|
|
February 7, 2006 7 Tevet, 5766 Dear Praying Friends,
Oh how the darkness is increasing over the Land. Even knowing that this day must come, to see it upon us is a terrible and grievous thing. The Word of God will stand. There is none righteous. God has shut up all men unto disobedience that He might have mercy on all. The evacuation last week of the settlement of Amona brought forth a level of violence between police and settlers greater than anything we have yet seen. Never has there been such an event. There are two sides to the story, but the reports and accounts relate that the government forces were out to teach the settlers a lesson. There were those among the protestors that were not committed to non-violence, and this cannot be ignored. But the instruction given to the evacuating force before entering the battle was, “Let the heads roll.” There is film footage on the internet showing police in full riot gear bringing the weight of their metal clubs down on the bodies and heads of teenagers crying for mercy asking to be allowed to leave. The other night we watched Fiddler on the Roof. The scenes of Russian soldiers going after unarmed Jewish villagers was frighteningly similar to how the Israel armed forces went after the settlers. One boy, reportedly not engaged in any violent resistance, had his skull fractured and needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The fear and expectation being expressed approaching the next evacuation is that the determination of both sides will increase and people will die. The horror and tragedy is that, of all people, we should understand what it is like to be cast out of what was once one’s home. But instead of taking great pains to alleviate the suffering of those needing to obey an order that was once unimaginable, we have taken the short cut of labeling them the enemy and showing no mercy. When political principle or religious belief takes precedence over concern for human life, how much does it matter what the reason is? So let’s recap the moment. The Prime Minister is in a coma, hatred and bloodshed erupts among Jews, and a group sworn to the total annihilation of Israel has come to power in our very heartland. It occurs to us that there is a spiritual connection between Hamas (Hebrew word means violence, cf. Is.60:18) coming to power and the bloodshed between settlers and police. If we were looking for a potential root, we’d suggest that it all started with how the settlers were treated in the disengagement. Furthermore, take heed. What comes to Israel doesn’t stop here. Where is God standing in all this? We (as a people) must come to the realization that we are no different from anyone else. Presently our road to repentance is blocked by a perspective by which we see only that we have been the unjust victims of the world’s prejudice, pride and hatred. As true as this is, we must own up to the truth of what is inside us. The reversal necessary for us to see ourselves as we are will only come through many tears and much wailing. The gospel of Yeshua is the only solution to this otherwise unsolvable problem. Strengthening the blind arm of the Nation of Israel will only delay the inevitable. Call out for righteousness. Call out for justice. May the two-edged sword of the Word of God fall in our midst and judge the innermost thoughts and intents of the heart and soul of Israel. Dear beloved friends. You must not allow us (Israel) to be up on any manner of pedestal. Seek the Lord on how to stand with us in the midst of the coming judgment and not against it. Again we say, we must come to see ourselves as we really are or we will never be positioned to repent of or even acknowledge our sin. Help us, the Body in Israel, to proclaim the Name of Yeshua throughout the Land. Pray for courage. Pray for strength. Pray for a vision of eternity to be before us. Do what you can to lift the financial burdens so our time can be spent on doing the work of the ministry that we all might rejoice together in the harvest that will surely come. * * * For the most part, the group protesting, standing against the police and the army is teenagers. Apart from whether or not, in an absolute moral sense, their actions are right or wrong, they have lifted up a voice above the din of the material, self-centered life of worldly existence. We need to take note. Before us is the germinating seed of revolution. When their eyes are opened how mighty will their witness be? Their generation is beginning to look like “those that loved not their lives so much as to shrink from death.” It is just such a generation that will cry out “Baruch HaBah B’Shem Adonai.” Let us pray and intercede that the Lord would visit them supernaturally. * * * Since construction began on the apartments in our ministry house designated for worshipers and intercessors, our thoughts have been turned more and more towards youth. In particular, we feel led to set up the music studio to function as a gathering place for youth. Would you be praying with us for the manifestation of God’s plan and purpose? Interestingly, in our upcoming trip to Germany, most of our time will be either ministering to or planning future ministry with youth. * * * You might remember that on our last trip, which began in Munich, Yonit was stuck with sickness upon arrival in the airport. Presently she has been ill with fever from a viral infection since last Monday. Kari is likewise sick. Last week both Arni’s and Leanne’s backs went out, and Arni is having pains in his leg also. Leanne and our grandchildren have been afflicted with weakness and virus symptoms, Terry has been suffering from various pains and Brian’s back has yet to heal. We could do with some additional prayer support! And by the way, our trip begins again in Munich. We have no doubt that the kingdom of darkness will do all it can to stop what the Spirit is building between the youth in Israel and in Germany. * * * We also want to request your prayers for our financial provision. Our monthly income does not yet meet our monthly expenses. We generally run about 25% short. For the moment, as a result of a large one time gift, we are able to manage. Under other circumstances, with such an ongoing situation, we would wonder if we were in the right place doing the right thing. But given the radical, supernatural way God planted us and directed our steps, that question does not present itself. Nonetheless, from a natural standpoint, for us to raise the funds for our ongoing need is close to impossible. But it was impossible to find four dwellings in the same place at the same time...which turned out to be nine. By all reason, I (arni) should look back at what God did and see the current unbridgeable chasm as just one more. As I was praying about all this today, I found a distressing similarity between where I was and the position of the ten spies that didn’t believe. I recount to myself, “God has done miracles to bring us here. He has gone before us at every step. We were not even given any choices along the way. What He has opened up for us is unheard of.” We have already shared numerous aspects of the amazing uniqueness of our situation. Here is yet another. As mere renters, we are able to totally design the ministry apartments from scratch. The owner is letting us decide where to put the lights and outlets, how large to make the rooms, how many bathrooms to have, even how thick to make the walls. And He is paying for it all!
May God bless you from Zion! Your servants… For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit |