Prologue

BLESS THE LAND

"His foundation is in the holy mountains." Psalm 87:1

PROLOGUE

Israel: Returning to Spirit and Truth

Our Return

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus saith the Lord God, I will take you from the nations, gather you from all lands and bring you into your own land...I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes...you will live in the land I gave your forefathers; so you will be My people and I will be your God.'" Ezekiel 36:22-28

The God of Israel is returning believers to their Hebraic origins, and to the purity and power of the faith of our early apostolic fathers in this hour. He is preparing us for our end time role.

God began Israel's restoration, including the recovery of the ten lost and forgotten tribes of the house of Ephraim, with the establishing of the New Covenant and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Jeremiah 31:31-33 we read of the promise. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah...After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inwards part, and write it on their hearts..." In Joel 2:28 the prophet proclaimed the coming outpouring of the Holy Spirit. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh." Yeshua, through His crucifixion, death, and resurrection, became the Mediator of the New Covenant. Forgivenness of sin and the Holy Spirit were provisions in the New Covenant for both houses of Israel (and all who would join with them through faith in Messiah Yeshua), and opened the door for their return and restoration. Peter affirmed this to the crowd on the day of Pentecost. "Then Peter said to them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). [Jeremiah 3:11-15; 31:18-20, Ezekiel 36:25-31; 37:23, Hosea 1:11; 2:1; 2:19-23; 3:4-5; 9:17, Amos 9:9; Zechariah 10:4-7].

In these last days returning Israelites need His strength.

As returning Israelites our heritage is the Word and manifested glory of YHVH, the God of Moses. He is the Holy One of Israel. We should not only know His Torah, we should know His voice, discern and follow His leading, and function in the gifts of the Spirit. Indeed, we have an Israelite life and calling to maintain, one hundred-fold fruit to bear, revelation to receive, higher dimensions of the Spirit to experience, greater grace to mature in, and holy power to weild. But we are not sufficient by ourselves, in our own strength. Yeshua is our sufficiency. We need the Comforter and Counselor, the Holy Spirit Who Yeshua sent! Like the Apostle Paul, we too have people to serve, a warfare to fight, a witness to perform, burdens to bear, trials to endure, and oppositions awaiting as we return to our biblical heritage and home. Returning believers, whether from the House of Judah or from the House of Ephraim/Israel, require spiritual power-Pentecostal power! Ephraim certainly won't be the mighty man he is prophesied to become without the power of the Spirit distinquishing him. Ephraim and Judah will be reconciled and reunited only through the great transforming inner work of the Holy Spirit occurring in them both. We must have the Spirit in His fullness! Then we will be able to say with Paul, "I can do all things through HIm who strengthens me."

Therefore, ye Ephraimites (and Yehudites too) become Spirit-filled. Recognize and embrace your identity, your Hebrew roots and bless the land from which you came. Fulfill your divinely ordained mandate - return to your Israelite heritage and help restore the kingdom to Israel. Rise up in this hour of restoration of Spirit and truth and by faith and persistence partake of everything the Father is making available for His people in this hour. Do not fall short of any restored blessing, gift, revelation, or anointing. It is time to seek His face, become sanctified, and be a fully empowered restorer of ancient pathway

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God,

these are the sons of God." Romans 8:14

A message for Men

It is clear how important it is for all returning Israelites to be matured in the ministry of the Ruach (Holy Spirit). But men in particular must be encouraged in the truth, that they are intuitive beings and well able to function with sensitivity in the gifts of the Spirit. Too often they are encouraged, even expected, to function in the exercise of logic only. Thus, they tend to become disinterested in meaningful interaction with the Spirit. This is a mistake. Maintaining the incorrect perception of male believers as basically logic-oriented only, or that they are not very intuitive or sensitive, greatly restricts the development of their spiritual potential. Such a notion "dumbs down" a large segment of the Body of Messiah and restricts the flow of gifts in the congregation. Teaching men to develop their intuitive potential in the Ruach (Spirit) is critical to the restoration of leadership and power to the Body of Messiah. Further, it would go a long way in returning them to the priestly role in their homes.

Conclusion

Bless the Land is a part of the world-wide return of believers to the kingdom, power, and glory of the God of Israel. We invite you to also return to your Hebrew heritage and bless Israel with us. But be sure to bring a foot basin and gird yourself with a towel, as Yeshua did at the Last Supper. To become mighty, as prophesied, returning Ephraimites, even all grafted-in believers, must become servants of Judah and the land too. With such a heart, we become certain candidates for much greater intimacy with Him, and for hearing His voice, seeing His glory, and being transformed in His likeness!

Remember!

As Abba returns His grafted-in children to their Hebrew heritage and turns their hearts to bless the people and the land of Israel, two things are paramount for successful transition. First, we must maintain the centrality of Yeshua HaMashiach in all things. He alone is worthy "to receive glory and honor and power: for thou [He] hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:11

Secondly, we must continually seek to make room for the manifested presence of the Holy Spirit in our individual and corporate lives, and by faith appropriate His instruction, leading, power, and gifts, for a fruitful life and effectual ministry. The lives and ministries of all who are called Israel should be (and certainly can be) a demonstration of the love and the power of Yeshua. This is true Israel!

Revival and Renewal on the Road of Return

Many in America, even in our state of Florida, are responding to the call of the Spirit to repent of lukewarm religion and return to the pure apostolic Hebrew faith practiced by the early apostles. This Hebrew roots movement is an end-time grassroots awakening of Christians around the world to the original biblical faith, values, and seasons of the first century Hebrew-Jewish Church, and returning to it. As you are now aware, increasing numbers of believers are leaving the traditional church establishments and programs, and relating to their faith's Hebrew origins which include: the patriarchs, the Torah, the Sabbath and feasts of Israel, the people and the land. They are learning about the two houses of Israel, Judah and Ephraim, receiving greater clarity into understanding prophecy, and walking in renewed enthusiam and purpose.

It is the Father Himself Who is calling His Israelite children back to their spiritual and physical heritage. He knows that the restoration of His Word (both Old and New Testament revelation) and Spirit is good news for everybody, everywhere. It is on this pathway of return to our Hebrew roots where we will find His abiding presence and power, along with renewed vision and inspiration. It is in the Shabbat and the feasts of YHVH where we will discover sharpened prophetic revelation, and experience greater manifestations of His glory and power. It is in obedience to His commandments (Torah and all Scripture) that will find and experience even higher dimensions of His Spirit, and personal transformation.

Further, it is by following in the ways of Yeshua where will we discover greater intimacy with Him, and become victorious over-comers doing the "greater works than these" of which He spoke. The return to Zion is where believers will experience enduring personal joy and revival. It is on the holy highway of return where we will be among a harvest of disciples who have separated themselves from the kingdoms of this world to follow Yeshua.

This last day move of the Spirit - the restoration of the truth of our Hebraic roots, and the return of the power and ministry of the Spirit to the Body of Messiah - is a fulfillment of prophetic Scripture, as the Father is calling the bride of Yeshua to be restored to her original faith and practice. Rejoice! We will be renewed in the glory and power of the Ruach as we make ourselves ready for the return of our betrothed, Yeshua HaMashiach. [Isaiah 35:8-10; Revelation 19:7-8]

Moving Toward One United House

The divine restoration of all things spoken of by the prophets is progressive, extensive, and accelerating. It includes the restoration of unhindered, intimate fellowship and peace between God and man, which was lost in Eden but restored, for those who would believe, by the atonement of Yeshua. Through repentance and faith in Him, one is regenerated by the Holy Spirit and enters into the Kingdom of God. [John 3; Acts 4:10-12]

Restoration includes the systemic return of truth (divine illumination for understanding His Torah, and all prophetic Scripture), and the full ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Ecclesia, the Body of Messiah. We have noted that Hebraic/Jewish faith and custom, along with the power of the Spirit were forsaken by the early Church/Ecclesia. And we know that the result was the emergence of institutional Christianity and the onslaught of the Dark Ages, Today, the Ecclesia's Hebrew/Jewish heritage, the centrality of Messiah Yeshua, and the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit (the key Component of the Kingdom of God) are being continually recovered, and as this takes place Judah and Ephraim will continue to move closer to becoming reconciled, and then united in the land.

These movements of the Spirit facilitate the progress of restoration for the Kingdom of Israel, which is simultaneously underway. Jerusalem will be the throne of King Yeshua and Israel will be the physical capital of the Kingdom of God.

Ezekiel 37 speaks of the last-days reunion of Judah and Ephraim in the land of Israel. The return of Jewish people is in part at this writing, and represents a partial return of Israel. All the tribes will be represented in the return, and they will come as a born-again, sanctified, spiritually revived people to their God and heritage. They will be reconciled to Judah and they both will become "one new man". To fully cooperate with the prophetic word, we can see the necessity of believers having to be awakened to their Hebraic identity, family, and destiny.

"And you son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions...Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, the stick of Judah, and will make one stick and they will be one in My hand...and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them..." Ezekiel 37:16-19

Israel is a small country beset with enemies, yet it is the center of God's affections and the key to world redemption. If the Church/Ecclesia fails to (1) understand her true identity, (2) embrace her Hebraic heritage, and (3) focus her resources on the uplifting of the land of Israel and the house of Judah, we will fall short of our calling and purpose. Wisdom calls to the Body of Messiah to re-order her priorities and put the Father's agenda first if she wants to please Him and be effectual, empowered disciples of Yeshua. Therefore, believers must function in their first-born role, and take hold of their double measure blessing, and care for their brethren, Judah...and the land of Israel. Our joy and duty is to labor for the restoration of all Israel and prepare him for the coming of Messiah.

Recovery

After Pentecost the congregation of redeemed Israel (Church/Ecclesia) was primarily Jewish and flowed in the power of the Holy Spirit. Believers were called Nazarene Israelites and God added to their numbers. The Ecclesia/Congregation of redeemed Israel grew and expanded from Israel into Asia Minor and eventually to Europe. As centuries passed the ministry and power of the Spirit faded from the Church/Ecclesia, and its Hebraic foundation was displaced as gentile/pagan beliefs and customs increasingly infiltrated congregations. During the fourth century, Constantine, emperor of Rome, wanted to unify his kingdom and so reformed Christianity, which already had adopted a mixture of biblical and pagan doctrines and practices. He made changes and grafted the religion into the culture and values of His empire. Hebrew/Jewish beliefs and customs, including hope in the prophesied return of the ten tribes of Israel, were no longer officially tolerated, and Hebraic doctrines and practices were completely discarded. Further, the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in assemblies were not allowed. It was also during this era that the Hebrew Sabbath was replaced by Sunday, and the feasts of Israel were not permitted. Protesting believers, Jews and Gentiles, were persecuted and forced to flee to remote areas where they could worship in Spirit and truth. Thus Christianity, devoid of its Hebraic moorings and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, became thoroughly mixed with pagan beliefs and customs. Managed by religious priests and theologians and not by the Spirit, the Church/Ecclesia became institutionalized and entered into the Dark Ages.

Centuries passed and believers, who were continually oppressed by the Roman Church, began to slowly obtain Bibles and read the Scriptures. They were severely persecuted but this movement toward spiritual enlightenment paved the way for the Reformation. With the Reformation, restoration of the Spirit and truth to the Church/Ecclesia at large, although sluggish, was underway. But its Hebrew heritage, including the issue of the existence and fate of the ten dispersed and forgotten tribes of Israel were, for all intents and purposes, ignored and forgotten. The official institutional church had wrongfully come to believe it had replaced Israel as God's elect.

Today, however, the Spirit is resurrecting the truth about the believers' identity and heritage. Yeshua is turning the attention of believers to their Israelite roots, and to the prophesies, history, and truth of the tribes of Israel. The recognition and restoration of the House of Ephraim [It is often called "the church", and consists of the descendants of the ten tribes of the northern kingdom and those joined to them by faith.] are undergoing a divine resurgence. Yeshua is bringing His sheep, a remnant who hear His voice and respond to Him, back to His Israelite fold, which Judah never left. The parable of the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-32) depicts this unfolding story. [Hosea 3:4-5; 1:11-2:1; 2:19-23; 14:4-8, Jeremiah 3:11-15; 33:7,8,14,23-26; 50:4-6, 17-20, Ezekiel 36:25-31; 37:23, Zechariah 10:6,9,12]

The coming of Messiah Yeshua is drawing closer. In 1948 Israel became a nation again. Judah, the Jewish people who have kept their Israelite identity, are settled successfully in the land, although not entirely but in significant numbers (Lk. 14:23). According to prophecy, forgotten Israelites from the scattered northern kingdom, the house of Ephraim, will begin to return as well. Sufficient numbers of both houses must be in the land, resettled and reconciled, for the coming Messiah. This shall be going on amidst all the national and international affairs, events, wars, catastrophies, tribulations, and circumstances (birth pangs) that will also be occurring in the earth. [Isaiah 11:11-16; 27:12-13, Jeremiah 3:18; 31:1-10; 50:19, Ezekiel 36:6-12; 28:38; 37:21-26, Hosea 1:11; 2:22-23, Amos 9:14-15, Micah 7:14, Obadiah 17:21; Zecharaih 8:1-13; 9:13-16; 10:6,10]

Explanation

Israel was called to be a priesthood nation among the other nations of the earth, and was equipped to teach them with the Torah and the Glory of YHVH (God). Israel faltered in its mission and was eventually divided into two kingdoms, the house of Judah and the house of Ephraim/Israel. In time, both houses were driven from their land because of gross idolatry, unbelief, and disobedience to YHVH (God).

Judah eventually returned to the land of Israel, but was dispersed centuries later. Ephraim, however, never returned enmasse, but migrated into the nations where the tribes' descendents completely forgot their identity and Hebrew origins. Nevertheless they increased greatly and became a multitude of people. Today the descendents of the scattered tribes are numerous in the earth and in the Church/Ecclessia as well. Since you are reading this, you are probably a biological descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is possible you are a descendent of the tribe of Ephraim (or Manassah, only God knows for sure) since he was prophesied to become a multitude of nations. In any case, if you are a believer in the Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach and regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are grafted into the olive tree of Israel, you are an Israelite. Your heritage is the restored kingdom of Israel.

The prophets warned of the scattering of the northern kingdom, Israel/Ephraim, as well as the dispersion of Judah. They also proclaimed the return and reconciliation of both houses into one united people at the advent of the Messianic age and then they would fulfill their destiny as a kingdom of priests to the nations. [Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15-16; 15:5; 17:4; 48:11-22; 49:22-26; Deuteronomy 33:13-17; 1 Kings 11,12; 2 Kings 17,25; Hosea 1,2; Isaiah 11:11-14; Zechariah 9:13-16; 10:6-12; Jeremiah 3:11-15; 7:8; 9:17; 31:18-20, 31-33; Ezekiel 36, 37; ]

Our Role

"And you, when you have turned again, strengthen [bless, uplift, assist] your brethren [Judah and all Israel]." Luke 22:32

Our end time role is to return to our Hebrew roots, be reconciled with our brother Judah [Jews], and participate in the restoration of the kingdom to Israel.

Music played on this web site is Paul Wilbur's www.wilburministries.com

TORAH and GLORY SCHOOL

Parsha Lessons

EPHRAIM

COMMENTARY