An Assemebly of nation from Israel

One People, One G-d

Last week I breifly spoke about the ingathering of the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Ephraim. The focus was honing in on what the scripture is talking about. Of course the Scripture is clear on Judah and Ephraim being children of Israel. Ephraim became the representation of the divisions/tribes of Israel north of Judah which is basically 10 tribes all together. We know this, because, when we look at the time of the kings in the writings, Israel was divided into two kingdoms. Kingdom 1 was “most” Israel and Kingdom 2 was Judah. The prophetic talk by Ezekial was that these two kingdoms would be one again, and when they become one, it would usher us into the recognition of G-d to the nations. The nations would then be able to recieve G-d, because Israel was moving with the L-rd. G-d is in the center, A united Israel would be circled around G-d, and the nations would surround Israel.

Let’s go to the book of Acts.

I love the book of Acts, because we see the promise of the Messiah fulfilled and the gift of G-d given to be given to those who believe in Him.

Here in Acts we are given exactly as the prophecies have prophesied.

Acts 1 reads

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 1

1I wrote the first volume, Theophilus, about all that Yeshua began to do and teach— 2up to the day He was taken up, after He had given orders by the Ruach ha-Kodesh to the emissaries He had chosen. 3To them He showed Himself to be alive after His suffering through many convincing proofs, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4Now while staying with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father promised—which, He said, “you heard from Me. 5For John immersed with water, but you will be immersed in the Ruach ha-Kodesh not many days from now.”

6So when they gathered together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

So what is the expectation for the Jewish people at this time....

The Jews wanted a united kingdom!

and why did Israel want a united kingdom? Because they thought that the Messiah would give them Salvation from the oppressing nations. However, G-d was not going to save the people from the nations. No No No, G-d was saving them from their sins. This is the message that G-d wanted all the people to know!

In Acts 1 there are no gentiles in play, because the L-rd had commisioned 12 Jews to go and witness and remain in the land to receive the gift of the Ruach.

So much so that the one who “replaced” Judas as an emissary was none other than a Jew who had been with Yeshua, Yochanan, and the apostles… The whole entire time.

“You, O Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show us which of these two You have chosen 25to take the position in this office as emissary, from which Judah turned aside to go to his own place.” 26Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was added to the eleven emissaries.

Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015), Ac 1:24–26.

Then we enter into Acts Chapter 2. When people talk about the Holy Spirit coming down upon all men in Acts 2. that’s actually a lie. The truth is that the Spirit of G-d came upon… The Emissaries!

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 2

1When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. 4They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.

Then we go on to the next passage in verse 5. On whom did the Ruach HaKodesh fall upon? The 12 Jewish Emissaries!

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 2

Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “All these who are speaking—aren’t they Galileans?

See that the other Jewish people and the Gentiles did not receive the Ruach, but they saw it with their own eyes. We see other Jews from all over the world representing every nation under heaven and a few Roman proselytes seeing what G-d was doing. The very reason why there were some Roman proselytes was due to the order of the Roman government. Nonethless, Jewish people were the ones who recieved the gift first and many Jews and the nations saw the Word of HaShem come to life.

Paul speaks out and address to the Jewish people on this Appointened feast:

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 2

Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose—for it’s only the third hour of the day! 16But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:

17‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God,

‘that I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters

shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

18Even on My slaves, male and female,

I will pour out My Ruach in those days,

and they shall prophesy.

19And I will give wonders in the sky above

and signs on the earth beneath—

blood, and fire, and smoky vapor.

20The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and glorious

Day of ADONAI comes.

21And it shall be that everyone who calls

on the name of ADONAI

shall be saved.’

22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Yeshua ha-Natzrati—a Man authenticated to you by God with mighty deeds and wonders and signs God performed through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Yeshua, given over by God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge, nailed to the cross by the hand of lawless men, you killed. 24But God raised Him up, releasing Him from the pains of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by it. 25For David says about Him,

‘I saw ADONAI always before me,

for He is at my right hand

so that I might not be shaken.

26Therefore my heart was glad and my

tongue rejoiced;

moreover, my body also will live in hope,

27because You will not abandon my soul

to Sheol

or let Your Holy One see decay.

28You have made known to me

the paths of life;

You will fill me with joy

in Your presence.’

29“Brothers, I can confidently tell you that the patriarch David died and was buried—his tomb is with us to this day. 30So because he was a prophet and knew God had sworn with an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31David saw beforehand and spoke of Messiah’s resurrection—that He was not abandoned to Sheol, and His body did not see decay.

32“This Yeshua God raised up—we all are witnesses! 33Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God and receiving from the Father the promise of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, He poured out this—what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens; yet he himself says,

‘ADONAI said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

35until I make Your enemies a footstool

for Your feet.” ’

36“Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him—this Yeshua whom you had crucified—both Lord and Messiah!”

The 12 Emissaries were immersed with the Ruach and spoke bodly to the Judeans (People of Judah/Ethnic Children of Israel)

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 2

42They were devoting themselves to the teaching of the emissaries and to fellowship, to breaking bread and to prayers. 43Fear lay upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were happening through the emissaries. 44And all who believed were together, having everything in common. 45They began selling their property and possessions and sharing them with all, as any had need. 46Day by day they continued with one mind, spending time at the Temple and breaking bread from house to house. They were sharing meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord was adding to their number those being saved.

Miracles were being made known and people in Jerusalem, and

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 6

7The word of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly multiplied; even a great number of the kohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.

So now you have thousands of Jewish people recieving the W-rd of G-d and the gift of the Ruach. In Acts 8 we even see an Ethiopian Jew who witnesses the good news of Messiah and is immersed in water.

As we see the ethnic Jews that were once dispersed were regathered to the land for the Feast of the L-rd as said in the law of Moses and they recieved the gift of the Ruach.

This is what is meant in that an assembly of nations will come from you, and this is what is meant when the two kingdoms of Israel will become one again! This is what is written in regards to life coming back on the dry bones, and this is the time we are living in today!!!

However, there is still more to go over. in Acts 10 the nations ourside of Israel are witnessing for themslves what is taking place with those that were living among them.... how? The Jews that were disperesed were able to come to the temple to worship G-d. When they came to worship G-d, thousands saw the fulfillment of the W-rd of G-d in regards to the coming of the Messiah to take away the sins of the World. So these Jews that were not living in Israel took this message back to they homes which is every nation that exists under heaven. So Spanish Jews gave the message of the Messiah to the Spanish people.... the African Jews gave the message of Messiah to the African nations, Asian Jews gave the message of the Messiah to the Asians and so forth. Now, before I continue on, I have to step back to Chapter 10

In Chapter 10 the Jewish man named Peter recieved a vision about G-d accepting all people whether Jewish or not. This scripture is not about food… this scripture is about people and uses food to show Peter what G-d is trying to address. Peter understands that G-d made anyone who fears HaShem Yeshua as acceptable to Him. 35but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him

Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society, Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015), Ac 10:35.

So Peter gave this message that he thought, before the vision, was only for the Jews to the Gentile community in Caesarea.

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 10

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Ruach ha-Kodesh fell on all those hearing the message. 45All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered, 47“Can anyone refuse water for these to be immersed, who have received the Ruach ha-Kodesh just as we did?” 48So he commanded them to be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

It is by G-d’s grace that people can recieve Yeshua without having to follow a religious order. Yes, the uncircumcised, unkosher, ritually impure gentiles recieved the gift of the Spirit!! What does that mean? It means G-d is merciful to whom He is merciful.

The W-rd says it, and I am going to say it here…

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Chapter 11)

if God gave them (unkosher, uncircumcised, ritually impure, not Torah of Moses observant) the same gift as also to us after we put our trust in the Lord Messiah Yeshua, who was I to stand in God’s way?

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version (Chapter 11)

even to the (uncircumcised, ritually impure, unkosher) Gentiles God has granted repentance leading to life!

Now that the Gentiles were saved ofcourse, there were discussions and debates in the Synagogues about wether or not the Laws of Moses should be kept. In the end, the gentiles were encouraged not to be discouraged in receving Messiah Yeshua, but that they should be encouraged to keep themsleves aligned with the L-rd.

For the people to refrain from pressuring the Emisarries, we read:

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 15

After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Good News and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Ruach ha-Kodesh—just as He also did for us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts through faith. 10Why then do you put God to the test by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples—which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But instead, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, in the same way as they are

And for the Gentiles we read:

Holy Scriptures: Tree of Life Version Chapter 15

24Since we have heard that some from among us have troubled you with words disturbing to your souls, although we gave them no such authorization, 25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 27We therefore have sent to you Judah and Silas, who themselves will report to you the same things by word of mouth. 28It seemed good to the Ruach ha-Kodesh and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. By keeping away from these things, you will do well.

Shalom!”

And so I ask, why did Paul leave it at this? I mean he was the strictest Jew to ever exist… This is because Paul is trying to push people into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with G-d by giving them the Love of Messiah to walk humbly with G-d.

I believe that if you are walking with G-d you are actively pursuing Him, reading and observing His W-rd in Obedience to His calling you out and that you are most importantly getting to know HIm more!

If you are having a problem with eating kosher food, I will direct you to His W-rd, and if you have a problem with that… By all means, here is the altar and talk with Him!

So we see that being grafted in by faith means that we are succeeding with the promise given to us through faith. This is what makes a gentile of the commonwealth of Israel.

This is what came from Israel and is accessible to you.

It is such a beautiful thing to see G-d work out His promise perfectly as written.

Israel (Ethnic Jews of every nation beginning at home in Jerusalem) are the receivers of this promise, and through Israel (Ethnic Jews Dispersed) all the nations are/were blessed. It is this Blessing that enables us to gather around the Jews and say, “Your G-d is here! Where you go, i’ll go; and your G-d is my G-d!

And G-d is bringing us together!

As this is taking place at this very moment, we await the second coming of Mashiach and the Great and Terrible day of HaShem!