beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is ... · up his boss for a two-hour drive in...
TRANSCRIPT
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IN THIS ISSUE
Director's Column 2
Annual Appeal 3
Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel 4
Yeshua’s Inheritance – News from Beer Sheva 6
One by One they are coming 7
A Messianic Testimony From Galilee 8
When Troubles Come 9
Prayer Diary 11
"Whose Land?" DVD 12
Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. Psalm 48 : 2 (NKJV)
iStockphotos.com
David’s Citadel – Jerusalem
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FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL 2018
Director’s Column
Prayer For Israel PO Box 663 Warkworth 0941 • Charities Registration Number: CC38875
Ph +64 9 425 5760 • Email: [email protected]
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed………… He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.”Psalm 2: 1-2 & 4 (NKJV)
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement has gained a lot of traction around the world. The movement seeks to encourage people to boycott all trade relating to Israel, to divest themselves of all investments that are linked to Israel and to seek the imposition of sanctions that will negatively affect the Israeli economy. Over recent years we have even seen the national bodies of churches voting to divest themselves of investments linked to Israel. In 2006 there was an outcry concerning Caterpillar tractors, combined with a call not to invest in the company that produces them, because the Israeli military uses their products.
The Washington Free Beacon has reported that the government in Ireland was about to pass a law in support of the BDS movement. It reported that: “The Trump administration played a key role in thwarting the effort by the Irish government to boycott Israel and make it a crime for Irish citizens to purchase products made in contested areas of the Jewish state, a move that would have severely jeopardized Ireland's trade with the United States, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. The Irish Parliament was poised last week to pass a major piece of legislation that would make it crime to engage in trade with Israelis. The bill, which was seen as part of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, or BDS, would have imprisoned Irish citizens who purchased souvenirs in Israel for a maximum of five years and subjected them to a fine of more than $310,000. Upon learning of the effort, senior Trump administration officials in the State Department are said to have scrambled to open up channels to Irish leaders in a bid to scuttle the bill and avoid a standoff with the Irish government over the measure. Trump administration officials are said to have made clear to Irish leaders that passage of the bill would put them starkly at odds with the United States and subject them to inclusion on a list of countries supporting boycotts of the Jewish state.”
The New Times has also reported that:-“Israel has published a blacklist of 20 organizations, including a Jewish group in the United States, whose leaders it has barred from entering the country for supporting an economic, cultural and academic boycott
of Israel. The list was drawn up under a nearly year-old law enacted to combat the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which Israelis overwhelmingly oppose, consider anti-Semitic and view as calling for the country’s destruction.”
The matter of the BDS movement is certainly a topic for prayer.
In a few short weeks Mary and I will be leading another “Living Stones” tour to Israel. The Lord has blessed us with a group of 29 who will experience a comprehensive tour of the Holy Land as well as meeting many believers as we travel. We will be blessed to be in Jerusalem during the Passover/Easter time – enjoying such events as the dawn service at the Garden Tomb on Easter Sunday. This year marks the 70th year of the modern State of Israel which was established in May 1948. All praise to Him who watches over Israel….
ShalomKen TaylorDirector
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Director’s Absence:
Due to the Living Stones Tour of Israel
and other responsibilities Mary and I will
be overseas from 19th March until the
beginning of May 2018
Next Edition of Magazine:
Will be published in mid-May
Annual Tax Receipts:
We apologise but there will be a delay in
getting these to you – but they should arrive
with the May magazine
Emails:
We will endeavour to deal with these as
we travel but there could be a delay in
responding to you
New Email Address for Prayer for Israel is:-
[email protected] addresses: Have you supplied us with
your new email address??
FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL 2018 NUMBER 211
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Ph +64 9 425 5760 • Email: [email protected]
2018Annual Appeal
Prayer for Israel NZAnnual Appeal 2018
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This should be rather simple.What is a capital?
Answer: It is a city in a country where the government is situated, including official residences of its president or prime minister, its Supreme Court and its legislative branches.What’s so hard about that? Really, nothing.In this world of chaos, believe it or not, there are 124 nations which actually have border disputes, and some are occupying disputed territory. Yet 123 have chosen their own capital without any question from the rest of the world. Only Israel doesn’t have a capital—that is, a capital recognized by the world.Its appointed capital, Jerusalem, also has leaders, officials, administrators, politicians, advisors, lawyers, lobbyists, Knesset committees, policy makers, buildings, offices and even window washers, fully functioning with regular work hours.But for the world, this place does not exist. So, ambassadors appointed to serve in Israel dutifully rent a place to live and open their embassy offices in Tel Aviv. If they want to meet with Israeli officials, then their drivers gas up and take their occupants up to Jerusalem. When meetings end, the driver picks up his boss for a two-hour drive in heavy traffic,
back to his home in a Tel Aviv suburb.So, why this game of make-believe? Only one explanation: This is a spiritual war.The “why” is so clear. The world is in a battle between good and evil. Between the Bible and the Koran. Between the God of Israel and the god of this world.The strategy of Satan has always been to replace God. And the number one place to do it is in Jerusalem. The prophet Isaiah foretold that “when the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land…” it is at this time that Satan, together with his followers, will raise himself up against God, only to be ultimately defeated. Isaiah 14:14- 16 reads:“I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the congregation… I will make myself like the Most High."When Yeshua the Messiah descends on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and His Jewish people say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord!” it will be all over.Having many God fearing members, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly voted in 1995 that the United States acknowledge Jerusalem is Israel’s
JERUSALEM IS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAELBy Shira Sorko-Ram
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ND capital. Bill Clinton was president at the time. Even
though he had previously said he would support Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, he didn’t like the new law at all, and actually never signed it. Obviously embarrassed to veto it in a nation with many Bible believers, he just let it become law by default to show his disapproval.In the 2000 election campaign, George W. Bush clearly promised to move the embassy and attacked Clinton for failing to deliver on his promise. But Bush did not keep his promise either.
In 2008, then Democratic candidate Barack Obama called Jerusalem the 'capital of Israel' and that was it.It took a very different kind of person to have the courage, and the audacity, to go up against the entire world.
THE UN DOESN’T GET ITThe war of Islam against Israel is not about the division of land. It is a war for the extermination of Israel, and Jerusalem is central to its strategy.The god of this world, who certainly dominates the United Nations, has allied itself, almost from day one, with the Palestinian cause. With its millions and billions of dollars it spends annually, it literally spews out propaganda against Israel and is busy educating the world with a new history about Palestinians living in Palestine for thousands of years. Truly fake history. Without a doubt, the god of this world has worked incessantly to make sure the ancient city of Jerusalem never becomes the accepted capital of Israel.The UN completely ignores the fact that wherever there is Muslim rule, there is no freedom of religion—or even normal human rights. During the fourteen years “moderate” Jordan ruled East Jerusalem, no Jew could come to the Western Wall to pray. In fact, no Israelis could enter Judea and Samaria and their ancient capital city. In fact, Jordan utterly destroyed the synagogues and Jewish institutions in Jerusalem where Jews had lived for many centuries.
STRATEGYAnd so Israel has been, in the eyes of the world, without a capital. Until Trump. From Israel’s viewpoint, President Trump’s strategy in presenting his decision was prudent and reasoned. He didn’t use the words “undivided Jerusalem,” a term that would automatically generate rage among Palestinians. He didn’t have to. He understands, as Europeans don’t, that Israel will never accept a divided Jerusalem again. Nor will they hand over the Western Wall or the Temple Mount where the Holy of Holies once
stood. Do you recall that recently the UN gave the Western Wall and the Temple Mount to the non-exis- tent nation of Palestinians?
Neither did Trump mention anything about the borders of Jerusalem. And he said he would accept a two-state solution, if both sides agreed. (Sure.) Nev- ertheless, to do his part, he has sent his son-in-law on a mission to make the ultimate deal. Hopefully they both understand it is a hopeless assignment.A recent article by Barry Shaw was titled, “Why Jared Kushner is on a fool’s mission.” To turn a dysfuntional, corrupt, rejectionist, ideological, violent Palestinian political divide into a peace-loving nation is beyond the pale. The establishment of a dysfunctional Palestinian state would soon be annexed by Hamas—the terrorist organization created for one single reason—to eradicate Israel. That is not a panacea for peace. We pray that the Trump family totally gets it.1
As for Israel, the government has spent years making sure Jerusalem will remain a united city. It has filled both west and east parts of the city with government buildings, industry and housing, not to speak of nearly 600,000 Jewish Israelis—making it impossible to separate. On the other hand, Allah will never give up his claim to “ascend on high.”Anyone who has picked up a Bible or a history book on the Middle East would find that the rightful owner of Jerusalem is the ancient people of Israel. It is God’s city. The Holy of Holies is the center of Jewish passion and heritage. For Christians who love the Bible and the Jewish people, much of the New Testament takes place in Jerusalem—including the death and resurrection of Yeshua. President Trump is on the right side of history.
EUROPE DOESN’T GET ITUnfortunately, Europe’s rulers are far from the Bible, and thus the God of the Bible. Britain, France, and Germany have positioned themselves as the strongest of deniers of the reality of Jerusalem’s ancient capital belonging to the ancient Jewish people.What do they care that the Old Testament mentions Jerusalem and Zion 661 times? That the New Testament mentions them 156 times? That the Koran mentions them zero times?Neither do Europeans understand that appeasement of Islamic rulers brings more violence—even after 70 years of experience.Israel’s most serious attempt to make peace with the Palestinians resulted in the Oslo Agreement. Seven years later, Yasser Arafat’s wife admitted on Dubai TV that Arafat confided in her that he was about to start a national insurrection because he did not want
Continued on page 10
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Sonday greetings from a cold and wet Beer Sheva!
We had to go inside again yesterday (on Shabbat) for Yeshua's Inheritance (Nachalat Yeshua) service. We were squeezed in, but it provided more warmth.) Despite the inconveniences, it was very encouraging to see how many came out on a cold, wet day. This winter we have been adversely affected weather-wise than in most years past, being that we meet in a semi-enclosed courtyard. This is a major motivation why we need and want to do some renovations. We are checking into options and priorities and costs.
Last week we celebrated with Victor and Hadar for their wedding. Victor has grown up through his teen and military years, and also studied at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in York, England, for a semester. Hadar is a believer for about three years now, and grew up in Modi'in. Both of them have grown up with believing mothers and unbelieving fathers. They will study together for another semester at the CC college, and return to Beer Sheva. (Yea!)
David and Mark, whom we have written about before, are leaving for New Zealand (south island) to evangelize Israelis in Hebrew. They will be there for six weeks, working with Scott Brown there. David and Mark have completed their compulsory military service, and are seeking the Lord for what and where following their time in NZ. They are the first Israelis to be accepted for the program in NZ; in the past English-speaking 'foreigners' from the West have gone to evangelize the Israelis, and will continue to do so. But we pray, and please pray with us, that this experience in NZ will better equip David and Mark to return to Israel (and hopefully Beer Sheva) to actively evangelize our people here at home. David is also a growing worshipper and worship leader, and is considering a program abroad to develop his call, burden, and heart's desire. We pray the the Lord's will be done in this matter, and also, we pray that David's future might be with us here at Yeshua's Inheritance Congregation.
Our son, Evan, is finishing up his mid-year exams in his final year of construction engineering. He has one semester to go. He will be going to Ghana in Africa in February for 10 days, also on an evangelism outreach,
Yeshua’s Inheritance – News from Beer ShevaBy Howard Bass
but to Ghanaians – and is also going to Burkino Faso as part of his trip. He will be going with a couple of other Israeli believers, meeting up with an American pastor. Our son, Tal, is a captain of a company of recruits in combat engineering. The IDF is offering him much to commit to more years; Tal is weighing it, but leaning against it, with his termination date being during this August. Please pray for him, and this is a "decision of destiny" for him.
I've posted some articles (plus an article in Kehila News written by their staff) inspired by recent events or statements for and against Israel, for and against the believers:
• Are Palestinians Children of Abraham? streamsinthenegev.com/latest -news/are-palestinians-children-of-abraham-17-jan-2018/
• Pride Comes Before A Fall streamsinthenegev.com/christianity/pride-comes-before-a-fall-19-jan-2018/
• Dimona Is Still in The Bible streamsinthenegev.com/new-testament-faith/dimona-still-in-the-bible-16-jan-2018/
• Center Run By Believers Under Attack [in Dimona] http://kehilanews.com/2018/01/23/center-run-by-believers-under-attack-again-in-dimona/
Thank-you very much for your prayerful support!,
Howard and Randi
David and Mark
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As you know, we are working in the most difficult Islamic areas. Our ministry is based on the last words of Jesus when He said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20)Our vision is to see lives changed and communities transformed, first by meeting the needs of people through education and health-awareness programs. We are seeing—one by one—Muslims and nominal Arab Christians (culturally-born into Christianity, but without knowledge of Jesus or the Word of God) receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.Clearly, we cannot share details of those coming to faith, but here are a couple of stories—how God is really bringing salvation to those who seemed hopelessly lost in a culture dominated by hatred of the God of Israel and the Bible, as well as Jewish and born-again Christians.Our goal is to plant congregations and to be part of the Great Commission. Here is what the Lord has been doing in the last two months…
WE HELD A RETREAT for Arab believers, most of whom are part of our weekly prayer meeting. A number of non-believers joined us, as well. Our focus was on priorities in the life of a believer. God’s presence was evident as the leaders shared powerful Gospel messages. As we say, “They felt the love!”One man who had recently began attending our weekly Bible study meeting was convicted of his sin. He was addicted to alcohol and cigarettes, and was physically abusive to his own father, his wife, and his children. He told how he would break things in his house and beat his children.At the retreat he gave his testimony of how, after accepting the Messiah into his life, he had become a “new creation.” The old things had passed away, and all he wanted now was to be committed to live a true Christian life. His wife, along with his children and Mother, has seen a great change in him. After the retreat he was baptized in Jericho. Please pray for this family: his wife is close to believing, but he is facing persecution from other relatives and friends.
WE ALSO HELD A ONE-DAY WOMEN’S CONFERENCE for non-believing, nominal Christians. Fifty-three women attended. We started with teaching about how to raise children the Christian way based on the Bible, and how to deal with teenagers in the spirit of love.After four hours of discussion and questions, with a very positive response, my wife invited the women to accept Christ as their Savior and Lord, and challenged them to begin reading the Bible.At the end one woman stood up and said, “I am an educated woman, and my husband was a famous doctor for many years. I want to tell you that this is the first time in my life I have understood the Gospel. Thank you! I promise you that I will start reading the Bible, and I hope in the future to come to more of these conferences. I am so encouraged; you have made an impact on my life.”
IN ONE OF THE VILLAGES there is a Muslim girl, thirty-four years old, single and living with her father, who is a very religious Muslim. Her mother died and her two sisters are married.After she attended our educational meetings and we established a good relationship with her, she felt safe coming to our center. She told me, “You are the third Christian I have ever met in all my life.” She began to share about her suffering and struggle.We spent quality time with her and answered her questions—especially about hell and paradise. One of our team invited her to his home with his family. She wanted to know more about Christ, and how to pray. After being in their home, she decided to accept Jesus as Savior. She has started to read the Bible in secret. Please pray for her as her life is at risk. Her village population is around 4,000 people and she is the first one from her community to come to Christ.The Lord overwhelms us with joy through your faithfulness to us. Thank you that you care for us so much and show it so beautifully. We really feel your love.
ONE BY ONE THEY ARE COMING
Maoz Israel
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It is an undisputed fact that the early followers of Jesus – who were mostly Jewish – came under fiery persecution, often from their own people.
Jesus himself was crucified and many of his disciples suffered similar fates, though more generally at the hands of the Romans.
However, the great apostle Paul was a leading Jewish rabbi who saw it as his duty to persecute the new movement, presiding over the stoning of St Stephen in the process…until his dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.
In some respects, things have come full circle since then. Jewish people are once more recognising Jesus as Messiah in significant numbers, and many are experiencing discrimination from their fellow Jews, especially in Israel. (It must be said, however, that this does not usually amount to the sort of vicious persecution Christians are currently suffering in the Muslim Middle East.)
Among them is Zev Sigulim (pictured), from Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee, who has witnessed seven years of harassment from Orthodox Jews and been forced to fly to Cyprus to get married because traditional rabbis refuse to recognise Messianic Jews! Some even refused to circumcise his sons.
This is an ongoing issue for many believers, and a campaign is underway to draw the government’s attention to this gross injustice. Being Messianic is also a potential hindrance to Jews from the diaspora making Aliyah (immigrating to Israel). And yet this does not apply to Jews who follow Buddhism or some New Age religion.
But the likeable young Zev is not himself caught up with any campaign for justice. He accepts that being a disciple of Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) has always been costly, and delights in a way of life totally informed by his faith.
From an Ultra-Orthodox background, Zev has five children and attends a congregation at Netanya on the Mediterranean coast – a one-hour drive away, quite a distance to travel each Sabbath.
A Polish Jew with blond hair and blue eyes, many of his ancestors perished in the Holocaust but his
grandmother survived Auschwitz and the family moved to Israel. However, they subsequently emigrated to Toronto in Canada, where his father married a Gentile convert to Judaism and then made Aliyah to Israel, working for a Christian hi-tech company in Tiberias and becoming a secret Messianic Jew.
Tragically, he died soon afterwards in a car accident, but Zev’s mum had in the meantime noticed the change in his life and became sympathetic with this new movement in spite of opposition from the rest of the family – grandfather Jack
disowned them. (Many Jews see Christianity as their chief persecutor over the centuries, especially in view of the Holocaust carried out in ‘Christian’ Europe.)
Zev’s widowed mother – pregnant with her third child at the time of her husband’s death – was impressed by the compassion and witness of the Messianic Jews of Arad in the Negev desert and also became a believer. It was at Arad that Zev witnessed the constant harassment of Orthodox Jews protesting at their presence in the city.
“There were pickets outside our house for seven years,” he said, adding: “My two brothers and I are all believers in Yeshua. But I grew up ashamed of my faith. Worried about being spat at and barred from certain activities, I kept it to myself. Then, when I was at the Naval Academy, a friend saw me reading the Bible (which is actually very unusual for Jews) and scolded me for not telling him earlier of my faith, saying: ‘Think of all the conversations we could have had.’
“It hit me that I had wasted my time and I prayed that God would give me boldness and opportunities to speak of Yeshua. Inevitably, my faith grew.”
Pointing out that 95% of Messianics have come to faith through non-Jews, Zev encourages Gentiles to share the gospel with Jews, but worries that most Christians don’t know enough about the Old Testament, which is essential for such witness.
Editor's Note: Charles Gardner is author of Israel the Chosen, available from Amazon, and Peace in Jerusalem, available from olivepresspublisher.com
A Messianic Testimony From GalileeCharles Gardner
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Dear friends,
We are all familiar with those times in life when troubles seem to pop up everywhere. The Psalmist describes these times as being like "surrounded by a swarm of bees" (Psalm 118:12). For us, this is one of those times as some of the kindest, most faithful and generous members of our congregation are facing difficulties. My first reaction was to complain to God, "Why do the nicest people need to suffer so much? It's not fair!" After visiting the families, praying and weeping with them, I realized that my attitude was not helping. That my questioning was a distraction from what needed to be done. When our loved ones are in trouble, that is the time to give as much love and support as we can, the kind of love that will help them overcome.
I believe that this is an opportunity for you also to step up and come next to these families and share your love and blessings. Allow me to describe briefly a few of their stories and see if you too would like to give a helping hand.
Hanna is a crucial part of our team. She prays and counsels with our women and mothers, leads a home group and serves the local people with hospitality and a strong steadfast faith, something she has learned through hardship. Hanna's husband is a drug addict and she continues faithfully supporting him as best she can while raising their child alone and working as a full-time accountant. This dear woman was doing all of this while fighting cancer over the past few years until doctors declared recently gave her a clean bill of health. But Hanna was born with just one kidney and it appears that the aggressive cancer therapy may have injured her lone kidney which is weakened and under duress. Hanna was back in the hospital last week for a battery of tests to figure out
what is happening. A show of love and support to help Hanna provide for her family and help her get through this difficult time would do wonders.
Alex is father to five beautiful children and together with his wife lead a home group in Rishon Letzion. A new immigrant from the former Soviet Union, he stepped out in faith to start his own building renovations business some years and has seen the company steadily grow to the point where he, and his wife who also works full-time, are able to provide for the family. Running your own business in Israel is not easy. The government provides no support for small businesses and with high taxes and minimal social benefits Alex works long hours six days a week to keep the business going. A project he had lined up was supposed to begin on January 1st but has been delayed, and Alex has been out of work for two weeks. You can understand the strain this puts on the family and how much a show of support for this dear family would be appreciated.
Nadine is mother to three children and together with her husband also lead a home group in their city. Her oldest son is serving in the Israeli Defense Forces and her daughter completed her service last month. Some weeks ago a large growth was discovered in her stomach which doctors were thankfully able to remove. Nadine works in a shop making curtains but will now need to take 3 months off work to recover from the extensive surgery. Together with the emotional and physical strains of going through major surgery, this has also put a tremendous financial strain on the family. As we pray with the family and provide practical support, we also know that a financial gift would bring great relief from the additional burden of not having the income from work to pay the rent.
WHEN TROUBLES COMEBy David Lazarus
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his only daughter to grow up knowing that her father had agreed to a peace agreement with Israel. It was the bloodiest Intifada ever.2
Europe also chooses to forget that Israel’s evacuation of twenty-one Jewish villages from Gaza birthed Hamas. Its evacuation of southern Lebanon birthed Hezbollah.The EU forgets the reality of history: In 3,000 years, the Jews are the only people for whom Jerusalem has ever been the capital of their national homeland. Muslims had 1,200 years of opportunities to make it their capital, but they never did.The rulers of Europe no longer promote even a Christian culture. Blinded, they cannot see that Islam is overtaking their continent. Europe is on the wrong side of history. God’s Word still stands when He told Abraham, “I will curse those who curse you.” They are still living in a fantasy world.
A NATION OF HAPPY CAMPERSIsraelis are elated! Even the leftleaning Labor party head, Avi Gabbay, declared, “preserving a ‘united’ Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty is more important than clinching a peace deal with the Palestinians.” He praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and said over ninety percent of Israelis “yearn for a united Jerusalem.” In light of this, he said, “A united Jerusalem is even more important than peace.” Most astounding, a Kuwaiti writer, Abdullah Al Hadlaq, recently said on Kuwaiti TV that Israel was an independent and legitimate sovereign state, and that there was no occupation, but rather "a people returning to its promised land." Kuwait is one of the Arab nations that does not recognize Israel—let alone Jerusalem! “Like it or not,” Al-Hadlaq said, “Israel is an independent sovereign state. It exists, and it has a seat at the United Nations, and most peace-loving and democratic countries recognize it. The group of states that do not recognize Israel are the countries of tyranny and oppression,” he continued.3
In signs of other gently warming ties, a Bahraini delegation visited Israel right after the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. There are reports that Bahrain is on a path to normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. It is well-known that Saudi Arabia is working together with Israel because of the mortal threat to them from Iran. It appears they understand more than the Europeans do.
While Arab leaders continue to pay lip service to the Palestinian cause, it has slipped in importance, displaced by the Arab Spring uprisings, the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the threat of the Islamic State, and especially Iran’s race for regional dominance. The long and the short of it is that President Trump had to have guts. Daring and nerve. Courage to stand up against the world. But people like Franklin Graham understood the spiritual implications. He told CNS News, no president in his lifetime had taken such a “strong, outspoken stand for the Christian faith” with the exception of President Trump, and that he needs our prayers.
HOW I FELT ON DECEMBER 6, 2017I know many millions of believers felt like I did as I wrote a Facebook post right after we heard the news about Jerusalem:
Can you believe? I can hardly express my feelings as we sat in front of the TV and heard President Trump state that his government was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. First, I felt tremendous relief—not only for Israel, but also for the U.S. I believe God will bless Trump for this act. Of course I am not saying that he will have no more trials and tribulations, but that God will keep His promise to bless those who bless Israel.Secondly, it was clear that we were experiencing a day that will go down in the history books. Trump will always be remembered for declaring the 3,000-year-old city of Jerusalem to be the capital of the Jewish State.I sat there savoring the moment—that I had lived to see Israel become a state, (actually I heard the news on the radio at age 7!) then was alive to see Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria come back into the hands of their rightful owners in 1967, and am now witnessing Jerusalem being recognized by the U.S. President. One thing I am sure of: it was America’s evangelicals that counseled and encouraged Trump to make this leap that no other president dared to do. Was God’s hand in this? Our daughter, Shani, brought it to our attention that Trump made this declaration 70 years and 7 days after the UN voted to accept the new-born State of Israel! Interesting times.
1 jpost.com; link: goo.gl/kXnTLU2 jpost.com; link: goo.gl/Nuz3C13 israelnationalnews.com;link: goo.gl/9EYJxJ
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FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL 2018 NUMBER 211
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ND PRAYER DIARY – February-March-April 2018
““O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.” 2 Chron.6:14
ISRAEL: • Pray for more rain. They have received rain but the water is still low in the Sea of Galilee. Thousands in Israel have been praying along with supporters around the world. May the Lord answer these prayers magnificently this season. • Shooting & Stabbing Attacks Pray that the continual random shooting and stabbing attacks will be thwarted by the Lord and that all evil plans will not come to fruition. • The UN Human Rights Council published a partial “blacklist” of foreign and Israeli companies that operate in the settlements in the West bank and East Jerusalem. These companies provide employment for Palestinians. Pray that this move will not be supported by the nations. • Save the bees programme Recently thousands of Israelis have been planting trees in forests and urban spaces nationwide in a bid to increase the bee population. In the past few years roughly a third of the world’s population of bees has become extinct. The bees are responsible for pollinating 80 per cent of the world’s agricultural crops. • Pray for PM Netanyahu. He recently said he made it clear to President Trump and to European leaders and President Putin, that Israel’s presence is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam that is led by Iran and the Islamic State. • The “two state” solution. This has reached a new low but is still being pushed by many nations around the world. Pray for Godly wisdom especially for PM Netanyahu and his team and President Trump and his team. France has indicated that it will not recognise a two state solution. Pray that this nation will have influence with other nations in Europe. • Lebanon There is much concern about Lebanon becoming Iran’s missile factory. Israel has indicated that it will not tolerate Iran playing the “puppet game”. Much prayer needed. • Veil removed Significant numbers of Jewish people are recognising Jesus as Messiah. Pray that this will continue. • The Orthodox Jews have considerable influence in blocking Aliyah for Messsianic Jews. This does not apply to Jews who follow Buddhism or some New Age religion. Pray that the campaign to draw the government’s attention to this gross injustice will have a significant outcome. • This year the IDF has shown
journalists a film of a two kilometre long tunnel dug by terrorists from the Hamas ruled Gaza strip into Israel. This film shows the continuing threat Israel faces from the territory. Pray the Lord will continue to reveal these deadly tunnels. • Anniversary While the world marked another anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz death camp, the Polish Parliament was busy passing a law that makes it illegal to attribute complicity in the Holocaust to the “Polish nation” or to use terms such as “Polish death camps”. This law has yet to pass through various levels of parliament. Pray that this will not come about. • Anti-Semitism Pray for protection of the Jewish people around the world. Pray against the spirit of hatred and anti-Semitism – that its stronghold will be broken – especially in Europe and other places where there is an increase of anti-Semitism.
HARVEST OF ASHER Pray for Guy and Tali and their family as they continue to grow their fellowship. Also Guy is travelling to other nations to bring a deeper, and often more Hebraic, understanding to the Word. Their heart is to motivate their fellowship to reach out as individuals to the community. Each household chooses three people/families in need to receive food baskets. Pray that this will bring much fruit for the Kingdom.
DUGIT MESSIANIC OUTREACH CENTRE Pray for Avi, Chaya and the team. Join them in their prayer for revival in Jerusalem and for the Lord to move powerfully by His Spirit in Israel. Pray that the veil will be lifted from His people.
BE’AD CHAIM – Pro Life They have recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of this vital work. The organisation has gone from strength to strength and there are now 13 counsellors working throughout the land. Links have been developed with Social Workers as well as the IDF. The Operation Moses project started in 2006 which basically provides all the necessities for mothers who are unable to afford basic things for their babies. Currently they are supporting 500 families and in the last 11 years over 2,000 lives have been saved through Operation Moses. Pray for this vital ministry and Sandy who heads it up. Pray that government funding of abortions will stop. Presently it pays for over 18,000
abortions each year, (50 abortions each day).
MAKOR HaTIKVAH MESSIANIC HEBREW SCHOOL The Manager, Cookie Schwaeber-Issan reported that their enrolment has grown. Pray that this increase will continue and that the Lord will provide amazing teachers, staff, finance and equipment for this school.
MORNING STAR Pray for Claude and Michelle. They are still trying to obtain legal status for their House of Prayer which would exempt them from local taxes. Their new building has facilitated their ministry in Tiberias. There is good progress in the faith of some of their youth and teenagers who have a desire to get baptised and engage in a deeper walk with the Lord. Tiberias does not at this stage have opportunities for the young people to stay in the area. Claude has asked for prayer that believers would succeed in opening businesses which would give employment to young believers.
YESHUA’S INHERITANCE CONGREGATION Howard and Randi. Their meeting place has a semi-enclosed courtyard which is not suitable if the weather turns wet and cold. They are checking into options, priorities and costs. Pray that the Lord will give them wisdom. Two young men from the congregation are coming here to the South Island to evangelise Israelis in Hebrew. They will be working with Scott Brown. Pray for David and Mark. They have completed their compulsory military service and are seeking the Lord’s guidance for “what next”.
HOUSE OF LIGHT Anis and Nawal. Pray for this amazing couple who are seeing the fruit of their labours over many years. Pray the Lord will give them wisdom as they face the issue of their facilities becoming tight with more children joining the various programmes they lead throughout the year. They are holding a 3 day family conference with at least ten Arab and ten Jewish families plus a Swiss team. This will take place in March.
LIVING STONES TOUR The tour group will leave for Israel on the 19th March and will arrive back in NZ on the 14th April. Please pray for the team of 29 people. Pray for sweet unity, safety, good health, and most of all the presence of the Lord.
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FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL 2018
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