BLESS THE LAND
"...His descendents shall become a multitude of nations." Genesis 48:19
EPHRAIM: GOING ON TO MATURITY
He was taken captive, but is returning and will walk as his father Joseph did and become a blessing to his family, Judah and all Israel.
It is meaningful to put our focus on Ephraim (Church/Ecclesia broadly speaking) in this section. This is because the multitude of Ephraimite Believers--who include the physical descendents of the ten northern tribes of Israel, and companion gentiles also grafted into Israel and dwelling among them--have forgotten their roots and Israelite identity. Therefore, these born-again Believers in Messiah Yeshua are those who need to be discipled in their Hebraic origins, identity, and calling.
Yeshua said in Matthew 28:19-20, " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..." Believers are sent to preach, teach, and prepare disciples for the Master. He did not direct us to merely make converts, stow them away in denominations and fellowships, and nurture them year after year in elementary things, such as salvation, faith issues, and baptism doctrines (Hebrew 6:1-3). This is common in our Christian experience. Yeshua meant that His followers were to teach new believers about the Kingdom of God, the Torah, their Hebraic heritage, and living in the power of the Holy Spirit. They were to learn about the reconciliation of Judah and Ephraim, and participate in the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. In fact, the restoration of Israel the last topic recorded in Scripture that Yeshua and His apostles discussed together (Acts 1:6-8). Believers must know their identity in order to know and accomplish their end-time calling.
Judah knows who he is today. The house of Ephraim (Church/Ecclesia) is rediscovering his identification. We are in the last days.
3. Ephraim is called to a Spirit-filled, sanctified royal priesthood. In fact, the Kahal's/Church's/Ecclesia's completion in spiritual maturity will require that both Ephraim and Judah unite and become a Holy Spirit empowered and led royal priesthood for the nations of the earth. Ephraim, being a people of the Spirit, will recognize and approach this calling, and begin to fulfill it with a great number of fervent people who are Spirit-baptized. The royal priesthood must be intimate in fellowship with YHVH Himself. They must come and stand in the place of His manifest, tangible presence, anointed to minister to the most High in prayer, praise and worship. They will wait (intimate communion) at His table and partake of His bread (truth/revelation), and then teach people under the weight of His Glory; in the overflow of His anointing. In that context Israel hears His voice and is refined by His Holy fire. The coming royal priesthood ministry (including both Judah and Ephraim) will come forth from standing in His Glory with greater understanding and knowledge of Elohim and His Word. This priesthood will clarify and illuminate Scripture through the teaching minsitry of the Ruach thereby resolving disputes of theology and bringing Judah and Ephraim into greater unification. It will be the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit Himself that will produce final reconciliation. One house of Israel simply emulating the other house or attempting to become just like the other will not produce mutual respect or reconciliation. Instead, the royal priesthood, under the illumination and anointing of the Ruach, will be equipped with revelatory ministry which will heal and strengthen both houses of Israel (Exodus 19:5,6; 1 Peter 2:5-9).
4. Ephraim is called to return to the land. Judah is already in the land of Israel and has fought and labored to make it prosperous, and YHVH has helped them. At some point a mature Ephraim will begin to make aliyah to Israel, a few at first followed by more, and take his place along side Judah. "The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion" (Isaiah 35:10). The return of Ephraim to Israel will be the greater exodus spoken of by the prophets (Isaiah 11:10-16; Jeremiah 30:3; Hosea 1:10,11). Both houses will overcome their enemies and settle into the land. The Holy Spirit will help Judah and Ephraim grow in Scriptural knowledge and understanding beyond what they possess at this juncture. Spiritual purification will occur as both houses grow in spirit and truth. They will be unified completely under the Messiah King. The twelve tribes will reside in agreement and unity, and Yeshua will reign over them in a thousand year Sabbath of peace. YHVH will dwell in the midst of His restored and reunited people (Isaiah 11:11-14; Jeremiah 3:6-18; Ezekiel 36:24-29, 37:16-25; Hosea 1:9-11; Revelation 21:1-5).
Returning Israelites, those awakened to their Hebraic foundations, will therefore study and honor the wisdom of the Torah, Sabbath, Feasts of Israel, adjust to a biblical diet, and fellowship with other returning believers when possible. Honoring these practices is not legalism, or coming under oppressive regulations. Adopting or returning to Hebraic customs is not disguised replacement theology. Honoring one's Israelite heritage is not an attempt to become Jewish. It is, however, honoring the Father's written standards for all Israel. It is health for the spirit, soul and body. It is wisdom and it is biblical worship. We are saved by grace through faith in Messiah but grow in holiness and gladness through obedience to the Word of Elohim. Sanctification is the Father's life-long process for believers in becoming like Yeshua, who honored His Father's pathways as He matured. Disciples undergo sanctification by following their Master's example of obedience to His eternal Father. Ephraim will reject paganism and mixing truth with error. The Father is doing a holy work in the hearts of His children, preparing both houses for more sublime fellowship with Him in His kingdom, power, and glory. Yeshua still wants to dwell in the midst of a sanctified and united Israel! (Exodus 40: 34-38; Jeremiah 6:16; Ephesians 4:5).
"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Messiah, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, of instruction about washings and the laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment" Heb. 6:12).
Four ways Ephraim must respond to his family Israel:
1. Ephraim is called to be a helper. The ministry of helps is an important ministry gift for Renewed Covenant Israel and it can bless Judah in many ways. A helper is a deliverer. A helper is also a refuge and an ally against enemies. Ephraim should come forth from dispersion and obscurity content to be a humble servant, a helper secure in his Father's love, and prepared to wash the feet of Judah (even all humanity) when necessary. He must be willing to serve where ever he is needed. A helper is concerned about the needs of others. Yeshua is our example of a servant and helper. He did not seek His own importance and did not promote Himself among men. Instead, He did what He saw His Father do and said what He heard His Father speak, giving glory to Him. After His resurrection, Yeshua sent the Holy Spirit to be our Helper in our new walk as love-servants of the Messiah. Let us go forth led by the Spirit and be helpers to Israel and Judah, as was our Messiah, and likewise concerned with giving glory to YHVH only (Matthew 25:21; Luke 12:47; John 13:14-16; Romans 16:1-16; Galatians 5:13).
2. Ephraim is called to be a watchman. Of course, all renewed covenant believers, Jews and non-Jews, share the call of watchmen. But Ephraim is uniquely positioned and anointed to set an example of the end-times watchman ministry. In Israel Christians are called Notzrim. Notzrim means "watchman" or "guardian". A watchman guards the people, land, and city (Jerusalem) of the living Elohim. The watchman watches for the good that is coming and proclaims it, encouraging and preparing people. He watches also for enemies, alerts the people when they come, and stands unyielding against them. YHVH's watchmen resist spiritual wickedness, powers and principalities (Ephesians 6:10-18), and fight using prophetic intercessions and proclamations for the land and for the people. They are divinely chosen and anointed prayer warriors and standard bearers, and they do not rest until YHVH's will is established on earth and His enemies are subdued under His feet.
Note
A key aspect of being a watchman is embracing that which is dear to Yehsua's heart. This is an indispensible part of the maturing process. For example, we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. It is the city of the great King. No other place on earth is as close to the heart of YHVH as the Holy City. It is mentioned 800 times in the Bible. Jerusalem has special significance for the Elohim of Israel. He has placed His Name there and His Name will be there forever. The Messiah was crucified, buried and resurrected from a hill just outside the gates of Jerusalem and His shed Blood fell upon it's soil. The temples were constructed within the Holy City as well. Yehsua, when He returns, will set His feet upon the Mt. of Olives as the Kingly Messiah and He will fight for her and be victorious. The Torah will be taught by Messiah Himself during the Messianic Age and all nations will celebrate yearly the Feast of Tabernacles there. Yes, this city is very dear to Yeshua's heart and, therefore, it is dear to his watchmen as well (2 Kings 21:4; Psalm 24, 48:2; Isaiah 62:6-7)
Family Vision
We do not know exactly when the whole House of Ephraim will completely awaken to his identity and become completely mature in his calling. Neither do we know the precise time when all Judah will recognize Messiah Yeshua and be filled with the Holy Spirit. We do know that Yeshua will return and put all things in divine order, completing in fulness the restoration of all things spoken of by the prophets. But we can only know the season of His coming, not the exact time. What we do know is that today YHVH's Spirit of grace, revelation and power is being poured apon grafted-in Israelites from all nations, bringing them back in increasing numbers to the Father's blessed pathways. The resultant budding of renewed spiritual life in the Kahal/Church, her interest and Hebraic roots, and hunger for the manifest presence of Yehsua in her midst reveals that the final season of spiritual maturing has begun and indicates the time for Israel's restoration is at hand. Judah and Ephraim will both be needed for this prophetic event to unfold. The Cloud is moving and we want to move with Him. [Exodus 34:36-37]
"For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly
for the revealing of the Sons of God." Romans 8:19
The message for the Church/House of Ephraim is clear. The time has arrived for the whole body of Messiah, Jews and non-Jews, descendents and sojourners, to see the greater picture (vision) and unite around it. Unity and cooperation are indicators, and facilitators as well, of spiritual maturing in the body of Messiah.
Manhood Ministry
Going on to maturity means first becoming Ruach-anointed and Ruach-led disciples of Yeshua HaMashiach. Every disciple should be immersed (baptised) in the Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues. This is the promised blessing (Acts 1:6-8) and the catalyst that activates and releases the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 in the believer's life and ministry. The baptism with the Spirit is an essential experience that lifts believers to higher realms of praise and worship of Yeshua, and that magnifies an awareness of the reality and presence of the risen Savior with each person.
Secondly, going on to maturity means recognizing our identity and assuming responsibility to the family of which we are a part, the Commonwealth of Israel. The sentence of dispersion for Ephraim has ended and now we can begin our return to the Father's house, and Judah. Recall that Ephraim has been under corporate punishment and unable to discern the truth about his heritage until now. The House of Ephraim was given a 390-year sentence of dispersion from their land. The penalty was that they would become Lo Ami meaning , "Not My people", and taken into captivity. For not repenting and not forsaking idolatry, Ephraim's punishment of namelessness was increased seven times, according Mosaic Law. Consequently, Ephraim has been "not a people" for over 2600 years. It is determined from prophecy and history that the time of their punishment (dispersion) ended around 1996. Today it is increasingly apparent that the whole House of Ephraim, (physical descendents and sojourners) are being corporately restored to their heritage, and maturing in their Hebraic lifestyle, responsibilities and anointing. A family reunion is underway. It is a work of the Spirit (Leviticus 26:18-28; Ezekiel 4:4-6; Hosea 1-2).
Thirdly, going on to maturity means for Ephraim that he becomes like Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. These two and a half tribes had their own inheritance on the secured east side of the Jordan. When Joshua led Israel across the Jordan and into Canaan, the two and one half tribes did not settle back and rest on their own land. Instead they crossed the Jordan and helped the other tribes fight and obtain their inheritance also, and only then did they return to their homes on the other side of the Jordan.
Ephraim is called to assist Judah, secure his full physical and spiritual portions of inheritance and blessing in like manner today, and should not rest until all Israel is restored. This will take selflessness, humilty, courage, work, and the Ruach's anointing. Now we can see why Ephraim must mature, and become strong in the Ruach and present revelation. He will need to be secure in his identity, calling, anointing and knowledge of the Father's love for him, in order to labor with Judah for Israel's complete restoration. For this very reason the Ruach has been visiting true believers since the era of the Reformation, systematically restoring and equipping them in necessary ways. Ephraim's preparation and maturing for his return and role in the Father's family is continuing to take place today.
Growing Up
The word maturity is a noun. According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, maturity means "the quality of state of being mature; esp. full development. Completeness. Adulthood. A final or desired state [wine]. Suitability [outlook].
Understanding Hebraic restoration and the truth about both houses of Israel is an essential component to a Believer's growth and maturity in the Kingdom of YHVH. When someone matures, physically and spiritually, he begins to comprehend and develop a true sense of identity and purpose. There is new strength and a new life style that come forth and they are accompanied by new interests and associations. For believers in Yeshua today, maturity requires leaving the elementary discussions of fundamental things behind, and begin comprehending and participating in YHVH's plan for the restoration for the whole house of Israel. Spiritual maturity involves moving from "milk" only and going to the strong "meat" of the Word of Elohim, as mentioned in Hebrews 5:12-14 and 6:1-3. Elementary discussions (milk) are the basic teachings on salvation, baptisms, healing, faith, prophecy, intercession, revival, unity, and other foundational doctrines. Learning these basic truths is absolutely necessary so they must be taught, but ministers should not need to teach and preach the same fundamental subjects again and again. Today there is greater understanding of YHVH's prophetic Word to impart and experience, and the truth about the Hebrew roots of the Church/Ecclesia is part of that restoration.
But spiritual maturity is much more than growing in Hebraic knowledge and attempting to be Torah observant. It is also more than receiving revelation or having divine spiritual experiences, as important as they are. Spiritual maturation includes those things, but also requires embracing and growing in the anointing that Yeshua walked in, and learning to follow the leading of the Ruach. In short, spiritual maturity involves being "Ruach observant", especially for grafted-in Israelites returning to their faith's origins. We want our hearts open and pliable to the Holy Spirit and to His revelation of truth. This is important! Holy revelation brings (1) renewed faith and (2) a heaven-sent desire for a fresh dimension of divine anointing to help us live and proclaim the revealed truth in the power and demonstration of the Spirit.
"And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord."
Zech. 10:7
"And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I will have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them."
Zech. 10:6
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
Eph. 4: 14-15
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit."
Joel 2: 28-29
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..."
Acts 2:4
