EACH OF US IS MADE FOR A PURPOSE

Newsletter 254 July 31, 2011

Romans 11:11-24

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

SALVATION OFFERED GENTILES, AFTER JEWS REJECTED CHRIST

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

PAUL CALLED TO EVANGELIZE THE GENTILES

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

JEWS WERE PAUL’S OWN FLESH

Even though Paul was chosen to go to the Gentiles, because they were his own flesh, a prepared people, he always gave the Jews “first option.”
We once did that with a couple who rented our home while we were back in America for furlough. The rent control board, recognizing improvements we had made to the property, raised their rent, so they chose to buy instead.
Before he turned to the Gentiles, Paul often went to his own nation, and God hardened their hearts. The rest of the world is the benefactor. Others of the Apostles also turned to preaching where there was a ready response. Had they been responsive, probably we would not be believers today. But, verse fifteen goes a little further with the words “what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

This would be a troubling phrase had he not illustrated it with a familiar illustration.” We are familiar with this practice ourselves but in a different application as a rule. Some trees san have grafts of a different sort grafted in,. It was not a graft, but I asked permission to remove a tree that was in an advanced state of dying Permission was readily given provided I planted another to take its place. I planted three which I had been nursing along in pots, and cut the original back leaving a stump about two feet tall. It promptly sent out shoots from the stump and in a year or two was a tree filled with healthy growth. Far in excess of the original. Who knows, perhaps God is telling us that when the time is right , from the “dead” will arise abundant life.

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

From the root, comes that which produces. We preach the truth, and the truth can set free, but it is God who gives the increase. The e Fruit of the Spirit is saved souls. One commentary suggested that this would happen when the Lord returns. That may be, but God knows when the time is right.

A large part of my African ministry was through printing and publishing. There was a tie when I wanted to change a few hundred miles to a better source of materials, but the time was not ready then. Years later that move was right and the difference was amazing.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

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

GOD MADE US FOR A PURPOSE.

Paul calls our attention that the grafted in branches are not the source of the fruit, the roots are. Interesting that apple branches do not bear the fruit of the root, but still bear apples, while other branches, that are from pear trees, bear pears even on the same plant. The same is true Spiritually. The same Spirit, works with all within his own personality. I personality, on this earth will never shine as great evangelist, or as a musician, and certainly not as a sportsman, but as a behind the scenes quiet worker, yes. God made us all for a certain type of job.

God did not discard his people to make room for other. Verse twenty tells us that they disbelieved, others were grafted in to fill he gap that they left when they withdrew. He does that still, when a believer grows cold and turns away, he will raise up another to fill the gap.

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

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

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

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
JULY

31st. Sunday – Jonah 3,4, Romans 16, Proverbs 18:11-24

AUGUST

1st. Monday – 1 Chronicles 1, 1 Corinthians 1:1-17, Psalm 89:46-52
2nd. Tuesday – 1 Chronicles 2, 3, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 90:1-10
3rd Wednesday - 1 Chronicles 4, 5, 1 Corinthians 2, Psalm 90:11-17
4th. Thursday - 1 Chronicles 6, 1 Corinthians 3, Proverbs 19:1-10
5th. Friday – 1 Chronicles 7, 8, 1 Corinthians 4, Psalm 91:1-8
6th. Saturday - 1 Chronicles 9, 10, 1 Corinthians 5, Psalm 91:9-16

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1
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Yoke Joke
A big city lawyer was called in on a case between a farmer and a large railroad company. The farmer noticed that his prize cow was missing from the field through which the railroad passed. He filed suit against the railroad company for the value of the cow. The case was to be tried before the justice of the peace in the back room of the general store. The attorney immediately cornered the farmer and tried to get him to settle out of court. The lawyer did his best selling job, keeping the conversation moving and not letting the farmer get much of a word in. The farmer finally agreed to take half of what he was claiming to settle the case. After the farmer signed the release and took the check, the young lawyer couldn't help but gloat a little over his success. He said to the farmer, "You know, I hate to tell you this, but I put one over on you in there. I couldn't have won the case. The engineer was asleep and the fireman was in the caboose when the train went through your farm that morning. I didn't have one witness to put on the stand." The old farmer replied, "Well, I'll tell you, young feller, I was a little worried about winning that case myself. That darned cow came home this morning!"