Zion's Glory Update
July 13, 2010
The following is a Zion's Glory prayer update from Eddie and Jackie Santoro in Israel. We encourage you to forward it to whomever you think might be interested in the following information. It is sent out in conjunction with a bimonthly newsletter. If you are currently not receiving this information and would like to become a regular subscriber, please forward your name, email and address to us at esant@netvision.net.il
Dear Faithful Friend,
Bat Mitzvah
What a day it was! The congregational hall was packed with guests and members of the congregation. We were finishing a very anointed time of praise and worship and just as we reached a crescendo in the Spirit, the Torah was removed from the ark and brought before the congregation. As ancient Hebrew prayers filled the air, I sensed God's joy as once again Israel, Judaism and the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit were combined into a mighty expression that is destined to shake Israel and the entire earth.
The very promise that Yeshua had declared on that Succoth so long ago was being realized as living waters flowed through this group of Israelis. The Jews who were gathered in that hall were not lost in a ritual observance of laws and commandments but were a people who knew their God. In coming to faith in Yeshua, they had not abandoned the faith of their forefathers but that faith was now filled with a new vitality and life.
This was the day that we had set apart to celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Yehudit, a precious young member of our congregation. And what a Bat Mitzvah it was! Yehudit was radiant as she stood before the Torah scroll and for the first time participated in the reading of the weekly Torah portion. After her reading, she shared a short teaching along with a heart felt expression of her appreciation for her congregational family. The festivities finished with a meal and lots of blessed fellowship.
Yehudit is one of seven beautiful children. All the members of this family are strong believers and each is having an impact on Israeli society. In many ways, the whole day was a victory celebration for the family and our congregation. The trials in their lives have been many but the love and support that has flowed from the members of our congregation into the life of this young sister and her family certainly helped to bring her to this joyous day.
Please pray for Yehudit and the family as they serve God in the army, in university and work and as they look to him for their provision and strength.
Katzir
It is summertime in Israel and the schools are closed for the long summer vacation. One of the things that mark summer in Israel are summer camps which are attended by many of the children. This week believing youth from all over the nation are gathering for the annual summer Katzir (harvest) camp. During these two weeks, Messianic children between the ages of 14 -18 from all over the country will come together for a time of fellowship and spiritual growth and development. We know many young adults whose lives were transformed as they participated in the Katzir program.
Several members of our team will be serving as leaders and Asher will be there to teach on one day. Please pray for God's spiritual and financial provision for this very important time and that all will be touched and changed by a personal encounter with God.
Gilad Shalit
Over four years ago Gilad Shalit, a young Israeli soldier was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Although holding a soldier as a hostage and using him as a ransom to secure the release of other soldiers is a clear violation of international law, this profound injustice has been generally ignored by the UN and the world press.
In Israel where the protection and well being of the soldiers is the highest priority, Gilad's imprisonment has become a traumatic and emotional issue for this nation. Hamas made it clear from the beginning that if the right price was paid, they would be willing to free their prisoner. The impasse has been that every time Israel agrees to the conditions, they immediately raise the number of prisoners they are demanding in exchange for Gilad's freedom.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that Israel is willing to pay a very high price but not any price. To date Israel has offered to exchange ONE THOUSAND Hamas terrorists for their ONE imprisoned soldier. In response, Hamas has not only demanded that more prisoners be released but that included in the list would be some of the most dangerous and heinous terrorists. Every heart in this nation breaks for the suffering of the Shalit family and especially for Gilad, but the government must always consider as well the danger to national security.
The Shalit family has started a campaign to pressure the government to pay whatever price is necessary to bring their son home. This past week different parts of the nation were brought to a stand still as nearly 10,000 people marched all around the country demanding Gilad's release. As this giant parade of protesters passed through Israel's cities and towns, major roads were closed and thousands of Israelis sat in their cars for hours waiting for the marchers to pass. We ourselves were driving up to Jerusalem last week and ended up in the middle of one of these marches.
Please pray for the well being and freedom of this young Israeli soldier. Pray for his miraculous release! For four long years he has been illegally imprisoned by Hamas and refused even the most basic rights such as legal representation, family visits or even visits from Red Cross officials. Please pray that he would draw close to God during this time and have a revelation of his Messiah. Pray for the government officials who are endeavoring to reach a solution and to secure his release.
Keep Praying
Daily life in Israel is filled with a very strange disconnect between what we actually see and experience and what the world reports. This phenomenon has been intensifying each year and has now infected almost every event that happens concerning Israel:
More flotillas are coming towards Israel. A ship from Libya, a nation famous for its abuse of human rights is now sending "humanitarian aid" to help their terrorist brothers in Gaza and the world supports them and condemns Israel.
Iran and numerous other Islamic nations continue to call out for the destruction of the state of Israel. Ahmadinejad is pushing ahead with his nation's development of a nuclear bomb, which he has repeatedly promised to use against Israel. The world responds to this dangerous insanity with weak sanctions that no one really believes will work.
Hezbollah continues to add to their already thousands of missiles and troops that are on Israel's northern border, the sole purpose of which is to attack this nation. When Israel reports this accumulation of weapons, it is blamed for inflaming tensions.
Israel recently discovered huge gas reserves within its coastal waters and a short time later, Lebanon declared that Israel was "stealing" the gas from Lebanon.
Tens of thousands of people in the Congo, Somalia and many other nations of the world are murdered and raped and the UN Human Rights Commission is silent. Nine Turkish terrorists are killed by Israeli soldiers in self defense and the same commission, along with most of the world condemns Israel for its "brutal and savage" actions.
Christians are murdered and churches are burned in numerous Muslim nations and the world turns a blind eye. The Jewish state ensures the religious freedom of all Jerusalem's residents and yet is continually accused of oppressing free religious expression.
Hamas continues to fire missiles into Israel and call for this nation's destruction and Israel is being pressured to relate to them as "peace partners".
The scriptures tell us that in the Last Days "men will exchange the truth of God for a lie" (Romans 1:25). God promises "to send the deceived a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (II Thessalonians 2:9-12) Such is the reality that we are living in these days. The nations of the world are deceived and believing a lie when they look upon Israel. They are delighting in wickedness and ignoring the truth.
But our God who proclaimed that he is the truth is greater. Please keep praying. In the natural, the opposition to Israel looks like an unassailable mountain but we serve a God who throws mountains into the sea.
We send our love from Zion,
Eddie and Jackie
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