An Example and A Challenge from Ireland: For Pastors

 

an example and A Challenge
from Ireland: For Pastors
by Donna Diorio

A Spirit of Antisemitism,
by Pastor Keith Malcomson
Limerick City Church
Ireland

Keith Malcomson shares an important message that has received 3K views within 3 days. (A video is considered viral is if it garners over 5 million views within a 3-7 day period.) It is going viral because people are hungry for Christian pastors to speak up about antisemitism we see sweeping the world. His opening prayer over the sermon he is about to deliver alone has me in tears. Pastor Malcomson presents an example from his own city's history when he details how one sermon in Limerick City in 1904 unleashed the spirit of antisemitism in the mid-west Ireland’s Limerick City.

……I discovered Keith Malcomson in the last year through his message praising his wife Candace as A Mother in Zion. Candace died last year in August of cancer, cutting off a short but significant life. I was so touched by his message about Candace, and why she was a biblical “Deborah, a Mother in Zion.” It is more than being an intercessor, it is about the righteous judgment we are called to make, discerning the spirit of things.

     After the attack on Israel, Pastor Malcomson has emerged leading the way to speak to the Church regarding the spirit of anti-Semitism that is sweeping the nations. He a man of God anointed for this moment to provide both an example to other Christian pastors, as well as a challenge to all Christians to understand what the truth of anti-Semitism is and to speak up about it now. The lack of discernment within Christians circles on this issue hearkens back to one of the things Pastor Malcomson admired in his wife, the ability to make righteous judgments and advise the women of their church wisely with great discernment. In recent years we have had the “Judge not” message so hammered into us that many Christians have no idea that they are admonished to be able to judge matters, and if we can’t, it is a shame to us, not an accomplishment in the Spirit! 1 Cor 6:15

     It is important for us to share the instances of pastors and Christians in the nations standing up for Israel at this time, having righteous judgment in this matter between Israel and Hamas. We unfortunately will not see many news media reporting this, so we will have to be proactive in sharing the stories from our own nations to encourage the Jewish people, but also to encourage each other to be bold in the Spirit to do the right thing and not shrink back.

     One of the things that has always troubled me is something I also understand why Jews have come to this conclusion – that they can only trust other Jews when push comes to shove. This is a ‘wall of separation’ between Messianic Jews and Christians that we have to pull down in the body of Messiah. One valuable way to do that is to acknowledge and share the many Christians who are standing with the Jews right now, no matter what it costs. 

One Woman's Serious Cautionary Word for Women of God

 One Woman's Serious Cautionary Word for Women of God
... and the godly judging of sexual abuse accusations in the world we now live

By Donna Diorio
Written Nov 6th on Facebook, posted here Nov 13, 2023

     Sometimes I think young people think they are the only ones who know anything about sexual abuse against women. They seem willing to condemn without evidence and based only on accusations.They have even invented a slogan for that: "Believe the Woman."  

Young people don't have to tell me how sexual abuse happens. I am a woman! I may be 72 now but I wasn't always. I had my fair share of sexual abuse incidents. But I am cautioning women and men who are called God's people that there must be evidence and/or a confession. Even multiple accusations are not enough to convict someone of sexual abuse in the world in which we live now.

That is because sexual accusations have become a political weapon to destroy the one targeted. All political weapons can easily be deployed in spiritual circles too. It has become an agenda driven weapon and there appears to be no court of law that is immune to being drawn into the agenda with the accuser if the target is agreed on "must be destroyed." If you don't recognize that from our current events over the last many years, you are unqualified to make a judgment on this even as a believer.

     One morning last week I awoke thinking of how well I know about sexual abuse incidents. These several happened to me between the age of 16 to 22 years old : 

-attempted date rape by 2 boys after being the 2nd girl to be taken home after a double date 

-attempted rape by an uncle when I was home sick alone one afternoon; 

-sexual abuse by our family doctor whose pelvic exams went beyond exam

-on the job sexual harassment on my first job at Dairy Queen when at closing the manager would turn the lights off and chase me around the work counter

-sexual pressure by my divorce lawyer - give him more money, or sex

     That gets me to 22 years old, but it was not the end: There was the new general manager on my favorite job ever who told me if I intended to stay on as editor, I would give him sexual pleasure. My editor's job was the decade of the 70's and there was no hyper-sensitive HR Dept to run to with complaints. There was only the beginning of people being awakened to the injustice of what has been going on against women for THOUSANDS of years. Being "sensitized" has gone far over board at this point.

    I am well aware that women are sexually targeted by men and have been since the Genesis 3:15. God's resolution of this is not the same as what the woke crowd have convinced everyone must happen when accusations of this sort are lodged against a man. 

     Women today have been handed a weapon that they feel entitled to use whether it is true of not because of the historic sexual abuse by men. The weapon of choice is false accusation of sexual abuse on the most minor of grounds. 

     If a man of any age looks at you with interest because you are the type he is attracted to: that is NOT sexual abuse! That is a normal human reaction. Also if you were flattered because you admired the person and flirted back, that is you giving mutual interest signals. 

     It reminds me how as Baby Boomer kids we ate dirt & our parents were not germophobes, freaking out that we were eating dirt. We didn't die, but we grew up with healthy immune systems. I think of the whole overblown sexual abuse situation that is established in our society in much the same way. That's because you know what I did in the date rape situation? I fought like hell and didn't let them rape me. Same thing I did with the pervert uncle. I quit my job at Dairy Queen, and quit my job at the magazine. 

    Just because you are young and someone tries to take advantage of you sexually doesn't mean you are some weak, feeble little girl who just gets abused and sent into emotional trauma until decades later when you decide to speak out accusations preferring to remain anonymous.

     Does sexual abuse try to define us? Yes, of course, but if we are walking with God, allowing His Holy Spirit to transform us, we have laid that abuse down - turned it over completely to God to judge.

     Not only that, but waiting decades to bring accusation should be a flashing yellow CAUTION light to all.

     Too many of the situations we have seen unfold in this country of sexual abuse accusations by a high profile man have been women with an agenda using accusation as a weapon. And that weapon of women has been used throughout history ...very often false accusations based on lies. 

     I do not trust anonymity of accusers. As believers, we of all people cannot have some woke kangaroo court decide such situations, but accusations should be judged by spiritual judges within faith circles.

     I do appeal to the Judge over all the earth to make HIS own swift verdict known and not allow this to linger over the body of Christ and over the prayer for Israel community demolishing every good thing that come through a leader giving himself to establish 24/7 prayer for Israel. 

     I pray that God will thunder from Heaven, letting His verdict be demonstrated, as 1 Samuel 2:10: "Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed."

The Battle is for the Truth

 

The Battle is for the Truth
by Donna Diorio

I just read a quote I picked out of one of Ron Cantor’s recent emails that said, “It's only normal that donations drop off. The initial shock of what happened on October 7th is dissipating. But the needs are only growing."

     Personally I don't see how it could be normal for donations to be dropping off when the horror has continued to grow. Not only has the horror grown in what Israel is discovering the extent of evil Hamas has inflicted on Jew, but in the nations there is the ripple effect of Israel-haters, Jew-haters coming out in force to intimidate fellow citizens and government officials away from standing with Israel.

     How can Christians in the nations let their interest waiver in what is happening in Israel, or their financial aid to help Israel come to a crawl so quickly?

     Prime Minister Netanyahu when he said, "Brief empathy over the Oct. 7 catastrophe is shifting to a global effort, propelled by Israel-haters and anti-Semites, to deprive us of the right to ensure it will not happen again."

     How easily we are to become wavering, "driven and tossed by the wind."  That has been the problem with so many Christians regarding Israel for decades but worse wavering on God’s love of Israel has deeply turned younger generations of Christians. Instead of supporting Israel so many of their parents have, they have been indoctrinated into the pro-Palestinian movement. This is a movement we have seen storming Grand Central Station and the U.S. House of Representatives. It is not only in the U.S. but in the UK, France, Germany, Russia, Spain and Italy.

     Look at the pictures: these are mostly young people.  In places like the U.S. the young pro-Palestinians (Israel-haters) are college educated, in fact, college campuses are the number one place where young people are indoctrinated and inducted into these groups. They are part of the “social justice” crowd that has aligned with radical Islam's campus indoctrination teams. Being a Christian does not inoculate these young people from becoming enemies of the people God called "the pupil of His eye." Sadly they have no idea how far the devil has led them to the side of rebellion against God!

     Pray for our young people to have a revelation of God's love for Israel, enough that Zechaiah 2:7-9 has God crying out, “Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!” For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you— for whoever touches you touches the apple/pupil of His eye— I will surely wave My hand over them, so that they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me.”

     We are very much in the valley of decision in all the nations. Our younger generations, in embracing their peer self-righteousness and social justice definitions, have exalted their sense of justice above the Word of God. Many of us old "Baby Boomers" did the same thing in our youth. I say that as a reminder that despite being gravely wrong, we were rescued from our youthful arrogance and put on the narrow path that knows God's Word is the last word. Therefore we can pray with hope and with faith that God can do a mighty work of recovering these who have become allies with the enemies of God. We can pray in faith they be given spiritual understanding from Heaven that sets them again, or for the first time, on the narrow path He calls us to walk with Him.

     I believe the spiritual warfare on the ground in Israel is a visible manifestation of the invisible war going on in all the nations. The Prime Minister of Israel also recently declared something I believe was prophetic coming out of the mouth of Israel's highest political leader. He said, "This is our 2nd Independence War, humanity’s war against evil." According to a teaching by Asher Intrater last week, Netanyahu also added to that statement, (at the 15:23 mark) “When this war is over, we as a nation will be born again.”

    Indeed the war for Israel's survival is the visible manifestation of the spiritual war against evil. The information war is front and center for both the physical war and the spiritual war.  We are in a spiritual battle for the truth of God to be heard by people…all those people in the valley of decision.

Tearing the Ceiling of Unbelief Over Israel

OCT 3, 2023:  This is an Urgent Prayer Request for Chaya Mizrachi, wife of Avi Mizrachi of Dugit Ministries who also founded the Tel Aviv congregation Adonai Roi which their daughter and son-in-law now lead. Chaya who had a hip replacement last year was experiencing terrible pain and went in for back surgery last Thursday, but the surgeons had to back out finding a much worse situation existed.

     This is the Facebook post by their daughter, Devora: "Please pray and stand with us in intercession for complete healing and recovery from surgery for my dear Ima. My mother's surgery was more complex than anticipated. There were a few issues that happened one of which the disc that was operated on was adherent to the dura covering of the spinal canal, and could not be completely removed. Also, they could not close the dura. She is in the hospital for care and close observation. Please pray for absence of infection, proper healing of the operated areas, normal neurological function below the area operated on, lack of pain, and patience and grace for the entire family. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the medical staff. There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, please pray for a Sukkot miracle. Much love from the Mizrachi family"

    It is time for a FULL SCALE PRAYER EFFORT on behalf of this beautiful, loving servant of Yeshua in Israel. She is a key woman in Israeli ministries, and a joyous, happy person. PLEASE PRAY WITH ME & SHARE THIS PRAYER REQUEST WITH YOUR GROUPS.

     Abba, we do lift up Chaya Mizrachi to you. Yeshua, we, her friends, tear off the roof of unbelief that covers the skies over Israel, to open her to YOU for YOUR healing touch from Heaven. My LORD GOD, the Almighty God, in the name of Yeshua we beseech You to extend complete healing to Chaya, raise her up, set her upright on her feet, make her a witness to the healing power of Yeshua in Israel, that she may continue to walk before You, rejoicing and serving You as she always has - a faithful servant. We speak to the ENEMY of our souls to CEASE from this move against our blessed sister, serving God with all her heart! No weapon formed against Chaya shall prosper. We see Chaya lifted up, made whole again, struck by this physical affliction only for the glory of Yeshua - to be healed and His healing power made famous in Israel. In the name of Jesus, we ask that this affliction be "light and momentary" - lifted off of our sister in a fantastic show of Your love, mercy, grace and healing for Your own!
     Yeshua, You said that the "gates of hell" could not prevail against us. We see the gates of hell forming a barrier of unbelief that has been blocking healing prayers from being answered in Israel by the believers there. Father, We, the friends of the Messianic Jewish believers are tearing the roof of unbelief off, so Your healing power can reach out sister. Just like the account in Luke 5:18-25 when for friends of a paralyzed man tore the roof off the house to lower their friend in. They did this because they could not get to Yeshua because of the crowds. The crowds are different here, Abba, they are crowds of unbelief forming a ceiling over Israel that is made a barrier of unbelief. We tear that ceiling of unbelief down, LORD, and pray for this mighty healing miracle to come to Chaya today! An open Heaven, Lord! Yes, You are mighty to save, deliver & heal in the power of Yeshua. 


OCT 4 Dark Cloud Cover over Tel Aviv
I wanted to explain the prayer request I send out (above) about tearing off the "roof" or ceiling of unbelief over Israel so God's answers for healing could get through to those believers praying in need of healing. In these years of doing Israel prayer I have seen many of the ministry people in life-hazard illnesses become incapacitated or even pass into eternity. I know the Israeli ministries in my elists believe in the power of God to heal but why has the healing been so small? 

     I remembered the friends of the paralytic man literally tore the roof off of a house where Jesus was in order to let their friend down into His midst. There were great crowds around Yeshua and it was the only way to get their friend within the touch of the LORD. Faith motivated them to do that.
     This reminded me of something Asher Intrater taught years ago about Isaiah 60:2 "For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples." Where there is no faith or little faith, there is a darkness that covers the skies overhead.
     Like in the days that Daniel prayed and the archangel Michael finally came to tell him that God sent out the answer immediately - but the angels that were sent out had to fight through the warfare - that is the spiritual layer – a cloud cover of darkness that covers the earth below. (Daniel 10) The region below, where faith is almost nonexistent, and it is because darkness covers the people where faith does not live.
     In reality, this is the spiritual condition in Israel. Percentage-wise the believers in Israel are a small minority - that means a thick darkness-like cloud cover blocks out the Son, and His answers to prayers for the faithful below are intensely slowed down because of the warfare, as happened when Daniel prayed.  The spiritual warfare HINDERED, SLOWED DOWN God’s answer reaching Daniel. Does that mean the warfare can be so great that it can slow down the prayers being made for healing of spiritual leaders in Israel? You tell me. It seems possible to me. God sends out His answer to prayers, and the spiritual warfare is so intense over places of spiritual darkness covering, because few are “tearing the roof down” to get God’s answer through for the need.
      Isn’t this the spiritual warfare Jesus spoke of in Luke 18: 7-8 “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” If there is spiritual warfare over bringing justice to those who dry for it, and spiritual warfare over Daniel seeking revelation of what God’s prophecy meant, why would we doubt that there is spiritual warfare over healing needs of those Messianic Jews in ministry in Israel?
     When faith increases in certain geographic regions, the thick darkness that covers overhead does not cover the people below solidly. It is our agreement in faith that becomes like those friends of the paralytic man whose friends literally tore the ceiling off to get their friend in a place to receive the healing touch of Yeshua. This is what we add to our brothers and sisters in ministry in Israel.
     Do you see what I am saying? Because of the unbelief of non-believers in Israel there is overhead a solid cloud cover of darkness over the people there. We have to punch through that with our prayers in agreement with the Israeli ministries.  Yesterday what came to me was that is because there is faith among the believers in Israel for healing, but the darkness is so thick, they need their friends - that is us in the nations - to tear the roof of unbelief off so their prayers are more free flowing. It is spiritual warfare, my friends. If we will fight the spiritual warfare of this thick darkness over Israel, not only will the answers of prayer for healing begin to flow faster to them, but so will the darkness over the unbelievers also begin to be lifted so that there are OPEN HEAVENS over the believers of Israel and all their prayers.

are we celebrating the Prophetic foreshadow or the spiritual reality?

 

In Leviticus 23:33-44 the commandments of God concerning the 7^th and final Feast of the LORD is described, the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a prophetic foreshadow of spiritual reality God is leading the Jewish people to from the beginning: the indwelling of Holy Spirit of God within us: temple of the LORD

Are we celebrating the prophetic foreshadow or the spiritual reality?
by Donna Diorio

The 7 Feasts of the LORD were appointed to the Israelites as sacred assemblies that they were to gather before Him. These He called them to observe “wherever you live” for all their generations. These were given a prophetic pictures to be enacted among them no matter where they were scattered throughout the nations – pictures that the Holy Spirit could ignite in their understanding of the spiritual reality they represented which would be fulfilled in God’s due season. Even today this reenactments are standing awaiting the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of individual Jews so they may see, all of these Feasts are the drama of God’s redemption of the nations and of Israel by His only Son, Yeshua.

     This is why there is always the prayer request from the Israeli ministries during the 7 Feasts of the LORD for God to open the eyes of their people through the Feasts. The Feasts are HIStory – it is all about Yeshua and how God intended to go about redeeming His people. 

     I will not go in deeply to this, but oftentimes as Christians who have been drawn by God to the Jewish people, we become overly wrapped up in the foreshadows, the ‘dress rehearsals’ of the spiritual realities God is bringing to the Jewish people – in Israel and wherever they are living outside of the Promised Land. It is good to know what the Feasts of the LORD are about, to know what they represent, to respect the Jewish regard for following all these generations after the things God commanded them to observe. But as for those who know and follow Yeshua, we must have ever before us that the spiritual reality is what we must lean into, rather than the details of the foreshadowing dress rehearsals.

     God want us to recognize that He bringing Israel and the Jewish people into faith in Yeshua so they like us become indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, a Living Temple, the redeemed of the LORD by the Blood sacrifice of His Son and Israel’s Messiah. Once we have entered into Yeshua by faith, the spiritual realities are so much greater than the many details of the foreshadows of these Feasts of the LORD for us. I say this not to dissuade any against participation in the Feasts, but rather to point out that we should not make our focus the prophetic foreshadowing so that it surpass our understanding of what the ultimate manifestation of the spiritual reality will be. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit for ourselves and for “all Israel” that is the spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. We and the current incoming Jews coming to faith in Yeshua are a living temple of the LORD. Our focus is for eyes of Jews to be opened so we may celebrate the redemption of “all Israel” by faith in Yeshua.

     TWO final examples of the foreshadowing of spiritual realities: In the Spring Feasts, at the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) or Pentecost, in Levitcus 23:17 God requires a wave offering of two loaves of bread before the Lord. The two loaves are widely thought to be symbolic of the Ephesians 2:15 portion of God’s plan to unite two – Jew and Gentile – by the redemption in His Son, Yeshua. This we see begin to manifest in the Book of Acts (and it will reach its pinnacle of manifestation in these last days).

     But, this year for the first time, my attention was drawn to the wave offering that is made at the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles (Sukkot)where Israel is told by God to gather “branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.” Lev 23:40. This has been translated by rabbinic tradition to raise and bless the 4 species. This is called “the ascension of lulav” (bouquet) made up specifically to the etrog–citron, lulav–palm frond, hadass–leafy myrtle branches, and aravot–leafy willow branches. Rabbinic Vaykira Fabba 30 says that the four species represents 4 different types of Jews – some with good deeds, some without; some with Torah learning, some without.

     Yet to elevate the basic understanding that the 4 species to the prophetic symbolism of a spiritual reality, consider this: The different species come from each of the four sides of land God gave the nation of Israel: the myrtle is only found in the North/mountainous areas, the Etrog only grew in the East, the lulav / Palm grew in the West and the willow only grew in the south (accepted horticultural fact about the region during the time).

In this is I see indication that the symbolism of the gathering of these 4 species means the gathering of the Jews from the north, south, east and West. This is Luke 13:29 fulfilled: "And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God." (Also Isaiah 43:5-6).

I believe it is also what the apostle Paul meant when he said in Romans 11:26-27 "and so ALL ISRAEL will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Hard Pressed but Not Crushed

 

Hard Pressed but Not Crushed
by Donna Diorio

One of the things that presses on my heart so strongly is seeing the great need of the Israeli ministries for financial support from the believers outside of Israel. They need our help to keep their ministries and outreaches functioning.  This is the very beginning of what God planted in my spirit at the beginning of the 1990's about the Israeli ministries, and He has continued to reveal new things in His Word relating to it ever since.    
     That is why I write so much about how and when the Apostle Paul had his sudden awakening about how important the donations from around the churches would be critical to the body of Messiah in Israel. I believe Paul saw how it would necessary to the end. Even though he had been a persecutor of the believers himself, God had to open Paul’s eyes to how the persecution was going to impact Israeli believers always. God first opened Paul’s eyes in Acts 12 and from that day forward Paul set about teaching the churches they needed to give material support to the body of believers in Israel for the advancing of the faith among Jews in Israel. He urged all the churches in his oversight to keep taking up donations over several years. It was a collection that he would carry to Jerusalem accompanied by representatives from each church so they would get the message: it was to be laid at the feet of the apostolic leadership in Jerusalem.  
     The collection Paul delivered to Jerusalem in Acts 21 was not meant to end there.  It was not for “famine relief” like Acts 12. It was not a one-off donation. I believe the churches continued to make donations to the body of Messiah in Israel after the first generation of apostolic leadership but that did not last for very long. It was officially cut off in Necea so now most of the nearly 2,000 years of the Christian era phase of God's plan, no support of Jewish believers in Yeshua has existed.
     Despite the clear wording of Paul in Romans 9-11, the result is that now Christians don't even know it is what they are supposed to do. Some Christians understand they are to support Israel but it is unclear to them how God wants them specifically to support the witness-bearing body of Messiah in Israel.  It seems most Christians assume that supporting Israel is enough to do on their part. It isn't. 
     The intention of Paul’s collection for Israel among the churches is for the same reason as ours: this donation is to assist in the GOSPEL to go forth in Israel. This is where the resistance to Jewish faith in Yeshua is the most demonically-opposed environment in the world.

     I don't know why Paul did not spell out more clearly when he spoke to the Christians about how they were spiritually in debt to the Israeli body of Messiah and the debt was not going to be over with the end of the first century of faith. It baffles me that Paul even spoke of the collection among the churches so subtly in his letters to the churches. To realize what he is speaking to is like following a bread crumb trail. I followed that bread trail in my Bible and God opened my eyes from the book of Acts all the way through Paul’s letters written to the churches after the events of Acts 12.

     What Paul did in Acts 21 was based on what he saw in Acts 12! The persecution would require financial help from the churches if the believers in Israel were going to be able to fulfill their mandate from God to provide the witness to the nation are called and anointed by God to do. This is essential to the “one new man” purposes of God. Our one new man unity is not so we can sing “Kum ba Yah” together, but so we Christians can come alongside the body of Messiah in Israel in the last and final push of birthing salvation in Israel, spiritually and in the practicalities of having the funding to do so!

     That is why every time I read these ministry letters and I see one of ministries speaking straightforwardly of the need they face to continue, it not only touches my heart but it sets my heart on fire anew. I have to tell you my heart has been renewed in flames weekly over the past several months by reading statements like one this week from the leaders of the HaCarmel congregation:
     "In one of our ladies' meetings recently, almost every Bible verse that was shared was about one thing:  'Do not fear. Our God is in control.'
     “I know that our pressures are nothing like the apostle Paul's, but still these verses from 2 Corinthians 4 bring so much comfort. "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed....therefore, we do not lose heart... even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (v.8-9,16-18).

     I totally do not agree with her statement, "I know that our pressures are nothing like the apostle Paul's" because YES indeed they are.

     Paul laid down his life not only to bring the Gospel to the nations, and to the Jews, but his last act of a free man was to carry a collection from the churches to Jerusalem for the apostles to distribute to the need. He knew he would lose his freedom but he was on a mission assignment from God to deliver the churches donations for the apostles to distribute to the needs of the body of believers in Israel. Paul was not ONLY laying down his life for the Israeli Messianic ministries BACK THEN, but it was the EXAMPLE he was demonstrating for the churches to follow TODAY. 
     Paul was knowingly setting the example at the prophetically certain cost of his freedom, so we in the nations today could get the message:  This is how we repay our debt to Israel for being partakers in their spiritual things. We must repay by supplying the material need - not to Israel indiscriminately, but with specificity to the apostolic leadership of ministries in the body of Messiah in Israel.

     Who are the apostolic leadership in Israel today? I am sharing their prayer requests in this elist every week for the past 22 years. That is how strongly it has grabbed my spirit. 
     Support Messianic ministries everywhere, but understand this:  it is the Israeli Messianic ministries that face the greatest demonic opposition. They are at ground zero of God’s purposes to spiritually restore the Jewish people to Himself. As Israel continues to come to faith in Yeshua in great numbers, it is going to release a international harvest of souls that belong to God who have not come in yet —your family members and mine.
     Just like Paul said in Romans 11:11-12 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring (the nations)!

* Addition: I got a revelation the day after I sent this out to my elists. It is about what Paul said about what riches to the nations would come to them as more and more Jews became excepted by faith in the Yeshua: 

First Paul spoke in Romans 11 of his mighty motivation in ministering to the Gentiles was to make his 'family' - the Jewish people jealous enough to come to faith themselves. 

Romans 11:13-14 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. 

And right after that he sends a similar MIGHTY motivational revelation to the Christians saying, "For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?"

But who is Paul talking about receiving "life from the dead"? All of the Christians whose passion is to see their own family members come to faith - all those that haven't come to faith over decades of prayers - that's who!

This is NOT a statement ONLY about unknown peoples all over the earth!

Catch this! This is the powerful Divine motivation for Christians assist in every meaningful way for Israel's restoration to God through Yeshua.  As that happens, so also our family members going to start coming to faith too - life from the dead.

Romans 15 is not just about people we don't know it is going to be about our very own families! And our families with also be as coming to life from the dead, as Jews come to faith in Yeshua. This is the spiritual redemption clause God has built into the "one new man" of Jew and Gentile coming together: it is for the good of us both, and neither of this last spiritual harvest in the world can be released without us becoming single minded to God's purposes in our unity. 

Myles Weiss interview with Donna Diorio, Aug 2023

 

Myles Weiss podcast interviewing me in August about Arrows from Zion.
 I'm a writer, not a polished speaker but it is my authentic voice and vision.
I loved the interview. Thank you, Myles! God’s blessings on your House of Peace
Click here to go to the Podcast

2023 Our Personal Journey Deeper

Feb: Asbury Revival, Global Isaiah 62 Month of May Prayer & Fasting for the Salvation of Israel with the International House of Prayer in Kansas City and being a late-comer to "Discovering the Jewish Jesus" rabbi Schneider in July. In my eyes the Ohio Messianic Jew is surely an apostle to the Gentiles for such a time as this

September 3, 2023: I am relating the 3 programs I watched last night that made me realize what a great work God has been doing in 2023 for His people. I know He has been doing it in me, and I'm pretty certain He is doing it in MANY. I hope you are one of them. - Donna Diorio

Last night I was tuned in to another fantastic message from Rabbi Schneider, this time from his John series. Wow, wow, wow! It was in John 7:1 He was talking about 2 things that were so powerful to me, one because I have seen this in other scripture passages before: Yeshua did not let those who wanted to kill him before His time. And they sure wanted to and in fact they accused Him of having a demon because He said they wanted to kill him - and this was the lying/deceptive spirit because killing Him was exactly what they wanted to do, and they lied covering up their intentions which He saw through. 

     Character assassination is also a form of murder. We see a lot of that type of 'murder' going on in USA, and even in the world today. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." What makes you think that this does not apply to knowingly setting yourself to "murdering" the reputation of someone? Of course it applies! 

     He referred to a Billy Joel song from back in the day, "Honesty" - 
     "Honesty is such a lonely word
      Everyone is so untrue
      Honesty is hardly ever heard
     And mostly what I need from you"

     Honesty is so hard to find. We have to set ourselves to honesty and we have to value those who are honest, without guile, without manipulation and self-serving lies. 

     He pointed out another verse that I have not seen clearly before: 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Rabbi Schneider talked about how often we are also rejected because our close ones are not willing to believe in the Jesus in us. There can be rejection we earned, but also rejection just because of the witness of Yeshua in us. (This is a message so worth listeninig to!) 

     And as it goes on further, around 7:17 where He tells the religious leaders that "If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own."

A person has to be WILLING to do God's will to accept the teaching of Yeshua/Jesus.  If a person is not willing to do God's will, they will point a finger of blame at the person who does desire to do God's will. 

     That is a very simple message we all need to get under our belt today! And I do love as Schneider continues into this teaching later, He really makes mincemeat out of the "religious fanatics" with murder in their hearts for Yeshua and His disciples. That message is exactly how I see the religious fanatics in Israel today who are pursuing the body of Messiah in Israel today. And so many Israel supporting Christians are blinded by the double face shown to them by these religious fanatics that they actually believe their lies to Christians that the Israeli Jews who believe in Jesus are a "cult" who "have a demon" - just like Jesus was accused of in John 7.

So, to continue in my previous post from last night watching Rabbi Schneider teach on John 7, I then happened to catch an Israeli news program produced by Josh Reinstein of Israel News Now which was also airing on DayStar.

     Christians just love those Jews who court them without seeing through their efforts to channel Christian support AWAY from the body of Messiah in Israel and their work to see "all Israel" saved. It is so much easier to just accept that Josh and many other like him, Tuly Weiss for example, are just sweetheart Jews who love Christians. They will love you UNTIL you align with God's will for Christians to support the disciples and ministries of Yeshua in Israel! 

     Now Josh Reinstein is an engaging guy. I watched him in a segment with a Christian who has brought football to Israel, and it was so nice and cordial. No conflict there...but I remembered Josh's name from researching him out many years ago and learning what his deal really is: Keep Christians serving Israel's agenda, not serving God's agenda! 

     Josh is Dallas born, been in Israel many years and is the Director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and President of the Israel Allies Foundation. That places him as a number one contact for Christians in high places in the US and other nations. 

     One thing about following the Israeli ministries for so long and so deeply, I remember what happened in the way back. Now Josh Reinstein I remember when Reinstein specifically addressed the #1 qualifer for the Knesset Christian Allies Caucas, which was "the Caucus won't work with anyone who supports missionary activities for Jews." This was in response to some of Pat Robertson's comments in 2004 at ICEJ.  

     According to Judy Lash Balint's article, "You Don't Make Mistakes in Israel," after Robertson had outlined in a speech the four things that needed to happen "before Jesus comes back." The reporter notes, 'The morning after his speech, Robertson held a news conference and I asked the Christian media mogul if he shares his thoughts about those messianic Jews in his meetings with Israeli Knesset members. 'No, I don't tell that to Israeli politicians,' he replied." 

     She also wrote, "Robertson's words about Messianic Jews evidently raised the sensitivity hackles of ICEJ organizers enough that they chose not to distribute tapes of Robertson's speech to the press." 

     Balint reported, "ICEJ Media liaison David Parsons, a seasoned veteran of the minefield of Jewish-Christian relations in Israel, admitted to me that Robertson's 'views are off'." 

     She continued, "Leaders of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (CAC) don't have a problem with the political message, but expressed concern over Robertson's messianic remarks. According to Josh Reinstein, CAC director, the Caucus won't work with anyone who supports missionary activities for Jews."

     There is a deceptive game being played by Christians in Israel. In my opinion, they have placed their ability to stay in Israel above God's plan to SAVE "all Israel." Something has got to give and I don't think it will be God's intentions.

Then after watching Rabbi Schneider blow the lid off of anti-Messianics in Israel for what they are (my interpretation of his comments), and after seeing Josh Reinstein ingratiating himself to Christians in what honestly can only be a highly deceptive manipulation of Christians, THEN I watched the DayStar program on the Asbury Revival: Desperate for More about the outbreak of God that happened in February 2023. It had me in tears and I soon realized that was God's first shot across the bow of the sinners ship in the USA at the beginning of the year. It was also the first indication for God's people that He is moving in a new way among us. He is stirring us up - to grow up, the throw off the hinderances to our entering into more and deeper intimacy with His glory in Yeshua. 

     What a powerful move of God Asbury was in February, then followed in May by the Isaiah 62 Prayer for Israel for the whole month. It was there that I began tuned into the IHOP prayer room everyday as I worked at the computer, letting it stir me in the LORD. Often having to stop and go cry as I watched the IHOP worship team...just unable to keep working. 

     Now here we are at the beginning of September. I told my husband after watching and crying over the Asbury Revival program, that I KNEW God was doing a deep stirring in me and it has been going on all year. He is 'rearranging my internal furniture of the heart and spirit.' I am being so touched and I see that it is building and building. I know that discovering Rabbi Schneider in July was at least for me personally, another step in what God is doing in me to receive more of the Spirit of the Lord in my heart. Throwing out the unnecessary in my heart, to make way for the 100% necessary glory of the LORD. 

     Like Rabbi Schneider said in the episode I watched yesterday (first aired in 4/9/2006), to know if something is from God, FIRST we have to be willing to believe it. He said we often pray to know God's will but when He impresses on us what His will is, and we suppress knowing it was His answer because we weren't willing to hear that, at some point He stops answering us. 

     Psalm 110:2-3 The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
Your people shall be WILLING on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.

God has been sending you wake up calls

 

What do the Red Heifers arrival in Israel have to do with recent uptick in anti-Jesus riots against Messianic believers and government actions to deny the ICEJ Christian Staff with renewed work visas? A lot actually – at least I think so. The religious coalition parties in Israel now have power over Christian work visas and citizenship/immigration issues. They are in the strongest position of power they have ever been in. From their perspective, this is the moment to establish all in their hearts to remake the state of Israel. The move against ICEJ just might specific targeting because Jurgen Buhler, President of ICEJ, took part in the the Global Isaiah 62 Prayer event for Israel. Good for him! He did the right thing.

God has been sending you Wake Up calls
but Christians are still turning a blind eye to our spiritual family in Israel.
by Donna Diorio

Many high level Christian leaders have been granted an "ALL ACCESS" backstage pass by Israeli political and traditional Judaism leaders. It is going to be very difficult for them to openly recognize the Israeli Body of Messiah and likewise to begin to transfer even some of their abundant resources to the God-ordained mandate of Israeli Messianic ministries preaching Yeshua the Messiah and the Kingdom of God in Israel.
     The IHOP Isaiah 62 Fast & Prayer for the salvation of Israel in the month of May was powerful. It united Christians all over the world behind God’s redemptive plan for Israel. The prayer event even ended in Jerusalem with an alarming real life incident much like the one the apostle Paul witnessed in Acts 12:1-2, 25. The Apostle Paul understood what God was showing him and it immediately changed his priority going forward in ministering to the Gentiles in the nations.
     After the events of Acts 12, Paul began urging an ongoing collection be made in each church that was earmarked for the Israeli Messianic leadership in Jerusalem to meet the needs of the body of Messiah in Israel. Why? Because of the persecution: Same as today. Paul was setting the example that Christians were to follow going forward, but this practice fell by the wayside probably within one generation of Christian leadership but certainly it was cut off officially at the Nicean Council.
     Fast Forward to 2023 events in Jerusalem because God is INTENT on restoring the provision for the Israeli believers in the restored state of Israel. It is HIS PLAN that the Israeli believers be Yeshua’s witnesses in Israel to bring forth in the spiritual harvest there.
     At the very end of the Isaiah 62 month of prayer, Christian Prayer representatives from the nations met with the Israeli Messianic ministry leaders to hold an international prayer event on the southern steps of the Temple Mount on May 28^th. Many who participated in the IHOP event attended too. Most of the Christians gathered at this event do not have a clue about the significance of Israel, much less the Messianic body of Messiah in Israel.
     Imagine their shock as Christians and Messianic Jews prayed above on the southern steps, as a mob of extremist ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered on the street below around the entrance and the tour buses that brought the Christians to the event. There was pushing, shoving and in-your-face yelling as participants entered and exiting the prayer event.  Police had to called in to keep the rioters from harming the participants, although some of the Israeli believers were roughed up and hurt by the tumultuous mob. Later, after Christians went home to their nations, it seems all was forgotten, but Israeli Messianic believers continued to be attacked.
     Another mob action was called when came together for a worship concert in Jerusalem on June 22^nd and another riot ensured. Individual acts of targeting Messianic Jews has increased over the summer and Israel’s Messianic believers are feeling it strongly. At the same time there is a disheartening decrease in donations to these ministries, forcing them into hard decisions of what must be cut from their budgets.
     Inside Israel persecution of the faith in Jesus is being advanced by the religious radicals in another way: directly targeting the Christian organizations in Israel to refuse the visas of their workers.  This approach is not new to the Israeli citizen-believers who are often targeted attempting to revoke their citizenship because of the faith. The common belief of Jews all over the world is that when a Jew comes to faith in Jesus, he has ceased to be a Jew. That, of course, is false, but it is mainstreamed belief among Jews.  The religious bureaucrats in charge of immigration and citizenship don’t often pursue revoking citizenship of Jews who believe in Jesus because of the Christian uproar, but they do often attempt to target non-Jewish spouses with revoking citizenship or citizens services. This sword over the head of many couples is a stressful threat on Messianic families with or without children born in Israel. The bureaucrats hope to discourage the families so much that they leave Israel to escape the stress of persecution.
     With the latest effort to create stress on all believers in Israel, the religious bureaucrats are now
targeting Christians with the threat of not renewing their ability to stay in Israel on 6-month work visas. Frankly, the bureaucrats are striking at the weakest link in the chain which is the lack of Christian allegiance to Israel’s Messianic Jews. 
     Christians fold all too easily when threatened with less access to come and go freely to Israel. For example, in 1998 Israel-based Christian organizations entered into an agreement with the Israeli government. It was called “The Understanding” and the wording of it was seen by many of the Israeli Messianic Jews as abrogating the cause of evangelism of the Jew. The pay off was that the strong efforts in the Knesset of the late 1990’s coalition government under Netanyahu was the bill to pass an “anti-missionary” bill would be withdrawn.  It is said the agreement was developed by Christians in Israel and verbally agreed upon by the parties rather than signed.
     The exact wording of a key portion of the 3-paragraph “Understanding” reads:  "We believe that the covenant which God concluded with the people of Israel was never revoked. We deeply respect the Jewish people in their identity and integrity and will therefore not engage in activities, which have as their intention to alienate them from their tradition and community. Nor will we exploit, for the benefit of our denominational interests, such economic, social or psychological needs as may emerge. Recalling the grim events preceding Israel's rebirth, we are sensitive to their memories, hurts and feelings, even as we pursue our religious callings. We also recognize the potential for healing between our faith communities as we live in the midst of a Jewish majority, sharing its challenges while living together in a land sacred in both our traditions.”
     In essence this agreement was not only to not evangelize Jews, and by extension distancing themselves and their resources from those in the Israeli Messianic community that did. It is a black mark on the Christian community for lack of support of the believers in Israel, and frankly departs from the plan of God to spiritually redeem Israel by faith in Yeshua, Jesus. The Messianic community in Israel has been tight-lipped about The Understanding. They didn’t like it but they didn’t speak against those who entered into it either.  They have continued to bear the consequences of this ill-conceived agreement.
     Is this agreement honored by God, that is the real question.  The only honest answer is that God did not sign on to an agreement that puts His Chosen People outside of their ONLY way of re-entering spiritual relationship with Him: by faith in His Son and Israel’s Messiah, Yeshua. This will come, but it will come by the uncompromising witness of the Messianic Jews in Israel, and international Christians who put their support and prayers behind these servants of Yeshua in Israel.
     I began this article by saying that “Many high level Christian leaders have been granted an "ALL ACCESS" backstage pass by Israeli political and traditional Judaism leaders. It is going to be very difficult for them to openly recognize the Israeli Body of Messiah and begin to transfer their alliances to support their spiritual brothers who are in the faith of Messiah Yeshua, or Christ Jesus.
     Can that be done “in love” to all Israel, the believers and the unbelievers? Yes it can, but there will be backlash and attack for especially those Christian ministries who have high profile status with the unbeliever Israelis, and zero contact with the believer ministries. As soon as any of them begins to acknowledge our Divinely-ordained relationship with fellow believers in Jesus in Israel, they are going experience the pressure to get back in line with the non-saved Jewish projects in Israel – or else!  It is going to be really hard on especially the highest level of Christian leaders to withstand the level of pressure for them to denounce the Israeli Messianic body or at the very least completely withdraw from ever mentioning them or supporting them.
     One Jewish ministry head of a Christian humanitarian group had to leave their own ministry several years back when they began to steer donations to flow through some Messianic Jewish humanitarian operations instead of only through those unbeliever-operations in Israel. One member of the board opposed the Jewish leader’s direction of funds so strenuously they campaigned relentlessly against the leader of the aid group. It became unbearable to the leader who stepped down from their own organization. Starting afresh and now going to even more Israeli Messianic organizations to distribute the humanitarian aid, the Christian back at the original group has initiated false accusations against the Jewish leader in their new humanitarian outreach.  I related this story so you understand the nature of the backlash from Christians!  [*Report today that after being falsely accused of wrongdoing and reported to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, “after an informal audit, where they dug deeply into our records, they said that we were compliant and appreciated all the work that we’ve done” This from my friend at Sar Shalom Israel who didn’t let efforts to aid the Israeli believer ministries be hindered by an uninformed and a badly indoctrinated Christian aggressive attempts to block.]
     Another form of Christian backlash we have witnessed is how when an Israeli TV network contacted an Israeli Messianic Jew to operate a channel that was a witness of Yeshua in Hebrew featuring all programming produced by Israeli believer ministries, it was radically opposed by Christians. One high level Christian Zionist in the United States came out against Shelanu TV hammer and tongs. She even petitioned the Israeli Prime Minister to pull it off the air! Shelanu means “Ours” conveying the message that Yeshua is a Jew, therefore one of ours. Inside Israel there was a former Christian who was from an evangelistic family who grew up in Messianic congregations in Texas, but was turned into a radical “anti-missionary” by her obsession with an infamous anti-Messiah rabbi. The woman converted to Judaism to follow the rabbi to Israel and is now a relentless bloodhound on the trail of any Messianic Jew she can take down inside Israel or the United States.
     I am telling you these things so you can pray with understanding for the plight of the Messianic body of Messiah. I know many, many Messianic Jewish leaders in Israel and not one that is not hurting due to decreased donations from international Christians.
     The apostle Paul – the Apostle to the Gentiles – knew this would be an issue to the end.
     I’m also telling you these things so you can pray that God will strengthen the faith of Christians to take uncompromised stands based on His will rather than the pressures of unsaved Israelis.  If we do not arise now, like Queen Esther did long ago, then the assault on our brothers and sister in Yeshua will be unbearable. Do not think you will escape consequences if you fail to stand with them. Or how was it that Mordechai put it? "When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai, he sent back to her this reply: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the ~Messianic~ Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, RELIEF and DELIVERANCE  for the ~Messianic~ Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:12-14
     You might well deflect my application of this verse to the current reality saying, 'It does not say "Messianic" Jews in that verse! I am for protecting ALL Jews.'  By all means we do speak up for ALL Jews, but when some Jews are persecuting the Messianic Jews we are spiritually related to by the BLOOD of Jesus, if we do not rise to THEIR defense and remain silent, failing to provide them relief and deliverance from those who are target them for their faith in Yeshua, then we are not obeying GOD in the least. Make the hard decision to do the God thing, not the easy way out thing.
     It is going to be too hard for some of the highest profile Christian Israel supporters. They are going to fail God by continuing to turn a blind eye to our brothers in the faith of Yeshua in Israel. As the popular saying goes, they are going to be on the wrong side of history. HIStory.
      Do not follow their lead if they are not leading you to take an Esther stand for the body of the LORD in Israel. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10  

Recognizing the Two Anointings

 

Recognizing the Two Anointings of Galatians 2:6-8 —
Apostles to the Jews and the Apostle to the Gentiles
by Donna Diorio

I have a specific article rumbling in my spirit right now. It is in a little different vein than the others I have been writing, and will continue to write. It involves Galatians 2:6-8, which I believe is still a God-thing in the current season. 

     6 But as for the highly esteemed — whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism — those leaders added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

In light of the moves the empowered religious right parties in Israel have made to cease granting the work visas of those working in Christian organizations in Israel, we may need to consider that God wants us to shift our assumptions about how “all Israel” will be saved.

This is actually a development I expected to see from having been laser-focused the last 22 years of doing my Israel Prayer Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries and Arrows from Zion. My deepest conviction is that the people of Israel will come to faith in Yeshua through the labors of the Messianic Jews of Israel - just like in the Book of Acts.

The apostolic team in Israel, 11 chosen by Yeshua and 1 chosen by them after Judas committed suicide, were tasked by God for the salvation in Israel during the period. Then another Jew, who frightened the Jews in Israel because he was different: First because he persecuted the believers, but Shaul became a post-Resurrection Apostle chosen by Yeshua Himself. And he was really different, because the parameter of his calling was as "the apostle to the Gentiles."

Acts 9:15-16 shows us a frightened Damascus Messianic Jew, Ananias, and the LORD speaking to him to get over his fear because, “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

Why a separate Jewish apostle to address the Gentiles and their kings? because it takes different anointing to be effective among the Gentiles, as it is also true for effectiveness among the Jews. The Gospel is the same, but there is an anointing for effectiveness among the Jews that is different from that which is effective among the gentiles.

Just because there are crossovers of effectiveness is not the point. The point is that when the LORD gives us an effective anointing among a certain people group, we are going to be wildly, not mildly effective among them. Understanding also that the Jewish people group are more resistant to the “Christian god” preaching than any other people group!  This is not ONLY because of horrible Christian history of persecuting the Jews. If we are honest about this, there was resistance to Yeshua before a single Gentile got involved and that is because it was God’s plan from the beginning to cause a blinding of their eyes, which He in His sovereignty would remove in His own timing. Many Christians have missed that point, like Martin Luther for instance. It turned him from advocate to anti-Semite because the Jews did not respond to his goodness toward them. It has done the same to many through the ages because we have completely missed that their blindness to Jesus is due in great part to God’s own plan.

Read Deuteronomy 29:2-4  2 Moses summoned all Israel and proclaimed to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land. 3 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, and those miraculous signs and wonders. 4 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

Isaiah 6:9-10 9 And He replied: “Go and speak over this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Why would the Father instruct the prophet Isaiah to prophesy over Israel so they might not “see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Because it was not according to the plan that God had for bringing all the nations of the world into the opportunity of spiritual life through the “by their transgressions salvation is come to the Gentiles.” Romans 11:11  I cannot explain God’s reasoning – it is far above mine! But I can tell you this is what His Word says about what He is doing among us.

 Yeshua Himself quoted in the Isaiah 6:9-10 prophecy in Matthew 13:13-17 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Jesus wasn’t talking to Gentiles, He was talking to Jews who saw and believed.  He knew there would come a time in the Father’s plan when His people, the Jews, would have this blindness removed, so they could be healed.

Why? Paul explains it to us in Romans 11:11 and 11:28

 Romans 11:11-12  I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

Romans 11:25-29  25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27 And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. 29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Reading these things, why do so many Christians think it will never happen until God allows the Christians to all fly away leaving the horrors part of the end times exclusively to the Jews to find their way to God? Who will be here to tell them? Paul explains it in Romans 10:12-15, although many Christians have focused on the wrong thing. It is not that there is no difference in Jews and Gentiles, but that in coming to faith both have to hear the Gospel and respond in order to be saved:

Romans 10:12-15  12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

There is much about God’s plan that we are like the proverbial ‘calf at a new gate” including the idea that even though Christians have been preaching the Gospel up a storm in the nations for almost 2,000 years, including winning some Jews to the reality of the Messiah, God has already set His own plan in motion regarding bringing “all Israel” to faith and it is not like many suppose. I believe this is a last days truth that many are going to be resistant to, but God is going to have His way anyway.

For one thing, none of us can come to the Jesus unless the Father draws them. We don’t choose Him, God chooses us to reveal Him to us. God opens the blind eyes, not us. Our part is to share the Gospel and those God has chosen will come to Yeshua. That is where God’s timing is such a dominant factor of “all Israel” coming to faith in the Messiah.

Now in God’s timing and in fulfillment of Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (EZ 37), God set to restore the Jewish people scattered in the nations back to Israel. Only there would He do the main miraculous restoration of “all Israel” to spiritual restoration. Some Christians think that the takeover of the current religious right parties in the Israeli government and the plans for the raising up of the third Temple in Israel is the proof of God’s spiritual restoration occurring before our eyes. That is NOT the spiritual restoration God is doing in Israel because the ONLY ones blessed with spiritual restoration in Israel are the Israeli Messianic body of the LORD – the targets of much persecution from religious Jewish zealots.

Christians who either have no idea they exist in Israel, or who have been propagandized by unsaved traditional Jews to regard Jews who believe in Jesus to be a hateful cult just don’t get it. God plans to use those believers in Israel to bring spiritual restoration to “all Israel.” How deceived must we be as Christians to accept the premise that Jews who believe in Jesus are CULTS! Seriously?

Over the past two decades I have watched as major Christian ministry heads and Christians in politics who have ignored the believers of Israel. Some have even been sucked into becoming their enemies because instead they court the favor of Israelis who reject Yeshua is Israel’s Messiah. Just like Martin Luther did not understand what God is up to, so these high profile Christian leaders do not have a handle on it either. Some have been more harmful than others, but Christians ignoring the reality of up to estimates of 15,000 to 20,000 Messianic Jews in Israel is a sad thing to behold.

In the current political environment where the Israeli religious right government coalition is empowering religious zealots in anti-Messianic activist groups to be even bolder in targeting those believers for persecution of all sorts, isn’t it time yet for international Christians to awaken and arise to their aid in every way possible?

For 22 years I have been so focused on the Israeli Ministries, and I mean exclusively focused on them that I have not followed at all what is going on in the Church in the US, or even in the Messianic congregations in the U.S. The reason is that it is easy to lose the track you are on when you don't set boundaries of what you are going to concentrate on.

Spiritually speaking my eyes have only been for the Israeli ministries, because I KNOW how significant the body of Messiah in Israel is to "all Israel" being saved. I know their uphill ministry challenges. I know their obscurity with so many blind to their existence and then others aware but frankly not comprehending the magnificent role God has chosen for them to play in days of all Israel being saved.

There has been a shift in the Spirit since the Isaiah 62 fast and prayer for Israel. Many people who participated may not have a real clue about the body of Messiah in Israel, nevertheless the prayers that went up over the month of May have accelerated us into a new season of our contending for the faith. Things have been set in motion to begin to reveal the truth about the believer ministries in Israel.

Even as right now, the Israeli believer ministries are sitting in extremely uncomfortable seats with everything from lack of decent ministry funding to the rise of the exact segment in Israel that incites and enables persecution against them. But in this season change, God is going to pour out new levels of understanding by revealing His plan for Holy Spirit unification of Christians and Messianic Jews in the Messiah.

I know I certainly feel my own ability to write about these things has entered a new faster-forward momentum. Some doors are opening to me that I did not expect. There is confidence in my innermost being in how I am serving the LORD's purpose, in how I relate to Him, and in His love for me. The fact that He chose me, not that I chose Him or this path He set me on.

My belief is that in the weeks and months ahead we are going to marvel at what God is doing and those He chooses to do it through. I'm pretty excited about all that I think that is going to do for Yeshua's brothers and sisters in Israel, the Remnant who did not persist in their unbelief, but have entered into the faith of Israel's Messiah. Yes, there are still going to be persecutions. All you have to do is look at prophetic scripture and see that is going to go on all the way to the end but despite that, "all Israel" is getting saved - right now and all the way to the end!

I am going to have a part in that. I set my stake in the ground 22 years ago at this time in August of 2001. "Whoever tends the fig tree will eat of its fruit." Proverbs 27:18 I have been tending the fig tree for 22 years in my elists. It has been a lonely mission, mostly underfunded and overlooked, but I was not doing it for money or for to be famous. I am "tending" the fig tree because God showed me why I need to.

The word tend is translated from the Hebrew word nāṣar. The scope of its meaning is: The KJV translates Strong's H5341 in the following manner: keep (38x), preserve (13x), watchmen (3x), besieged (2x), keeper (1x), monuments (1x), observe (with H7521) (1x), preserver (1x), subtil (1x), hidden things (1x), watchers (1x).

The fig tree represents Israel's fruitfulness, or through being leafy only with no fruit, of its religious pretense.

For most of these 22 years, people looking at the body of Messiah in Israel have dismissed them as "ineffective" for bringing "all Israel" to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I have had people say that outright to me!

The season has changed. Watch for unexpected breakouts of grace, provision and anointing for the work of God related to Israel.