A Tangelo Christian

A Tangelo Christian

A Tangelo is a deliberate or accidental hybrid of any mandarin orange and the grapefruit or pummelo.  The result is not quite a mandarin orange and not quite a grapefruit or a pummelo, but quite delicious.  This is done by grafting.  Grafting is simply inserting a cut twig from one fruit tree into a cut in another compatible fruit tree. Creating successful crossbreeds of similar plants and other flora ... Most same fruit varieties can be grafted easily. A successful graft happens when the vascular cambium tissues of the both plants must be placed in contact with each other and a connection takes place between the two tissues. Almost all citrus types are compatible with other citruses.  The vascular system of the tree and the inserted branch become one.  The sap of the tree goes into the branch changing the character of the fruit produced.  The sap does not change the physical appearance of the branch, but the fruit it produces. 

Are you a tangelo Christian?  Christ compared Himself with a vine in John 15:1 and added that we are the branches in John 15: 5.  As long as we are in the vine we "bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."  Paul adds another dimension to this in Romans 11,

Rom11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Rom11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Rom11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Rom11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Some branches were broken off and others were grafted in.  As long as the vine's and branches' "vascular" systems take well and connect, the "divine sap" will go in the branch, so the "fruit" will be more like Christ's (Galatians 5:22).

The metaphor of Christ's body is similar, in fact parallel.  The members of our body are attached to each other by different kinds of tissues.  All the members are one body.  A vascular system goes through our body taking blood with oxygen and nutrients to these body parts.  However, the members work in harmony because they are all connected to the brain, which is in the head, by the nervous system.  If the brain or the nerves stop working so will the respective body parts.  Therefore the unity and harmony will disappear.  This is because the members of the body do the head's will. 

Paul said just as many members make up one body, we make up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:20).  Then Paul added that Christ is the head of the body (1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 2:19).  And Paul confirms this in Epheisans 1:22 – 23 and also in Colossians 1:18.  Let us read these passages,

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

This being the case, the only way for the body of Christ to work in unity and harmony is to be connected to the head, which is Christ, via "the nervous system."  Any "member" not attached to "the head" via this "nervous system" is not really part of "the body of Christ," even if they are connected through any other "tissue."  The body of Christ is one with Christ.  It does nothing with out Christ's consent.  It does His will.

Christ is the Vine and the head.  We are the branches and the other members of the body.  They are connected with the "vascular system" and nervous system, respectively.  What are then the vascular system and the nervous system?  It is Faith which comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).  It is by Faith that "we have access … into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).  It is by Faith that we shall live (Hebrews 10:38).

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

Fwd: How Jesus Spent.doc

How Jesus Spent "His" Time 

Balance as an adjective is a state in which opposing tendencies are equal. To balance an object means to position it with its centre of gravity above its supports in such a way that there is no tendency for it to topple over to one side rather than to another.  The forces of gravity are equal on each side.  The following list describes how it is used in other fields. 

(acoustics) The condition in a stereo system wherein both speakers produce the same average sound levels.
(aerospace engineering) The equilibrium attained by an aircraft, rocket, or the like when forces and moments are acting upon it so as to produce steady flight, especially without rotation about its axes. (chemistry) To bring a chemical equation into balance so that reaction substances and reaction products obey the laws of conservation of mass and charge.
(electricity) The state of an electrical network when it is adjusted so that voltage in one branch induces or causes no current in another branch.

We could say that balance in social terms is the point at which you are able to give time to all parties and/or activities and they all are satisfied.  Something humanly impossible to do, but that we believe we should be able to do.  This is why many experts say that we should learn to say, "No."  You cannot please everyone and do all things well at all times.   

From our human perspective Christ lives an "unbalanced" life.  (He said, "No," sometimes.)  He "neglected" and "ignored" His family (Matthew 12: 46 – 50).  He did not eat at times (John 4: 31 – 33).  All, so He could do what is listed in the following verses suggested by our lesson - Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:16, John 2:1-11, John 12:2.  These examples can be summarized in four different categories of work: preaching, feeding, healing, and feeding.  This is how Jesus spent part of His time.

We should note that Jesus said repeatedly that it was not He that did the works, but His Father.  Let us read from John 8: 28, 29; 12: 49, 50; and 14:10,   

John8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 

John12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

John14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 

Jesus spent the time given to Him doing the Father's will.  To be able to do this Jesus prayed - sometimes all night.  Here are a few verses talking about that,  

Mark1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 

Luke5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 

Luke9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 

Luke6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 

The prayer enabled and empowered Him to lay aside His will so he could do His Father's will, which in His case was preaching, feeding, healing, and feeding.  Christ died to self daily.  He said, "No," to Himself in order to say, "Yes," to the Father.  To live as Jesus lived then is to live a life doing as the Father's wills.  This may be for you just being a father or mother to your children.  It may be being a husband or wife to your spouse.  Not all of us are called to be evangelists.  Whatever the calling God gives to you it will require serious prayer to be able to do it. 
--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

The Reason to Praise

We read in Mark 4: 6, 7 some very harsh words from Jesus referring to the Pharisees and Scribes.

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

We learn in this passage that the Pharisees and scribes had ceremonies to cleanse pretty much everything they touched. There hope was to not be contaminated so they could be pleasing to God. They thought they were worshiping God which such a practice as this one – there was also fasting, public prayer, and giving, among others. But, Christ saw through their dry ceremonies and dead ways of formalism. There forefathers had a similar attitude. Through Micah God said to them,

Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Micah 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

They thought that the sacrifices pleased and praised God. But, God was looking for something else that would please Him and bring praise to Him: a contrite heart that would yield justice, mercy, and humility. God was looking for hearts that were willing to serve Him. This pleases Him and gives Him glory. This is more than giving up makeup and meat. This is deeper than praise and worship songs. God does not want our Sin polluted and self centered praise. To Him it is a filthy rag, because it comes from those who “are all as an unclean thing,” therefore “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). God is looking for a heart that is pleased in doing His will out of gratitude for what His Son has done on the cross for us. If the cross does not break your heart, if it does not bring you to repentance then nothing will. God is only pleased when our praises come from a repentant heart. Praise and worship does not change your heart, the Cross of Christ does. Singing praise and worship songs, without a changed heart, is honoring God with our lips, but our hearts are far away from Him.

The lesson asks the question, what will be a dominant aspect of eternal life? We read in Romans 14:11, 1 Timothy 1:17, and Revelation 5:13 an example,

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Yes, eternal life will be spent in much part singing eternal praises and worshiping the King. Sister White explains why, “That the Maker of all worlds, the Arbiter of all destinies, should lay aside His glory and humiliate Himself from love to man will ever excite the wonder and adoration of the universe. As the nations of the saved look upon their Redeemer and behold the eternal glory of the Father shining in His countenance; as they behold His throne, which is from everlasting to everlasting, and know that His kingdom is to have no end, they break forth in rapturous song: ‘Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His own most precious blood!’ ” —Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 651, 652. We will sing praises because we are pleased with the Lamb and grateful to Him. This singing will in turn please the Father. But, the only way to do it in Heaven is to start doing it here. Andm the only way to do it here is by beholding the cross. Let it fill you and change you.

Rest

Rest

 

I have a friend who owns a home near the country.  When you wake up birds are chirping for all there worth.  When you look outside the window, you see these birds flying around building there nests.  At one point, my friend and I were both outside looking at a small pond – of sorts – where he has fish.  The fish, as the birds were doing what they do.  They swam around the water.  It occurred to me that these birds and fish were unconcerned with the problems of the world.  They were not worried about where their next meal would come from.  Or where would they live.  The fish survived the winter.  The birds flew back north and somehow built there homes, to prepare for new offspring.  They were not concerned how these baby birds would be fed.  I remembered the sermon of the Mount – Matthew 6: 25 -26, 28, 30-32, 34 - when Christ said to the people,

 

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:28 … Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew thew 6:32 … for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil

 

It is when we live this way that we find true rest.  This is rest that comes from Jesus Himself.  Only unto those who come unto Him, He will give rest (Matthew 11:28).  Only when we believe that Christ is the creator and sustainer of all things, including us, will we find true rest.  Only when we leave all of our anxieties with Him – the One who rested when He finished His work – will we receive that peace, which comes from resting in Him.

 

This is something that Mary Magdalene understood, but not Martha, we read their story in Luke 10: 38 - 42,

 

Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Luke 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

This is something that the Israelites of old never understood.  Paul tells us in Hebrews 4: 6 – 10,

 

Heb4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Heb4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Heb4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

 

Sabbath keeping without entering the rest that Christ gives is nothing more than taking a break or a nap.  Only to those who enter Christ's rest is the Sabbath truly "a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you" (Exodus 31:12-13).  Are we like Mary or are we like Martha and the Israelites of Old?

 

Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com