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January 27, 2006 27 Tevet, 5766 Dear Praying Friends,
The scene has changed. The stage has been reset and a new backdrop is in place. Well, it’s not exactly a new backdrop. We have been watching it being built for some time now, section by section. The true agenda of the Palestinian Authority has been openly revealed. In what was perhaps the first free election in the Arab world, a radical, violent, Islamic government was elected with a landslide victory. Gone are the illusions that most of the Palestinians really want peace with Israel and only certain leaders have held to a more aggressive agenda. Immediately, the new ruling party made it clear that recognizing Israel was not on their agenda. This is not news to anyone, certainly not to the people under the PA jurisdiction. Many are saying that the policies held by the Israeli government have simply given the message that terrorism pays. It is a good thing that after all these years of negotiating land for peace behind masks and political rhetoric, those in leadership of the Palestinian Authority are finally saying openly what the majority has been saying privately. Everyone praying for the hidden things to be revealed had a hand in the Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections that just took place. Really, for anyone looking to see, this is no surprise. They have one goal...the annihilation of Israel. In the face of this statement, we’d ask you to hold off a minute from being too spiritual. What we mean is, please don’t just start quoting all the verses about God’s love and promises for Israel. The ultimate fate of our nation is not and never will be in question. However, Israel is not just a prophetic entity. It is a nation of lost people that have been targeted for destruction (by the kingdom of darkness) since our inception. Certainly in modern times there has not been a day when this fact was not staring us in the face. Even so, as this realization would rightfully move many hearts to compassion, we must bear in mind that God’s ways are not like ours and He is in the midst of this apparent mess to bring us to our knees before Him. We could go on and on about the betrayals and the flip-flops of our leaders and many of the international community. On one hand, it is tiresome to say the same thing over and over again. On the other, when is it time for the watchman to cease crying out? A great storm is coming to all those that stand against the Word of the living God. To behold the future only with natural eyes is not a pretty picture. It’s hard to imagine a more horrific situation. But we see Yeshua high and lifted up, riding above the darkness. We see multitudes of young people coming to faith in His atonement for our sin. We see God being honored in the midst of Israel and His glory covering the land. We are neither fearful nor discouraged. His grace is sufficient and He is faithful. The flood of prophetic words, dreams, and visions flowing across cyberspace at this time may be at an all-time high. Beloved, we need to each be hearing from the Lord. It just won’t do to be getting direction from someone across the sea. Each of us must hear the Lord for ourselves. Though thousands may fall all around us, as we are in His will, it will not touch us. Remember Rahab! * * * Last week we had the great privilege and blessing to be part of a two-day gathering of Israeli and German leaders in Jerusalem. God is doing a marvelous work. Most of you know that we ourselves have a specific call to work with the Body of Messiah in Germany to build a bridge between our peoples. During these days, many new relationships were formed and existing ones were strengthened. A wonderful report was given about a vision that one of the Israeli pastors had received to take Israeli and German teens together to Auschwitz, which actually happened last August. The Spirit is bringing the fourth generation (since the Holocaust) into its place as the curse breakers. We will not attempt to go into detail about any of the proposed projects, but we want to bring a more general issue before you for prayer. The Greek, humanistic roots of western society have produced fruit with strong individualistic, sectarian characteristics. We each have our own and are inclined to keep and protect what we have been given. This condition can be, and I would say has been, magnified and intensified in the Israeli Body due to a variety of factors. The rapidly developing, multifaceted connections with the Body in Germany present us with a challenge and an opportunity to come out from this way of being. As we understand the ways of the Lord, the glory of God cannot rest on a body divided in this manner. And neither can we, as the Body of Messiah in Israel, relating only as individual ministries and congregations, fulfill our calling to bring the light of God to the nations. If we can be all together reaching out to bless our German brothers and sisters, not only will the Holy Spirit be able to move through us, but the residual effect of such a partnership could totally alter the face of the Body in Israel. Oh how we hunger to see this kind of unity break forth! How glorious to not be focused only on our work but to be beholding the larger picture. Perhaps then the true gospel of the Kingdom would go forth. Yeshua preached the gospel of the Kingdom. By and large, in our opinion, as stated in a recent article by Rick Joyner, what has spread around the world for the last two thousand years would be more appropriately termed the “gospel of personal salvation.” Doesn’t it seem right that this breakthrough would happen out of Zion? Please pray with us that the fullness of God’s heart and will would find expression in the midst of what the Spirit is doing between the believers in Israel and Germany. * * * On another note, we’d like to answer an important question that many of you must have wondered about. How was it that we were so absolutely sure that the Lord would provide for the maintenance of the Center in Tel Aviv, when it turned out it was not His will that we remain there? As we look towards the future, and present you with the vision we have in our spirits, it seems important to relate to this question. In 1992, just prior to our move to Israel, I (arni) received a word from the Lord that came with His unmistakable signature. Among other things, He said that we would move once and the second place would be our permanent home. I took the word as speaking of our personal living situation. From other elements of that message, and all that has transpired, it is now clear that He was referring to our ministry. When we arrived in Israel, we lived in Kfar Saba for eight years. Then, our ministry was just two of us serving God in Israel. I took Tel Aviv to be the second place. But as far as a ministry facility is concerned, Tel Aviv was the first. Where we are now is the second. It is actually the situation we were looking for before the Lord directed us to Tel Aviv. In retrospect, it is evident to us that without having spent the time in the facility the Lord provided in Tel Aviv, we would neither be spiritually ready nor logistically able to accomplish the task before us. Those seven years were neither a waste nor a mistake. * * * The reason for our writing these letters is twofold. Firstly, we, as those on a front line, call out a warning that a storm is coming your way. Secondly, as members of the Body of Messiah in Israel, we are reaching out for help and support from our brethren to enable us to stand in the eye of the storm and fulfill the calling of God on our lives. Now would be a good time to again thank all of you that wrote to say you were praying for Brian’s back. God miraculously answered and he was unhindered while ministering in Germany. However, the pain continues to return. So your continued prayers would be greatly appreciated. * * * This past Thursday, construction began on the four apartments in the lower level of our ministry facility. Praise the Lord! Lord willing, we will have our designated worship space and accommodations for guests by this coming June. With this blessing comes an increase in our financial obligations. Rent for these five additional spaces will be about $3000 per month. We have stepped out in faith, believing that God has led us. Would you please pray about partnering with us to maintain this ministry to the Lord and His Body? * * * May God bless you from Zion! We are aware that we are being upheld by many prayers, and we thank you so much.
Your servants… For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit |