{"id":4376,"date":"2021-06-10T00:09:25","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T21:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=4376"},"modified":"2021-06-14T06:35:43","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T03:35:43","slug":"connected-to-the-vine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/connected-to-the-vine\/","title":{"rendered":"Connected to the Vine…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Yeshua taught us: \u201cIf anyone does not live in Me, he is cast off as a branch, and withers…\u201d (John 15:6). \u00a0We find life only as we remain connected to the Source and Conduit of life, who is the Messiah, the Savior and LORD. True life grows out a heart connection with Yeshua, and without that connection our lives become vain and yield no eternal significance (John 15:5). Be forewarned: it is the sacred truth of the Messiah that if you do not live in the Vine you will be suffer eternal loss, since life is found in no other Source (John 14:6; Luke 3:9). \u00a0Be encouraged, however: The yoke of Messiah is easy, and His burden is light: we cannot create new life by our own best efforts nor effect regeneration by means of our own \u201cgood works\u201d (John 1:3; Titus 3:5; 2 Tim. 1:9). \u00a0No, the work of salvation is God\u2019s alone, and we partake of that work as we abandon our self-efforts and religious conceits (see Isa. 32:17). There remains, therefore, a Sabbath for the people of God, \u201cfor whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his\u201d (Heb. 4:9-10).\u00a0 This \u201cdeep Sabbath\u201d of rest is a matter of trusting that the finished work of salvation has been provided on your behalf. Therefore relax, for the LORD always effects what is best for you, and not much is under your control anyway. The path of peace is to surrender to God\u2019s care for your life and let the evils and drama of this world flow past you. Look to heavenly reality and not to the shadows and deceits of this world (Col. 3:1-4). Live in Yeshua\u2019s Presence, drawing strength and vitality from your relationship with Him. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is produced as we yield ourselves to the love and presence of God.<\/p>\n

The \u201cTorah of the Vine\u201d (\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b6\u05e4\u05bc\u05b6\u05df) also teaches us that \u201cevery branch that bears fruit will be pruned so that it may bear more fruit\u201d (John 15:2). \u00a0Note first that it is the healthy branch that will be cut back – not the withered one that will be altogether removed \u2013 and this purging process may be painful at times. The heavenly Vinedresser\u2019s goal is for the fruitful branch to yield more fruit, to reveal more and more the connection to the Heart of the Vine, so that God is glorified (see John 15:8). \u00a0The end here is the beatific vision: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Note that the Greek word translated “pure” is katharos<\/em> (\u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u1f79\u03c2), sometimes used describe the cleansing of a wound (catharsis), or to describe the unalloyed quality of a substance revealed through refining fire. Sanctification involves \u201ccatharsis\u201d of the ego \u2013 the exile of carnal desire, the mortification of our will, the release of truth in the inward parts. A faith that thinks God will make us immune to suffering, challenges, and tribulation is immature and imperfect. The goal of \u201cpurging\u201d is fruitfulness and blessing, but the agency is not the will of man but the power of God. You are made \u201cclean\u201d through the word of God spoken within your own heart (John 15:3). Your sanctification, however, depends on your communion with God, staying connected to what is real, central, vital, the core truth of God\u2019s Presence and love, the ultimate Reality of Life itself.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf anyone does not live in Me, he is cast off and withers….\u201d Yeshua here teaches that shared life is the goal of our relationship with him, but if that does not occur, destructive consequences follow. This has been called the \u201cdark side\u201d of God by some, by which they mean that God will destroy everything in us that is not fit to exist and that does not yield true blessedness (Luke 3:9). \u00a0Of course this “destruction” (or correction) is really a great blessing, since it purges us from worthlessness that brings pain, disease, and sorrow (this in distinction to the devil, who seeks to destroy what is healthy and good). \u00a0The upshot here is that we must carefully attend to our inner life and our connection with God, understanding that to be the utmost good for our lives, seeking God\u2019s Presence in all our ways. Therefore we read, \u201cAbove all else guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life\u201d (Prov. 4:23).<\/p>\n

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Hebrew Lesson:<\/h2>\n

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