PRAYER UPDATE - December 2008,  Beit Shemesh, ISRAEL

Shalom My friends,

What a privilege to be in Israel during the time that the birth of the Messiah is remembered. I spoke Dec 6 In the First Baptist Bible Church of East Jerusalem. I taught on Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. Daniel 9:24-27 gives the time of the coming of the Messiah. The Jewish Messiah came at the time Daniel said He would. His death is also mentioned in these verses. Mentioned in these verses is what will be accomplished just before and after His return.

My welfare:  I have improved especially in the first 3 months after 2 strokes.  Improvement now is slow.  I have sensed some clearing of my thinking.  My
eyesight was affected so I do not yet know about the driving.  I still have
dizzy spells but for only a few minutes.  I am on blood thinner.  I have a young
doctor, Dr. Klaus, from Germany who cares for me for free here in Israel.  He is working with the Arabs. I am able to travel on the buses and take long walks. I remember my 3 languages: English, Hebrew & French.

On my one day a week fast day I usually walk in the shefelah or in the Sorek Valley (Judg 16:4). Shefelah is a Hebrew word used 21 times in the OT. It refers to the low rounded chalk hills divided by several broad valleys. It runs from the valley of Aijalon to Baer Sheva. In Joshua 10:19 it is spelt Ajalon. Joshua told the sun to stand over Gibeon and the moon to stand over Ajalon. Dr. Klaus said I should fast only one day a week. So I did not have a long fast this year. I taught at the Plymouth Brethren meeting at Mary Kilbide's several times from Isaiah.  I shared at the local church in Beit Shemesh on Dec 12. God blessed me.

I have been able to help a few tourists to see part of the Land. Archeologist Daniel Racine came again from France with Pastor Jean Ballieux from Belgium. Daniel & I will go to Pastor Bailleux’s Baptist church early next year.  I have visited the Jerusalem Assembly pastured by Meno Kalisher. His brother lives in Beit Shemesh and he is now the director of the Israel Bible Society. He has a special ministry to the refugees from Sudan. I have visited John Salenger in Haifa and Farak Khalil in Nazareth. I am thankful for the chance to be among the brothers and sisters and churches of Israel I am regularly praying for.

There has been God given opportunities to share with people here. Sometimes a verbal witness and sometimes just a book given with a short explanation. I give in Hebrew and in Arabic and some English. I count it a great privilege to be back in Israel. I have contact with Sasha Baron whom I worked with in Ukraine. He has a unique faith in Jesus. He does need prayer that things would stabilize n his life. I have been able to visit evangelistic work in Palestine. I visited an Arab Baptist pastor Musa Abu Ally. He recently had a heart attack at 52. I visited Johnny Shahwan of Beit Al Liqa’ in Beit Jala. They reach out especially to the youth of Beit Jala. I had Thanksgiving with Joan Davenport who stays at Beit el Beracah south of Bethlehem. I have been able to meet my old car insurance man Kenny A. several times. He has been in contact with a believer I introduced him to last year. The fast day prayer walks have been of great blessing to my soul. I believe they are a great blessing to the gospel work in Israel. How I miss the long fast. But God knows my heart and my body. I have learned to be alone with Christ. There I am happy and fulfilled and fruitful. There are reasons why Jesus Christ asked me if I was willing to remain single for Him.

I used to visit a sister Anna in Poriyah Ilit near the Sea of Galilee. On a train to Tel Aviv I met one of her grandsons. She is not Jewish but her grandson has become an orthodox Jew. I sensed that God ordained this meeting. A soldier waiting for his wife was open to spiritual conversation. There have been some positive reactions to my book distribution.

I am ready to return to France on Dec 31. I pray I will be able to drive a car again. Due to the plan I have to go to USA about Aug 15, 09 I plan to return to Israel in May, 09. I would like to have the camp again in Romania in July or Aug. I want to attend the 50 year reunion of my high school in Chevy Chace, MD in 09.

Thanking God for your fellowship,

Michael David Bentley

Lk 2:11 ‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ May we fall down and worship Him.