Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
I’d like to preface this devotion by offering a few disclaimers:
1. One thing I’ve always stood firmly on, as founder and director of Worthy News, is that we will not report on ministry scandals until investigations have been fully released and the facts are established.
2. I refuse to participate in tearing down a fellow believer— because the enemy does enough damage without me in the mix.
3. I recognize that this devotion is abnormally long and may stir up some emotions, but please bear with me— it’s very important to grasp the full scale of what’s happening so that you can pray with understanding.
As a pastor who has traveled extensively and also met and ministered to believers from all walks, backgrounds, and denominations, I feel I have a unique perspective on what is happening in the world and among the Body of Christ.
As I look at the big picture, I have noticed that since the recent war broke out in Israel in October of 2023, several ministries that have played a key role in Israel’s spiritual revival have come under intense attack.
In April 2023, Mike Bickle, leader of the International House of Prayer, led a massive, unprecedented global prayer effort to mobilize MILLIONS worldwide to pray for Israel (specifically pray for their salvation). Just months later, at a time when Israel needed intercessory prayer the most, a scandal erupted with him that left thousands of his ministry’s young intercessors and those committed to joining in prayer worldwide shocked and discouraged.
Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, a leading voice in Jewish evangelism and the head of Jewish Voice Ministries International, which has reached countless Jewish people with the gospel, suffered a sudden life-threatening health crisis just weeks after the war in Israel began. He was on the verge of death until he received a miraculous liver transplant. Still recovering a year later, he, as well, was silenced at a time when Israel needed it the most.
Gateway Church in Dallas, one of Israel’s biggest financial supporters, was caught in controversy when its lead pastor, Robert Morris, had to step down. As a result, millions of donor dollars that were helping spread the gospel in Israel and providing aid for Israelis in need were cut off.
DayStar Television, the first Christian broadcasting network to ever bring the gospel into Israel— and a generous source of provision for Israel was also hit with controversy.
Most recently, Dr. Michael Brown, a well-respected theologian and host of In the Line of Fire, also found himself facing allegations. Brown’s Fire Ministries has been instrumental in discipling countless Messianic Jewish ministry leaders and equipping them to share the gospel more effectively with Jewish people. Dr. Brown has spent years countering the arguments of Orthodox Jewish leaders who reject Jesus and has debated atheists and rabbis alike. Now, at a critical time, his voice, too, is threatened to be silenced.
These are just the well-known situations. I know of other circumstances behind the scenes that greatly affect believers in Israel, especially right now. As a pastor, my heart is heavy. I’ve spent a lot of time grieving over and praying through these situations and ministering to people who are struggling in the aftermath.
I’m not here to excuse any wrongdoing or weigh in on specific allegations. I am sharing all this to highlight the fact that at a season when Israel is facing the most difficult challenges in her existence and walking through a period of great uncertainty, she has lost a key source of intercession, some major financial supporters, a leading evangelist, a respected theologian, and advocate, as well as a Christian broadcasting network— all at the same time. While Israel is fighting a seven-front war in the natural, she is also facing a massive spiritual battle on every side.
These ministries that are under attack have been ministries fully committed to sharing the gospel with the Jewish people. I want you to understand how intense the spiritual assault is against those fighting for Israel’s salvation. True restoration of Israel will only happen when the Jewish people return to their Messiah. Not only that, Israel’s revival is directly connected to our own revival as the Body of Christ – it’s one of the key factors to sparking the next great awakening!
Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers of the 1800s, understood this when he said:
“I do not think we attach enough importance to the restoration of the Jews. Those who were the first missionaries, the first apostles to us who are afar off, shall be regathered again. Until that shall be, the church’s glory can never come. Matchless benefits are tied to the restoration of the Jews, for their regathering shall be as life from the dead.”
The enemy is prowling, looking for whom he may devour. But know this: God is not finished with the Jewish people!
Will you set aside time this weekend to pray? Pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. Pray that God would raise up new leaders, evangelists, intercessors and voices to speak truth in this hour. Pray for the harvesters in Israel and around the world. God has placed you here for such a time as this!
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]Reading the gospels I find myself considering and identifying with the very human experiences and emotions of the Apostles, especially as the pace and intensity of the events of their lives with Yeshua were unprecedented. I have to wonder if the pace and intensity of the days of our lives can compete with theirs. Witnessing His miracles, His authoritative and concise way of teaching, His inevitable rejection, torture and crucifixion, His astounding exuberant resurrection, and eventual returning flight to Heaven from whence He came…all this must have had a rather relentless effect upon those who walked in any way closely with Him. Would it be fair to compare our present day scientific and technical accomplishments, political gymnastics, information explosion, pandemics, media magic, and the plethora of personal events, encounters and challenges, with their apostolic roller coaster ride?
The central fact of the gospel message is the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), declared in Psalm 2, the begotten Son of God. In 1952, Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in Cave 4 called the “Messianic Apocalypse”. The Messiah’s ministry of resurrection is reiterated in these ancient documents with an obvious reference to Isaiah 61:1-3. The scroll identifies someone who “… will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring good news to the poor.” It is clear that at least some of the authors of these documents clearly understood the central nature and ministry of the coming Messiah, most certainly based on their intimate knowledge of the prophetic writings in the Tenach (OT)…that ministry, resurrection of the dead.
I’m not sure how much I enjoy the freezing weather here as we’re traveling across the United States, but I certainly can’t wait till Spring comes! On the Hebrew calendar Nisan is the month that transitions from winter to Spring.
One of my favorite passages in the Scriptures is Psalm 1, and clearly this psalm holds an important key for our lives as believers to be fruitful and prosperous. That key is meditation. The psalmist describes the one who prospers as one who meditates “day and night”; a continual meditation developing the Godly habit of disciplining one’s mind in divine truth.
“Some time ago, an advertisement appeared in which the devil was putting all his tools up for sale. On the day of public inspection, each one of his tools was marked with its selling price: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Pride, and so on, were each on the block. Set apart, however, from all the rest of the pile, was a harmless-looking tool, well-worn, but priced very high — it was discouragement!”
Gas is going up…a lot. But your tank is the same size, and not filling up is not an option, unless you want to park in the shoulder lane, or leave the car in the garage. Leave the car in the garage (if you have a car)….now there’s an idea. Perhaps, this weekend, the best way to refuel is NOT to spend money on gas, or go driving somewhere!
Over the years I’ve often gotten emails asking “When do you think revival will come?” Well…. first, what is “revival”, exactly? One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions is “a renewed attention to or interest in something”.