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For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who<\/strong><\/span> are<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>natural<\/strong> <\/span>branches<\/em><\/strong><\/span>,<\/em> be grafted into their own olive tree?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Time is running out to show the fervency of our faith.<\/p>\n The words \u201cnature<\/span>\u201d and \u201cnatural<\/span>\u201d are from the Greek word phusis<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from the verb phu\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto bring forth,\u201d that is, \u201cto give birth.\u201d Phusis<\/em> <\/span>refers to the order of things which God has put in place in the natural world.<\/p>\n This verse is a summary statement of what Paul has been saying for the past seven verses. I don\u2019t think I could express the meaning of this verse any better than Albert Barnes has in his Notes on the New Testament.<\/em> Here\u2019s what he said:<\/p>\n The meaning of this whole verse may be thus expressed; \u201cIf God had mercy on the Gentiles, who were outcasts from his favor, shall he not much rather on those who were so long his people, to whom had been given the promises, and the covenants, and the Law, whose ancestors had been so many of them his friends, and among whom the Messiah was born?\u201d In some respects, there are facilities among the Jews for their conversion, which had not existed among the Gentiles. They worship one God; they admit the authority of revelation; they have the Scriptures of the Old Testament; they expect a Messiah; and they have a habit of professed reverence for the will of God.<\/p>\n There was a time when the fervency and passion for God among the Christian Church was as great as that of the Jewish people. However, in the past century the Christian Church has become comfortable, satisfied, and complacent. I think God\u2019s message to the church in Laodicea written in the 3rd<\/sup> chapter of the book of The Revelation can be applied to many of our churches today. Here\u2019s what He says:<\/p>\n And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, \u201cThese things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: \u2018I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, \u201cI am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing\u201d’\u2014and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked\u2019\u201d <\/span>(Revelation 3:14-17<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n The day is coming, and now is, in which those who profess to be God\u2019s people will be more concerned with earthly pleasures than with a close personal relationship with the God of all creation. We are more focused on exercising our own will than on seeking and submitting to God\u2019s will for our lives.<\/p>\n Are you comfortable in your Christian faith today? Are you satisfied with where you are in your walk with God? If so, I urge you to pray that God would light a fire of fervency in your spirit and create in you a searing zeal for serving Him in whatever manner He desires! Submit to Him and serve Him with all your heart. Please, I beg of you!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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