Who Is Your Vinedresser?

 

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser” (John 15:1).

 Hey Gang:   When you randomly open your Bible each morning- I do assume you open your Bible each morning to stoke the fire in your spiritual; boiler- does it open to one of those very special verses that ignite that fire?   All of God’s Word, inspired by God, is very special but one Psalm, the 23^rd Psalm, places very near the top of the most favorite of all the Old Covenant chapters and, it is the most well-known chapter in the world. Probably John 3:16 is the most known, loved and quoted verse in the New Covenant.

 This morning I randomly opened my Bible, and it opened to the fifteenth chapter of the Book of John.  It was no accident that it opened to John 15 because I often open the Word intentionally to John 15.     I call it the “IF” chapter or prerequisites to walking in the fullness of God and His Word.  It is a prerequisite to living a life filled with the joy that Christ wants to shower on each of His children.

 Jesus paints us a beautiful word picture of how we are interconnected with the Vinedresser who is the Lord.  A picture that was immediately understandable for Israel, which was and is a land of vineyards.  They knew the process well- pruning the non-producing vines so that the producers could be more fruitful.

 Jesus’ words contained a hidden truth that was far more important than the simple task of pruning away an unproductive vine.  It painted a picture of the religious practices that were common to the Jews of that time.  Many stories of the Old Testament refer to Israel as the vine or vineyard of God.  The vine was the symbol of Israel, even appearing on the Maccabees currency.  Solomon considered the vine significant enough in Jewish life to place a vine across the front of the Holy of Holies in the Temple.        

 I love to get off by myself and read Jesus’ awesome words in this passage: “I am the vine and you are the branches,” Wow! Lord, how awesome! You mean I can be a branch in Your vine? Does that not fire the cockles of your thumpers? 

 But notice Jesus does not leave it there.  He goes on and gives us the Good News: we can be attached to His vine! He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am and true 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” (John 15:4). 

 Wonderful, yes, but.. notice the next “IF”. “IF’ anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away – to where – “to be cast in the fire and they are burned” (v.6).

 So, my young friends, if’ I were to place a title on this Gramps Message, it would be ‘Are You Grafted In?’ Are you truly attached to the Vine?’  Jesus made Himself available to us and walk through those wilderness times when He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace” (John 16:3).

Blessings,

Gramps 

Do You Invest Wisely with What God Blesses You?

 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."  (Malachi 3:10).

Hey Gang:  Wow, what a fabulous promise to God's children.  But, to quit there is to miss a profound second part to His promise, "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the Lord of Hosts." (vs.11). 

Do you think God is tying our giving to His protection of us from the devourer?  I will confess, tha
t in my early years of walking with the Lord I came across this verse and it scared the begeebies out of me because I was not a tither.  I was at best a very sporadic giver and sometimes gave what was left over.

There is also a very key principle here, that we need to get tucked away in our minds and heart, God challenges us to test Him.  As I read the Word, I find that many of the pillars of the Christian faith were also tested.   I also believe that testing is an essential ingredient of the faith.  When God laid it on my heart that I should quit my job, sell my house, pack my family across country into never, never- land, I would suggest to you that God was testing to see if I was worthy to do what He had in mind for me to do.

But let me take that a step further.  In those two years, when I was the ‘unemployed director of a non-existent boys home’ I learned a whole barn-full about testing.  Perhaps most important was, if I did not test Him and put one foot in front of the other, I was going to learn all those lessons that Solomon laid out for our edification about idleness and not getting up off our backsides and taking the first step. 

I had occasion recently to have a discussion with a young man who is preparing to go into the mission field.    He was dealing with some deep-seated frustrations.  He believed he was ready to take on the challenge of God's calling but, in his opinion- like I was- he was stuck in a waiting mode.  I shared with him that all that he was doing, every jot and tittle, was God's way to prepare him for what he will need in the future.  In the two years I was waiting for the door to open, I did a zillion different things from moving cows to building furniture and pastoring a small church.  

When God said, “Okay, go for it!"  I found myself caring for horses, building the furniture for the house and, many other things that I had tucked away in my experience bag.  Most important was the time I spent in the Word, in those two years, tutored by a dear lady. This, built the foundation that would carry me in those very formative years of hanging on, as God moved so swiftly. 

Sooooo, my young warriors, read the verse for today and zero in on God's promises in these powerful verses.  Bring it all into His storehouse and test Him.  It is when you do this that He will bless your sox off.  I know, because I have been there!    

Blessings,

Gramps

 

Friday, September 25, 2015

And the Making of Aliyah Goes On......

“Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply….Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they will no longer say, as the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, but as the Lord lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.  Then they will live on their own soil” (Jer. 23:3/7-8).

Hey Gang: When asked, twenty-two prophecy gurus agreed that the number one prophetic event of the past one hundred years was the reestablishment of the land of Israel.  Can there be any doubt of God’s unending love for the land of Israel and the Jewish people than to reestablish of the land of Israel? He is bringing the olim (those making Aliyah (returning) back to the land of their heritage from the four corners of the earth.

As I have worked my way through the Bible, on numerous occasions I always pay special attention to those verses that seem to stand out in bold print.   I am amazed that seldom do I get the same message from those verses when I come across them a second and third time.  I also noticed that many times it may be the verse before or after that one that stood out boldly the last time that is bold this time. 

We had arrived at the home of one of my bride’s aunts, who happened to come down with the flu and was unable to teach her Sunday School class.   After several failed attempts to find a substitute, she drafted me to be her stand in.  I admit that I did a lot of reading from the quarterly that morning for the subject was taken from a book that I seldom spent much time studying and was not even sure how one pronounces Habakkuk.

But, in the course of preparing to fill her shoes, I ran into one of those verses that was bold and lodged in my brain.  I believe it is a word for this day (and 2021) when so many folks have become discouraged with the shaking that our nation and our world is going through.    I sense that Habakkuk was a wee bit discouraged when he cried out to God, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help and You will not hear?  I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save!” (1:2).  God’s response to Habakkuk, and to all of His children, when the rubber-hits-the-road “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished!  Wonder!  Because I am doing something in your days you would not believe if you were told” (vs. 5).

Is that not true today? The twenty-two guru’s mentioned above, when asked- what is the greatest trend in prophecy today agreed that the re-establishment of Israel was number one on the prophetic fulfillment chart;  but there is also a converging taking place of many prophecies that are described in the Bible. 

 Some said the rapid rise in apostasy was the second greatest; others said the coming together of the pieces of the Gog and Magog confederacy; a few mentioned the ever increasing miracles of technology; and still others said the reoccupation of the city of Jerusalem by the Jews.   All agreed that the return of God’s people to the land of their heritage should be enough to convince even the weakest of God’s creation that it is God who is pulling His children back to the land of their heritage. 

I received a blog this morning that had the caption “Nearly 30,000 Jews Immigrated to Israel thus far in 2015.  I also received a message from Operation Exodus informing me they have surpassed all previous years in assisting the olim to make Aliyah.

 The Israeli Department of Immigration and Absorption Minister recently announced,  “At the rate the olim are arriving they will surpass all previous records for any given year”.  Thus far in 2015 (5775 on the Jewish calendar) 29,500 olim have enter Israel.  He said we expect that number to top out around 35,000 for the year.  (2020 year of Covid 19 over 20000 made Aliyah to Israel from 70 different countries.)

The reasons given for this rapid increase centers on two issues: First, the tremendous increase in anti-Semitism and persecution of Jews around the world; second, the economic conditions.  It is felt that being a Jew or Christian severely limits your opportunities in the job market today in many countries.  

Soooo, friends and neighbors, I close this epistle with a verse that I feel is so very important when describing what is really happening in the world; “Yet, once more, I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”  This expression ‘Yet once more’  denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe’ for our God is a consuming fire”.  Hebrews 12:26b – 29.

 Notice the last line, “That we may offer to God an acceptable service”.  You will have opportunity today to offer to God an acceptable service.”  Go!

Blessings,

Gramps

PS We received news from Joel Rosenberg this week that over 300,000 Jews have accepted Yeshua as Messiah.  But really exciting new continues, as he reports that millions of Jews around the world are seeking to learn more about Messiah!!!  Hallelujah! (2019 Population  14.7 Million)

Like A Bolt of Lightning!

 

I read Micah 1-3 this morning, as part of reading through the Bible with TV program. I thought this one was appropriate. There are only God-incidences as you walk with Him.  As you read it, remember it was written 8 years ago!    

  Monday, September 23, 2013

 

"Hear, O Peoples, all of you; Listen, O earth and all it contains, And let the Lord God be a witness against you,  The Lord from His holy temple.  For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.  He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth".  (Micah 1:2-3).

 Hey Gang:  Is there anything that gets one’s attention more than to receive a letter with the bold print "Notice" from the IRS?  Well, let me share one that is even more frightening, "To receive a letter with the bold print " Second Notice" from the IRS!"   It certainly got the attention of the receiver, "Right Now"!.  In a panic he went immediately to the IRS office to settle the matter.

  After several hours of deliberation, most of it one sided, he paid the bill.  As he was leaving the IRS Office, he mentioned to the agent, "I do not remember receiving the first notice".  The IRS agent responded, “Oh, we ran out of first notices months ago, and have learned that second notices are much more effective.” 

 As we see the ominous dark clouds gathering over Jerusalem and Israe,l I wonder if God is not sending his Church a second notice?  The question, essential in this day and age is: "What does it take to motivate you? 

 There is a neat little adage that brings clarity to this question.  A man was riding down the mountain trail on his donkey. God spoke to him and gave him instructions about what He would have him do.  Not sure the message was for him, the man continued on his way. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning came out of the sky and knocked him off the donkey.  Still not sure the message was for him, he said, “Lord, if you meant that for me give me another shot!”

 Many folks live their Christian lives waiting for another ‘shot!’. They tend to forget the times Jesus said: "Do not fear." Do not allow anxiety to enter your walk.  We need to understand Satan's toolbox includes "fear" as one of his major weapons.

 In Micah 6:3 we read that God cried out, when Israel was riding on its donkey and doing their own thing, "What have I done to you and how have I wearied you?  Answer Me?  Is that not a good question for our country?   Israel was in rebellion, much like our country is in rebellion.  I wonder if the past election was a first or second shot by God to get our attention.  If the first, I wonder what the second one will be.

 Do you think that God is crying out to those who call Him Lord, "Answer Me!   Indeed, I brought you up, I ransomed you, And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam.  I protected you, I sent My Son Jesus to be the sin-bearer to set you free from the bondage of sin.  I gave you My road map so that you would know my plan for all time.  Why do you turn your back and choose to go your own way?" (Micah 6:3-4 Gramps version).

 We long for peace, but there is no peace because we reject the Peacemaker.  We are disturbed by the lack of leadership in those we choose to lead, but continue to reelect even those who have no leadership skills simply because they are the loudest.

 Our national motto is "In God we trust" but, in reality, we have said, "God, we will take it from here."  We need to learn that, if we want peace, we must come together under the unifier - Christ Jesus.  The key is the Holy Spirit in us.  Tragically, He stands at the door of every heart seeking entrance but is not welcome in increasing numbers of folk’s hearts.

 Soooo, warriors, My prayer this morning is Micah 1:2-3 Hear, O Peoples, all of you; Listen, O earth and all it contains, And let the Lord God be a witness against you, The Lord from His holy temple.  For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.  He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth"

Blessing,

Gramps

God Answers in Unexpected Ways

 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

 

 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (I John 3:1-3)

 Hey gang:  The sun is out bright, the birds are playing outside the window, and we even have a resident squirrel that seems to have adopted us.  So, I asked Abba Father to give me something that is light and beautiful for you this morning.  Is there anything more light and beautiful than to know we are being conformed into the image of His Son? 

 One of the very profound statements that the underground pastor made in Chapel last week was, “What a wondrous revelation it was to learn that I am an ambassador of Christ and God will hone me on His wheel of adversity until I am like Him”. Powerful! Does that get your corpuscles to corpuscle?  

 One of the very neat parts of serving as a volunteer for Voice of Martyrs is that televisions are there primarily to review the many tapes about persecution around the world.  They are not equipped with outside antenna’s so getting the evening news is not an option.  On returning to the mission field- the outside world- I tuned to the evening news and learned nothing had changed. Same old stuff;  It was as if I had just turned the news off church than I do at home.

And the results were the same, my blood pressure began to rise, and a sense of sadness and depression resurfaced. How many know that God responds to our down times, if we seek Him to do so.  On Sunday morning it was a damp and rainy day.  I felt like I had been hit by a semi loaded with sharp needles.  The bride of my youth has taught me that I will not feel any worse in church than I do at home, so I trucked off to church.

 Abba Father was faithful in answering my scream for “help”.  My very favorite hymn is Jesus Loves Me, this I know”.  Now I ask you, when was the last time you heard someone sing or play Jesus Loves me in a church service? The pianist had chosen to play a fabulous rendition of Jesus Loves Me and I so enjoyed whispering those words, 'Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!.'  

 Was there instant healing. No, but I knew that my heavenly Daddy knew the pain I was feeling and sent me a clear message that He was aware of my struggle. He sent His assurance that He would never leave me or forsake me through my very favorite song

 Soooo, my young friends, be advised, God stands ready to meet you at the point of your need and, if you ask Him, He will provide a new song for your heart or one of the very good oldies that has impacted on your life many times before.

 Blessings,  

Gramps