the music teams, young adults, a send-off of a sister who went to Togo as part of a Bible-translating ministry. We also met with teens at the congregation's property with the teens, and gave our testimony, focusing on the necessity to make a definite decision to choose to follow Jesus/Yeshua. Now they are making some renovations on the property while no gatherings are allowed. To read Howard's writings, see the on the newly designed Streams in the Negev site, or at Kehila News
Arni Klein writes about how covid has shut down everything and created a lot of chaos, questions and distrust as it has rocked our world. He writes, "This year, at every single one of God’s appointed Feasts, precisely when He commands us to gather, the government of Israel has forbidden it." How's that for an interesting point to consider!? "Something has happened we need to not miss. Succoth in particular is about coming together beyond our family units. It’s the one great Feast that in the Millennium all the nations are commanded to observe in the Land.... We do not wonder if God is speaking. The fact is that for whatever reason, by whatever means, by whose ever hand, at the time of this great Feast God’s prophetic people are diametrically opposed to His word and will. He is shaking Israel and warning the Church."
Arni continues, "Many [in the church] have long understood that Israel is at the center of God’s heart and plan. Yet from what we have observed over the last twenty years, relatively few of us have gone so far as to incorporate this foundational reality into our personal or corporate lives. According to Romans 11:15 and Matthew 23:35, it is clear that an awakening in Israel will affect the whole world. Let’s imagine. If we knew where there was buried treasure, who would not buy a shovel? .... Given the centrality of Israel, which is second only to the centrality of Yeshua, could it be that somewhere in the root of this crisis is the attitude towards Israel? A house cannot be established on an improperly laid foundation. If this matter is not set right, all that has been built will be shaken to the ground.... Let us pray that the gates of Israel will be opened so that all the nations can come to worship Him, that a place would be prepared for the King of Glory to come in (see Ps.24:7). It was for good reason that King David was so intent on finding God a dwelling place in the Land where He placed His Name. When He is enthroned in Zion, His glory will go out to all the nations. It’s not so complicated."
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
Urgent Prayer for Christian Arab Pastor Victor Bahbah who is now in a medically induced coma in treatment for Coronavirus! His life hangs in the balance, please pray | Olga Bikas undergoes back surgery Thursday 10/8 to "to fix both major problems with her spine in one operation, but he estimates that in Olga’s complicated case the success rate is not higher than 70%. Still, we have decided to proceed with the surgery, since Olga has been suffering from even more intensive backaches recently, and had to take strong painkillers on a regular basis. Please pray for the success of the operation and that it would finally ease Olga’s sufferings." | Latest word from Carolyn and Richard Hyde, whose daughter Deborah Hyde was found unconscious with a super blood sugar spike from her juvenile diabetes. Carolyn writes, "First signs of life - Deborah is off the respirator and off dialysis, her kidneys have started to work again! Deborah was trying to speak today but it was hard to understand her after being intubated for so long. Please pray that her lungs will clear up. Oh how we bless and thank you dear ones!" See Carolyn's video update on Facebook. | Also Aleksey Raikhstadt's special needs son tested positive Covid and the whole family is now in extreme quarantine | A prayer request for Naomi, for a dear family that is a part of Israel Pochtar's pastoral team, who was diagnosed recently with colon cancer. "Despite what this battle entails, we are confident in God’s unfailing Word and promises." Read in her own words| Ronit Bender whose cardiologist told her that her irregular heartbeat is SEVERE, and is suggesting further tests. Please intercede for Ronit: No weapon formed against her shall prosper! | | Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani for the LORD's mercies over Jacob and his dear wife, Elisheva
THANK YOU to those who support this ministry with donations. ♥
Donations appreciated | on PayPal donna@israelprayer.com
Or by postal mail make
donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do
not have tax exempt status.
