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THE OLIVE TREE
This is an olive tree. It is a symbol that Yeshua (Jesus) used to show the relationship that Gentiles (anyone who is not a Jew) have with Him and the Jews have with Him and with Gentiles.
The natural branches are the Jews, the grafted in branches are the Gentiles, and we are both supported by the same root system, Jesus our Messiah. Jesus was Jewish, our root system is from the Jews. A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary; without it there is no fruitfulness, It is impossible to pray correctly apart from knowing Him, it is impossible to live correctly apart from knowing Him. Without being in HIM you are not saved and will be lifeless. You are spiritually dead and will not inherit eternal life with God in heaven. You would be thrown out into the fire with the other dead branches.
John 15:5-7 I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown in the fire and burned.
'WE ARE ONE IN MESSIAH'
ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
JEW AND GENTILE
ONE IN MESSIAH
ONE IN THE OLIVE TREE
The special olive tree is a symbol for Christ Jesus, our Savior. We become one with Him when we accept Him as our Savior. We become one with Him and the Father, and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We become one with all other believers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How good and pleasant it is when brothers
live together in unity. It is as if the
dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
Psalm 133: 1 and 3a
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jordan River stretches 250 kilometers from its water heads at the base of Mt. Hermon to its final resting place in the Dead Sea, dropping 700 meters of elevation in the journey. One of the world’s most sacred rivers, the Jordan is mentioned in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures as an important landmark. The significance of “crossing over Jordan” in the Exodus story symbolized the movement from slavery in Egypt to entering the promised land.
http://jesustrail.com/hike-the-jesus-trail/points-of-interest/jordan-river
The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah are under the southern end of the Dead Sea. Lot described the area surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah as "well watered, like the garden of the Lord" (Ge 13:10). This part of the Holy Land was fertile with a flourishing population. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sexual immorality and unrighteousness, the region became a barren wasteland (Ge 19:24). --
WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES GOD PLACE ON UNITY IN THE BODY?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR BOTH JEW AND GENTILE TODAY?
IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A WELL WATERED GARDEN AND BEING A BARREN WASTELAND, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEW TREES HAVE SUCH SIGNIFICANCE
AS THE OLIVE TREE DOES IN ISRAEL
Along with the fig, pomegranate, wheat, barley, and grape, it is one of the seven species with which Israel is blessed in the Bible. Vast stretches of the countryside are planted with this stately tree that supplies one of the great treasures of the Mediterranean region – olive oil. In recent years the northern Negev has also become an important olive growing region of the country.
If left alone, this slow-growing evergreen tree can reach a height of thirty feet. Generally, however, trees are kept to within fifteen feet to make it easy for harvesting the fruit. Because of the olive tree’s tendency to form a hollow trunk after many years, it is difficult to determine their age. In fact, it is not unusual to see ancient trees that consist only of a thick outer strip of bark supporting a few branches laden with fruit.
The following story adds a face to this natural phenomenon, and eloquently describes the collective sorrow felt by the Jewish people upon the destruction of the Second Temple:
After the Second Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, there was widespread grief and mourning throughout the country. To demonstrate their extreme grief, all the trees of the country shed their leaves. After the trees were bare, they noticed that the olive tree (which is by nature evergreen) still retained its leaves.
Representatives of the trees approached the olive and asked “Why don’t you shed your leaves in grief over the destruction of the Temple?” The olive responded: “You, my brothers, show your grief on the outside for all to see. My grief will be carried within for all time.” And so it is, that each year the olive eats away at itself in grief and sorrow until it is nothing more than a hollow strip of bark.
It has also been said that the the hollow olive tree is God's heart, empty from grief over the division of Jew and Gentile. He desires for the two to live together in unity.
"But some of these branches from Abraham's tree-some of the people of Israel-have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. Romans 11:17-18
The special olive tree is a symbol for Christ Jesus, our Savior. We become one with Him when we accept Him as our Savior. We become one with Him and the Father, and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We become one with all other believers.
JESUS PRAYED THAT WE MIGHT BE ONE
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
John 17:20-23 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We must not have unity with those who call themselves Christians but have defiant sin (1 Cor 5:11,13 and 2 Tim 3:1-5), are idle (2 Thess 3:6), deliberately disobey Biblical teaching (2 Thess 3:6,14-15), deny God's power (2 Tim 3:5), and who are divisive (Titus 3:10-11) without ourselves being divisive (Jude 19).
However, for all other believers, if Christ accepts them, then so must we. We are to pray for each other, pray with each other, love each other, labor with each other, encourage and correct each other. We are to build each other up. It is a growing up process. Many people are harboring hatred, bitterness, and other negative feelings that keep a line drawn between us. We are not willing to accept other believers who have some different traditions, as far as saying that they cannot worship the one true God unless they obey certain rules. The body of Christ (Messiah) is not based on anything you do, but rather is based on Who you know, and Who you trust for your salvation. Salvation is by grace alone. There is no merit on your part. The body of Christ is made up of many members. Some are from the Gentile nations and some are from the Jewish nation. Believers are those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is not mere belief that saves, for even Satan believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:1-11 (NKJV)
The members of the body are those who have the indwelling Spirit, the new life. Being born again is the new life that the Spirit brings. Many who claim to be believers do not have the Holy Spirit and do not follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. They may be from Messianic congregations; they may call themselves, Messianic Jews, Messianic Christians or Messianic believers. These are Jews who have come to belief in their Savior, Yeshua, the Messiah..
“Yeshua” means ‘salvation’ or ‘savior’. The Hebrew name “Yeshua” was translated into the Greek as “Iosous.” Later “Iosous” was translated into English as “Jesus.” But we cannot stop with the name Yeshua. He is also called “Christ”. This is not a second name but rather a title, like president, king or prime minister. This extraordinary title originated in Scriptures as “Mashiach,” which in Hebrew means “Anointed One”. It also followed translation into Greek as “Christos,” and later into English as “Christ.” Therefore, “Jesus Christ” literally in Hebrew is “Yeshua haMeshiach” (Yeshua the Messiah) You will see Yeshua haMashiach or Yeshua haMesiach as well in other variations of the spelling.
The Gentiles are believers who are not Jewish, and are the wild branches grafted into the olive tree. They are usually called Christians because they follow Christ's example and look to Him as their Lord and King. Gentiles are people from all the nations other than Israel. The Jews are the original branches, they are Israel, God's chosen people.. Yeshua (Jesus) said that He is the vine.
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. John 15:5-9 NASB
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited, resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! AMEN
Ephesians 3:16-21
So what do the branches look like these days?
The organized religious groups, the churches, and followers are Christ are in a sad state of affairs. There is still much prejudice and ridicule from both sides of the body. We all have a need to become more aware of our cold hearts, cynicism, envy, and pride. We all have a great need to stand tall in our faith and grow beyond our immaturity. Our attitudes and actions do not always show God's love. There is nothing that replaces genuine obedience. Yeshua,(Jesus) taught us that attitude matters; it is a heart condition. His ministry on earth gives us a model to follow; forgive one another as I have forgiven you, love your neighbor as yourself, let your light shine... Actions reveal what is in our heart. But if we fail to model Christ (Meshiach), people will have a harder time seeing Christ. We are to be God's ambassadors, representatives, and give testimony with our lives to who He is. That is our commission given to us by Meshiach himself. We are to be bearers of the light, the truth, and spread the gospel message until all the world has heard. Both Jewish and Gentile believers have the same commission. We are fellow believers, of the same spiritual household, and share in continuing the ministry our Lord began.
The church, the body of Christ, is made up of many members and with that comes all styles and shapes; secret meetings in homes, wide-open gatherings in amphitheaters, worship services packing thousands into a sanctuary while an overflow crowd watches on closed-circuit TV, handfuls who kneel in urban storefronts. Buildings vary, but the church is not confined to four walls. The church of Jesus Christ is His people, of every race and nation, who love Christ, worship Him, believe in His redemption for us all and are committed to serving Him. We are God's children if we serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The one true living God. That is the identifying factor. Each member must worship and serve the one true living God. It is Who we serve that unites us. We must be part of the same tree.
Paul uses the metaphor of first fruits in Romans 11:16 to apply to the risen life of Christ, which promises the resurrection to all people. The olive tree is used to apply to the purpose of God's redeeming grace through Jesus Christ. Gentiles can be inserted in, or grafted in, though they are by nature wild. Gentiles were filled with pride and despised the Jews, whose place they were taking, due to their unfaithfulness. But the branches are supported by the root and could easily be cut off. All believers hold their place in God's family by His grace. We must be "in Christ". There must be obedience to Him which shows continuance in that grace. (1 Corinthians 10:12) The faithless Jews were not to be rejected forever. A partial hardening of their hearts, by God, was given them to allow a time for Gentiles to come in. Those who are the true seed of Abraham, believing Jews, spiritual Israel, could be grafted back in again, which would be perfectly natural. Gentile believers should not boast since God could take away their place in the olive tree because of their hardened hearts. Paul urges them to continue in the goodness that God has given them in His grace. But anyone who does not abide in the branch, and bear good fruit, will be cut off. The Lord has acted for and in 'those' who are in Christ, but 'those' must act in a continuance of belief and bear good fruit. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility both needed to bear fruit. The production of fruit authenticates the fruit bearer. The fruit of the spirit consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The fruit is all the things that we do in service to God for His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. On our own we are not capable of any beneficial service to God. Without the Holy Spirit working through us, our deeds are worthless; they are without any spiritual power to change people's hearts. We may do some nice things, encourage some people, but there is no life changing power. We must stay attached to the vine in order to produce the buds which blossom and bring fruit. The fruit is supernaturally and automatically produced. We cannot force the fruit to grow. We are never commanded to grow, but to abide. It is the power of the Holy Spirit which flows through us to exhibit this fruit. Staying connected to the vine, being in the Word and having a relationship with our God will result in the production of fruit. If you don't see any fruit, then you are not in the vine, you are not connected to the tree.
Eternal life in God's kingdom is for fruit bearers only; to those who have heard the word of God and responded to the free gift of grace. We call that being born again. We are born of the Spirit, given the spiritual life that was taken away through Adam and Eve's disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden. God has provided a way for us, and for both the Jew and Gentile the way is the same, through the redeeming grace of His Son; to be able to receive this gift of spiritual life. To those who respond to the call , God will breathe that spirit of life back into them. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment of the things to come.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others, and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches, If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:17-18
For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural {branches} be grafted into their own olive tree?
Romans 11:24
True believers should not persecute others. Both Gentiles and Jews have done much damage to the cause of Messiah (Christ), whom they claim to serve. God chose the Jews, God chose Gentiles. Jews rejected God's offer and thus, Gentiles were being offered salvation. He is still working to unite all believers so they become a holy temple where God lives by his Spirit. see Eph. 2:11-22
Paul was appointed as an apostle to the Gentiles. He reminded his Jewish brothers and sisters of the fact, hoping that they too, would want to be saved. When a Jew comes to a completeness, faith in his Salvation (Yeshua) he has come back to life. When Paul speaks to Gentiles, he does not want them to think that they are superior because of some Jews rejection. Abraham's faith is like the root of a productive tree, and the Jewish people are the natural branches. Because of unfaithfulness, some of the Jews have been broken off, and Gentile believers, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. Both Jews and Gentiles share the tree's nourishment based on faith in God; neither can rest on heritage or culture for salvation.
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. Rom 11:16
Salvation is for both Jew and Gentile (Greek is sometimes used instead of Gentile which also means all the nations , anyone who is not from Israel ).
For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. (Romans 11:9-13)
Everyone includes people of every tribe, from every place in the world, no matter what language they speak or where they live, how they live or what culture they follow.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.." John 15:1-5
The message is clear, but who is listening?
God's plan for revealing himself and extending salvation to the world has always included both Jews and Gentiles. The Old Testament makes it clear that the Jews were set apart as a nation in order to be witnesses to the entire world. When the Messiah came, he first preached to the Jews; as the people set aside to be God's people and entrusted with God's words, they had the right to be the first people to meet the Messiah (Romans 3:1-2, 9:4-5). This was a strategic move as well: Jews who followed God and knew the prophecies of the Messiah would be the most ready to respond to Jesus and follow him, which is just what the twelve disciples did. Those first disciples could then spread the Gospel to others.
Though Jesus' earthly ministry focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24), he healed many Gentiles and even commended them for their faith (Matthew 8:5-13, 15:21-28). The disciples were at first instructed to spread the word to their fellow Jews (Matthew 10:5-7), yet even so they would be used as witnesses to Gentiles (Matthew 10:18). And of course, after the Resurrection Jesus commanded them to preach to everyone (Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8).
The New Testament explains God's plan for Jews and Gentiles further. "The Gospel...is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 1:16). Paul explains in Ephesians 2:11-21 that Christ's death and resurrection results in Jews and Gentiles being united as Christians. Gentiles are no longer to be considered unclean (Acts 10:28) but are equal to Jewish Christians (Romans 10:12). Yet Jews are not discriminated against : even Jews who reject the Messiah are to be "loved on account of the patriarchs" (Romans 11:28). Finally, just as the Jewish nation was to be a witness to other nations by their way of life, so Christians are to be witnesses by their actions as well as their words (John 13:35).
Paul preached that everyone is saved by faith in Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ).
"...But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles ; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." Galatians 2:14-16
Man cannot follow through on God's ways. The examples of the Jews were given to warn us. We are nothing in our own power and strength. Our own hearts lie to us. Only God can change our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 says "the heart is more deceitful than anything else". There is no difference between any of mankind. Not one of us has ever followed through on God's ways and performed all His decrees. God's plan in history enables Him to show mercy to both Israel and all the Gentile nations, that He may shower His mercy upon all mankind.
As God gathers His dearly beloved children to Himself, and as we grow in the likeness of His image, in humility, becoming the one new man He has intended us to be, we will bring glory to God.
There is a day coming when the Lord our God will rule and reign over every tongue, tribe, and nation. There is one Lord of us all, and one day every knee will bow down before Him.
On that day the his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, ---The Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime, a day known to the Lord. When evening comes there will be light. Then the Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. Zechariah 14: 1-9 selected
We are here for such a brief time
Let us prepare our hearts and be made ready for that day.
Let us help our fellow man to find his way.
ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
JEW AND GENTILE
ONE IN MESSIAH
ONE IN THE OLIVE TREE
The special olive tree is a symbol for Christ Jesus, our Savior. We become one with Him when we accept Him as our Savior. We become one with Him and the Father, and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We become one with all other believers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How good and pleasant it is when brothers
live together in unity. It is as if the
dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
Psalm 133: 1 and 3a
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jordan River stretches 250 kilometers from its water heads at the base of Mt. Hermon to its final resting place in the Dead Sea, dropping 700 meters of elevation in the journey. One of the world’s most sacred rivers, the Jordan is mentioned in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures as an important landmark. The significance of “crossing over Jordan” in the Exodus story symbolized the movement from slavery in Egypt to entering the promised land.
http://jesustrail.com/hike-the-jesus-trail/points-of-interest/jordan-river
The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah are under the southern end of the Dead Sea. Lot described the area surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah as "well watered, like the garden of the Lord" (Ge 13:10). This part of the Holy Land was fertile with a flourishing population. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sexual immorality and unrighteousness, the region became a barren wasteland (Ge 19:24). --
WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES GOD PLACE ON UNITY IN THE BODY?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR BOTH JEW AND GENTILE TODAY?
IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A WELL WATERED GARDEN AND BEING A BARREN WASTELAND, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEW TREES HAVE SUCH SIGNIFICANCE
AS THE OLIVE TREE DOES IN ISRAEL
Along with the fig, pomegranate, wheat, barley, and grape, it is one of the seven species with which Israel is blessed in the Bible. Vast stretches of the countryside are planted with this stately tree that supplies one of the great treasures of the Mediterranean region – olive oil. In recent years the northern Negev has also become an important olive growing region of the country.
If left alone, this slow-growing evergreen tree can reach a height of thirty feet. Generally, however, trees are kept to within fifteen feet to make it easy for harvesting the fruit. Because of the olive tree’s tendency to form a hollow trunk after many years, it is difficult to determine their age. In fact, it is not unusual to see ancient trees that consist only of a thick outer strip of bark supporting a few branches laden with fruit.
The following story adds a face to this natural phenomenon, and eloquently describes the collective sorrow felt by the Jewish people upon the destruction of the Second Temple:
After the Second Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, there was widespread grief and mourning throughout the country. To demonstrate their extreme grief, all the trees of the country shed their leaves. After the trees were bare, they noticed that the olive tree (which is by nature evergreen) still retained its leaves.
Representatives of the trees approached the olive and asked “Why don’t you shed your leaves in grief over the destruction of the Temple?” The olive responded: “You, my brothers, show your grief on the outside for all to see. My grief will be carried within for all time.” And so it is, that each year the olive eats away at itself in grief and sorrow until it is nothing more than a hollow strip of bark.
It has also been said that the the hollow olive tree is God's heart, empty from grief over the division of Jew and Gentile. He desires for the two to live together in unity.
"But some of these branches from Abraham's tree-some of the people of Israel-have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. Romans 11:17-18
The special olive tree is a symbol for Christ Jesus, our Savior. We become one with Him when we accept Him as our Savior. We become one with Him and the Father, and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We become one with all other believers.
JESUS PRAYED THAT WE MIGHT BE ONE
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
John 17:20-23 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We must not have unity with those who call themselves Christians but have defiant sin (1 Cor 5:11,13 and 2 Tim 3:1-5), are idle (2 Thess 3:6), deliberately disobey Biblical teaching (2 Thess 3:6,14-15), deny God's power (2 Tim 3:5), and who are divisive (Titus 3:10-11) without ourselves being divisive (Jude 19).
However, for all other believers, if Christ accepts them, then so must we. We are to pray for each other, pray with each other, love each other, labor with each other, encourage and correct each other. We are to build each other up. It is a growing up process. Many people are harboring hatred, bitterness, and other negative feelings that keep a line drawn between us. We are not willing to accept other believers who have some different traditions, as far as saying that they cannot worship the one true God unless they obey certain rules. The body of Christ (Messiah) is not based on anything you do, but rather is based on Who you know, and Who you trust for your salvation. Salvation is by grace alone. There is no merit on your part. The body of Christ is made up of many members. Some are from the Gentile nations and some are from the Jewish nation. Believers are those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is not mere belief that saves, for even Satan believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:1-11 (NKJV)
The members of the body are those who have the indwelling Spirit, the new life. Being born again is the new life that the Spirit brings. Many who claim to be believers do not have the Holy Spirit and do not follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. They may be from Messianic congregations; they may call themselves, Messianic Jews, Messianic Christians or Messianic believers. These are Jews who have come to belief in their Savior, Yeshua, the Messiah..
“Yeshua” means ‘salvation’ or ‘savior’. The Hebrew name “Yeshua” was translated into the Greek as “Iosous.” Later “Iosous” was translated into English as “Jesus.” But we cannot stop with the name Yeshua. He is also called “Christ”. This is not a second name but rather a title, like president, king or prime minister. This extraordinary title originated in Scriptures as “Mashiach,” which in Hebrew means “Anointed One”. It also followed translation into Greek as “Christos,” and later into English as “Christ.” Therefore, “Jesus Christ” literally in Hebrew is “Yeshua haMeshiach” (Yeshua the Messiah) You will see Yeshua haMashiach or Yeshua haMesiach as well in other variations of the spelling.
The Gentiles are believers who are not Jewish, and are the wild branches grafted into the olive tree. They are usually called Christians because they follow Christ's example and look to Him as their Lord and King. Gentiles are people from all the nations other than Israel. The Jews are the original branches, they are Israel, God's chosen people.. Yeshua (Jesus) said that He is the vine.
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. John 15:5-9 NASB
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited, resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! AMEN
Ephesians 3:16-21
So what do the branches look like these days?
The organized religious groups, the churches, and followers are Christ are in a sad state of affairs. There is still much prejudice and ridicule from both sides of the body. We all have a need to become more aware of our cold hearts, cynicism, envy, and pride. We all have a great need to stand tall in our faith and grow beyond our immaturity. Our attitudes and actions do not always show God's love. There is nothing that replaces genuine obedience. Yeshua,(Jesus) taught us that attitude matters; it is a heart condition. His ministry on earth gives us a model to follow; forgive one another as I have forgiven you, love your neighbor as yourself, let your light shine... Actions reveal what is in our heart. But if we fail to model Christ (Meshiach), people will have a harder time seeing Christ. We are to be God's ambassadors, representatives, and give testimony with our lives to who He is. That is our commission given to us by Meshiach himself. We are to be bearers of the light, the truth, and spread the gospel message until all the world has heard. Both Jewish and Gentile believers have the same commission. We are fellow believers, of the same spiritual household, and share in continuing the ministry our Lord began.
The church, the body of Christ, is made up of many members and with that comes all styles and shapes; secret meetings in homes, wide-open gatherings in amphitheaters, worship services packing thousands into a sanctuary while an overflow crowd watches on closed-circuit TV, handfuls who kneel in urban storefronts. Buildings vary, but the church is not confined to four walls. The church of Jesus Christ is His people, of every race and nation, who love Christ, worship Him, believe in His redemption for us all and are committed to serving Him. We are God's children if we serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The one true living God. That is the identifying factor. Each member must worship and serve the one true living God. It is Who we serve that unites us. We must be part of the same tree.
Paul uses the metaphor of first fruits in Romans 11:16 to apply to the risen life of Christ, which promises the resurrection to all people. The olive tree is used to apply to the purpose of God's redeeming grace through Jesus Christ. Gentiles can be inserted in, or grafted in, though they are by nature wild. Gentiles were filled with pride and despised the Jews, whose place they were taking, due to their unfaithfulness. But the branches are supported by the root and could easily be cut off. All believers hold their place in God's family by His grace. We must be "in Christ". There must be obedience to Him which shows continuance in that grace. (1 Corinthians 10:12) The faithless Jews were not to be rejected forever. A partial hardening of their hearts, by God, was given them to allow a time for Gentiles to come in. Those who are the true seed of Abraham, believing Jews, spiritual Israel, could be grafted back in again, which would be perfectly natural. Gentile believers should not boast since God could take away their place in the olive tree because of their hardened hearts. Paul urges them to continue in the goodness that God has given them in His grace. But anyone who does not abide in the branch, and bear good fruit, will be cut off. The Lord has acted for and in 'those' who are in Christ, but 'those' must act in a continuance of belief and bear good fruit. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility both needed to bear fruit. The production of fruit authenticates the fruit bearer. The fruit of the spirit consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The fruit is all the things that we do in service to God for His kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. On our own we are not capable of any beneficial service to God. Without the Holy Spirit working through us, our deeds are worthless; they are without any spiritual power to change people's hearts. We may do some nice things, encourage some people, but there is no life changing power. We must stay attached to the vine in order to produce the buds which blossom and bring fruit. The fruit is supernaturally and automatically produced. We cannot force the fruit to grow. We are never commanded to grow, but to abide. It is the power of the Holy Spirit which flows through us to exhibit this fruit. Staying connected to the vine, being in the Word and having a relationship with our God will result in the production of fruit. If you don't see any fruit, then you are not in the vine, you are not connected to the tree.
Eternal life in God's kingdom is for fruit bearers only; to those who have heard the word of God and responded to the free gift of grace. We call that being born again. We are born of the Spirit, given the spiritual life that was taken away through Adam and Eve's disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden. God has provided a way for us, and for both the Jew and Gentile the way is the same, through the redeeming grace of His Son; to be able to receive this gift of spiritual life. To those who respond to the call , God will breathe that spirit of life back into them. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment of the things to come.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others, and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches, If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Romans 11:17-18
For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural {branches} be grafted into their own olive tree?
Romans 11:24
True believers should not persecute others. Both Gentiles and Jews have done much damage to the cause of Messiah (Christ), whom they claim to serve. God chose the Jews, God chose Gentiles. Jews rejected God's offer and thus, Gentiles were being offered salvation. He is still working to unite all believers so they become a holy temple where God lives by his Spirit. see Eph. 2:11-22
Paul was appointed as an apostle to the Gentiles. He reminded his Jewish brothers and sisters of the fact, hoping that they too, would want to be saved. When a Jew comes to a completeness, faith in his Salvation (Yeshua) he has come back to life. When Paul speaks to Gentiles, he does not want them to think that they are superior because of some Jews rejection. Abraham's faith is like the root of a productive tree, and the Jewish people are the natural branches. Because of unfaithfulness, some of the Jews have been broken off, and Gentile believers, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. Both Jews and Gentiles share the tree's nourishment based on faith in God; neither can rest on heritage or culture for salvation.
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. Rom 11:16
Salvation is for both Jew and Gentile (Greek is sometimes used instead of Gentile which also means all the nations , anyone who is not from Israel ).
For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. (Romans 11:9-13)
Everyone includes people of every tribe, from every place in the world, no matter what language they speak or where they live, how they live or what culture they follow.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.." John 15:1-5
The message is clear, but who is listening?
God's plan for revealing himself and extending salvation to the world has always included both Jews and Gentiles. The Old Testament makes it clear that the Jews were set apart as a nation in order to be witnesses to the entire world. When the Messiah came, he first preached to the Jews; as the people set aside to be God's people and entrusted with God's words, they had the right to be the first people to meet the Messiah (Romans 3:1-2, 9:4-5). This was a strategic move as well: Jews who followed God and knew the prophecies of the Messiah would be the most ready to respond to Jesus and follow him, which is just what the twelve disciples did. Those first disciples could then spread the Gospel to others.
Though Jesus' earthly ministry focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24), he healed many Gentiles and even commended them for their faith (Matthew 8:5-13, 15:21-28). The disciples were at first instructed to spread the word to their fellow Jews (Matthew 10:5-7), yet even so they would be used as witnesses to Gentiles (Matthew 10:18). And of course, after the Resurrection Jesus commanded them to preach to everyone (Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8).
The New Testament explains God's plan for Jews and Gentiles further. "The Gospel...is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 1:16). Paul explains in Ephesians 2:11-21 that Christ's death and resurrection results in Jews and Gentiles being united as Christians. Gentiles are no longer to be considered unclean (Acts 10:28) but are equal to Jewish Christians (Romans 10:12). Yet Jews are not discriminated against : even Jews who reject the Messiah are to be "loved on account of the patriarchs" (Romans 11:28). Finally, just as the Jewish nation was to be a witness to other nations by their way of life, so Christians are to be witnesses by their actions as well as their words (John 13:35).
Paul preached that everyone is saved by faith in Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ).
"...But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles ; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." Galatians 2:14-16
Man cannot follow through on God's ways. The examples of the Jews were given to warn us. We are nothing in our own power and strength. Our own hearts lie to us. Only God can change our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 says "the heart is more deceitful than anything else". There is no difference between any of mankind. Not one of us has ever followed through on God's ways and performed all His decrees. God's plan in history enables Him to show mercy to both Israel and all the Gentile nations, that He may shower His mercy upon all mankind.
As God gathers His dearly beloved children to Himself, and as we grow in the likeness of His image, in humility, becoming the one new man He has intended us to be, we will bring glory to God.
There is a day coming when the Lord our God will rule and reign over every tongue, tribe, and nation. There is one Lord of us all, and one day every knee will bow down before Him.
On that day the his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, ---The Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime, a day known to the Lord. When evening comes there will be light. Then the Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. Zechariah 14: 1-9 selected
We are here for such a brief time
Let us prepare our hearts and be made ready for that day.
Let us help our fellow man to find his way.
The olive tree is a covenant tree.
The dove from the ark brought an olive-branch to Noah (Gen 8:11). It is mentioned among the most notable trees of Palestine, where it was cultivated long before the time of the Hebrews (Deut 6:11; Deut 8:8). It is mentioned in the first Old Testament parable, that of Jotham (Jdg 9:9), and is named among the blessings of the "good land," and is at the present day the one characteristic tree of Palestine. The oldest olive-trees in the country are those which are enclosed in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is referred to as an emblem of prosperity and beauty and religious privilege (Ps 52:8; Jer 11:16; Hos 14:6).
The two "witnesses" mentioned in Rev 11:4 are spoken of as "two olive trees standing before the God of the earth." (Compare Zec 4:3, 11-14) The "olive-tree, wild by nature" (Rom 11:24), is the shoot or cutting of the good olive-tree which, left ungrafted, grows up to be a "wild olive."
In Rom 11:17 Paul refers to the practice of grafting shoots of the wild olive into a "good" olive which has become unfruitful. By such a process the sap of the good olive, by pervading the branch which is "grafted in," makes it a good branch, bearing good olives. Thus the Gentiles, being a "wild olive," but now "grafted in," yield fruit, but only through the sap of the tree into which they have been grafted. This is a process "contrary to nature" (Rom 11:24).--Easton's Illustrated Dictionary
The Flood Recedes Genesis 8
1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwater began to recede.2 The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped.3 So the floodwater gradually receded from the earth. After 150 days,4 exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.5 Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible.6 After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat7 and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwater on the earth had dried up.8 He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground.9 But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.10 After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again.11 This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwater were almost gone.12 He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.13 Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwater had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.14 Two more months went by, and at last the earth was dry!15 Then God said to Noah,16 “Leave the boat, all of you—you and your wife, and your sons and their wives.17 Release all the animals—the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.”18 So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat.19 And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair.20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”Gen 8:1-22 (NLT)
THE COVENANT WITH NOAH (8:1-9:17)
After the earth had been flooded for 150 days, God remembered Noah. The word "remembered" (8:1) is one of the great words for expressing redemption and salvation in the Old Testament (cf. Exod. 2:24-25). Although the flood story ends with 8:22, there is a spiritual as well as physical watershed at 8:1 where the reader is reminded, "But God remembered Noah. . . ." In Scripture when something is said about God remembering, this signals a major act of redemption for the ones remembered (cf. 9:15-16; 19:29; 30:22; Exod. 2:24; 6:5). God's remembering of Noah explicitly begins his major design for bringing about worldwide redemption; the record of that design stretches from Genesis 8 through Genesis 50.In some ways the flood returned the earth to a condition that was similar to its state at the beginning of God's creation. Although the earth still retained its basic form and probably had not changed drastically under the floodwater, water covered the earth as it did in the beginning. Also, it was again empty of people and animal life, except for the handful of people and animals that were aboard the ark. After Genesis 8:13, time began to be reckoned by Noah's age. He was the head of a new race and father of a new beginning of history. He, like Adam, was commanded to be fruitful and multiply (8:17; cf. 1:28). God's covenant with Noah was foundational for his grace seen later in the cross. In the flood, God displayed his hatred and vengeance toward sin. In the rainbow he showed that man's deserved punishment for his acts of sin would not be immediately fulfilled. He also revealed that his hatred of sin would not be expressed until his plan of grace was completed. How then, could God stand to face mankind's continued sin? The answer lies in his character: though God is holy and just, he is also long suffering. God is always more interested in salvation than in damnation. —Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
In the olive tree we are in God's grace. Our sin has been forgiven. We have become people who are no longer under condemnation. We are part of a new family and have a role to play in that family. We have a purpose in life, and it is part of God's plan. God saved us to provide a way for us to fulfill our role in that plan. We are called to work with our family and bring God's plan to fruition. We may be called to build walls or to tear walls of hostility down. We may be called to rebuild the lives of others or to tear down the strongholds that hold them captive through prayer and leading them in a mentor or discipleship relationship.
Our response to being saved:
We take action on the faith that we have been given.
We become useful to God.
Nehemiah discovered that God is holy, just, and long suffering with the sin of mankind. When Nehemiah had considered the matter, he told the Jews that God had put it into his heart to build the wall of Jerusalem. He does not undertake to do it without them. By stirring up ourselves and one another to that which is good, we strengthen ourselves and one another for it. We are weak in our duty, when we are cold and careless. —Matthew Henry Concise
3 They said to me (Nehemiah), “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Neh 1:3-4 (NLT)
NEHEMIAH REDRESSES THE GRIEVANCES. 5:6-13
Nehemiah knew that, if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, so thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there were abuses. The right way to reform men's lives, is to convince their consciences. If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be either covetous of worldly gain, or cruel toward your brethren. Nothing exposes religion more to reproach, than the worldliness and hardheartedness of the professors of it. Those that rigorously insist upon their right, with a very ill grace try to persuade others to give up theirs. In reasoning with selfish people, it is good to contrast their conduct with that of others who are liberal; but it is best to point to His example, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich, 2Co 8:9.They did according to promise. Good promises are good things, but good performances are better. —Matthew Henry Concise
The work was divided, so that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it, with a desire to excel; yet without contention, or separate interests. No strife appears among them, but which should do most for the public good. Every Israelite should lend a hand toward the building up of Jerusalem. Let not nobles think any thing below them, by which they may advance the good of their country. Even some females helped forward the work. Some repaired over against their houses, and one repaired over against his chamber. When a general good work is to be done, each should apply himself to that part which is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall all be mended. Some that had first done helped their fellows. The walls of Jerusalem, in heaps of rubbish, represent the desperate state of the world around, while the number and malice of those who hindered the building, give some faint idea of the enemies we have to contend with, while executing the work of God. Every one must begin at home; for it is by getting the work of God advanced in our own souls that we shall best contribute to the good of the church of Christ. May the Lord thus stir up the hearts of his people, to lay aside their petty disputes, and to disregard their worldly interests, compared with building the walls of Jerusalem, and defending the cause of truth and godliness against the assaults of avowed enemies. —Matthew Henry Concise
God’s Mercy on Israel
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said ,3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” 5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them .6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened .8 As the Scriptures say,
“God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”
9 Likewise, David said,
“Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.God’s Mercy Is for Everyone25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,
“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.27 And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! Romans 11:1-33 (NLT)God will not forsake Israel. Israel is not people who are from Israel. Israel is not those with Jewish heritage. Messiah is from the line of David, the son of Abraham. In a spiritual sense those who have a faith like Abraham are Israel. We are no longer male or female, slave or free, but are one in our identity in Christ, Messiah. Gal. 3:28The gospel will reach all people in all nations, and in every part of the world. Everyone will have a chance to respond in faith. The choice is theirs. Everyone has been extended an invitation to come and partake of the gift of eternal life. They are invited to be the family of God, the bride of Christ. A response in faith to God’s gospel is to receive the Holy Spirit, the Ruach haKodesh as a seal until we are home with our Lord.
The anointing of oil is a picture of receiving the Holy Spirit. The olive is used for oil. In Scripture oil is a symbol of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). The oil is a root of healing and of anointing. It is to bring life to our soul.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)
Paul addressed the Galatians who did not understand God's plan.
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Gal 3:1-14 (NLT)
1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said ,3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” 4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” 5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them .6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened .8 As the Scriptures say,
“God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”
9 Likewise, David said,
“Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.God’s Mercy Is for Everyone25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,
“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.27 And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! Romans 11:1-33 (NLT)God will not forsake Israel. Israel is not people who are from Israel. Israel is not those with Jewish heritage. Messiah is from the line of David, the son of Abraham. In a spiritual sense those who have a faith like Abraham are Israel. We are no longer male or female, slave or free, but are one in our identity in Christ, Messiah. Gal. 3:28The gospel will reach all people in all nations, and in every part of the world. Everyone will have a chance to respond in faith. The choice is theirs. Everyone has been extended an invitation to come and partake of the gift of eternal life. They are invited to be the family of God, the bride of Christ. A response in faith to God’s gospel is to receive the Holy Spirit, the Ruach haKodesh as a seal until we are home with our Lord.
The anointing of oil is a picture of receiving the Holy Spirit. The olive is used for oil. In Scripture oil is a symbol of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). The oil is a root of healing and of anointing. It is to bring life to our soul.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)
Paul addressed the Galatians who did not understand God's plan.
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross.2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Gal 3:1-14 (NLT)
There are petty disputes going on among the relatives of the body of Messiah and it breaks God’s heart. There are things that we can do to restore a right spirit within the body of believers, the brothers and sisters in the Lord. It begins with you and your own heart attitude. Be rightly honest before God and repent where you are wrong. Don’t undervalue the importance of being right with God and with His family. Take responsibility for your own spirit and your outlook on your spiritual family. It can be an opportunity to give a testimony to the Master’s goodness. God is not prejudiced and not a respecter of people. Your Christian walk matters and your kind of spirit will affect those around you. Do you hold on to bitterness over something done to you in the past? It is time to let it go. Enjoy the joy of the Lord in the freedom you will have once the bitterness is gone. We are to use what we have been given to produce more of its kind. We are to bring forth good fruit; not causing the fruit we have to die.
The anointing oil is the refreshing flow of the spirit of God in our soul. We lost that when Adam and Eve sinned. They continued living physically but had lost the very presence of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given back to us that life that was lost. Let the abundance of what God has given us refresh and give you new and abundant life. Don’t live in pain and greed, sorrow and sin, allowing the devil to tempt you to do contrary to what God has for you. He gave His only Son to take all our sin upon Himself. He paid the debt and we now have new life. To live as the redeemed means that we will display the fruit of the spirit. A person’s spirit is something that can be changed. God has given us the power by His Spirit to live a life that is free from evil and dark deeds. Those who truly fear God, will not dare to do anything cruel or unjust. Let all who are in public places remember that they are so placed to do good for the sake of others, not to enrich themselves.
Nehemiah mentions it to God in prayer, not as if he had merited any favour from God, but to show that he depended upon God only, to make up to him what he had lost and laid out for his honour. Nehemiah evidently spake and acted as one that knew himself to be a sinner. He did not mean to claim a reward as of debt, but in the manner that the Lord rewards a cup of cold water given to a disciple for his sake. The fear and love of God in the heart, and true love of the brethren, will lead to every good work. These are proper evidences of justifying faith; and our reconciled God will look upon persons of this character for good, according to all they have done for his people. —Matthew Henry Concise
Nehemiah faced some obstacles in carrying out God's will.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me,3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand,6 and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. Neh 6:2-9 (NLT)
There will be opposition in serving God. The enemy will stir up trouble among the people of God. We must keep that in mind and be alert to all that could hinder God’s work among His people. Let Christ enter into everything that you do. The Holy Spirit is our guide and will direct us the right way. If we call upon our God, He will help us. He has said so. Take Him at His word. Be a worker that is approved by God. God has a plan for His people and it includes both Jew and Gentile. It is not a work that man can accomplish. That is, God accomplishes His plan through man, by giving man the power to accomplish it. Some thing seems impossible and others seem to have no answers.
As in Nehemiah’s day, God is there to bring His plan to fruition so that He is the one to receive the glory.
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Neh 6:15-16 (NLT)
Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service and glory! —Matthew Henry Concise
In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, 1 all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.
2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. Neh 8:1-3 (NLT)
They found written in the law about the feast of tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is foretold under the figure of this feast, Zec 14:16.
True religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do according to what is written therein; when what appears to be our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of sinners to tremble and to become humbled before God. But those are enemies to their own growth in holiness, who always indulge sorrow, even for sin, and put away from them the consolations tendered by the word and Spirit of God. —Matthew Henry Concise
5 Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed:
“May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!6 “You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.7 “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.8 When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.9 “You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. 10 You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten.11 You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters.12 You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.13 “You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good.14 You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.15 “You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.16 “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.17 They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,18 even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.19 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. 20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell! 22 “Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan.23 You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors .24 “They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased.25 Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.26 “But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you,and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.28 “But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times! 29 “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.30 In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them.31 But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are! 32 “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.33 Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.35 Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.36 “So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land.37 The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.” Neh 9:5-37 (NLT)
Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, and our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, and ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we may be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring them to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon. —Matthew Henry Concise
WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR US?
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)
We cannot say too much, it were well if enough could be said, to persuade people to live together in peace. It is good for us, for our honor and comfort; and brings constant delight to those who live in unity. The pleasantness of this is likened to the holy anointing oil. This is the fruit of the Spirit, the proof of our union with Christ, and adorns his gospel. It is profitable as well as pleasing; it brings blessings numerous as the drops of dew. It cools the scorching heat of men's passions, as the dews cool the air and refresh the earth. It moistens the heart, and makes it fit to receive the good seed of the word, and to make it fruitful. See the proof of the excellency of brotherly love: where brethren dwell together in unity, the Lord commands the blessing. God commands the blessing; man can but beg a blessing. Believers that live in love and peace, shall have the God of love and peace with them now, and they shall shortly be with him for ever, in the world of endless love and peace. May all who love the Lord forbear and forgive one another, as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them. —Matthew Henry Concise
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Eph 2:14-16 (NLT)
Jews and Gentiles, both are the body of Christ (Mashiach) if they believe in our risen Lord and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. God has already done it. He removed the barrier, the wall of separation. The two have become one, so that the world might believe in Him, the one true God, and Father of us all.
God wants believers to have a relationship of unity with Him and with each other. That does not mean that we do everything in the same manner.
Are you helping to unify the body of Christ? You may have never thought about doing that or even how you would go about doing that.
Do you have a vision of what it is that God wants the body to look like?
Every action you take and every attitude you have affects it. When you represent God's character you are helping to bring unity into existence. You can pray for others, avoid gossip, build others up, work together, and give your time and money to help in spreading the Gospel. You can exalt God by refusing to get in an argument over divisive matters. Do you get the idea? LOVE is the idea.
While Christians have different rituals, practices, and beliefs on secondary and trivial matters, Eph 4:4-5 says, "There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." We are to have unity with those who believe, experience, and obey God's Word. It is not just something that we agree to do in our own efforts. God is building us up on the inside. This is a spiritual building and requires spiritual tools to make it work. Each contact with a fellow human being is an opportunity to unite or to divide. This is the building of a community based on faith, love and obedience, rooted and grounded in the one true God.
There will be different responses to the articles and information on this web site. We are all at a different maturity level spiritually and have grown up in a different environment, with different leaders, teachers, and different understanding of various religious terms and traditions. This complicates the ability to communicate, have you noticed that?
We are not perfect. We are not the wisest or most powerful people of the world. Jesus chose His disciples who were common workers; not the religious leaders of the day. God knows our limited understanding. He knows that if we listen to Him we will be guided in the direction He wants us to go. God knows the weakness of the human condition, and He chooses to use us to bring about the goal He has for all mankind.
New Testament Christians were not perfect. Some churches erred seriously in tolerating heretics, and the Corinthian church erred in tolerating an immoral person. Some also treated the Lord's Supper lightly, had wrong understandings about the use of tongues, and were divisive (1 Cor 11:18). Paul and Barnabas even argued sharply in Acts 15:36-40. Yet, Rom 15:7 says, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
The body is a very diverse group of people. God created each one of us, and each one of us has a gift to bring to the body. We are to work together with other members of the body in the spirit of love. This unity in the body is not to bring a complete peace among us, nor a conformity, nor a new religion; but a people group with the common foundation; In a spiritual dimension that includes every nation, and denomination. It is as vast as the universe itself. It has Christ as the head.
We are to build each other up. It is a growing up process. Many people are harboring things that keep a line drawn between God's people. God did not intended that for us. They are not willing to accept other believers who have some different traditions; as far as saying that there are certain rules they must believe and follow in order to worship with this group of people. The body of Christ( Messiah) is not based on anything you do, but rather it is based on who you know, and who you trust for your salvation. Salvation is by grace alone. There is no merit on your part.
The Roman church was a diverse community of believers. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, rich and poor, strong and weak. It was difficult for them to accept one another. Accepting one another means taking people into our homes as well as into our hearts. We are to avoid racial and economic discrimination, we must go out of our way to avoid favoritism. As we come across those we don't normally stop to interact with, we can minimize our differences by making a deliberate choice to greet them and strike up a casual conversation. We are to seek common ground for fellowship. In this way we are accepting others as Christ accepts us, and God is given the glory.
Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came. It protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:22-29
God saved you by His grace when you believed. Even the gift of the ability to believe comes from God. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done; so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Yeshua haMashicah, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
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The anointing oil is the refreshing flow of the spirit of God in our soul. We lost that when Adam and Eve sinned. They continued living physically but had lost the very presence of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ has given back to us that life that was lost. Let the abundance of what God has given us refresh and give you new and abundant life. Don’t live in pain and greed, sorrow and sin, allowing the devil to tempt you to do contrary to what God has for you. He gave His only Son to take all our sin upon Himself. He paid the debt and we now have new life. To live as the redeemed means that we will display the fruit of the spirit. A person’s spirit is something that can be changed. God has given us the power by His Spirit to live a life that is free from evil and dark deeds. Those who truly fear God, will not dare to do anything cruel or unjust. Let all who are in public places remember that they are so placed to do good for the sake of others, not to enrich themselves.
Nehemiah mentions it to God in prayer, not as if he had merited any favour from God, but to show that he depended upon God only, to make up to him what he had lost and laid out for his honour. Nehemiah evidently spake and acted as one that knew himself to be a sinner. He did not mean to claim a reward as of debt, but in the manner that the Lord rewards a cup of cold water given to a disciple for his sake. The fear and love of God in the heart, and true love of the brethren, will lead to every good work. These are proper evidences of justifying faith; and our reconciled God will look upon persons of this character for good, according to all they have done for his people. —Matthew Henry Concise
Nehemiah faced some obstacles in carrying out God's will.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me,3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand,6 and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. Neh 6:2-9 (NLT)
There will be opposition in serving God. The enemy will stir up trouble among the people of God. We must keep that in mind and be alert to all that could hinder God’s work among His people. Let Christ enter into everything that you do. The Holy Spirit is our guide and will direct us the right way. If we call upon our God, He will help us. He has said so. Take Him at His word. Be a worker that is approved by God. God has a plan for His people and it includes both Jew and Gentile. It is not a work that man can accomplish. That is, God accomplishes His plan through man, by giving man the power to accomplish it. Some thing seems impossible and others seem to have no answers.
As in Nehemiah’s day, God is there to bring His plan to fruition so that He is the one to receive the glory.
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Neh 6:15-16 (NLT)
Nehemiah knew that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the inhabitants than upon its walls. Every good gift and every good work are from above. God gives knowledge, he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all must be to him. What is done by human prudence, must be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence. But woe to those who turn back from the Lord, loving this present world! and happy those who dedicate themselves, and their substance, to his service and glory! —Matthew Henry Concise
In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, 1 all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.
2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. Neh 8:1-3 (NLT)
They found written in the law about the feast of tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is foretold under the figure of this feast, Zec 14:16.
True religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do according to what is written therein; when what appears to be our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of sinners to tremble and to become humbled before God. But those are enemies to their own growth in holiness, who always indulge sorrow, even for sin, and put away from them the consolations tendered by the word and Spirit of God. —Matthew Henry Concise
5 Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed:
“May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!6 “You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.7 “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.8 When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.9 “You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. 10 You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten.11 You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters.12 You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.13 “You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good.14 You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.15 “You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.16 “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.17 They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,18 even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.19 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. 20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell! 22 “Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan.23 You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors .24 “They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased.25 Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.26 “But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you,and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.28 “But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times! 29 “You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.30 In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them.31 But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are! 32 “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now.33 Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved.34 Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.35 Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.36 “So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land.37 The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.” Neh 9:5-37 (NLT)
Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, and our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, and ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we may be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring them to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon. —Matthew Henry Concise
WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR US?
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 (NLT)
We cannot say too much, it were well if enough could be said, to persuade people to live together in peace. It is good for us, for our honor and comfort; and brings constant delight to those who live in unity. The pleasantness of this is likened to the holy anointing oil. This is the fruit of the Spirit, the proof of our union with Christ, and adorns his gospel. It is profitable as well as pleasing; it brings blessings numerous as the drops of dew. It cools the scorching heat of men's passions, as the dews cool the air and refresh the earth. It moistens the heart, and makes it fit to receive the good seed of the word, and to make it fruitful. See the proof of the excellency of brotherly love: where brethren dwell together in unity, the Lord commands the blessing. God commands the blessing; man can but beg a blessing. Believers that live in love and peace, shall have the God of love and peace with them now, and they shall shortly be with him for ever, in the world of endless love and peace. May all who love the Lord forbear and forgive one another, as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them. —Matthew Henry Concise
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Eph 2:14-16 (NLT)
Jews and Gentiles, both are the body of Christ (Mashiach) if they believe in our risen Lord and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. God has already done it. He removed the barrier, the wall of separation. The two have become one, so that the world might believe in Him, the one true God, and Father of us all.
God wants believers to have a relationship of unity with Him and with each other. That does not mean that we do everything in the same manner.
Are you helping to unify the body of Christ? You may have never thought about doing that or even how you would go about doing that.
Do you have a vision of what it is that God wants the body to look like?
Every action you take and every attitude you have affects it. When you represent God's character you are helping to bring unity into existence. You can pray for others, avoid gossip, build others up, work together, and give your time and money to help in spreading the Gospel. You can exalt God by refusing to get in an argument over divisive matters. Do you get the idea? LOVE is the idea.
While Christians have different rituals, practices, and beliefs on secondary and trivial matters, Eph 4:4-5 says, "There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all..." We are to have unity with those who believe, experience, and obey God's Word. It is not just something that we agree to do in our own efforts. God is building us up on the inside. This is a spiritual building and requires spiritual tools to make it work. Each contact with a fellow human being is an opportunity to unite or to divide. This is the building of a community based on faith, love and obedience, rooted and grounded in the one true God.
There will be different responses to the articles and information on this web site. We are all at a different maturity level spiritually and have grown up in a different environment, with different leaders, teachers, and different understanding of various religious terms and traditions. This complicates the ability to communicate, have you noticed that?
We are not perfect. We are not the wisest or most powerful people of the world. Jesus chose His disciples who were common workers; not the religious leaders of the day. God knows our limited understanding. He knows that if we listen to Him we will be guided in the direction He wants us to go. God knows the weakness of the human condition, and He chooses to use us to bring about the goal He has for all mankind.
New Testament Christians were not perfect. Some churches erred seriously in tolerating heretics, and the Corinthian church erred in tolerating an immoral person. Some also treated the Lord's Supper lightly, had wrong understandings about the use of tongues, and were divisive (1 Cor 11:18). Paul and Barnabas even argued sharply in Acts 15:36-40. Yet, Rom 15:7 says, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
The body is a very diverse group of people. God created each one of us, and each one of us has a gift to bring to the body. We are to work together with other members of the body in the spirit of love. This unity in the body is not to bring a complete peace among us, nor a conformity, nor a new religion; but a people group with the common foundation; In a spiritual dimension that includes every nation, and denomination. It is as vast as the universe itself. It has Christ as the head.
We are to build each other up. It is a growing up process. Many people are harboring things that keep a line drawn between God's people. God did not intended that for us. They are not willing to accept other believers who have some different traditions; as far as saying that there are certain rules they must believe and follow in order to worship with this group of people. The body of Christ( Messiah) is not based on anything you do, but rather it is based on who you know, and who you trust for your salvation. Salvation is by grace alone. There is no merit on your part.
The Roman church was a diverse community of believers. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free people, rich and poor, strong and weak. It was difficult for them to accept one another. Accepting one another means taking people into our homes as well as into our hearts. We are to avoid racial and economic discrimination, we must go out of our way to avoid favoritism. As we come across those we don't normally stop to interact with, we can minimize our differences by making a deliberate choice to greet them and strike up a casual conversation. We are to seek common ground for fellowship. In this way we are accepting others as Christ accepts us, and God is given the glory.
Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came. It protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:22-29
God saved you by His grace when you believed. Even the gift of the ability to believe comes from God. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done; so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Yeshua haMashicah, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
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JERUSALEM
Matthew 23:37 (New International Version)
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.