Israelprayer

Please give this the widest Christian circulation possible by forwarding to all those you know who care about God's blessing upon Israel. This is a call for the Church to activate by contacting the Israeli Embassy immediately and to keep it up until the perpetrators of terrorism against the believing family in Ariel, Israel are brought to justice. This is the first Messianic Action Committee alert that has been issued since around 1997 when so many bills were being attempted in the Knesset to imprison believers who share the gospel. This is a very serious matter that we ask you to great attention to in the name of the LORD. --Donna Diorio, Israelprayer.com

MARCH 2008
UPDATE 3/25/08
Israeli Messianic Teen
Severely Wounded in Terror
Bomb Attack by Religious Persecutors

15-year old Amiel "Ami" Ortiz

This is a compilation of updates from Israel
on the terror bombing of a Messianic family in Ariel, Israel.

The entire Messianic community of Israel has rallied to the side of David and Leah Ortiz, as their youngest son has struggled with his life in the balance following the terror bomb detonating in his hands. He remains in an induced coma as doctors continue to repair damages. Many reports that have been pouring in and here are the details you can use in prayer:

First, Ami is stable. For Ami to be alive is a great miracle. Just a while ago I talked to Y, who is at the apartment. He told me it is impossible to look at this apartment and believe someone could be alive. The top and bottom floor windows are broken out. There is shrapnel all over the walls. He just pulled a two inch by one inch piece of metal out of the refrigerator. Every piece of furniture destroyed. Like our apartment, their apartment is on the 3rd floor. The windows on a car parked below were blown out from the blast. I tell you all of this to tell you that Ami was holding the bomb when it exploded. He is alive!

I also just got off the phone with David, Ami's father, and it is amazing what God is doing. David could barely talk without crying just sharing with me what has happened so far. The doctor, a specialist in this kind of trauma who has seen several terrorist bombing victims, told David that a miracle has happened. He has never seen this kind of recovery!

Here is Amiel’s physical condition, so specific prayers can be made: "Ami is out of danger - he will make it. But he has a long road ahead of him in order to recover." Those were the words of one surgical nurse, after they took Ami in this morning to clean his wounds. Now that the life-threatening things are taken care of, they are dealing with other problems, one at a time.

Starting at the head: He left eye is okay. They pulled a large piece of metal out of his right eye and there is still a lot of pressure on that eye. We need a miracle for his right eye. The doctor believes there is a chance now to save it. There is no brain damage! Remember he was holding the bomb! Hallelujah! David said the swelling in his face has also gone down considerably.

When a bomb goes off in front of you and peppers your face with sharp, hot metal shards (deliberately embedded in the explosives to maximize the killing power), that is usually The End of Everything, never mind worrying about your eyesight. They pulled a sharp piece out of the other eye, and are waiting for the swelling to go down to see if the nerve is okay (there's a chance). A matter for focused prayer.

Neck: There are large and deep cuts to the neck, but no damage to the main arteries - a miracle.

Chest: One lung was severely damaged and they are in the process of trying to save it. We need another miracle here. The doctor believes there is a chance. No damage to the heart or vessels. Praise God!

They were worried about his lungs not functioning (and not knowing why). Now they have discovered why - both Ami's lungs have steel bolts embedded in them... 10 altogether. One lung is still collapsed, and they are trying hard to restore it. Another specific prayer.

Stomach: Most of his internal organs were severely injured from the blast. Reconstruction of the intestines and kidneys was done last night. Today he is able to urinate - a miracle sign that his organs are beginning to work again. He also has 2nd and 3rd degree burns over most of the front of his body.

Legs: The muscle in one of his thighs is completely exposed and terribly lacerated. The doctor believes there is a chance it could be saved. Some news reports are saying that they have amputated the leg, but that has not happened. We are believing for a miracle here to save his leg. He has lost some of his toes. I don't know how many.

The biggest needs for prayer are for his limbs - so many gashes and burned places, especially his legs. They have discovered a torn tendon in one hand too, which I understand is complicated to repair. But the Lord is hearing and answering... Big Time!

Ami’s recovery period is likely to be 'a marathon rather than a sprint' due to the severity of his injuries. Pray this will prove to be a tremendous testimony of God's healing power!

The investigation

I just saw Israel Channel 2 interview one of Ami's brothers (past army age). It was live on the 6:00 evening news. The anchorwoman was very sympathetic, made it clear how cruel and unfair the attack was, and let him steer the interview. She mentioned Messianic Jews a couple of times as well - everyone in Israel knows that this faith had something to do with the attack.

The camera didn't show his face and didn't give his full name, emphasizing the image of a family being hounded by a killer. Very effective... and I believe it was a good strategy, because a sympathetic public will be more likely to pass on any information they have that might catch the perpetrators.

It is a miracle that Ami was not killed outright. Israel's internal security services have taken over the investigation as this is an act of terror. They have indicated to the family that forensics so far indicate that the perpetrators are not Islamic. David had also had the foresight to install security cameras around the entrance to their home and congregational facility (alongside). He had done this because of the long history of threats against them. Apparently the camera may have picked up the person who had delivered the 'package'. We pray that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Judea and Samaria Police spokesman Ch.-Supt. Dani Poleg said he could not comment on the investigation due to a court-imposed media blackout, in force since Friday.

The Support of the Spiritual Family

David and Leah have experienced overwhelming love and support from the religious, secular, and messianic Jewish communities in Israel. The Christian community world wide has been amazing. The prayers of the saints have been offered and God has heard our cries!

They are very tired but are getting the best of support and attention, not only by the Believing community but by the Ariel (their city) community as well. They are also receiving tremendous care at the hospital. Doctors are witnessing miracles as they see the lad respond to treatment.

At 2:30 on Thursday afternoon, a package labeled "Happy Purim" was placed on the doorstep of the Ortiz family in the Samarian settlement of Ariel. The package was addressed to David, the father of the family. David is a Messianic Jewish pastor who ministers not only in Ariel, but also sharing the gospel among Palestinian Arabs.

The Ortiz family has 6 children. The 5 older ones have already served in the Israeli army. The sixth and youngest son, Amiel, age 15, was home alone. Amiel brought the package into the house, and when he opened it on the kitchen table, a bomb on the inside exploded right in front of him.
A neighbor, hearing the blast, ran over and finding Amiel wounded and bleeding on the floor, called for an ambulance. Amiel was rushed to Schneider hospital in Petach Tikvah.

(David) Oritz described the moments after the explosion when the teenager's mother, Leah, "saw flames coming out of the windows after going downstairs to throw out the garbage." After running upstairs, Leah saw "her son on the floor. She held his neck and she kept the wound closed with her hands." Using her paramedic training, "she made a hole so he could breathe. Then the ambulance driver who arrived kept him alive. When we got to hospital, he was operated on in five places,"
Other Damages and Implications:

Thank the Lord the house is insured. One brother has directed the replacement of the window glass, and that was going on today. Others are pitching in to clean up.

E, our faithful brother who runs the soap factory has spent some time helping to clean up the apartment. E told me that Ami’s blood was all over the apartment. All of the furniture was destroyed. It is amazing that Ami is alive realizing that he was actually holding the bomb when it went off. Ami works for us in the soap factory each week after school. He truly is a precious young man.

One sad thing is that their dog, Dusty, survived the blast but is not doing well. He doesn't look injured, but he appears to have gone deaf and he's not eating. So many little tragedies you wouldn't expect, surrounding the big one.

At this moment Ariel is in shock and many are understandably fearful ....especially believers.

The implications for the Messianic community in Israel are huge if this proves to have been carried out by Jewish religious extremists. It would mean that the hostility and persecution has jumped to an entirely new level. Please pray!

A ministry in the Judean Hills received a call on Friday morning from their believing neighbor, who said that last night someone came into their ministry compound and fired rubber bullets at her window.

This is the first time that we find terrorism solely directed at Messianic Jewish believers. It is sad to say that a spirit is still active in Israel that cries “crucify Him”. There is a day not too far off when they are going to declare Him to be the King. Glory!

The attack was reported on Friday in a half page article on page 6 of Yediot Ahronot, the largest Israeli Hebrew newspaper. On Sunday, it was reported on a full page article on page 11. News reports this week have been neither positive nor negative toward Messianic Jews. They almost all refer to us as a cult or a sect; and downplay the terrorist aspects of the explosion. In any case it represents one of the widest exposures of Messianic Judaism in the Israeli media to date. It remains to be seen what their coverage will be when the attacker is found.

Despite the enormous tragedy of this event, let us pray that God will honor the suffering of this young man to bring about a breakthrough for His kingdom. With the right media coverage, it is possible that by the end of this week, for the first time in history, virtually every Israeli will know about Messianic Jews and of our faith in Yeshua.

The Bomb:

Apparently the damage to their home is indicative of a large, sophisticated explosive device designed to kill or maim the whole family.

It was not put together by an amateur, but by a "pro". It contained a substantial amount of explosives, and a big number of nails, and other metal particles. It is obvious that the bomb was made to kill, and injure as many family members as possible. And yes, the apartment is seriously damaged too.

They live in Ariel, which is across the green line well into the West Bank. Most settlements are filled with religious Jews, most of which are kind, decent people who simply believe that the Word of God promises ancient Judea to the Jewish people. However, there is a minority who, possessed by misguided religious zeal, can become quite violent against those Jews who have embraced Yeshua. This is the Ortiz's home.

In Ariel they lead a small Messianic congregation and they also have an outreach to Palestinians. Being Jewish, I can’t think of a more dangerous mission—reaching Jewish and Arabs in an area of the world that is infamous for violence (mostly against Jews by terrorists).

(The mother) Leah shared with us that at one point when she was feeling overwhelmed she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see who was seeking to comfort her and there was no one there.
As we left the hospital (the father) David told me that he knows God has a plan. “At first I was overcome with despair. I felt darkness. But then the Lord spoke to me, ‘David, I have a plan.’” Let’s agree for the Lord’s plan to come to past.

Please pray with us:
1. for miraculous healing for Amiel
2. for blessings and wholeness for the Ortiz family
3. that the attacker will be apprehended by the police
4. that a positive witness will be given for Yeshua (Jesus) in all the Israeli media
5. that the spirits of hatred and religious fanaticism will be bound
6. that unity, humility and boldness will grow in the Messianic community

One additional prayer request: That the Lord would turn the hearts of the Church to the loving support of the Israeli brothers and sisters in Messiah. That this news will not be stifled in the Christian community at large, nor among Christian Israel supporter who are not already connecting to the believers in Israel.

Media Spokesman & Where to Send Donations: The attorney representing the family as the official spokesman to the media is the Jerusalem Institute for Justice, a Messianic Civil Rights legal team in Jerusalem. contact via counsel@jij.org.il http://jij.org.il/

Thanks to these Israeli ministries for providing these details in updates: Lura in Arad, Howard in Beer Sheva, Evan in Netanya, Yonit in Nes Harim, K.W. in Jerusalem, Hannah in Ariel, Asher in Jerusalem, Debbi in the Galilee, Lotans in Alfei-Menashe, Ron in Jerusalem and close ministry associates to the Ortiz family, Tommy in Tennessee and Homer in Waco.

News sources:

News Release from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, Jerusalem: Ami Ortiz, the 15 year old son of a Messianic Jewish pastor was seriously injured yesterday when he detonated a bomb that was planted in the family's home in Ariel. The bomb was concealed in a Purim gift package and place on the Ortiz family's front doorstep.

http:www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticle
PrintPreview/1,2506,L-3521856,00.html

http://www.jpost.com/servet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%
2FShowFull&cid=1205420741251

Ami, who opened the package on their kitchen table and detonated the bomb, suffered shrapnel injuries all over his body including his face, neck and chest, broken arms and legs and apparently they have had to amputate several of his toes. Ami is currently in stable condition, however there is serious concern that he may have lost all or part of his eyesight in at least on of his eyes.

Ariel is the youngest of six children. All of his brothers and sisters have served in the IDF, some of them in elite fighting units. The Mayor of Ariel, Mr. Ron Nachman, and all of the neighbors who were interviewed praised the family as upstanding and important citizens of the community.

No other family members were at home at the time of the explosion. Beyond the injuries suffered by Ami, the Ortiz's house was seriously damaged.

The Ortiz family has suffered minor harassment in the past such as threats by several radical religious groups including Moslem factions and ultra-religious Jewish organizations that have put up posters around their neighborhood on several occasions warning the community to steer clear of the "dangerous missionaries".

The police are currently investigating all possibilities. This event certainly marks an escalation of attacks on Messianic Jews in Israel, following the fire-bombing of a Messianic house of pray in Jerusalem several months ago, and the ongoing attacks in Arad.

Calev Myers, from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, has been asked by the Ortiz family to be its spokesman for the purpose of all media interviews. We sincerely hope and pray that the police will find the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice.

Your prayers and support at this time are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely Yours,
Legal Advocacy Desk
The Jerusalem Institute of Justice

A Messianic Parable
An Original Short Story by Israeli Believer
Hannah Weiss
“How the Good Samaritan Turned Bad"

JANUARY 2008
Israeli Civil Rights
Reform
Israeli Civil Rights Attorney Calls for Reforms
Protecting Believers from Revocation of Citizenship

By Michael Decker

The Law of Return, in its current wording, grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel. Moreover, the Law of Return also grants the family members of Jews the right to immigrate to Israel, even if they themselves are not Jewish. As a result, a situation has been created whereby, as of today, there are many citizens in Israel who are related to Jews, yet hold to different religious beliefs. There are also citizens who are devoid of any religion whatsoever. What's more, among mixed families who immigrated into Israel, there are many people who have grown up with a mixed religious worldview. Nonetheless, the uniting factor is that all of the abovementioned are Israeli citizens.

Lately, a troubling situation has arisen. Certain faithful citizens of the nation of Israel have been receiving letters whereby they have been summoned into the offices of the Ministry of Interior in order to review their civil status. What was the transgression of those who received these strange letters from the Ministry of Interior? Have they betray the nation? Do they represent a security threat? Have they ever visited an enemy state of Israel? No. Their only transgression was in relation to matters of personal conscience and their religious worldview. More specifically, they belong to minority religious groups in the nation of Israel such as Evangelical Christians, Messianic Jews, and others.

The aforementioned letter of inquiry is not an indictment wherein the nation is accusing these people of any offenses. Even for the worst offense, a defendant has the right to receive a proper letter of indictment by which he can properly defend himself and present counter-claims.

In this letter of inquiry, there is no mention that the person receiving the letter has the basic right to be represented by a lawyer. Neither is there any warning that this person's citizenship may be revoked. It is simply stated that this person is being summoned before the Ministry of Interior in order "to inquire about his/her status."

In many cases, these innocent citizens have appeared before a registration clerk, who then interrogates them about their religious worldviews, and thereafter demands that they sign a document, of which they are not even given a copy. These citizens subsequently find themselves in a helpless situation, whereby the Ministry of Interior will not grant them many basic services, such as the registration of their children in the population registry, the renewal of their passports, the issuing of new identification cards, and in some cases, the Ministry of Interior even goes so far as to revoke their citizenship and deport them from Israel.

Despite the fact that the nation of Israel recognizes International Law, which considers the right of citizenship as one of the most important of civil rights, and despite the fact that the right of citizenship grants a person many basic privileges in his relationship before the State (not to mention the right to defend himself against the State’s accusations), and despite the fact that the right of citizenship is essential in order to implement the freedom of transportation—it appears that in the nation of Israel, one can lose his citizenship quite easily.

Unfortunately, the abovementioned scenario occurs all too frequently in the democratic nation of Israel – the most "enlightened nation in the Middle East." Additionally, the aforesaid scenario has even happened to citizens who have served in the IDF, having dedicated the best years of their lives to serve their nation. Why? Their religious beliefs differ from those of the majority in the nation of Israel.
In light of this troubling phenomenon, I wish to examine the Israeli law and court rulings which deal with citizenship revocation in Israel. There are two existing laws in Israel which authorize the Minister of Interior to revoke a person's citizenship: section 11 of the Law of Citizenship and section 11 of the Law of Entry into Israel.

Section 11 of the Law of Citizenship indicates three ways wherein an Israeli citizen can loose his citizenship. The first way is to illegally visit one of the enemy states mentioned in section 2a of the Infiltration Prevention Law, the second is to commit treason, and the third is if one's Israeli citizenship was acquired on the basis of falsified information. Section 11 of the Law of Entry into Israel focuses on a person who has acquired citizenship by virtue of the Law of Return, and authorizes the Minister of Interior to revoke a person’s OLEH (immigration) permit/certificate if such permit has been acquired on the basis of falsified information.

What is particularly disturbing about this situation is that there is no codified arrangement regarding the procedural rules whereby the Ministry of Interior must operate in order to revoke someone’s immigration certificate. The authority to examine a person's file and to thereafter make a final decision regarding justifiable causes wherein a person's citizenship can be revoked is given exclusively to the Minister of Interior. In addition, the final process of executing the final decision is also given exclusively to the Minister of Interior. By right (de jure), the law itself does not provide any appeal procedure, even though, in practice (de facto) it is possible to appeal before the Israeli High Supreme Court, due to the legal principle wherein every governmental decision is subject to judicial review of the Israeli courts.
Beyond the fact that the process does not leave room for a citizen to defend himself, the citizen is not even entitled to review his own personal file within the Ministry of Interior in order to ascertain the specific causes for the revocation of his/her citizenship. The Minister of Interior has the authority, according to his personal discretion, to revoke a person's citizenship.

Two court decisions that illustrate the importance of the right of citizenship in the nation of Israel are: Hila Elrai v. Minister of Interior and Israel Law Center v. the Chairman of the Knesset. The importance of this right is so expressed that, even as a result of the most heinous crimes, the Minister of Interior and the judicial authorities are very hesitant to revoke a person's status as a citizen.

The first court ruling deals with the idea of revoking the citizenship of Igal Amir (the assassin of former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin) on grounds of treason for his betrayal and violation of the trust to the nation of Israel. The Israeli High Supreme Court determined that the assassin's citizenship should not be revoked and has elevated the Right of Citizenship to a level of the highest importance, and in the court’s words: "Even though the right of citizenship is not recognized as a basic law, there is no doubt that it is included with the basic rights, among others, because it is the basis for the voting right to the Knesset, wherefrom (Israeli) Democracy is derived. As known, it is the obligation of every governmental office to restrain itself from harming a basic right, including the right of citizenship, unless this is done for a worthy cause and in a measure that is not beyond what is required; all the more so, as it is related to the revocation of one's citizenship, in contrast to a different damage."

The second court ruling deals with the proposed revocation of the citizenship of two Knesset members, Whatal Taha and Jamal Zahalka from the Balad Party, who illegally visited an enemy state. Justice Fugleman, along with the consent of Chief Justice Beinish and Justice Rubinstein, decided that the departure from Israel to an enemy state does not create an automatic prerequisite cause for losing one's citizenship. Justice Fugleman emphasized, in his court decision, the importance of due process before revoking a person's citizenship. He resites in his decision quotations from a former court ruling as follows: "Until the Ministry of Interior will decide to revoke one's OLEH (immigration)/citizenship certificate, and thereafter to deport a person from the country, the factual grounds that are before him need to be as solid as possible, and the right given to a person to plead his case, will be rigorously exercised."

Furthermore, "citizenship grants a person rights and obligations at the highest level and therefore the granting of it, or the revocation of it, needs to be done after a factual and worthy examination."
In light of the exaggerated discretion given to the Minister of Interior in deciding to revoke one's citizenship, former MK professor Amnon Rubinstein submitted a draft law to amend a section of the Law of Citizenship whereby the Minister of Interior's discretion should be limited. In the hearings which followed submission of the draft law, a review was made regarding the legal revocation of citizenship in the USA, England, South Africa, Australia and Germany. These studies revealed that in the abovementioned countries, the legal situation is completely different. Nevertheless, this draft law was not accepted.

My hope is that the citizens of the nation of Israel will awaken to the distortion of the current legal situation, and will call on their government to limit the unrestrained discretionary authority which has been given to the Minister of Interior. Every person has the right to defend themselves against the possible revocation of citizenship - which is an extreme punishment. The assassin of the Prime Minister had the right to defend himself and so did the Knesset members who visited enemy states. This is what was explicitly stated in the court rulings of the High Supreme Court of Justice.

It stands to reason that people who have immigrated to Israel by the Ministry of Interior's determination by virtue of the Law of Return, according to the documents that they have presented, and who have lived in Israel for many years, who have served in the IDF, who pay taxes, whose children have studied in the Israeli school systems, and who have never violated any criminal offense, likewise have this right. These citizens have the right to defend themselves against those who wish to take advantage of the current legal ambiguity, to revoke their citizenship, simply because they belong to different religious minority groups.

I propose that this right should be stripped from the Minister of Interior and should be given to the judicial authorities. If a registration clerk desires to revoke a person's citizenship, it should not be done in a closed, hidden or secretive manner. Perhaps, a proper process would be for the Ministry of Interior to submit a letter of indictment before a court of justice, which would thereby give a citizen the chance to defend himself. Subsequently, a neutral judge would decide according to the evidence, presented before him by both parties.

I urgently call on all those who seek peace and freedom and who appreciate the concept of working together toward an authentic and just democratic State of Israel to engage themselves in order to change these two intolerable existing sections in Israeli law, which permit a government official to deprive citizens of their freedom and liberty without the basic and important right, which all citizens should and must have, of due process.

After studying Theology and Biblical studies at the Israel College of the Bible, Michael noticed that there was a great lacking within the local community of Israeli believers in the market, in business, and in the legal and political fields of society. Beginning in 2003, Michael studied law at the Academic Law College of Ramat Gan and during his studies was accepted to work at one of the top ten prestigious law firms in Israel, Yehuda Raveh & Co. Law offices. Today Michael is also a legal activist at the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, and assists many Christian and Messianic families in immigrating into Israel and in receiving various visas in Israel. Contact Michael Decker at decker@yraveh.co.il

I love to read the opening chapters of Luke before Christmas each year because it sets my spirit on the importance of the season.

The other day I sat down at the kitchen table to eat my lunch and just randomly opened the Bible lying there and started reading. I had opened to Luke 3 and the first thing my eyes fell on was verse 11, "He answered and said to them, 'He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.'

It was John the Baptist telling the crowds what would constitute "fruits worthy of repentance" and it turned out to be a very specific word from the Lord about how to rightly process something that would happen the next day. But it caught my attention because I am always struck anew at Christmas time at the contrast between greedy materialism and true expressions of Christian generosity.

So I backed up and starting reading the chapter from the beginning and saw something I had never really noticed before. Luke 3 begins with the commissioning of the public ministry of Jesus' cousin, John the Baptizer, who began "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

John's message is summarized by Luke as being the message of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight....And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

Being so close to Israeli Messianic Jewish circles, this is an extra familiar verse of prophetic scripture which is often quoted by the ministries I deal with in Israel. I hear it often because they directly relate it to the character of their ministry to their fellow Israeli countrymen.

Now I believe I can see why this verse is so integral to ministry in Israel. It has to do with how John the Baptizer understood the application of his message in the individual lives of the hearers who he was calling to participate in "preparing the way of the Lord" so that "all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

As the crowds came to be baptized, John said, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

What an information-packed statement!

1. People were coming to be baptized, but were not coming to be changed.
2. True repentance will cause fruit comparable to the forgiveness one has received.
3. True repentance continues to bear fruit in the children of God.

We aren't children of God simply by virtue of our identification as Jews or as Christians, but true children of God are always bearing fruit in their life that is "deserving, comparable or suitable" to genuine repentance.

It is an easy thing in religion to make an initial change in consciousness toward God only to slide back downhill even further in a million God-dishonoring ways afterward because we are counting on our identification as Abraham's children, or our initial confession as believers in Jesus and not in bearing the fruit of our changed lives. So John's word is still valid today for Christians as it was in his own day for Jews. The truly repentant life is about continually bearing "fruits worthy of repentance."

Well, what does that mean? The crowds coming to be baptized by John wondered the same thing, and this is what really struck me as he answered people in various stations of life: each one was challenged to change from their normal relationship to money and possessions.

To the individuals John answered that sharing out of what you have (and not greedily needing two of everything you have) is "fruit worthy of repentance." Luke 3:11

To the tax collectors, he answered that they should not make people pay more than what was due of them. Luke 3:13

To the soldiers, he challenged them to "be content with your wages" and not to intimidate anyone or falsely accuse them. Luke 3:14

It is amazing that out of all the things that John could have said as a representation of bearing fruits worthy of repentance that in every instance he addressed our attitudes toward money and possessions; he spoke to our generosity and our greed.

Last summer when I visited some of the believers in Israel, I saw first hand why it is so important for us to have the ability to share from what we have, and not to be stopped from doing that out of greediness for our possessions. I saw believers who had needs of their own giving to their neighbors who were being crushed under the weight of need. They were reaching out to fellow believers, but also to unbelievers and new believers. Their own lack in important areas did not stop them from sharing what they had. This is generosity.

This type of generosity was mentioned as a critical living arrangement for the first generation of Israeli Jewish believers in the book of Acts (2:44-47). Now once again, at least in Israel, it is necessary for the believers to help each other just exactly like John instructed those he baptized. And in reaching the unsaved in Israel, to "make straight the way of the Lord," they must also reach out to share with their unbelieving neighbors in need.

The tie between giving to the needy and making a path for the Lord to enter their lives is very clear in this chapter of Luke, and it is very clear among the believing community in Israel today.

I have been to Israel three times to visit the Israeli ministries and have never yet met one that I would consider living lavishly with material wealth. All of them--and I have met the large indigenous ministries just as much as the smaller ones--are like the individuals John the Baptist addressed, if having two tunics, were willing to share one with those in need.
Extravagant lifestyles among the Israeli ministries is just not something that is happening. When I contrast that to the material wealth that we have become accustomed to seeing in the American church I think that we are destined to learn much more about the message of John the Baptist than we currently think we need. To whom much is given, much is required. “He that has two tunics, let him give to him who has none.”

In Revelation, Jesus addresses those who say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." We are far closer to that description than we often imagine and there are too many still teaching a "prosperity gospel" that appeals to our greed instead of a generosity gospel which is capable of truly preparing a way for the Lord.

The apostle Paul also gave instruction on how to give into the need of others within the Body of Messiah in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, writing, "For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be an equality. As it is written, 'He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

For Paul to hearken back to how God leveled the playing field of those gathering of daily manna when referring to how the Body is to pour back and forth among themselves to meet the need should speak volumes to us. I know he had a deep conviction that the believers of Israel would need the help of the Church to survive. He saw far into the future by the revelation of God on this count and we are still waiting for that revelation to break open in the Church for the harvest in Israel today.

The instruction of John the Baptist and of the apostle Paul are the scriptural parameters for giving to the needs of others. I know that I for one have been challenged to enter into a new level of understanding what it means to bear fruit worthy of repentance and to prepare a way for the Lord.

First of all I would like to describe the scene for you at the court house on Monday. Only the immediate family and limited media were allowed inside the court room. The 16^th floor overflow room was strictly for media. The court sent everyone to the Caf� on the 6^th floor with no media feed. But when we went in with a couple from the Texas Jewish Post we saw that it was not going to be the best place for us to wait for the verdict. There were at least 100 to 150 Muslim HLF supporters gathered in the Caf�. continues

The True Meaning of
“Blessing Israel”
must include blessings flowing toward
those in our own household of faith in Israel.
The Body of Messiah in Israel
We can’t really "bless Israel" if we are ignoring those who bear Him in their hearts! Can we?
So how do we bless the believers of Israel so they are able to in turn be a blessing to their nation?
Your support will mean so much!
Israeli Messianic Marketplace

A Handy Online Guide to all Israeli Messianic
Judaica, Gifts, Arts, Crafts, Gift Shops,
Bed & Breakfasts, Prayer and Worship Retreats,
Believer's Hostels, Tour Services and products!

In short, a Directory of Businesses & Services
a genuine Israeli Messianic Shuk Marketplace
to open new choices for those who want
to be bless the livelihoods of Israeli believers in the
Messianic and Arab Christian communities.

Don't be confused.
This is not about fomenting hate against traditional Jews
but it is about discerning who we are really related to in Israel
as spiritual brothers and sisters.
You can't be a blessing to them if you don't know who they are!

Find out who your brothers in Israel--brothers in Him--really are
in Israelprayer Ministry Profiles by Region

A kairos word from Asher Intrater that
every Israel supporter needs to read!
What Does the Bible REALLY Say About the Land?
The basic Biblical issues governing the ownership and occupation
of the Land of Israel from a Israeli Messianic Jewish viewpoint:

Photographs of individual Israeli Messianic Jewish and Arab Christian ministers and believers
will not be published here for the sake of their safety. Exact locations of congregations are not published
in order to protect believers from persecution and harrassment that is
often perpetrated against them by anti-missionary groups and individuals in Israel.