Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Arrows from Zion 1/8/2019

The Cave of Adullam 



Priority Prayer Focus

This is not meant to be a doctrinal statement or to be understood as the primary contextual meaning of the verses in this article, but rather is my personal sense of what the Spirit is speaking prophetically. - Donna Diorio

The Cave of Adullam & the 3 Anointings of David

Throughout my life I have placed a high value on expressing myself as honestly as possible. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I have learned along the way that when we are open and vulnerable about what is really going on, it will cause two different reactions. One, it will open you to criticism, but two, it will make others open up about their own stuff honestly.

Thinking about this reminded me of 1 Samuel 22:1-2 "David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him."

That is the exact opposite of what most faith teachings emphasize to us today, where we are all supposed to keep upbeat and positive: 'No Debbie Downers, please!' So isn't it interesting that David, who had already been anointed by God in the sight of his family to be the King of Israel, would next have to flee to a stronghold where he was immediately joined by his family members, and soon after joined by 400 men, "all who were distressed or indebted or discontented."  This man on the run, drew men who were looking for a leader and they rallied to his stronghold in the cave of Adullam.

David didn't get to stay in that Messianic cave for long because, "the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth." God did not anoint David to hole up in the safe place of a cave stronghold; He anointed him to go out and fight the battles of kings.

The Messianic movement emerged in the United States in the late 1960's-70's Jesus Movement. Indeed many of the young Jewish men and women who came to faith in the midst of that counter-culture generation of Baby Boomers, went on to form "a new thing". Many in the Christian world have not seen any good reason for a "messianic movement" to exist preferring that all Jewish believers merely lose the Jewishness and become good Christians.

It was God who was forming this new thing of identifiably Jewish followers of Jesus: "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19

Those young American Jewish men and women were God's building blocks. They established congregations and ministries in the United States, but then He called many of them to leave the safe place —  the cave of Adullam — and immigrate to Israel. There they would continue in their calling as ministers of the gospel of Israel's Messiah Yeshua. Are you tracking with me?

Prophetically, these leaders left their nice, safe American congregations and ministries to enter the land of Promise — the promise that their new life in Israel would be taxing! There would be much greater religious opposition, less financial stability and more challenges than they would ever come up against in the nice, safe stronghold of their 'cave of Adullam' of the Messianic Movement in the United States. Instead God called them out to go into the wilderness of Israel: 1 Samuel 22:5, "... So David left and went to the forest of Hereth." 

There is something interesting about this word Hareth. First, there is no meaning given that I could find, but the word stems from another Hebrew word, Charath, which means to engrave. Charath is only used once in the Bible and that is in Exodus 32:16, "And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven H2801 upon the tablets."

Living Stones. Living Letters. Living tablets engraved by the writing of God, and a work of God Himself. God did not want the Messianic Jewish faith to remain in the stronghold, in the places where it was safe to be a Jewish believer in Yeshua, He wanted them out in the wilderness of Israel where they would walk as living engravings, the work of God in the midst of a people God promised to return to with grace and favor.

The 3 Anointings of David
David was anointed three times to be the King of Israel before he became the king over all Israel. These are all brand new thoughts, so please bear with me as I try to express it.  Continues online at Fruit of the Fig Tree blog

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

For Israel's Restoration, the newsletter of Tikkun Global  articles by Ron Cantor My Story of Overcoming Rejection and David Shishkoff Changing The Fear Factor. A short thank you in writing from Daniel Juster, and this video which explains what the personal Juster ministry Restoration from Zion is doing mentoring in Israel, networking and ministering in Israel and the nations. Plus Ron Cantor highlights the humanitarian work of the Tents of Mercy ministry in the Kryot near Haifa.

Sally Shiff, is a friend, and an intercessor & liaison for Kehilat HaMaayan in Kfar Saba. Her year-end wrap-up cover the new places she found herself traveling to in 2018; new positions she walked through as open doors - many dream fulfillments; and new outreaches as her home congregation in Kfar Saba continues to reach out with ministry to the people of their city.  She writes, "I can hardly wait to see what He has in store for me in 2019!  I sense it is something wonderful. "

The HaMaayan Congregation of the Wellspring publishes their ministry letters on a blog & here is the lastest just out.

Revive Israel is the personal ministry of Asher Intrater and in this video Asher sits with Revive team member Cody Archer to talk about 2018 Highlights & Challenges, a year of glory to glory and challenge to challenge. I was personally encouraged by this video which aired live this week.  Also, this article on Intercessory Prayer (Part 1)

Also from Revive Cody Archer's article
End Time Lessons from Israel’s Iron Lady – Golda Meir, 4 VIDEOs: Cody Archer interviews Avi Mizrachi about Dugit, the Little Fishing Boat Fishing in Tel Aviv and an appeal Join Our Translation Team. Jeremiah Smilovici with Cody on Goal Setting for 2019, and Dan Juster's The Present & Coming Kingdom.

Kobi & Shani Fergusion, Yeshua Israel Ministries invites you to watch a new worship video BEAUTIFUL A KING. When you buy it, 100% of donations and sales go to fund the Israel Worship Initiative which trains and develops Israeli worship leaders.

Joel Jelski writes about a "New Year, New Decade" as he looks back not only at what happened in the last year, but seeing how he has just celebrated his 30th birthday he is also reflecting on the mighty changes in his life in the past decade. He also writes about the Katzir youth camp over Hanukkah.  Read the report of his exciting journey in the LORD by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

The Kerem-El congregation is a daughter of the HaCarmel Congregation on Mt Carmel, and they also took part in the outreach HaCarmel did in Haifa during the "Holiday of Holidays" annual festival in downtown Haifa where Channukah, Christmas and even Ramadan are celebrated. Rich ground for outreach! They write, "Israelis from all backgrounds are much more open to listen and talk about Yeshua than they were five or ten years ago. We are slowly seeing a change in the way Jewish people view Yeshua and know that many seeds were planted in people's hearts over the two evangelism weekends. We pray that God will keep working in their lives and that we'll see a great harvest from this cooperative work!"  For the many events and ministry at Kerem-El Congregation (God's Vineyard), read more by connecting directly with the ministry, or by subscribing to the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Another friend, a widow who serves the Lord with all her heart in the Kerem-El Congregation, is Ronit Bender who writes, "I  have to say I am glad 2018 is behind us,  It has been a year with many challenges for me. I am sure you had yours too. I am praying for you Mark 11:22-24, "Have Faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain 'be thou removed and cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe, that you receive them, and you will have them."  Read more about Ronit's travels and ministry in the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries but watch her in two interviews in Tulsa, Oklahoma last year Part 1 and Part 2

From the Maoz Ministries of Ari & Shira Sorko-Ram, and really good run down of the recent developments that prompted great political drama in Israel with PM Netanyahu dissolving the government and calling for new elections.  Get informed prayer points on how to intercede for these developments - as well as all the things Israel is facing from security threats on all the borders and the unveiling in a few months of Trump's plan (son-in-law Jarad Kushner's plan is more like it) for a negotiated peace between Israel & the Palestinians. Honestly, I would not be surprised if Netanyahu didn't dissolve the govt & call for new elections precisely to delay the unveiling of this plan. If so, good move, Bibi. Four months is a LONG time in both Israeli and US politics these days.

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice talks about the ridiculousness of the United Nations General Assembly lecturing Israel on human rights and morality in this 6 Moral Teachings from Assad and Other Criminals

Evan Levine heads the HaTikva Project — which I love because humanitarian aid to the believers in Israel is a high priority in their mandate — has this VIDEO.

The Yuval Messianic Worship Center for the Music and the Arts sponsored by King of Kings wishes you all a happy New Year as they look forward to 2019 with their team in Jerusalem.

Howard and Randi Bass of the Beer Sheva congregation write about the Jewish New Year according to the Bible. (Howard doesn't beat anyone's heads over the Gregorian calendar New Year, but gives interesting insights into the biblical year).  Howard writes, "I believe that the Holy Spirit is calling the Body of Messiah together for each of us, and all of us together, to do a soul-searching of where we stand in our faith and walk with the Lord. . . . We are all born into a generation... and 'know' some things almost without learning, and are ignorant of who the one true God and Savior is; and we learn things of our generation more easily and quickly than those who are "older" than we are. ... .  So it is, too, that our children -- and even ourselves -- are coming into a world that denies absolute truth from a real and living God who has created all that is and who has a plan of redemption and salvation for sinners, and He tells us all this in the Bible.  We are challenged to make Him and His gospel known, and to uphold the revealed truth which He has given us by the Holy Spirit and His Word, in a world that is falling in chaos and destruction.  Praise the Lord for His cross! . . . As anti-semitism and anti-Israel and anti-christian demonically inspired activities are increasing, the Holy Spirit is raising up a bulwark against it through those who know their God, and that His Word is truth." Read more, plus the events in the congregation in the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

Also Mazal tov to Howard and Randi, new grandparents (again) as Joey and Rotem have welcomed baby girl Hadar Emmanuel Magen into the world.

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

EDDIE SANTORO's latest MRI showed the return of the brain tumor. The doctors will only finish out the treatment he is already was having - only 1 more treatment and they are stopping further medical interventions. From the beginning, God spoke to Eddie to flow with the doctors in dealing with the brain tumor. The doctors always said it would come back and now for a third time, it has. The doctors have reached the end of what they can do - but God! Eddie has miraculously lived long past what they expected from the beginning. Eddie and Jackie are holding onto their faith, and Eddie is also spiritually set to receive the needed miracle to live, or to be present with the LORD. Please pray for the miracle of life for Eddie as he has done as the LORD said, flowed with the doctors. Where human strength fails, God's power arises.

Ruth Nessim has several health issues, one of the most critical is her EYES which has sent her to the hospital many times. She has not been able to send out regular newsletters, has had to give up us Arabic & other activties, but still is closing in on the finishing details of publishing her life story, called The Roofed Gate. 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. | CONTINUED URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI still needing healing restoration | 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.

Prayer Insight for Current Events Related to Israel

Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem writes on how the nations are choosing blessing or cursing.

In our 5 November Update, we focused on the implications of the elections of 28 October in Brazil, in which Jair Bolsonaro was chosen for the presidency of that country.  We wrote of Bolsonaro’s love for Israel, and of his declaration four days later that, “as previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.”  We also mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s intentions of coming to Brazil for Mr Bolsonaro’s January 1st inauguration.

Last Friday, the Prime Minister and his wife Sara did indeed arrive in Rio de Janeiro, where he was welcomed by a huge crowd of Brazilians chanting “Israel! Israel!” It is the first-ever visit by a serving Israeli Prime Minister to that country, the fifth-largest by area in the world, and the sixth most populous.  Later the Netanyahu’s were given an incredibly honoring welcome by President-elect Bolsonaro, which included presentation to the Prime Minister of Brazil’s highest and most important national award for high-ranking guests, one in the past reserved for such dignitaries as US President Dwight Eisenhower, and Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Up to 1/5 of the population of Brazil is thought to identify as Evangelical Christian. It is this vast community of believers which is credited with propelling Jai Bolsonaro into office in the elections last October.  On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister was honored with the unveiling of a stamp, issued by the Brazilian state of Amazonas and dedicated by Christian supporters of Israel in the city of Manaus. 
The stamp contains a picture of the PM Netanyahu with his name in English and Hebrew.  It also bears the number “70” commemorating modern Israel’s 70th anniversary, with the words Mazel Tov—“Good Fortune” beneath; and at the bottom are two hands clasped in friendship, with the names Brazil and Israel on either side.

Inside the zero of “70” is a Star of David, representing Israel.  If you look carefully, you will see within the star the Hebrew letters מושיע  -- Moshia [Pronounced: mo-SHI-ah], which in Hebrew means, “Saviour.”  Some Israeli papers assumed the word to be referring to Netanyahu.  However, we strongly suspect, given the spirit of Christians who were behind this honour, that the word is an acknowledgment that out of this nation came forth the Saviour of the world!   After all, it is this same word which appears in Hebrew translations of Luke 2:11, where angels tell the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour  (Moshia), who is Messiah, the Lord!”  Moshia appears also a number of times in the Hebrew Bible, such as in Isaiah 60:16, where Israel is told that she will come to know that, “YHWH is her Saviour (Moshia), her Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob”; and Isaiah 19:20, where the inhabitants of Egypt are promised that when they cry to YHWH, “He will send them a Saviour (Moshia).” 

In his address to this Christian community, Netanyahu pointed out that their new president’s first name Yair happens also to be a Hebrew name, meaning “he who brings light. And I think that we have now an opportunity together to bring a lot of light to the people of Brazil and the people of Israel.  This is an alliance of brothers.”  At the inauguration yesterday, the new president seemed to affirm this  “brotherly alliance,” when, stepping down from the platform where he had assumed his new title, Prime Minister Netanyahu was the first person to receive from him a personal embrace.  Read more in the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries

From Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem are several excerpts regarding prayer points and considerations for Israel's current security needs.
Read more in the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries





Donna Diorio 
donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
Please note change in PayPal donations:   
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. 


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Arrows from Zion 1/1/2019

Priority Prayer Focus 

In the new year, I don't think there is a higher resolution that we could make for ourselves than what is expressed in Philippians 3:12-14 to press on to take hold of that which Messiah Yeshua took hold of us. We all fall short in many ways, but in Him we can all continue to press forward in our high calling.



Reflecting
I am starting out the first day of 2019 the same way I finished the last day of 2018, by working on Arrows from Zion and the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries. But I will be honest with you, this year has been a hard one and the last few weeks the whispered question in my mind has been, Is the effort really helping? Is the work making any difference? Are you really reaching people?

This past year I made a change in how I distribute Arrows from Zion, the shorter version of the Weekly Summary. I have to keep the Weekly Summary off of the internet because there are too many details that could be used against the ministries in Israel. But I was always working in the blind, never knowing how many people actually wanted the long version — or the short version, Arrows, for that matter!

So I removed Arrows from the list that sends out the Weekly Summary and put it on a list that I can see who is opening the email and who rarely touch it. Also, I got a better reading of who actually uses the Weekly Summary, because to continue to receive it, subscribers had to specifically renew their request to me.

It was enlightening. I was reaching only half of my list. That was really hard to deal with. You think one thing is happening and it's not that at all. I was able to improve Arrows from Zion greatly, but now I see better why God did not want David numbering the people in 1 Chronicles 21! When you see how weak the numbers are, it is disheartening. Disheartening — like discouraging: the "dis" is the removal of whatever essence it is attached to: courage, heart.

2018 has been a year that has been greatly humbling to me and anything I thought I was getting done. Even pressing ahead with improvements, my donor support dwindled down to nothing.

Many say, If God is in it, He will provide for it. It's another one of those hard, fast Christian dogmas that I don't think is always true. Maybe mostly true, but if it were always true then the ministries in Israel would be overflowing with donor support, and they just aren't. I KNOW that God is 100% behind what they are doing to reach the people of Israel. So I have to remind myself of that when I don't bring in enough donations to even cover the expenses of producing my mailing.


As my husband and I were talking about this yesterday, he said, 'There may not be donations, but that doesn't mean there are not blessings.' It's true. Even though the discouragements of 2018 were many, I cannot see altering my course in 2019. Arrows from Zion and the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries will continue on. It is my calling to do it.

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
The yearend wrap up of Avner and Rachel Boskey take a look back at the good things of 2018 in their ministry including a review of their US tour 21 Days in November and several new articles from Avner, Three red cherries and a one-armed bandit on the winds of change sweeping the earth, and the intriguingly titled, Cross-dressing – the One New Man and the Bride of Messiah. They have new emphasis on visual communications with Our YouTube channel is Signet Ring Media. Also Listen to a song for you

Eddie and Jackie Santoro write about how the battle for Eddie's health continues with the reemergence of the brain tumor for the third time. Please read more in the Weekly Summary - their faith remains high despite the bad news. Here is an interview with the Santoro's Once again in need of a miracle in KehilaNews this week. In an earlier email, Eddie and Jackie wrote about the Israeli curiosity about Christmas. They wrote, "It is a great opportunity for evangelism and many of the believers go there to share with the Israelis the truth about Christmas - that this holiday is really about their Messiah!  Please pray that as Israelis go around looking to "see" Christmas - not only here but throughout the world that they would encounter Yeshua and the true meaning of this holiday."

From Revive Israel, Asher Intrater writes on 3 Goals of Teamwork, Video with Cody Archer & Ariel Blumenthal on One New Man, and Dan Juster's video Expanding the Kingdom

Israel Pochtar writes about their efforts to bless the many Russian and Ukraine Jews who fled terrible circumstances with little more than the clothes on their back. One of their projects is supplying these people with winter essentials — from blankets to electrical heaters. Watch this video testimony. Also of the "Celebration of the birth of the Jewish Messiah," Israel writes, "How could anyone possibly say it's not a Jewish holiday if it celebrates the birth of our Jewish Messiah, who was born a few miles away from where we write these lines. Yeshua chose to be born here, so it would be impossible to forget that Israel was his homeland, it was here that He chose to reveal Himself to His own brethren - the nation of Israel."

Ron Cantor has a several part series in writing and on video called Secrets Surrounding the Birth of Jesus. Also a super report about the news crew from "i24, a major Israeli news outlet for Jews and Evangelicals all over the world came to Nes v'Cafe to do a story on Messianic Judaism. The other day, I did an hour long interview with one of their hosts, Emily Frances. I had free rein to fully explain what we believe, share my testimony and more. Pray that God will use this interview to touch Jewish people all over the world." Also, Ron's latest, a news summary VIDEO Your Israel Connection. And finally an article by a young man mentored by Ron in his first blog article, "Who are you to judge me?" by Michael Elady
Orna Grinman's new blog post The Love Revolution is the Jewish view of the outreach she just did with a Christian Arab sister, Rania Sayegh, who is also featured this week in the Weekly Summary talking about their street ministry distributing 300 roses to areas in Jerusalem neighborhoods populated mostly by Arabs. You will want to read both of their accounts. Orna's online, Rania's in the Weekly Summary along with other news from her prophetic intercessory ministry from Nazareth.

The Tikkun Global email in Dec featured a little background on the Tents of Mercy congregation which was founded by Eitan Shishkoff, who recently transferred the leadership role to Avi Tekle, his son-in-law. The humanitarian outreach center is central to the heart of the Messianic congregation in one of the poorer areas of Israel, known as the Kryot—the ‘towns’.  Volunteers come from within Israel and all over the world to help distribute food and clothing all throughout the year. During the holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Passover, they extend the distribution and give away 700 large bags to ensure that these precious people have food and other special holiday items with which to celebrate the feasts.  This was a year end appeal, but it is never too late to sow into the good soil by designating a donation to the humanitarian work.

Howard Bass in Beer Sheva writes about their annual trek to Bethlehem to worship with the Christian Arab brothers & sisters. Here is "one of the songs that we did at Immanuel Church  and here is my Christmas message to Yeshua's Inheritance Congregation" in writing.

Kobi and Shani Ferguson recap their year  "we ministered to over 30 congregations abroad offering a glimpse into life in Israel, God’s heart for His prodigal people....Our Israel Family Initiative provided for the medical, educational, physical and spiritual needs of families, orphans, widows and IDF soldiers. Our Israel Worship Initiative brought together over 100 Israeli musicians, psalmists and songwriters from all over the country to network and invest in their spiritual development and practical skills." Learn more inside the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries or by connecting directly with the ministry.

In the past 17 years of following Israeli Ministries, I have never seen such an explosion of so many noting the Israeli interest in Christmas festivities. It has come from believer sources, as well as non-believer sources, like Tablet Magazine that recently carried an article, "Christmas Envy—in Israel". Recently I read about an exchange between an Israeli believer and a religious Jew where the believer distanced themselves from the Christmas festivities but the religious Jew's reaction was in gist, What? Are you kidding? I am interested BECAUSE of Christmas! Now who would have thought that making Israel "jealous" would ever have come in the form of Israelis envy & fascination with Christmas celebrations?

Martin Sarvis writes exactly on that subject about how Israelis were showing great interest in Christmas this year, packing out Christmas services in the Old City Jerusalem, classical radio stations playing Christmas music for a couple of days around Christmas. Martin writes, "Remarkably, it has become not uncommon in the past few years, to hear the radio announcer, during preliminary remarks for, say, a performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, made use of Jesus’ true Hebrew name Yeshua, rather than the “Yeshu” which most Israelis have been taught since childhood is his name.... PLEASE PRAY: That Israel would recognize Who loves her with an everlasting love, and is drawing her with loving kindness (Jer. 31:3). Who was “in the beginning with God —who is the true Light which came into this world in the “House of Bread” –Bet-Lehem (“Bethlehem”)—who lived and died and was raised to bring life to the house of Israel—and the whole world!

KehilaNews.com  reports that it was able to meet and even exceed its goal of raising over $15,000 to cover the months. They are giving thanks for those who responded to the call and explain some of their vision for providing a centralized platform to help Israeli ministries reach a larger audience. Read more Read more inside the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries or by connecting directly with the ministry. A  few of the selections featured in KehilaNews: A sign spoken against by Howard Bass | Secrets surrounding the birth of Messiah (Part 1) by Ron Cantor | VIDEO: Hananya Naftali I was born in the Galilee  

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

EDDIE SANTORO's
latest MRI showed the return of the brain tumor. The doctors will only finish out the treatment he is already was having - only 1 more treatment and they are stopping further medical interventions. From the beginning, God spoke to Eddie to flow with the doctors in dealing with the brain tumor. The doctors always said it would come back and now for a third time, it has. The doctors have reached the end of what they can do - and Eddie has miraculously lived long past what they expected from the beginning. Eddie and Jackie are holding onto their faith, and Eddie is also spiritually set to receive the needed miracle to live, or to be present with the LORD. Please pray for the miracle of life for Eddie as he as done as the LORD said, flowed with the doctors. Where human strength fails, God's power arises.

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. | CONTINUED URGENT PRAYER FOR JACOB DAMKANI still in a critical condition | 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.| Ruth Nessim has several health issues, read in her update this week: Most critical EYES.|  

Praying the Headlines
(Maybe I Should Re-Label this My Word!)

I am including this Caspari Media Review summary of a news article in HaAretz, because I find it so appalling that Christians are still being suckered into going to the unsaved rabbis instead of the saved Messianic Jewish ministries so they can learn "authentic Torah teaching." Fine, you want to learn the Bible from someone who does not have the Spirit of God indwelling their hearts and enlightening their teaching? You are the one who is placing them and you in spiritual jeopardy. Currying favor with the unsaved rabbis is not helping you or them. -Donna

Haaretz, December 20, 2018 | There is a growing trend amongst Evangelical Christians who desire to study the Bible from rabbis in so-called “Yeshivas for Christians.” Rivkah Lambert Adler, an Orthodox Jewish educator, said: “It’s become a phenomenon. What we’re seeing is a profound hunger and thirst among Christians for authentic Torah teaching.” A number of such yeshivas have emerged recently, many of them as partnerships between Orthodox Jews and Evangelical Christians. Some offer online learning, others involve face-to-face education in Israel. The demand is high, but there are few teachers, and the different yeshivas often share teaching rosters. Lambert Adler said this is because “the pool of teachers who are Jewishly knowledgeable, who are English-speaking and who are willing to engage with non-Jews is relatively small.” When asked why Orthodox Jews are reluctant to teach Christians, Lambert Adler responded: “The Jewish people, by and large, are very defensive about Christians. We tend not to trust them, we tend to think they have a missionizing agenda 100% of the time, and we tend to want them to just leave us alone.”

Secondly, I was equally appalled by an email link to an article in a Charismatic magazine over Christmas:  FIRST I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE ARTICLE but I'm using it for illustrative purposes. The link in Christian magazine actually sent you to the article that was published in Breaking Israel News - a source that is wholly untrustworthy. "Are We in End Times : Orthodox Children Prophesy Great Worldwide Turmoil" (read it if you must)

I believe the conflict is becoming more and more brought to the fore of our vision, when Israel-supporting Christians still have not figured out that although we are to consider unsaved Israel "beloved" for the forefathers sake, they are at the same time "enemies of the gospel."

I see this conflict manifested in Christians who make no difference between the Israeli Jews who believe in Jesus and the Israeli Jews who don't. Here it is one is our spiritual FAMILY and the others are the ones we pray will become our spiritual FAMILY, but in the mean time we need to see them as human beings who are not infilled nor empowered by the Spirit of God in Messiah.

"Yeah, yeah, we know that," some would say, "but we are trying to reach them with our kindness toward them in Jesus' name."

That should not include hanging on every word or action that you assume is a prophetic sign. Like the article that came from an Israel-supporting Christian source this morning asking, "Are We in End Times? Orthodox Children Prophesy Great Worldwide Turmoil. While not everything these children say is biblical, could this prophecy pertain to Jesus' return?"

Prophecy that is from God is given by the Holy Spirit. Those who are not imbued by the Holy Spirit cannot speak prophecy by the Holy Spirit.

The kids in this article are saying, "The Messiah is already here and the final, painful stages are about to commence." The article cites a Talmud opinion that says, "Since the Temple was destroyed, prophecy was taken from the prophets and given to shotim (judges) and children."

NO! That is not where the spirit of Prophecy was transferred. "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The administrative offices of God - prophet, priest & king - are all fulfilled in Jesus, who has delegated them to those who are His by faith - we all are called the priesthood, and the administrative offices are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who are in the faith and power of the Holy Spirit.

Why would Christians who have been Christians most of their lives even consider this? Is there no discernment whatsoever when it comes to Israel? Honestly, is this what incrementally falling away looks like? Not being able to comprehend that little autistic Orthodox children in Israel are not empowered by the Holy Spirit to prophesy the truth?

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. ... "If anyone tells you then, Look, here is the Messiah!' or, Over here!' do not believe it!"

The whole of Matthew 24 which so many seem intent to keep walking blindly into.

To End This on A More Positive Note
If you want to be astounded by the growth of Israel Messianic Jewish believers in Israel just watch this short video by ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry


In 1948 when the state of Israel was established there were only 3 or 4 Messianic families in the entire country. The total number of believers in 1948 was 23.

Today there are over 300 congregations in Israel — that's more Messianic congregations than Conservative and Reform synagogues combined! A conservative estimate of the number of Messianic Jews in Israel is 30,000.
This is the magnitude of what God is doing in Israel!

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The Israeli Messianic Feature of the Week
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Daughters of Zion Conference for Israelis We are expecting over 250 women to attend - up from 145 last year! We are so excited at what the Lord is going to do as He ministers to his beloved as they are coming from all across the land of Israel for this event especially for them.

We want to make sure that everyone is included in the event, so we are subsidizing the entire conference and would sure appreciate your help! The guests will receive all meals, lodging, and transportation. This is no small cost, and the whole conference is going to cost us $50,000.

We would be so blessed for your support both financial and spiritual for what is going on in the body of Messiah in Israel. We know that God will bless you as you bless others. Donations


Thank you!
Chaya Mizrachi and Norma Sarvis
Conference Organizers


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

Please note change in PayPal donations:  
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.