ISLAM'S SWORD

December 28, 2007

Yesterday before going over to our neighbors for our regular Thursday prayer/praise/fellowship time, Rimona's eyes fell on a newspaper (which we rarely buy or read) that happened to be lying on our dinning room table. What stood out were all the horrible things that are beleaguering our country; Old ladies beaten (some robbed) by individuals and small bands of youth and even adults; a sex festival that is in the making in Tel Aviv (not to mention the "love" and gay parades that have already established themselves as part of that city's "cultural" scene). In addition to the above were the tabloids about corruption in high places, which have become our "daily bread". And the list does not end there.

Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told". How true! Some of the things that are happening on this planet, in our day and age, we would not believe even if we were told. But in order not to take this scripture out of its context, let us take a look at the very precise description, depicted in the previous verses, and compare it to the current situation in Israel and in other countries too: " Why do You [YHVH] make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness [even if it is in the newspaper and television]? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises [even in the body of Messiah]. Therefore, the law [Torah] is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice comes out perverted (Habakkuk 1:3-4). The Hebrew verb for "surround" is "katar" and shares its root with the word for crown, "keter". In other words, what this is implying is that the wicked do not only "surround" the righteous, but they also rule over them. This expresses perfectly our situation today in the nation of Israel, and the so called Christian nations as well.

Secular humanism, along with its self-righteous religions, is leading the people into the valley of YHVH's righteous judgments (ref. Joel 3: 12). But what shocked the prophet Habakkuk was that YHVH decided to grant favor to one of the fiercest people of his day and raise them up to judge His people: "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, [whose land was in what is today's heartland of Islam] that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth [they are the hunters and fishermen of Hab. 1: 14-17 that YHVH has raised up, favored, and sent into the nations] to seize dwelling places which are not theirs [also the Palestinians' claim on the Land of Israel]. They are dreaded and feared [terrorism]. Their justice and authority originate with themselves [Muslim self-righteousness is second to none]. Their horses are swifter than leopards and keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swooping down to devour. All of them come for violence [Hamas]. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand. They mock at kings, and rulers are a laughing matter to them [mockery is a very prevalent attitude that we have all witnessed in Osama Bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahamadinejad, Saddam Hussein, Nasralla the Hezbollah leader, etc, a trait inherited from Ishmael, Esau, Amalek etc.]. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up rubble to capture" (Habakkuk 1:6-10).

They would not be able to do this had YHVH not given them favor, and this is the point of the prophet's dilemma. How could the Elohim of Israel sanction such a people to carry out His judgments? This is what perplexes the mind of the believers today and what constitutes "not believing this even though you were told". Islam's sword is aimed at the heart of the people of Israel, both the saved and unsaved in Ephraim and Judah. YHVH is using them to bring His people to repentance and return to Torah (His instructions), commandments, the gospel, and the land. The Church's gospel of "we are not under the law" has turned it into a lawlessness entity along with the nations it is established in. There is blindness to YHVH's righteous judgments. The fact that church buildings are being turned into occult centers and mosques, as we witnessed with our own eyes in England and Scotland and on American Christian TV, is not even noticed.

Back to Habakkuk, who took his post as a guard and stationed himself on the ramparts to watch and listen to what YHVH would speak to him, and to consider how to reply to His indignation. And so the prophet heard: "Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

YHVH's purpose for Islam has been in the making and will come to its ultimate conclusion. It is as sure as are His words, quoted above. The 'how', 'when' and 'where' are in His hands, but Habakkuk's prophecy does not end with the successes of YHVH's accomplices. For when He finishes using them, just as He did other nations in the past, to accomplish His plans for Israel this is what He says: "Because you have looted many nations, all the remainder of the peoples will loot you-- Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants. Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house to put his nest on high to be delivered from the hand of calamity! You have devised a shameful thing for your house by cutting off many peoples; so you are sinning against yourself" (Habakkuk 2: 8-10). This is followed by a series of "woes" upon the enemy, but what about us, who are witnessing all of this? Are we on the watchtowers and the ramparts? For this prophecy ends in a very solemn but positive note: "I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. [And here comes the leap of faith:] Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in YHVH, I will rejoice in the Elohim of my salvation. YHVH Elohim is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places" (Habakkuk 3: 16-19 emphases added).

Are we aware of, and prepared for what is coming?

Ephraim

LAW OF SIN

December 21, 2007

First of all I must apologize for an assumption that I made in last week's letter. I was quoting from Romans chapter 6, where Paul says that "we are no longer under the law". My comment was that "indeed we are not under law but that the law is under us". However, after checking the context in which the Apostle was using the word "law" – "nomos" in Greek - I discovered that he was speaking there very specifically of the "law of sin and death": "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law [of sin] but under grace" (Romans 6:14). Seeing that it is the "law of sin and death" that he was talking about in that passage, not only are we not "under it", but it cannot and should not be our foundation either, as I had incorrectly written. Instead we are under the law of grace in Messiah Yeshua. His righteousness has dominion in our life, as we walk by faith in what our Heavenly Father had accomplished judicially through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son. The writings of the apostles, at least in the form in which they have been handed down to us, only use this one Greek word to describe commandments, laws and Torah. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Tanach which preceded the writing of the New Covenant books) Torah is translated "nomos" – law, a fact which became the precedence to perceiving the meaning of the Hebrew word, "Torah", as strictly law. However, the Septuagint, unlike the writers of the New Covenant books, does distinguish between "laws", "ordinances", "commandments" etc.; for example the Ten Commandments are translated as the "Ten Words" which is the literal translation of the Hebrew.

Paul's main concern was that we understand that man is either under the rule or dominion of Sin, which is lawlessness and its consequences, that is the curses; or the dominion of Righteousness, which is the obedience of faith leading to the laws of blessings. In other words, there are two spiritual kingdoms that man is subject to. If we have received by faith the truth of the Gospel and continue to live accordingly, we will be living under the law of life in Messiah, that is, by the instructions (Torah) of the Word of Elohim from Genesis to Revelation. The Word of YHVH governs His Kingdom, thus we must get to know every statute, ordinance, commandment and law that is apropos to His rule.

Paul mentions two laws that are working in him as a Believer: "I find then a law [of Sin and death], that evil [power of Sin] is present within me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law [Torah/Word] of Elohim according to the inward man. But I see another law [of Sin] in my members, warring against the law [instructions of Righteousness] of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank Elohim -- through Yeshua the Messiah our ruler! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law [Torah-instructions] of Elohim, but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7: 21-25).

After this, comes the grand finale of Paul's dissertation about the reality of a Believer's life of faith in the law of grace: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1 NKJV). In this particular translation "no condemnation" is conditional. If we walk according to the flesh then we are under the laws of sin and its verdict is condemnation. But if we walk according to the Spirit that is, by faith believing what is true about ourselves in Messiah Yeshua, and draw our life/nature from His Righteousness (fruit of the Spirit), then "the righteous requirement of the law [Torah/His instructions] might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4).

The Apostle is always making a reference to a war that is waging inside of us. He explains that the nature of Sin lusts for the power to rule, especially over us who are governed by the Spirit. It wants to use us in order to express its nature through our flesh and thus to set up its kingdom. We have therefore been given spiritual armor for protection. This armor is the life of Yeshua. He is the Truth around our waist/loins, He is our breastplate of Righteousness, He is our Peace that we walk in, He is our shield of Faith, our helmet of Salvation and He is the Word of Elohim, our sword (ref. Ephesians 6: 14-17). Hence the Word instructs us not to obey the lusts of the flesh but to present our members as (literally) weapons of righteousness to Elohim (Romans 6: 12-13).

Many people are looking for, or are predicting war in the Middle East. My beloved brothers and sisters, we are already at war and the whole creation is groaning in waiting for a body of Believers that will emerge victoriously from this battle and set the creation free. Let us run the race and exercise our weapons of righteousness, so that we will be fit when YHVH gathers us together as a mighty army (ref. Ezekiel 37: 10).

Ephraim

THE COMMANDMENTS

December 14, 2007

"This is My commandment that you love one another" (John 15:12). Is this commandment, given by Yeshua, "law"? Summing up all the commandments into two He declared: "You shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12: 30-31). If these commandments are "law", then we cannot just nonchalantly toss away any of the commandments given to us, with the excuse that "we are not under law". As mentioned in previous letters, I do agree that "we are not under law"; but rather that the law should be "under us". It needs to be a foundation of our walk in the Spirit of life and liberty in Messiah Yeshua. The commandments were all given by the Word of Elohim, and that Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. Nevertheless, as "new creation beings" in YHVH's Son, we must understand these commandments in a new light.

Some of the religious leaders of Yeshua's day, and ours too, disregarded the commandments, laying them aside for the sake of their traditions (see Mark 7: 8-9). Yeshua pointed these clerics directly to the problem that beset them. He exposed the nature of Sin that was resident in the innermost part of man's being: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness" (Mark 7:21-22). Because Sin became the very spiritual nature of man, its power and influence was being expressed through human experience. There was no possible way that any person could live outside of Sin's realm of control. Paul the Apostle admitted that when he wanted to carry out "the good", he found another law working in his members and was actually unable to do "this good" that he desired. This law he called the "Law of Sin". However, when he had accepted through "the faith" Elohim's answer to man's bondage to Sin, he believed that it was no longer himself that was committing Sin, but the influence of the Power of Sin that was still working in his soul (Romans 7:17).

Paul believed that he had died, along with all humanity, when Yeshua died. His identity with Yeshua's death was not an excuse to continue allowing Sin to rule his being. On the contrary, Yeshua's death and resurrection granted him the mandate to overcome Sin. However, he would not have been able to discern Sin had YHVH not given the commandments/law.

Paul wrote that when, for example, the commandment/law "you shall not covet" was decreed he recognized all manner of covetousness operative within him. However, Paul does not blame the law of commandments for his problem; He actually acknowledges its importance in the life of the Believer. Had it not been for the law, he would have continued to be a victim of Sin, being deceived by the powers of darkness. But when the light/glory of the commandment, or law, came he recognized the fact that covetousness was not part of his new nature in Messiah. Paul was using the commandments as a tool to discern the nature of Sin that was still at work in his members. This, obviously, was not a one time effort but an every day walkout, in order to overcome the Power of Sin. Through this understanding of the function of the commandments, he was actually keeping them, as in this way the Nature of Sin was being exposed. Thus, Paul found himself identifying with YHVH's righteousness in and through Messiah Yeshua.

In Paul's letter to the Believers in Rome, especially in Chapter Seven, he explains his view of the commandments of Elohim and their relationship to Sin. He recognized that the commandments of Elohim were given to reveal the power and influence of another spiritual nature whose fruit was producing "death". To the Apostle, the commandments were spiritual and good for he would not have known Sin without them. The same is true for us. The commandments are always before us to lead us to repentance and to YHVH's provision of "grace" through His Son. As long as Sin is still at work within us, we need the commandments; not to try and do them for the purpose of righteousness, but to keep us mindful and discerning as to what Sin looks like.

Ephraim

GLORIFING HIM

December 7, 2007

The trip to England was like riding on the wings of an eagle. It was "blessed beyond blessed" from the time I left home until I saw the smiling faces of my family members greeting me at the airport, upon my return at 01:00 AM; Each stop along the journey was an oasis of His love, encouragement and anointing. Even though many of our brothers and sisters are experiencing troublesome times, His message to all of us was very simple and foundational. The Spirit was pointing us back to our first love, to the faith and to remembering what the Father had accomplished for us through His only begotten Son while we were yet sinners, an accomplishment that was the ultimate demonstration of His love, power and wisdom (ref. 1 Corinthians 1:24).

It was interesting that most of us were veteran believers, but in order to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him, the Almighty had to shake our comfort zones, lifestyles, ministries and relationships. And while so doing, He also reminded us of the truth about ourselves vis-à-vis the New Covenant. What YHVH was imparting to us centered round the execution tree, that is the altar and sacrifice (Yeshua) that He had used as a means to forgive and reconcile us unto Himself.

We had to conclude that it is of utmost necessity that we hold on, and cling to what is true about ourselves, all of which may be summed up in the fact that we are dead, but that our life is hidden in Messiah in Elohim. Indeed, Messiah's presence in us constitutes our life and nature and hence the soul must come into union and merge with Him, so that the Father can glorify His Son. Yeshua prayed in John 17 that as He glorified the Father, the Father would also glorify Him. This, then, is the reason that the Father has placed the life of His Son in us, so that through us He would fulfill this goal.

Our circumstances, therefore, become opportunities to glorify Yeshua's indwelling presence. This is brought about by yielding to His nature (the fruit of the Spirit). In this way His life is glorified by us and in us, especially so in our relationships with others, as Yeshua's glory is seen in our love for one another. Yeshua prayed: "And the glory which you Father have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one" (John 17: 22). We must believe what is true about our death and no longer look at ourselves, or others, after the flesh because when Yeshua died "all men died. Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh… if any man is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5: 15-17).

Many have been set free by believing and understanding this reality. Others are still in a battle with spirits of unbelief and doubt as to whether this is true or not. But when we walk in His indwelling presence we bring glory to the Almighty and to His Son. This is not an easy row to hoe, as we have plenty of resistance from the power of sin, which is the nature of darkness that wants us to be channels of its unloving character.

Let us make this season of dedication a time of remembering, recognizing, repenting and cleansing ourselves (temples of His Spirit) "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

May Yeshua be the light of His Father's glory in your holy place!

Ephraim

HEIR OF THE KOSMOS (world)

Many people today are dabbling in real estate in order to earn a little extra money on the side. Well, wouldn't you know it? YHVH is into that business too! First He is seen creating the property that He will own and then He takes possession over all of it. Psalm 24:1 states: "The earth is YHVH’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein”. In Psalm 89:11 we read: "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them”. And 1st Corinthians 10:26 reiterates Psalm 89:1by quoting: "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness."

These scriptures attest to the fact that YHVH has never lost the title deed of ownership of the earth to any devil. However, He shared His dominion with mankind. "Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’" (Gen. 1:26). In this short statement YHVH was setting up His kingdom on earth, and man (male and female in this context) was to be in charge of overseeing, ruling or subduing all living things.

Subduing does not mean exploiting, but actually just the opposite. It stands for imparting life and light to the living creatures. Yet at first nothing was said about property rights. It was only until after the nations (goyim) were divided up that this issue came to the fore. Thus we read in Genesis 10:32: "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood" (emphasis added). Genesis 10:25 says: "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided" (emphasis added). And, "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel" (Deut. 32:8). Now, why would Elohim set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the Children of Israel, when Israel was not even around at the time of Peleg? Peleg was the son of Eber, or Ever in Hebrew, whose name is forever stamped upon the Israelites – Hebrews - and is one of the forefathers of Abraham. And so, in this short statement from Deuteronomy 32, we see YHVH establishing His "kingdom order" in the family of Noah.

As we follow YHVH's plan, we see Him implementing it right from the start by putting it in order, as is seen later in the covenant that He was to make with Abraham the father of Israel: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land [eretz] which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth [eretz]; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth [eretz], then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk on the land [eretz] through its length and its width, for I give it to you" (Gen.13:14-17). Abraham could not take possession of the inheritance until he made his presence in the place. This is somewhat like the old Turkish (Ottoman) law that determines that ground could be claimed by planting or building on it. The life of Abraham was destined to be scattered "like dust" all over the earth. Could this be how Abraham was to become, as Romans 4:13 terms it, "heir of the kosmos" - fixed order of YHVH's government? However, it is not only given to those who are of the law but also to those "who are of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all" (Rom. 4:16).

Abram was living somewhere between Ai and Bethel when YHVH uttered the above-quoted promise (Deut. 13:14-17). I would like to take the liberty to expand on the meaning of this blessing based on its context: "Arise walk in the earth through its length and its breath and I will give it to you". The Hebrew word "eretz" can be translated earth, land, field or ground but it actually comes from a root meaning to "be firm”. Thus a translator may use any of these English words at their discretion according to the context. My understanding of the context, in light of the massive blessing of multiplicity, is that the seed would be as the dust of the earth (eretz), and dust as we know usually covers everything. I believe that YHVH did not limit this blessing to Abraham only and to a specific land (Canaan), but also to his seed and to the entire earth (incidentally, notice the similarity: “earth” – “eretz”). His intent was to sow the seed into all the earth (eretz), thus perpetuating the blessing that He made with Adam and Noah to “fill the earth and rule over [subdue] it".

Later on in the life of Abraham, YHVH says to him that his seed would be like the stars of heaven (ref. Gen.15:5). This is again a numerical reference, but moreover, also to that of position as the stars, along with the moon, were to rule and to be for signs and for seasons.

Abraham, now in the 'form' of his own multiplied seed, was also told that 'he' would be a nation (goy) and that this goy would be a goy of princes and priests: “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel…” (Exodus 19:6). And, "YHVH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath” (Deut. 8:13). The irrevocable destiny of the life of the forefathers was to have dominion, to subdue and rule this planet earth.

The Patriarchs are very much alive today in their progeny, whether their children know it or not, for did YHVH not say that He is the "Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of the living?" (Mat. 22:32)? This is why our eyes must be open to present truth, or reality.

YHVH is a covenant keeping Elohim, and we in this generation are the witnesses to that faithfulness, loving-kindness and mercy. That being so not just by what we say, but more so by who we are. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is being who YHVH has created us to be, and at the same time also recognizing this incredible living truth – that we are "the workmanship of YHVH". “But when he [Jacob] sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name, hallowing the Holy One of Jacob, and fearing the Elohim of Israel” (Is. 29:22-24 emphasis added). We are His living stones, hewn from the rock who is "Abraham our father and Sarah who gave birth to us in pain" (Is. 51:2). "For He spoke and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The counsel of YHVH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations… Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" (Ps. 33:9, 11-12). "Because YHVH loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, YHVH has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage” (Deut.7:8). Why did YHVH do all that? So that we (Israel) might be filled with His Spirit, and be that channel of His life and light to the earth.

"Let Your mercy, O YHVH, be upon us, just as we have waited upon You" (Ps. 33:22). "For those who wait on YHVH, they shall inherit the earth" (Ps. 37:9, ref. also v. 34).

Ephraim

SAVIOR - REDEEMER

November 3, 2007

This time let's take a look at two of Yeshua's roles, namely that of Savior/Deliverer, and Redeemer. Yeshua's name comes from the Hebrew root y.sh.a, meaning "to deliver" or "save". In Scripture this term is mainly used in the context of deliverance, that is, removal from certain bondage situations, or extracting from various predicaments. As important as salvation is, it is not as comprehensive as redemption. The judges of Israel are a case in point. YHVH did not require that the ones He chose as judges/deliverers have specific and fixed qualifications, as would redeemers. Often upon completion of a given task or assignment, the savior or deliverer would retire. The deliverer had a job to fulfill, and hence many of the kings in Israel acted as saviors or deliverers when an enemy was oppressing the nation, or even individuals. In contrast, a redeemer's office is for a lifetime. Moses, for example, was called to be a savior, yet, typically, was not appointed to the office of a priest. That role was reserved for the firstborn of the family, Aaron.

Originally a first-born redeemer had priestly responsibilities, aside from being his kinsmen's deliverer and looking after the interests of the family at all times. Abraham, for example, being a firstborn and redeemer took Lot under His wing because his nephew was too young to take responsibility for his deceased father's inheritance. In time, Abraham did hand the inheritance over to his nephew, along with prime real estate. However, at one point Abraham had also to "save" Lot and his family and their belongings. In the wake of the war that broke out when the king of Sodom was taken captive, along with Lot and family, Abraham got involved because he was a responsible first-born redeemer, fulfilling his role as a savior. In the eyes of YHVH this was one of the qualifying traits that led to the Malchizedec blessing being bestowed upon him. Had he not been his brother's keeper, YHVH would have rejected Abraham and would have chosen another from Terah's family. In Genesis this pattern comes up over and over again. This is one of the reasons why Elohim required of Cain an answer regarding his brother's whereabouts. Doubtless, as a firstborn Cain knew that he was his brother's keeper, and thus his cynical response gave him away.

In order for Yeshua to be Israel's Redeemer he too had to qualify, by being a firstborn prince, faithful and obedient to the will of His Father in all matters "even unto death", because giving up one's life for a brother is a major qualifying mark of a redeemer. Another example of this was seen in the family of Jacob; When Reuben was to take Benjamin with the other brothers down to Egypt, he offered the life of his two sons if he were to fail to bring Benjamin back safely. This, however, did not satisfy Jacob and for this, and other reasons, Reuben lost his firstborn position and rights as leader of the family. The one who earned this role was Judah, who had learned from His daughter-in-law the righteousness of keeping YHVH's laws that govern a redeemer's office, which in that case was to restore life from the dead (in lieu of Judah's dead sons). When Judah expressed willingness to put his own life on the line for Benjamin, he qualified for the position which his father saw fit to grant him.

In our day the concept of a redeemer in the family is all but lost, hence we have been blinded to the importance of YHVH's plan to restore the creation through a redeemer nation: "For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim" (Romans 8:19).

Adam/Man was given an inheritance that is waiting to be redeemed by a chosen firstborn in the family. Yeshua obviously did not set the creation free, as it was His responsibility to redeem His Father's inheritance. But who is going to redeem Man's inheritance? (ref. Gen. 1:26). In order to answer that question, we need to become aware of the plan of redemption and the importance of bringing together the two trees/sticks of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim. The church at large has only been interested in and occupied by a "Savior", but knows little about Yeshua as a Redeemer. To be saved and go to heaven is basically the vision that has been handed to those who believe. But when we understand YHVH's divine order in humanity, we will not be so interested in the "saving" of our own necks from the wrath of Elohim, but we will enter into the "love of Elohim", taking His viewpoint on the restoration of all things that are spoken through the mouths of His holy prophets from of old.

Ephraim

DISCIPLES

October 19, 2007

Recently the topic of "disciples" has come up in conversation, and so I decided to pursue it further and take a deeper look at this subject, as in the past I have had some problems identifying myself as a "disciple" of Yeshua. In the church system I used to hear the scripture "go into all the world and make disciples…", but it appeared that these disciples were to be after the denomination that they were trained in. Since that is obviously not what Yeshua meant, I had to ask, "What is it to be a disciple of Yeshua?"

When I was involved in the occult, I heard the term "disciples" in connection with the "great Christ light", since Jesus was seen as one of the great masters and teachers of the "way". He was likened to Buddha, Krishna, Moses and Mohamed, who were all "way showers" to "God" and to goodness, righteousness and holiness. However, once my eyes were opened to the gospel of the Kingdom, Yeshua the Messiah and the New Covenant writings of the apostles, I realized that Yeshua was not a "way shower", but The Way, The Truth and The Light. So how is it that we can become disciples, since we cannot be disciples in the way that other adherents attend to their masters? In fact Yeshua says that it is virtually impossible. Here is how Yeshua describes His followers: "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple". "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14, 26; 33). Not only is this a very radical approach, it actually sounds somewhat contradictory to what Yeshua says elsewhere about loving others, and especially the commandment to honor parents.

Yeshua knew who He was and where He had come from, and that no one could follow Him nor become like Him. If this were a possibility then Yeshua would not have needed to come as Savior, Deliverer and Redeemer. And what's more, what Satan had said to Eve in the garden, "you can become like Elohim", would have been true. No one can become like Elohim by being a follower of the Messiah. However, the Father has provided another way, and that is to die and be born again. In doing so we receive His likeness through being born of His Spirit, by faith in what He has given to us through His Son. We cry out "Abba", and that one word tells us who and whose we are, a fact which also points to the nature that we are born of. Thus, even though we still struggle with the power of sin that is at work in us, the fundamental reality is that we are a new creation life inhabiting earth suits.

So how can we become what we already are constituted as? It must be a case of simply maturing. How is it that we mature? Actually it is very similar to what takes place in our natural life. We eat, drink and are also nurtured by others. The apostle writes: "I planted, Apollos watered, but Elohim was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but Elohim who causes the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

If we try to follow Yeshua by our natural feelings and inclinations, we will find ourselves in the same boat as His disciples. Peter, for example, was very bold and declared that he was willing to lay down his life for his Master. However, Yeshua knew Peter's strengths and weaknesses as a human being and thus answered him: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times". The twelve men who followed their Master were kept as His disciples by the power of His Heavenly Father, and not by any will power or natural inclination. Didn't Yeshua have hundreds of disciples at one point? But it took only a word to expose their true motives, after which they all left Him. "Unless you eat my body and drink my blood…" was the most repulsive idea imaginable to His fellow Jews.

One of the basic tenants of the gospel is: "I have died and it is no longer I that live, but Messiah who lives in me". The nature of Yeshua's life is the same as His Father's. And, believe it or not, so is ours in spite of the residue of sin that still works in our members. But as we mature in our true nature and life in the Spirit of Holiness, we become examples to others just as the apostle wrote: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you" (2 Thessalonians 3:7). "And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Yeshua the Messiah might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16). Here we have the secret of making a disciple. We become examples or witnesses to others of the indwelling life of the Messiah, making us one another's disciples.

Ephraim

YOU ARE STANDING

September 7, 2007

In this week’s Torah reading of NITZAVIM (Deut. 29:10 – 30:20) we find the chosen people standing before YHVH. They have just received another covenant (Deut 29: 1) and awesome commands which enumerated the consequences of obedience and disobedience (the blessings and the curses). But were they ready for the final oath that would catapult them into something so fearful, yet so promising as this covenant with the Elohim of their fathers? The conditions were clear, and so was their inherent weakness (which would make meeting the requirements almost impossible).

How could YHVH subject these men, women and children to such laws, when He already knew that they were born of the “sin nature”, and would thus miss the mark of Torah and suffer the consequences? Moshe said to them: “Yet to this day YHVH has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear” (Deut. 29:4). How unfair it all seemed, or was YHVH concealing His plan in the darkness of the “mystery of iniquity” (2nd Thes.2:7, also Eph.2:1-2)?

A MATTER OF THE HEART

“YHVH has not yet given you...” In this short phrase we see that YHVH holds Himself responsible for the future success, or failure, of His plan. Even after the flood YHVH declared that, “man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). Because of this inherent condition, Moses, under the anointing of the Holy One, begins to prophecy the destiny of the Hebrew people: “And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations, where YHVH your God has driven you…” (Deut. 30:1). Before the Children of Israel had a chance to prove themselves, or even to make any kind of free will choice, YHVH already knew what would happen to them, because of the condition of their heart.

As mentioned, YHVH had made Himself accountable regarding the covenant that He made with the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a covenant replete with blessings of land and fruitfulness that would multiply and spread to all nations. But this covenant (‘of Moav’), issued before entering the land was conditional. Standing before YHVH, they are looking toward the land that they are about to enter, the land of milk and honey promised to their forefathers. However, the conditions for remaining in the land are now hanging over their heads like a seething prophetic refining pot. "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess” (Deut. 30:17-18). It was as if YHVH was using this conditional covenant as a tool to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, and preparing the way for an even greater promise.

YHVH KNOWS...

History reveals that YHVH was true to His word, even though the potential consequences of the Moav Covenant may be interpreted as negative and even disastrous (abounding in curses and not blessings). Some may even venture to condemn the generations of our forefathers for failing to live up to the righteousness of Torah. YHVH, aware of these weaknesses, built into the Sinai Covenant the sacrificial system for atonement and forgiveness of sin to be in effect year after year throughout the cycles of the feasts. But did the Sinai Covenant take care of the condition of the heart? Obviously we would have to answer: “no, it did not”. In fact, it did the very opposite, revealing the corruptness of the heart. Yeshua pointed out this condition, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (7:21-23). This is why Yeshua describes the religious man as a white washed tomb. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mat. 23:27-28).

How was YHVH going to have a People that would become a holy nation (Ex. 19:6), and be His witness (Isa. 43:10,12)? As Moses continues to prophesy we are given one of the first glimpses into the mystery of the will of YHVH (ref. Eph. 1:9-10), and into a covenant that would once and for all deal with the condition of the heart: “YHVH your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deut. 30:6). A door of hope was left open; the destiny of the people was sealed by the prophetic word. The irrevocable calling upon them as YHVH’s people could not fail. YHVH said: “I WILL”, thus leaving no doubt that it was not going to be by the will of man, nor by might, nor by power but by the Spirit of the infallible Word/Torah of YHVH.

THE FINAL COVENANT REVEALED

The seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was called out for YHVH’s namesake, called and chosen to be His firstborn (Ex. 4:22, Jer. 31:9), and, yes, to become YHVH’s possession and inheritance (Deut. 32:9). YHVH was not obligated to take care of them because of who they were. Their seed would become His witness and light to the nations because of His name, and the love that He had for their forefathers (Acts 1:8).

The prophet Ezekiel reiterated these same promising words many years later: “Therefore say to the house of Israel, this is what YHVH Elohim says: ‘It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord’, declares YHVH Elohim, ‘when I show myself holy in you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my Torah. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers, you will be my people, and I will be your God’” (Eze 36:22-28).


Through His covenant-relationship with Israel, YHVH was literally putting His head, His “Godship”, His name (nature) on the “chopping block” of humanity. If He would not have been faithful to carry out His word, His covenant promises, to His people, especially to Abraham, then our faith and trust in Him would be to no avail, and the bible would simply be a book of bad jokes.

Step by step and line upon line God was setting the stage for the final covenant that would accomplish His purpose for the ages. It would be a blood covenant of grace and mercy, a covenant that would embody, fulfill and absorb all the previous covenants. This covenant would include a divine act of circumcising the heart, changing our very nature, in order for us to be able to love YHVH our Elohim with all our heart and with all our soul, and keep the commandments and live. This future covenant guaranteed life, because of the unconditional, unchanging, unfailing love and faithfulness of the God of Israel.

STANDING

Standing before YHVH is often seen as a time of consecration and sanctification, therefore just as our forefathers stood before YHVH, let us stand before this portion of His word, examining its prophetic past and its reality and fulfillment for today. May we conclude and say ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to a Father who is sovereign, just, faithful and true` who keeps covenant and shows mercy; who gives grace and truth through His Redeemer – Messiah Yeshua - who gave His life not only for us but TO us.

Surely, we who have received the grace of the New Covenant, having a circumcised heart that we may understand, eyes to see the reality of the Kingdom of YHVH and ears to hear His Word, can agree with the statement from this week’s portion: “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deut. 30:11-14).

Ephraim

FOR HIS NAME SAKE

August 31, 2007

I don't know if you are like me, but I have really been fighting and struggling to overcome the power of sin, the world of lusts, and the devil. Reading the letters to the "congregations" in the book of Revelation, I noticed that they were all promised some wonderful things if they would only "overcome".

I had to ask myself if I'm any closer to this ideal than I was 35 years ago, when I first received the Life of the Messiah and the Spirit of Holiness. After so many years why am I still struggling in certain areas? Scripture says "… young men, because you are strong, and the word of Elohim abides in you,.. you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14). When I looked at the mirror, it told me that I was a bit passed the young part. But are there any "young men" in the body of Messiah who have overcome the evil one? I had to ponder. There are a lot of wonderful people, but have they "overcome" the power of sin that is working in their members (ref. Romans 7: 23)?

Being a special education teacher, I had to examine to see if I had missed something in my spiritual early childhood development, which could be a handicap in my present spiritual walk. In his writings to little children, John the Apostle gave me a clue as to what may be my problem: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake…and… "You know the Father…" (1 John 2:12, 13). Knowing that my sins are forgiven is not a problem, but what struck me was the last part of the statement: "for His name's sake". What is the meaning of "for His name's sake", and does it have something to do with knowing the Father? Could it be that in all my "Christian" education I never learned nor saw anyone living for the Father's "name sake"?

One of the first verses I had to memorize many years ago was, "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). I knew, back then, that Jesus overcame and that that was sufficient to get me to heaven. However, the first part of the verse was left out for some reason. "You are of Elohim [His name's sake] little children and have overcome them [the spirits that are not from Elohim]" (1 John 4:4). Overcoming seems to take place during childhood, as this is also the time in which one gets to know one's parents. "Little children you know the Father" (1 John 2:13). Yeshua said, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), and Peter, quoting from the Torah, writes, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 19:2).

I believe that belonging to YHVH, for His Name's Sake, is not just carrying the label of His name, but the very life and nature of the Father. Thus in order to overcome, our faith must take us into the Father's gospel-reality; that means that our identity is in fact no longer ours, but our Heavenly Father's through Yeshua our Messiah: "For you have died and your life is hidden with Messiah in Elohim. When Messiah, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4). Getting to know Him is getting to know who we are as His children, as His body, as His nation Israel. Hence, my overcoming is not going to be based on how hard I work at defeating sin and the world, but on recognizing that my sins were forgiven me not for my name's sake, but for His and that victory and overcoming are based on knowing the Father's righteousness and His life in me. "For whoever is born of Elohim overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith" (1 John 5:4). "And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of Elohim?" (1 John 5:5).

Over the years I have written about the importance of firstborn, and that according to Scripture all first fruit and firstborn belong to Elohim. That means that they are His and are here for His name's sake. Yeshua was the perfect example, He was not just the only begotten Son of Elohim, but He was also the firstborn of creation and firstborn from the dead (ref. Colossians 1: 15-18). Yeshua overcame because He knew who and what He was as a firstborn redeemer, and lived for His Father's Name sake. We too are likened to the first fruit of the new creation (ref. James 1: 18), but not only of the 'new', we are also of the 'old'; "Israel is my firstborn" (Exodus 4:22); "Ephraim is my firstborn" (ref Jeremiah 31:9). As firstborn, we belong to YHVH Elohim for His name's sake. This is seen in YHVH's response to us through the prophet Ezekiel:

"Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says YHVH Elohim, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. "And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I amYHVH," declares YHVH Elohim, "when I prove Myself holy in you in their sight" (Ezekiel 36: 22-23).

May it be so!

Ephraim

REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

August 10, 2007

"Here goes another message…" you are thinking… "about the church replacing the Jews, or the House of Judah (Jews) replacing the House of Joseph/Israel…" No, not this time! The issue at hand is altogether different - it is one that is even more serious, incurring dire consequences. It has to do with replacing YHVH's commandments, especially the first one: "You shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6: 5; Matthew 22:37).

Why did Yeshua teach us that of all the commandments, this one is the most important? In fact, He even indicated that all the others are contingent upon this one. Thus, if we do not keep this command, the others are rendered as of no effect. Have we unwittingly replaced this commandment with perhaps hundreds of others? Have we added to or taken away from this most important Torah ruling?

YHVH warned Israel: "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHVH your Elohim which I command you… whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32). Adding to or taking away from the Word of Elohim also constitutes a form of replacement theology. In any language, if letters are removed from words; added or replaced (especially the consonants), the meaning will be changed and in many cases lost altogether. Yeshua, speaking to his disciples said that "until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Torah, until all is accomplished" (Matthew 5:18). Yeshua did not come to do away with the Torah, but rather to fulfill and bring clarity to it as seen, for example, in what is called the "Sermon on the Mount".

YHVH warned Israel what would happen to them if they did not walk according to His instructions: "Your eyes have seen what YHVH has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, YHVH your Elohim has destroyed them from among you. But you who held fast to YHVH your Elohim are alive today, every one of you" (Deuteronomy 4: 3-40).

In the wisdom of the Proverbs we get a glimpse at how dangerous it is to add to YHVH's word: "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6). Revelation 21:8 reveals to us that "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

The positive side, however, is that there is a wonderful promise to those who do obey YHVH's instruction: "My son, forget not my Torah; but let your heart keep my commandments: For length of days and years of life, and peace they will add to you" (Proverbs 3:1-2 emphases added). If you are like me, I really struggle with loving my Heavenly Father with all my heart, soul and strength. It seems that the battle rages inside me to keep this from being my primary goal. Each and every day I become occupied with so many other thoughts, words and actions. And as I reflect back on the day, just thinking about that commandment may have only been a momentary or fleeting experience. It is obvious that this does not come naturally to us and it takes effort to embrace and cling to this most important injunction.

The Torah instructions disclose to us that YHVH our Elohim tests us to see if we will love Him. One such acid test, which proves whether there is a heart to love YHVH or not, is the enticement by a prophet or dreamer of dreams who performs signs and wonders in order to draw us (Israel) to follow (love) other gods and serve them (ref. Deuteronomy 13:3). When our forefathers were taken through the desert, Elohim confided in them His reason for having led them that way: "And you shall remember all the way which YHVH your Elohim has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

It seems that YHVH gives us wilderness experiences each and every day, for this same reason. Are we making excuses during these times, complaining about the circumstances or people that He has placed in our path, or do we see them as opportunities to love Him with all our heart, soul and strength?

The most important aspect of our Heavenly Father's relationship with us is the intimacy through a heart of love. I pray that we have not replaced this first and most important commandment for another. Perhaps one of the reasons that our Creator gave us the Shabbat is so that we would have at least one day out of the week to practice loving Him. But if we have not known His love for us, and we do not express with all our hearts love towards Him, it will be very difficult to find that inner peace that brings the rest and a true Shabbat experience.

Ephraim

TAKING OUT A NATION

August 3, 2007

In last week's letter I suggested that we are living in the days of restoration, which brought to mind something Moshe said to Israel upon their entrance to the good land: "… has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as YHVH your Elohim did for you in Egypt before your eyes?" (Deuteronomy 4:34).

Was the above scripture played out once again over the past hundred years, when the first nation/stick of Judah (see Eze 37:16) was taken out of the nations by the mighty hand of the Almighty, and brought back to the land? Were there not two world wars during this time? If this is what it took to bring a remnant of the first nation out; what about the second nation "in the hand of Ephraim" (Ezekiel 37: 19 Zechariah 10)? Is this the scenario which is unfolding before our eyes? Will we see great terrors, trials, signs, wonders and wars? There is much resistance by religious authorities to this biblical understanding, namely to the fact that YHVH has these two witness nations of Judah and Israel and that they are to be restored into one nation in the land. Never-the-less, YHVH's Word is the "same yesterday, today and forever". And since He is watching over His Word to perform it, it really does not make much difference what man thinks, although YHVH does grant windows of time for repentance.

Many of you responded positively to last week's letter (DDD), for which I would like to thank you. I would also like to add that none of us can foretell the future, but we can have fun looking at the horizon and analyzing what we see. The following is a portion of a letter that I received last week:

"What we've witnessed many times is the "Chicken Little syndrome", where someone is crying the sky is falling..., and it leads to the "Boy who cried wolf" syndrome where folks then tend to become numb, complacent and will cease to rightly respond. We do not want to be watchmen who are like mute dogs that cannot sound a warning, but as we're peering to the horizon to see what may be coming, we need to have the object in focus before we start crying battle. We have to be still, and press our ears to hear and wait on Father".

With that in mind, I am going to 'take a shot' at what I perceive to be Syria's reason for flexing its muscles on its border with Israel. The Syrians are well aware of the consequences that they would have to face, should they attack Israel. Hence I believe their reason for feigning military aggression is in order to force the UN and the US to put pressure on Israel to abide by UN-resolutions which address the handing over of all territories, and the creation of a PA State. Assad also feels compelled to demonstrate strength of leadership and a posture of 'standing up' to Israel. Should a Syrian threat be imminent and in earnest, Israel could make use of a preemptive attack. It doesn't appear, however, that Olmert is ready to do that, especially with Peres, who wants peace at all costs, at the helm. Thus, in the course of this past week all kinds of diplomatic efforts were made, and voices (including from the Bush government) were heard making pronouncements regarding the emergence of a PA State before the American President leaves office.

On the other hand efforts have been made on the part of some moderate Western Islamic clerics to deplore Muslim extremists. One even went so far as to point his finger directly at the Saudis, who are the ones financing the building of mosques and perpetuating their particular brand of Islam (Wahabbism) which is the most extreme sect within Suni Islam. This cleric advised the Bush administration to stop supporting the Saudi regime. But lo and behold, guess who is now behind the most recent peace initiative? Do you want to laugh or cry?

As far as war is concerned, we in Israel are at war with Hezbollah and Hamas. As to the Saudis, our government is willing to sit down with them (with the backing of the USA) and at least in principle accept their plan, which is nothing more than another version of UN resolution 224 and 338 and motivated by mega bucks. At this point we will have to wait and see what will come out of it. Could this be one more prop on the stage of the land division scene (Joel 3:2), very specifically "the mountains of Israel" which consist of what is commonly called the West Bank? In Ezekiel 36:1-4 the enemies declare that those areas belong to them.

But in contrast, the Elohim of Israel says: "I will make them [Judah and Israel] one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms" (Ezekiel 37:22).

Ephraim

D-D-D

July 27, 2007

For the past six months (and longer) there have been numerous predictions of war. Just as Yeshua predicted, that are not only wars, but also plenty of "rumors of wars". With the advent of the Internet we have surely fulfilled the quota of this prophecy. This generation of Believers appears to be afflicted with a syndrome that may be termed DDD (Deceptive Disinformation Dissemination).

I'm sure by now you have heard or seen the following:

"If war between Syria and Israel is indeed imminent the message calls for our most urgent intercession. It is interesting to note that… and his team recently commented that Syria is currently closing its borders and withdrawing all its personnel from Lebanon. Hal Lindsay backed up this info in his report on SKY TV on the evening of the 17th July and hinted at all out war."
Here is another email:

"Today we had business to do in Jerusalem, so we left our home at 7 am and traveled down the east side of the Galilee, through Bet Shean and past the check point at Sede Trimot in the Jordan Valley.

Once we entered the Jordan Valley as we passed through the Arab agricultural areas we noticed the following which is most unusual;

1. There were no people visible working the in the fields.
2. There were no children along the side of the road.
3. There were no tractors or other farm vehicles anywhere to be seen.
4. All of the vegetables had been completely harvested and the fields were 100% empty.
5. No preparation of the fields was evident for the next planting...Plastic was everywhere from the prior crop.
6. The greenhouses had no plants in them.....
7. The vegetable stands that are normally filled to the brim from the harvest were completely vacant.
8. This is the peak season for growing vegetables in the Jordan Valley, yet everything had been harvested and nothing was growing waiting to be harvested or picked.

We concluded our business in Jerusalem and got back on the road again about 2:45 pm
Heading north up the Jordan Valley. Again, no people, no fruit stands, no crops, nothing!"

Because there is such an interest in end-times and particularly in Israel's involvement in it, some Believers have become so obsessed with what they think or perceive to be a part of this scenario that they end up with what I call "end-time paranoia". Some friends in our fellowship traveled through this same area, going from Jerusalem to the North, and saw what would seem a complete opposite state of affairs. One has to realize that the Jordan Valley during the summer, especially at certain times of the day, is so hot (120 degrees is not unusual) that it would not allow the presence of anyone in the fields. Living in Samaria, surrounded by Arab villages and farms, we have been watching our neighbors busy in their fields and selling their fruit alongside the roads. Thus there is nothing that would confirm the above description.

Having some kind of reputation, does not make one ministry or another an authority on the prophetic. Many a time such "prophecies" are backed up by the claim that the "resulting intercession" changed the prophetic destiny. We must learn how to cast down every thought and imagination that exalt themselves against the knowledge of the sovereignty of the Most High Elohim.

Another email was just sent to us, of which came from a Messianic pastor here in Israel:
"For those of you considering travel to Israel but are concerned about security issues and the imminent threat of war I want to encourage you and your families. I personally see no indication of war against Israel in the immediate future, despite numbers of disturbing reports. Frankly I am concerned by the irresponsibility of some of these reports and so called, 'prophetic words.'I do believe in the prophetic and I believe that God warns through his prophets. This is all the more reason that we must be more careful in issuing prophetic alerts, so that we do not become skeptical of the true prophetic because of so many misguided, emotionally based warnings. We all remember the boy who cried 'wolf.'"

I believe that we are in the days of restoration, even though the times may be very turbulent. We therefore need to fix our eyes on the one who is faithfully fulfilling His words that He spoke to our forefathers and the prophets of old. Yes, there is a need for intercessors, but of the kind that are led by the Spirit, understand and are established in "present truth", desiring to cooperate with YHVH and not configure imaginary end time scenarios.

Ephraim

A DESERT'S SECRET

June 1, 2007

This week we would like to take you on an adventure that we were privileged to experience last week. A while back we received an invitation from some friends, to spend two days with them after Shavuot in the Negev desert by the Egyptian border. The place just happens to be in one of the main areas where our forefathers set up camp, after leaving Egypt. Today there are a number of Israeli settlements in that locale, one of which is called by the region's ancient name, Kadesh - Barnea.

We gathered in a local charming and simple guest facility, something of a Bedouin desert inn with a Mexican touch, spread out accommodations and a herd of camels for neighbors. After an evening of songs of praise under the starlit skies, tea and coffee by the fire pit, cheerful hilarity and exchanges with other guests, our little group headed to the one room bungalow to find our mats and sleeping bags. We tried to arrange the mats in such a way that our feet would not be too close to someone else's nose. During the night the stillness was intercepted occasionally by the sounds of sleepers, from all around. At one point Rimona was hushing what she thought was a cat, only to find out that someone was coming back in, after using the outdoor toilet. The early morning is such a beautiful time in the desert that most were up for a walk, or sat outside by the camp fire drinking a cup of sugar with either tea or coffee in it, reading scriptures and praising the Creator. Soon it was time for the buffet style breakfast of salads, cheeses, bread and eggs. As we all set around on floor mats, Bedouin style, we discussed the coming jeep tour.

The desert is always fascinating, and at times may even disclose some of its secrets to the observant (or fortunate) visitor. Our friend, tour guide and driver, Eyal, moved to this region with his family about four years earlier. He had been doing quite a bit of researching and investigating of the biblical significance of the area. Investing time, zeal, and arduous efforts Eyal has become party to some of the desert's most precious mysteries, especially concerning biblical events that have taken place there.

The eight of us (plus our guide/driver) settled into the vehicle that was to carry us to an unknown destiny across gorges, hills, and river beds. After an interesting and rather rough journey, which to our surprise unveiled much of the desert's hidden beauty of green, yellow and purple flora, we finally arrived at our destination.

Eyal had kept us in suspense until we were actually standing at the spot, where our eyes fell on a semi circular shallow basin-like structure, about the size of a two man tent and surrounded by rocks that had been piled up to form a wall. In the middle of the floor was a small pillar. The archeologists who uncovered this back in the 1970's were astonished to find these small structures all over the area. After giving us some general background about archeology, and especially about the prevailing dating system, Eyal expounded on the stony structures, surrounding us. Archeology, it appears, does not favor the bible as a source of facts and information, to put it mildly. Thus, according to the experts, a very large group of nomads had stayed for a while in that area and then disappeared. But because of an obsolete, but still venerated dating system, the archeologists will not even consider the Israelites as a possibility, but at the same time are not able to agree as to whom those nomads were, and their possible motive for camping in that arid part of the world. To our eyes, however, it was obvious that this was the campsite of the Israelites, and that the structures we were viewing were what the bible calls "succas", or temporary shelters. The middle pillar evidently held the roof, which was made up of branches, or possibly skins or cloths of some kind.

Bones of kosher animals were also found in the area, as well as stone mortars and pestles, although without as much as a seed, grain, cereal or shell, which always accompany such findings. As puzzling as that fact is to the intellectual researchers, to the bible believer it is crystal clear, namely that these stone mills were used to grind the manna. Given its special nature, this substance would not have left any remains.

After walking through this area, Eyal took us to another site, where we viewed large piles of rocks, about four feet high and six feet in diameter. The archeologists who uncovered these constructions concluded that they were graves, all empty except for an occasional tooth or small bone. Interestingly, a permanent graveyard, which was excavated in the hills north of Jericho, seems to have held the answer to the mystery of the empty tombs in this part of the Negev. The tombs that were discovered in the latter site, contrary to the earlier ones, were full of bones but it was obvious that these bones were transported from somewhere else. Additionally, no idols were found in those graves, which indicated that the buried originated from a culture and religion different from the local one of the time.

Having seen so closely our forefathers' homes and resting places, and the evidence of the exactness and veracity of the biblical record, was most inspiring and up building. It made history truly His Story, and not a mere series of past events, a Story that is couched in eternity which we can experience in our own 'here and now'.

Ephraim

A SHAVUOT STORY

May 26, 2007

It was a bright and beautiful spring morning with a hint of an impending heat wave. The olive trees dotting the landscape added silvery hues to the golden light. But even more spectacular was the light that was reflecting from the Temple, commanding, in all its glory, Mount Moriah to the west. As the smoke was rising from the morning sacrifices, it caught the sunrays and appeared to be sending them back to the heavens from whence they came. It was the 40th day of the Counting of the Omer. It might have even been Rosh Chodesh (that is the first day of the third month). For a number of days now, during the Counting, the little band of students followed their Master to this lovely spot, to listen to him speak about the Kingdom of Elohim. But today things seemed different. Yeshua was not the same as He had been in the past little while. Something was in the air…

One of the disciples whispered over to the other, as they began their ascent toward the summit of the Mount of Olives, “Do you recall what He said to us a few days before Passover, words we did not understand then?” “Yes,” replied the listener, “He said, 'in a little while you will not see Me, and again a little while you we will see Me, because I go the Father.'” Another disciple, half listening in to the conversation, suddenly butted in, “that’s right, the Master told us that there would come an hour in which we would remember the things He had told us.” Yeshua, walking just a few paces ahead, was smiling as He overheard their talk.

They nearly reached the summit, when a follower of the disciples who had been within earshot, asked them to fill him in on what Yeshua had told them. All three began to respond to the inquirer all at once. Then suddenly they all stopped, just as quickly as they had started. Smiling and laughing at each other, as they were gesturing with their hands, they knew instinctively who should answer this time. It was Yochanan. The beloved disciple began to describe the episode that had occurred just before the fateful day of their teacher’s arrest. He told the young man that had Yeshua not done among the people and the religious leaders the works which He had done, the latter would not have been guilty of sin; but now, after having witnessed His deeds, their response demonstrated their hatred for Him, and also for His Father. "This," Yochanan added, "happened that the word from Psalm 35;19 'they hated Me without a cause', might be fulfilled." He then proceeded to tell the young fellow that Yeshua had spoken to them about a Helper whom He would send to them from the Father. “Yeshua said that this Spirit, which He called the Spirit of Truth, would come forth from the Father and that He would testify as to who Yeshua really was, and because of His presence we also, who have been with Yeshua from the beginning, would bear witness to the Truth.” Yochanan continued breathlessly as they climbed together. "These things Yeshua spoke to us, that we should not stumble. Yeshua further said that we would be put out of the synagogues; yes, even that a time would come that whosoever kills us will think that he is doing Elohim a favorable service. These things they will do to us because they have not known the Father, or the Messiah. Our Master told us these things, so that when the time comes we would remember these things and be ready. He did not tell us these things at first because He was with us, but now that He was going back to the One who sent Him, He wanted to warn us. Amazingly none of us had asked Him where He was going, although His words were very troublesome to us and our hearts were filled with sorrow. But then He said something very strange. He told us that His going away would be to our advantage. That did not make sense to us at all. Who is this Helper whom He was talking about, who will not come to us unless Yeshua would go away? Only if He departs, would He then send this Helper to us, and when the Helper comes He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

The man was very perplexed over these words, but before he could ask, “where is Yeshua going?” they had arrived at the summit. A feeling of awe and deep reverence swept their hearts, as Yeshua turned to face them. His voice was stern and commanding when He told them not to leave Jerusalem before the Father’s promise is fulfilled. They all looked at one another, expecting someone to ask the inevitable question, “Where are you going and when will you return?”

Yet no one spoke. But the silence which surrounded them did not still their minds. They remained preoccupied with thoughts on the previous days’ teachings about the Kingdom of Elohim. Their expectations were aroused once again by Yeshua’s words about the coming Kingdom. Was He now going to lead them into Jerusalem in a triumphant march of victory, and set up His Kingdom over Israel? They had such hopes before His death! And oh how terribly disappointed and devastated they were when He hung on the execution tree! But now, after His reappearance, their hopes had been rekindled with the passion to see the Kingdom restored to Israel.

The impetuous students could no longer resist, and turning to Yeshua asked Him point blank: “Is it at this time that You are going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” All eyes remained fixed upon His gentle face, as He answered them candidly in a matter of fact tone: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Sprit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1: 7-8). Before those standing around could gather their thoughts, a mist began to appear over and around the Messiah. To their amazement He began to rise along with the cloud and soon evaporated out of sight.

Standing there on top of that mountain gazing in wonderment at the blue sky, nothing seemed to be real to the bewildered band. No more questions and no more answers. A feeling of disbelief descended upon them. But the dramatic scene was not over yet. Two men dressed in white appeared from nowhere and stood in front of them. Where had they come from? No one knew. These mysterious characters, however, seemed to recognize them and even knew where they were from. “Men of Galilee! “, they announced, “Why do you stand looking into the sky? Yeshua who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1: 11).

Total silence enveloped them as they trekked back down the mountain. Crossing the bridge in front of the Temple they hurriedly made their way back to the upper room, where they had been staying while they counted the Omer with their Master. Now the Messiah was no longer with them. All that lingered were His departing words, calling for them to remain in Jerusalem. Fishing in the Sea of Galilee seemed now like a faraway dream, yet the Teacher’s words to them, of becoming fishers of men still held them captive. Together with one mind and in prayer they finished the Counting of the Fifty Days.
When the Feast Day arrived, they were still together in that same room. Suddenly a sound of a violent rushing wind cut through the place, and then appeared what looked like "tongues of fire". Right then they were filled with that which was promised by the Father. Stunned by the overwhelming presence of the Spirit, they reeled back and forth like drunkards and spoke in strange languages. Although eying each other, as if they were strangers, they now felt that they had knowledge of, and an intimacy with their Elohim and Messiah which they had never thought possible. Bathing in the Father’s love, they went into the streets and with little effort spoke in the languages of those present, convicting them of sin, righteousness and judgment. They expounded the truth of Torah in a new and living way, healing the sick, lame and blind, casting out demons as if the authority of heaven was in their very mouths. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that this was Yeshua’s answer to their question about the Kingdom being restored to Israel. They were now the witnesses to that Kingdom, which came into them via the Spirit of Holiness. Later, one of the apostles would put this experience, of the indwelling Spirit, into perspective by saying that the “Kingdom of Elohim is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

As we approach the 50th day of the counting of the Omer, let us continue to pray with one heart as our Messiah has taught us: “Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Holy be your Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” His Kingdom has come into our hearts by the Holy Spirit’s presence, but now are we prepared to do His will?

Ephraim

GET TOGETHER

May 18, 2007

Hopefully by now you have become acclimated to being called an "Israelite". Moreover, to some of you the Spirit has revealed your specific tribal identity. Others, on the other hand, feel that they are Gentiles, while there are those who know that they are of Judah and others refer to themselves as Ephraimites. Our national/natural identity is indeed very important, so long as it does not cause us to lose our sense of identity and unity with and in Messiah Yeshua.

Paul declared something about himself that most of us would like to ignore. However, that statement is so important to our own oneness/unity that it bears considering and reading over and over, until it is fully absorbed: "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Messiah. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Master, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Messiah and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which is from Elohim by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3: 4-11). In addition, although a born-again Believer and a seasoned apostle, Paul viewed himself as a "wretched man" (Romans 7: 24).

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not trying to make light of the natural identity. Without a doubt, it is a very significant factor. It is very much a part of our testimony and witness to YHVH's faithfulness to His covenants, and to that which He spoke through His prophets of old. However, we do not only have an earthly testimony; there is also a heavenly one to which we bear witness.

Writing to the Ephesian Believers, both Jews and non-Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, the Apostle highlights their first point of unity: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Even with all of the Jewish and Torah keeping credentials, he came to realize that he was no different than any other person.

In that famous Chapter 11 of Romans, Paul notes that "Elohim gave up all", and that means all mankind, to disobedience (ref Romans 11:32). If YHVH has given all up to this condition, no one is exempt. Thankfully Paul doesn't stop there, but introduces another point regarding our unity/togetherness, as is seen in the following verses: "But Elohim, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua" (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Isn't that wonderful? By His grace and love YHVH made us alive together with Messiah, raised us up with Him and caused us to sit together with Him, and hence with one another. Psalm 133 tells us how pleasant and how important it is for brothers to sit/dwell/be in unity. YHVH redeemed and restored us in order for us to participate in an administration that for ages was hidden in Himself, but has now been made known to us and through us (that is, if we are sitting together in Messiah) to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (ref. Ephesians 3: 9-10).

Wow! Just think, at first we were all together under the influence of the prince and power of the air, and the spirit that was working in us was the same one that works in all the sons of disobedience… But because of His great love and grace, He has now taken us out of the kingdoms of this world's darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). The nature of this kingdom of light is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (ref Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are evident in those who are seated together in these heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua. As a result we are now ruling over the spirits that once ruled us.

Since we are called to such an incredible place, the Apostle implores us "to be worthy of this calling by putting on humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4: 1-3). With that let us greet one another with a hearty and fragrant….

Ephraim

YA'ACOV MY SERVANT

May 11, 2007

"Who has performed and accomplished it, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I YHVH the first, and am with the last. I am He" (Isaiah 41:4). Rephrased this verse would read: "I YHVH, the first and the last, have performed and accomplished it, calling the generations from the beginning." Because YHVH is speaking here very specifically about the life of Ya'acov in his progeny throughout all its generations, we, who have his life in this generation, are assured of His continual involvement, until He will fully accomplish His word and purpose for the whole house of Ya'acov.

"But you, Israel, My servant, Ya'acov whom I have chosen, descendant of Avraham My friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts, and said to you, 'you are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your Elohim. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand'" (Isaiah 41: 8-10). These words from the Elohim of Ya'acov, especially to those of us who have come from the "rejected" side of his house (meaning the lost tribes), are very encouraging and comforting, indicating that YHVH is "watching over His word to perform it" (Jeremiah 1:12).

YHVH warns those who content with or war against His servants, but at the same time tells us (Israel/Ya'acov) not to fear: "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent. For I am YHVH your Elohim, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'do not fear, I will help you'" (Isaiah 41:11-13).

The greatest challenge that we, as the redeemed of Israel have, is to contend with the spirits of unbelief and doubt. However, these two messengers of Satan are discernable because of their modus operandi (mode of operation) of exalting themselves above the knowledge of the Word of Elohim (ref. 2 Corinthians 10:5). In this generation of the seed of the forefathers, we are being challenged like never before: from the cares and the riches of the world, to wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters, and in particular the rise of the sword of Islam. The frogs are croaking the message of "fear" from every avenue of communication. But in the case of YHVH's redeemed remnant, fear should not be a motivating factor in decision making. We need to be strong in the strength of His "Righteous Right Hand", whom we know as Yeshua our Messiah and our righteousness.

If we will humble ourselves and pray, YHVH will answer and will not forsake us. He will open rivers on the bare heights; springs in the midst of the valleys. He will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water (ref. Isaiah 41:17-18).

In this generation we need to know who we are and to whom we belong. We are His redeemed remnant "Israel", His servant. We are here and alive in Messiah for His namesake, that is, we are to be a manifestation of His nature. This is first seen in our families, and then in our relationships with one another in the body of Messiah.

May our studies of Torah (scriptures) this week be accompanied by "faith, hope, and love", all of which, working together, establish us in the unity of His Kingdom, as a holy nation and royal priesthood.

As we enter into His Shabbat, "let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
Ephraim

ISRAELITE IDENTITY

April 27, 2007

It has been a number of years now since I have started using this introduction (namely "fellow Israelite"), to reinforce our identity as a redeemed Jewish or Gentile person in Messiah. Many believers are coming into what is termed the "Hebraic roots". This must translate itself into a national identity, and not into a religious uniqueness of sorts. Peter, writing to both Gentiles and Jews, declares that we are a "Holy Nation" (ref Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). Doesn't this nation have a name, or is it devoid of one? Paul gives us a clue in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

"Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision " by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah" (Ephesians 2:11-13).

He continues to write to these two people groups (that are in Messiah), telling them that the wall of partition has been broken down, and that they have become one within the same house, through the life (blood) of the Redeemer. He goes on to say that there is no Jew or Greek (ref Col 3:11), but yet all are identified with Messiah, thus with Israel. He is calling his audience "former Gentiles" who are now Israelites. Perhaps Jewish believers need to come to the same understanding; i.e. that they too were formally Jewish but now are Israelites. This puts both parties on notice that they do not belong to themselves, but to Him who has made them one people through His divine nature and has begotten a new creation and a holy nation.

But is this commonwealth of Israel only a spiritual reality, or does its witness include being a part of the physical fulfillment of Biblical prophecy? Are the redeemed Jews the only ones in this new family that the fulfillment of prophecy is referring to, or are all Israelites included? Are we one, or are we not? Do we belong to the same commonwealth or are there two, one for the Jew and another for the Gentile-cum-Israelite? In fact, if this is the case then there must be two covenants, one with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and one with all those who are not of this genus.

While the Spirit is drawing the believing community to the roots of YHVH's plan for the redemption and restoration of His kingdom to all Israel, there are some who are falsely charging us, of telling non-Jews in Messiah that they are to become Jewish. Just to set the record straight; we are declaring, in accordance with the words of the prophets and apostles, that we are all Israelites. Those who are dividing the body of Messiah through false accusation, jealousy, or resentment are not walking in love, or in the reality of the Gospel. If our spiritual enemy and our natural ones can prevent us from becoming a royal priesthood and holy nation, they will have won the battle without too much resistance on our part. As a royal priesthood we are to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice (ref Romans 12:1), casting down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim (ref 2 Corinthians 10:5). It is very important that we all understand what it means to be an Israelite, YHVH's firstborn nation (ref. Exodus 4:22).

Ephraim

BEES, FISHERS AND HUNTERS

April 20, 2007

I'm sure most of you have been watching the News, of the latest mass killing that just took place in the U.S.A. Another loss that is taking place in great proportions in many nations, that is only now beginning to make headlines, is the disappearance of the honey bee, especially in the United States and Europe. This fact in the long run could spell disaster for the food chain and affect the crops. The experts are calling this phenomenon, "colony collapse syndrome". It is thought that the cellular phone antennas are causing the bees to loose their homing capabilities. The word for "bee" in Hebrew is "d'vorah", stemming from the root d.v.r which is the root for the verb "to speak". We thought it quite ironic, or perhaps prophetic of the last days when the "Word of Elohim" - "Dvar YHVH" - is being confused by the multitudes of man's communication devices and as a result His people have lost their ability to return to their home in "Zion", not to mention the collapse of the family unit, which is breaking down human society.

Speaking of homing capabilities, a few years ago I intermittently sent my personal testimony, as part of the weekly Friday letters. Close to the time of completion of this series, Batya Wootten suggested to compile the letters into a book. This is now history as the book came out about two years ago. It is called "Return to the Land - an Ephraimite's Journey Home", published by Key of David Publishing. Over an eight year period I have written over 350 Friday letters, along with other articles on a variety of subjects, in addition I have traveled and given lectures and seminars on the theme of the "Gospel of the kingdom in the Torah and Prophets". Yet the main thrust of these teachings has been the exposition of YHVH's plan of redemption, and its connection to the restoration of His kingdom to the whole House of Israel.

A friend of ours has taken much of this material and has come up with an essay, which is her own elucidation of this theme, that is - "The Restoration of YHVH's Kingdom to Israel". I too have compiled a manuscript with more of an emphasis on unlocking YHVH'S plan for the redemption of the creation. With the permission of this friend, I will be putting her manuscript on a blog site. At the same time, I may be sending out, periodically in chapter form, the manuscript I had composed as the weekly Friday letter. As I stated in an earlier letter, all revelation knowledge belongs to the Spirit of Holiness who has been sent to teach us and guide into all truth. Thus, the glory does not belong to man but to the name that is above all names. We all see through a glass darkly, so if I have added things that are not clear or that reflect my own understanding or interpretation, I trust that you will be so kind as to forgive and even give me some scriptural guidance.

We are presently living in a period of the outpouring of YHVH's Spirit, an outpouring which is leading us into "present truth". There are, therefore, many in the Body of Messiah who are seeing and hearing these same truths and are sharing them, so that others may be edified and receive confirmation as to what the Spirit is, in turn, revealing to them. YHVH is currently in the process of bringing the nations to the Valley of Jehosaphat ("Yah's judgments"); we therefore need Him to reveal to us as much truth as possible, so that we will not be ensnared by the deception of the growing "Anti-Messiah" spirit.

Over the past hundred and fifty years, YHVH has been sending the fishers out to bring the message of the Gospel of Yeshua the Savior to all nations. Now He is sending the hunters (Nimrod, Esau, Amalikites, Ishmael) into those same nations by way of Islam.
"Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the LORD, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks" (Jeremiah 16:16).
Because this is of Elohim, nothing will stop their advancement until they accomplish the mission for which they have been sent.

Sadly, many, who have been called out to become disciples of Yeshua, will fall away because of lies which they have been fed concerning YHVH's Word. The Apostles wrote their letters based on the revelation that they had received from the scriptures (Torah, Prophets and Writings) therefore, the New Covenant writings must be confirmed by those same scriptures.

I solicit your prayers and encouragement in order to get this message out. Freely YHVH has given to us His Spirit and freely it must flow to others. We pray that what is happening to the bees will not happen to the redeemed remnant of Judah and Israel/Ephraim.

May Abba richly bless you as you seek first the Kingdom of YHVH and His righteousness in Messiah Yeshua (the Davar of YHVH).

Ephraim

PASSOVER AND OUR NATIONAL UNITY

April 1, 2007

It is quite significant that it was at Passover time that YHVH declared Israel to be His firstborn nation; the only nation that would ever have this status before Him. Israel’s birth as a liberated nation came as a result of the death of a lamb, and its blood having been smeared on the doorposts of the homes. I hope this year we will consider the importance of our unity as YHVH’s redeemed firstborn nation, and what it means to be called an “Israelite”. Paul said that the feasts are but a shadow of things to come: May Abba grant us the ability to see beyond the shadows into the light of His redemptive work through the sacrifice of His lamb (Yeshua). The redemption of the firstborn (the nation of Abraham) means that the creation will be set free by a nation of the sons of YHVH, "saviors" who will come out of Zion and establish His kingdom, as it is written: "Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be YHVH's" (Obadiah 1:21; and ref. Hosea 1:10).

It was over 3,800 years ago, when the Elohim of Jacob sent His family down to Egypt to preserve them. Speaking to His servant Jacob, He said: “I am YHVH, the Elohim of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation [goy] there’” (Genesis 46:3). One of the Hebrew words for “nation” is “goy”. It is first used in the Tanach, in the Covenant that YHVH made with our forefather Abraham, “I will make you a great nation [goy]; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). One man, one Elohim, one Covenant, one national identity; this was at the heart of YHVH’s plan for the redemption of the creation. The Elohim of Abraham set apart a man, and swore by His own name that his seed/sperm would become a great and holy (set-apart) nation.

When Jacob and his band of seventy souls arrived in Egypt, he found another family-member already down there. Joseph and his progeny had lost their identity and connection with their family of origin. Thus, Joseph's children were most likely uncircumcised when their grandfather adopted them, and in a sense formed a prophetic type of the lost tribes of Israel, that is the so called "Gentiles" or the vast company of nations that YHVH had promised to the forefathers. Paul discloses that this hidden company (treasure), in the nations, are those who have (even though uncircumcised) the "faith" of their forefather Abraham (ref Romans chapter 4). Moreover, in Egypt the Children of Jacob also multiplied profusely. This too was a prophetic picture, of a time in which their numerical increase would encompass the entire earth.

Jacob’s family, living in Egypt, eventually became slaves to the lords of the land. While in that state they lost their vision of being a nation, a family and a people with a purpose, and a Divine call. This is portrayed quite vividly in the scene of the two Hebrew slaves, who were fighting one another to their own demise (ref Exodus 2:13). The embittered seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was now characterized by survival instincts. This was only natural, since they were living under extreme conditions, where their captors debased them into mere sub-human slaves. So where was this great nation that was promised to Abraham? His seed, now turned slaves, were cursing the day of their birth. They had become nothing more than dead dry bones in the desert sands of Egypt. So helpless were they that they could not even respond to Moses, when he came to them preaching the good news of their deliverance (ref. Exodus 6:9)!

The Passover story is replete with pestilence, famine and one disaster following another. But when gross darkness covered the land, there was still light in the tents of the Hebrews (ref. Ex.10:23), as the anointing of YHVH’s covenant word (which “is a light”, ref. Ps. 119:105) was still upon them to become a great nation. How was this going to be made possible? It certainly was not going to happen by the nation’s own strength. It was going to take a miracle, a Divine intervention. YHVH, therefore, dispatched a man with a message: “Let My people go”. Moses was faithful to bring that word to the ruler of the slaves, but YHVH hardened the heart of Pharaoh, just to make sure that His people would know that their deliverance was not going to come by the way or authority of man. Had Pharaoh given his permission, these Hebrews would have been forever indebted to their master. They would perpetually be looking to him as their deliverer, and thus would not be able to take up their divinely ordained position as the head of all the nations. In this manner, they would have been bound to Egypt.

YHVH had His plan of restoring these slaves to freedom and to their national identity. He told His servant Moses to, "speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: `On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats…. Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb….then you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning…. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:3-5; 21-22; 13).

The moment the elders applied the blood to the lintels and the doorposts of the Hebrews’ homes, the latter were sealed into deliverance, freedom and destiny. But even beyond that - their dependency on man has just come to an end. They were now united behind the one sacrifice, totally dependent upon the powerful right arm of the Almighty to bring them out. “Let My people go!” YHVH had already announced to Egypt's rulers to whom these people belonged. This was a people that did not belong to itself. They were and still are today “My people, [“ami” -singular] says YHVH”. But now, through the blood of the lamb, they were set apart to enter into the next phase of His plan. “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6).

Whereas harsh conditions and bondage reduce human beings to mere existence, effacing their individual uniqueness, affluence can also keep one in bondage to extreme individualism. Therefore, as we, Israelites (Ephraim and Judah), YHVH’s two families of His one People Israel, gather together to honor Him during this year’s Passover, let us leave our individualism and lift up the cup of unity. Remember that we all were once slaves to sin and death and bound to the principalities and powers of this world’s (kosmos) dominion. It behooves us to, “purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; (nor with strife, contention, bitterness and unforgiveness) but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7-8). May we walk together through the Door that is splattered with the blood of the Lamb, out of the houses of our bondage and into the liberty of the new corporate life of the “One New Man”. The wall of partition in the House of Jacob has been broken down, so let us serve one another in the nature of the new creation person (Yeshua) who is the embodiment of the Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation Israel, Elohim’s firstborn!

May you all be blessed during this Passover and Feast of Matzot (unleavened bread) with a sense of national unity! May the eyes of our hearts be opened anew to the fact that we are “My people Israel” in this generation.

Ephraim

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there YHVH commanded the blessing--Life forevermore” (Ps. 133).