Ephraim, Letter 488 (roots or fruit)

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Ephraim and Remonah?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

Last week I received a letter from a brother who shared the sadness in his heart concerning the ‘Hebrew Roots movement’… Here is an excerpt:

Lately, it seems i have trouble communicating with Torah Yisraelites because of their hyper-focus on the end times, and/or lack of interest in Sanctification.  

So, i've been led to present the idea to those claiming to be searching their "Hebrew Roots" with phrases like: "i have decided to take a step back [away from] Hebrew Roots in hopes of finding and eating of Hebrew Fruits!”; "a Hebrew Root by itself begins to taste bitter, it’s better to step back and let the Father do His work, and then eat of its fruit."  OR "my days of gnawing on a Hebrew Root, drinking coffee, and waiting for the next 'end times' theory to drop--are over!"  (i have more one-liners but i think you get the picture)

 After sharing the Hebrew Roots/Fruits idea with Yisraelites, i begin bringing up where Abba led me to find the idea of "fruits" as mentioned in the scriptures...

Galatians 5:22-23 (New King James Version)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Abba has also led me to begin archiving several articles, this one may be titled "Is there a Hebrew Fruits Movement?".  

If Abba leads, perhaps we can all collaborate more on this idea??? solomon@hebraism.org

Blessings,

Shlomo

My friend’s letter really impacted me, as it is truly sad not to see more of the “fruit of the Spirit” among those who claim to have found their “roots.”  It seems we have concentrated more on absorbing knowledge about the Torah, with multitudes of interpretations, having a somewhat distorted view of 2^nd Timothy 2:15, where Paul mentions the need to “rightly divide the word of truth.” In no way did Paul mean being divided into Hebrew denominations, according to our respective interpretations.  We also cannot ignore the warnings about false teachers and shepherds who, in this case, steer the Israelites, Ephraimites and Judaites away from the central focus of our Heavenly Father’s love through the death and resurrection of His Son. 

Have we forgotten the beginning premise of this present day restoration from Jeremiah 31? "At the same time," says YHVH "I will be the Elohim of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people." Thus says YHVH: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness -- Israel, when I went to give him rest." YHVH has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (verses 1-3 emphasis added).

Have we forgotten what has caused us to recall and embrace our lost Israelite identity?  Do we not know what it cost our Father and Yeshua His Son to redeem us from the grave of our ancestral iniquity?  Have we wandered off from the intimate path of love of our Shepherd/King?  Are we still running after the knowledge of our Hebraic roots and not giving a hoot about Him, Who gave His life for us on the execution stake that we might become the nation which brings the fruit of the Tree of Life to the rest of humanity?  (See Revelation chapter 22).

In Jeremiah 31 YHVH speaks of a time in which He will chastise His “firstborn” Ephraim for the sin of His youth (v 18).  I beg to differ with those who claim that the disasters that are falling upon the so called Christian nations are solely because of the way their governments are treating Israel.  I believe these disasters constitute a chastening in response to idolatry and spiritual adultery.  And what is particularly disturbing is that in spite of the ‘common knowledge’ prevalent among the Israelites as to the reason for our dispersion, as of yet there has not been a sign of the kind of major (national) repentance that the prophet speaks about:   “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; restore me, and I will return, for You are YHVH my Elohim. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth'” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

In the previous chapter (30), YHVH warns “Jacob” (both houses):

“Though I will make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished...  for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased.   Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you” (Jeremiah 30:11; 14-15 emphasis added).  

My brother Shlomo mentioned “sanctification” as something that is of secondary importance in the Hebrew roots movement.  Perhaps this is why many are leaving the teachings of the apostles, for Torah teachers who are feeding them knowledge which quite often puffs them up with pride and self-righteousness.  Paul especially has been targeted by those who wish to build their own kingdoms and fleece the sheep.  I pray that we take heed and not misinterpret what is coming upon us in these latter days (see Jeremiah 30: 23-24).  Perhaps it just might be that YHVH’s righteous judgments are there in order to lead us to repentance.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ephraim

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