A Different Kind of Crisis

 

And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
“I see a branch of an almond tree,”[ (shaqed) "the watcher" tree ] I replied. 

“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, 

“for I am watching (shoqed) over My word to accomplish it.”
Jeremiah 1:11-12

May 18, 2021: There is an explosion of intercessory prayer being made for Israel right now. We are hearing about it from many different corners of Christianity. The rockets and riots from the terrorists in Gaza and those who have been indoctrinated by their hate inside Israel have put a sharp point on the prayers of the saints for Israel. This intersection of prayers and violence is awakening the Church to pray for Israel.

But there is a different kind of crisis going on that a great many of those who know to pray against the physical warfare do not yet understand is the urgent need of the body in Israel for financial relief so its ministries can minister the light of Yeshua to their communities. 

Covid restrictions in Israel have already put many of the congregations and ministries, including the Messianic run humanitarian outreaches into extreme financial stress. With the launch of war falling on the heels of Israel lifting Covid restrictions, there are many who are facing losing their facilities and other ministers are going with any income to support their families. There are things every ministry needs to continue ministering to the people. Israel is a special case and the apostle Paul knew that the body of Messiah would not be able to raise their own full ministry finances without the help of the churches.

That is why Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “Romans 15:26-27 “For it has pleased them of the Macedonia and Achaia churches to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It has pleased them truly; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in material things.”

As the Church is learning to pray for Israel, we must also learn of our duty to come alongside the Messianic Israelis with financial aid. 

One of the most powerful things Paul did, in complete surrender of his life to God's purposes, was his last trip to Jerusalem to carry the financial contributions he had the churches under his oversight collect over at least a 3-year period. As he made the trip, with a representative from each church accompanying him to witness what was done, prophets came out all along the journey to tell Paul he was going to be chained and imprisoned if he continued his mission. He believed them and was emotional about it, but he said he was prepared to take it all the way regardless. Even to this day there are second guessers who believe "he blew it" not heeding the prophetic word, but that is because they don't know that the prophetic words given were not meant by God to stop Paul, they were only meant to make sure Paul understood the full cost to himself to carry his mission to the full. This is the apostle that said,

Romans 9:1-5 I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise!

Paul willingly laid down his life to establish the fund of financial relief from the churches to the use of the Messianic leaders in Israel. He did not carry those funds to the Israeli government, the Sanhedrin, the Temple upkeep. No! Paul established the churches in giving towards the ministry needs of the body of Messiah in Israel. It went on for an unknown number of years but had ceased before 318 AD.

I believe that precedent Paul established is what was so important to God not only for then but for NOW. God did not let Paul make himself accursed from the faith, but He did allow Paul to fully sacrifice freedom and ultimately his life, to model for the Gentile churches what the Israeli Messianic believers needed to flourish under harsh circumstances - in the first century and in THIS season.

We Are in a "Let My people go" moment

by Donna Diorio

 
For the fasting and prayers that have been going on probably worldwide by Christian and Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua, those who understand God's purposes in restoration of Israel in the end of this season, WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING GOD FOR AN OUTPOURING OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT LIKE WAS GIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE FEAST OF WEEKS IN ACTS 2. As always, there is a demonic manifestation coming at the same time: an outpouring of rockets upon the Israeli people in their towns.

We are praying for an outpouring of power like Yeshua promised in Luke 24:49 that would be poured out on the disciples He sent to Jerusalem to pray in the Upper Room, in order to witness with power about His salvation. "And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

This outpouring is not a one-time thing - not in the personal sense of our lives and not in a historical-prophetic season. We must have fresh anointing in the seasons of our personal lives, and we also need a fresh anointing in prophetic seasons. We are in the midst of a dawning of a new season beginning, and a prophetic outpouring that again will be poured out in Israel first, then flow throughout the nations.

Yeshua's promise to the disciples in Luke about the outpouring that would take place in Acts 2 Jerusalem, was PART of the Isaiah 32:15-17 prophecy. But there is more to the Isaiah prophecy that was not fulfilled at that time of Acts 2 - but I believe refers to the time we are in at this exact moment - the moment of this Shavuot/Pentecost, of the outpouring again on Jerusalem and upon those who are crying out for Israel's salvation today:

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Why would the enemy stir up such warfare against Israel at this time? Isn't it obvious? Because the outpouring of power is coming and the only way the enemy can stop it is to try to steal, kill and destroy those who will come into the Kingdom in Israel after this outpouring from God (which will trigger salvation around the world). And the only way we can stop the enemy's fury is with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in power to stand. 

We are in a "Let My people go moment." As Pharaoh's false prophets came out to duplicate the miracles God was performing through Moses as he sought the release of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, so now we are all standing in unity with the believers in Israel seeking the outpouring like Acts 2 for the salvation of ALL Israel. This is such a major move of God coming, not wonder the enemies of God are pouring out rockets and inner city violence all of the Land to break the faith of believers that God's miracle is coming, and to try to kill as many Jews as they can before it comes. Keep up your prayers for we are in a truly holy war that we are going to be ultimately victorious in.