The Lord said to me one day, "I have placed you in my garden,". "Here, He said, is where you will find everything you need" It was a day when it felt like things were closing in on me and I just couldn't seem to accomplish all that I wanted to accomplish for the Lord. But when He said that, I got up off the floor, wiped my tears and began to dance in the garden of the Lord. I imagined a beautiful garden full of trees and flowers and rolling hills of luscious grass, birds singing and flowers swaying to my dance, skipping through the tulips, daisies and roses. My worship music was playing and I just allowed myself to get lost in the bliss of that garden. How wonderful that is to be strengthened and refreshed in the garden of God!
Another time when we were all worshiping together during this Pasach (Passover) season, The Lord
said to us..."I have planted you as trees and you will produce tremendous fruit". What an encouraging word that was to us.
This morning I was thinking about all of what the Lord said, and it reminded me of two scriptures. One scripture talks about the tree planted by the river producing fruit in it's season. Let's take a look at it Psalm 1:1-3:
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers, 2-But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3-That person is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither---whatever they do prospers". (NIV)
In this analogy we can say that the tree has a trunk rooted firmly into the ground soaking up nourishment and the branches are the channels through which this nourishment is passed to the leaves. As long as the limb is healthy and strong the leaves will not wither. The husbandman or gardener is the one that keeps the tree healthy by watching over it and pruning it regularly.
The pruning is done with wisdom and knowledge of the condition of the tree and all that's a part of it. Sometimes a tree has nesting birds in it, small animals feed from it and insects, some good for the tree and some not. The husbandman knows all about what goes on in the tree and knows the right time and season to do the pruning.There are four categories of pruning that the gardener applies to the tree as needed: 1) Cutting off sick and diseased limbs and branches; making sure the disease does not spread to other limbs. 2) Cutting off dead branches so that the nutrients can effectively reach the limbs and is not wasted. 3) Cutting off the lower limbs of the tree so that the tree can grow taller and higher. and 4) Cutting off branches to allow sun to shine through the tree for all the leaves to receive light. Some times this is done to shape the tree for aesthetic purposes as well especially in parks and open fields.
The other scripture that came to my mind talks about the vine and the branches. Yahshua was talking to His disciples about the necessity of staying connected to Him so that they can bear fruit. He used the analogy of the grape vine. Let's look at John 15:1-7. It says:
"I Am the true vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. 2-Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3-Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. 4-Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can you except you abide in me. 5-I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. 6-If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7-If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you."
Yahshua is the vine and we (those that accept Jesus and obey Him) are the branches. When you think
of a grape vine you can picture delicious, healthy and colorful grapes that are ripe, sweet and ready to eat. The vine carries all the nutrients that the grapes need to flourish. But, every year before a new season (February-March) the branches must be cut back so that the bunches of grapes can increase. The vine dresser is very skilled in this whole process of pruning and cuts the "arms" (branches or limbs) generously. These cut off branches then must be removed from the grape arbor and thrown away. After the grapes come the stems that hold the grapes is also clipped off so that the remaining stems can produce even more grapes. If this is not done the branches will be too long and won't produce enough grapes. Also, if the grape stems, that hold the grapes, are not thinned the grapes will be overcrowded, under nourished and eventually begin to thin out and you will have smaller bunches of grapes and a smaller harvest.We can learn so many lessons from these examples. Our lives can either be like the bountiful delicious grapes on a healthy vine or like the overcrowded undernourished, unsweet, grapes that are not producing enough fruit. As we become mature and stand as full grown trees we become a source of nourishment for others and a nesting place for those who need a covering. But all of this is not possible apart from Yahshua who holds all that we need. He is the only way to grow in continuous fruitfulness.
Verse 6 talks about how the wicked are like the branch that is cut off. It blows like chaff and is picked up and thrown in the fire. The wicked have no inheritance in God and without repentance their end is the Lake of Fire. Don't become firewood for some one's fireplace! A believer must stay in continual communion with Yahshua or it will be impossible to continue in righteousness. When we stay in Yahshua He will nourish (through His Word, communion with Him in Worship, and prayer. God will lovingly purge us by allowing circumstances to challenge us so that we can improve. We will develop character, being able to do what is right in spite of circumstances that try to turn us a different way. We become spirit-filled, powerful and productive Ambassadors of Heaven bringing solutions to the earth's woes, bringing joy and the love of God to others around us. and taking authority over the darkness that we see, hear about and experience! We can move the mountains (blockages) that sometimes stand in our way, and receive all of what God has for us.
I'll share a dream of mine: I was walking in a long hallway and in the distance I could see a heavenly figure. As this being came closer I could see a beautiful white flowing robe of royalty, with a girded band of gold around His waist. It was a handsome man with a head full of hair hanging to the shoulders. He was full bearded. As he got within a few feet of me I could see His eyes were full of love. I melted inside. He kept coming towards me with His eyes locked into mine and smiling, then in a split second just before I melted into Him I remember seeing an ancient face of an old wise man and I said with amazement..."He looks... ancient!" at that moment I melted right into Him and suddenly felt overwhelming peace, joy and didn't have a care in the world. I laid down as if in a hammock and had the sensation of being on the beach with clean white sand all around me and the bluest most beautiful sparkling water with soft waves flowing in. The temperature was perfect. I remember saying to myself ..."oh this is the life!" I had not a care in the world. I sunk down as if in a hammock of roses. Wow! it was awesome. I experienced one moment in eternity and I felt peace and joy like I've never felt before. Even better than being on vacation because this felt like this is where I belonged.
That one split second helped me through some challenges I was facing. I will never forget it. I wished it would've lasted forever! But I woke up too soon!That was quite an encounter with Jesus. I knew it was Him and I wanted more!
Many of God's people have had all kinds of wonderful encounters more profound that this one. But each encounter that we have experience, we must treasure it and never forget the message it conveys. I experienced what it felt like to abide in Yahshua.
To live inside of His love and protection brings complete peace and joy in our lives. There is no better place than to live in, abide in the one who sacrificed everything for us.
So let's remember to:
1) Keep company with the righteous, and with positive people who respect you and care for you.
2) Don't join the scorners and the mockers of God's way.
3) Study God's Word and meditate on his laws in the morning and in the evening and talk to Him as you live your daily life.
4) Cling to Yahshua, the Vine,( in worship and communion), trust the vine dresser (God the Father) to prune you when necessary so that you can be a better manifestation of Him.
Remember, not all pruning hurts. Sometimes God in his mercy and love removes the "old things" that you've had to drag along. Believe me, it's a relief when the old useless stuff is removed out of your way! Then you can soar!
So, where is your tree planted? Let it be planted by the River of the "Crystal Sea"(God's River) in the garden of the Lord and you will produce the most luscious fruit that will be remembered for generations to come. May the Lord prosper All that you do in your season!
"For the Lord watches over the way of the Righteous".....(Psalm 1:7)
Written By:
Rachel Baht BinahYah
Feed My Sheep Ministries &
Messianic House of Prayer
www.finding-happiness.org
