GARDENS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE MIND OF YEHOVAH AND HIS UNIQULEY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS

God put the first humans in a garden and tasked them with tending the plants and animals there (Genesis 2:15). God promised to bring the nation of Israel out of Egypt into a land like a garden (Deuteronomy 11:10). In Song of Songs, the bride was compared to a garden (Song of Songs 4:12-16). When God promised to heal Zion, the prophet said that Yehovah would make the barren land into a “garden of Yehovah” (Isaiah 51:3). Before he was arrested, Jesus retreated to a garden to pray with his disciples (John 18:1).

Although the Apostle Paul didn’t explicitly mention gardens in his letters to the early called-out Assembly of God, they must’ve been on his mind to some extent when he wrote to the Galatians. He didn’t use any garden imagery to describe the negative aspects of sinful human nature, but the moment he switched to what the Holy Spirit’s presence should do to  their lives, the allusion to a garden emerged.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:19-24).

The most difficult part of this garden illustration is that the fruit is only made possible by Yehovah - God. However, we are not out of the picture, we have a part to play in all of this. Why? We can’t produce the fruit by ourselves. We have no seed for such planting, but once God - Yehovah plants the seed in us when we hear the message of the good news about His soon coming Kingdom, we must cultivate it.

This cultivation process is not always easy. It involves dedicating ourselves to prayer, studying the word of Yehovah, and paying attention to the results we are getting in our lives in a slow, and steady way. Sometimes the spiritual fruit grows gradually in our lives, and we may not notice the small differences in our day-in, day-out lives.

We don’t produce the fruit of the Spirit by ourselves

The one danger of the garden metaphor is that many people in the Western world tend to view gardening as individual work. They go alone into their garden to putter around, pulling weeds and trimming vines.

If we want to be filled with the Spirit of Yehovah we need to be completely committed to walking in faithful obedience to the will of Yehovah, to obey the words he gave to His son Jesus to give to us. We need to cry out to Him to be filled with His Spirit and when that happens, we will realize the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

What happens when we fail to commit our lives totally to Yehovah?

“There will be no true giving with love. There will be no real joy in our lives. There will be no real peace in our lives. There will be no real patience in our lives. There will be no showing of real kindness to others in our lives. There will be no true goodness – godliness in our lives. There will be no real faithfulness in our lives. There will be no real gentleness in our lives. Finally, there will be no self-control in our lives.

Note: The possibility exists that we might listen to the many blinded religious voices that are peddling the lie of supernatural fruit without sacrifice or service. Glory without generosity. Power without personal power. Redefining church. Promising revival and renewal without repentance. How to become wealthy. To avoid any of that from taking place we need to be totally committed to our God and Father Yehovah loving Him with all our hearts, minds, entire beings, and strength. To love God is to obey Him and allow His Spirit to guide you on the difficult path that leads to the narrow gate. Few find that gate. Be one of the few!

Adam and Eve were not in the garden of Eden alone, Yehovah was with them. The bride in Solomon’s poetry describes herself as a garden to entice her husband inside. The land will be healed for the entire people of God when Yehovah their God sends His son down to this earth to take his place on the throne of David at Zion. Jesus took his closest disciples with him into Gethsemane where he prayed to his Father. No one is alone, ever. God is as close to us as our own breath!

The fruit of the Spirit is brought to us by our God and Father Yehovah through the power of His Spirit through His Anointed One, Jesus, whom He has appointed Lord of the called-out Assembly. The fruit of the Spirit is best cultivated in each one of our lives through our participation in the called-out Assembly of Yehovah. Scriptural revealed commands like “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And "let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the Day [the end of this age] drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

How do we cultivate love, patience, or self-control unless we are tested and tried by broken sinners like we once were? How will we know if we’re growing in true gentleness or kindness until we must display these traits while correcting a brother or sister in the Messiah? We need to meditate on the way we can incorporate the fruits of the spirit into our lives when dealing with all the people we encounter.

Remember to daily call out to our God and Father Yehovah to be filled with His Spirit so that we can exercise the fruits of His Spirit with His enabling power working in us and through us toward everyone we meet along the difficult path we are walking on through this sin-sick world.

DEATH AND LIFE ORIGINATED THROUGH THE ACTS OF TWO MEN

Paul makes it clear in his letter to the brothers and sisters in Rome, how death entered the world and how death can be overcome: Romans 5:1-21:

Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God - Yehovah] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God - Yehovah [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, (Yehovah’s anointed one). 2 Through him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope (In the NT the word “hope” expresses a cherished desire along with the confident assurance of obtaining that which is longed for) and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God - Yehovah [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. 3 And not only this but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of age upon age lasting salvation]. 5 Such hope [in God’s – Yehovah’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s – Yehovah’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given to us.

6 While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time the Messiah died [as a sin-offering sacrifice] for the ungodly. 7 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die. 8 But God - Yehovah clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by his blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through him. [The “wrath of God,” with the definite article in Greek, anticipates the outpouring of God’s wrath on rebellious sinners at the end of the tribulation (Revelation 6:16, 17)] 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God - Yehovah through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by his life [that is, we will be saved because the Messiah lives in us by his spirit today]. 11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God - Yehovah [rejoicing in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation [with God -Yehovah].

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned. 13 Sin was [committed] in the world before the Law [was given], but sin is not charged [against anyone] when there is no law [against it]. 14 Yet death ruled [over mankind] from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who had not sinned as Adam did [Literally in the likeness of Adam’s transgression]. Adam is a type of him (the Messiah) who was to come [Adam was meant to rule over the earth as God’s – Yehovah’s representative].

15 But the free gift [of God -Yehovah] is not like the trespass [because the gift of grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man’s trespass [Adam’s sin], much more [abundantly] did God’s – Yehovah’s grace and the gift [that comes] because of the sinless life of the one man, Jesus the Messiah, overflow to [benefit] the many. 16 Nor is the gift [of grace] like that which came through the one who sinned. On the one hand, the judgment [following the sin] resulted from one trespass and brought condemnation, but on the other hand, the free gift resulted from many trespasses and brought justification [the release from sin’s penalty for those who believe]. 17 For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus the Messiah.

18 So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted in condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted in the justification of life to all men [Salvation is available to all people who respond and place their personal trust in the Messiah]. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience [his rebellion against God - Yehovah] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him. 20 But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased, even more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus the Messiah our Lord.

Note: We all find it very easy to self-righteously protest when people try to lay responsibility for past individuals’ issues at our door. One of the most popular questions from people is “Why do we have to suffer because of someone else’s sins? Why do we feel the effects of Adam and Eve’s sin? They chose to eat the forbidden fruit. Not me.”

The answer was that Adam was the federal head of all his descendants and therefore his descendants are affected as a result of his rebellion against his creator and God.

All our sins do great damage to our brothers and sisters in the lord Messiah and to the world around us. Even when we earnestly try to do good, our plans often seem to backfire. Why? Because we don’t call out to our God – Yehovah as asking Him to fill us with the enabling power of His Spirit to enable us to not give in to the sins of the flesh, the allurements of this world, and the wiles of the Adversary, Satan.

Note: God told Adam after the very first sin, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain, you shall eat of it all the days of your life” [Genesis 3:17]. He wasn’t the only one who has both suffered and contributed to this curse. Paul called all of us the ‘sons of disobedience’, noting, “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” [Ephesians 2:3]

“Do you remember what your life was like before you surrendered to the Messiah Jesus? You were an enemy of God - Yehovah living in blindness, a lost soul without hope. You were ungodly, guilty; and the wrath of God was "abiding on you" (see John 3:36).

How did you find forgiveness and acceptance before God? How did you enter the blessed assurance you were saved, rejoicing in the love of Jesus the Messiah? Was it because God - Yehovah saw something good in you? Did you possess some inherent righteousness that attracted Him to you? Did you earn His favor with obedience and kindness?

“No, absolutely not. No one is ever saved by his/her own works or merit.

Many believers struggle with accepting the full view of their own corruption from sin. There are many sincere believers today who have not yet submitted to the righteousness of the Messiah. They have not totally committed to walking in obedience to the words his God and Father Yehovah gave to him to give to the world. They still go about trying to please God - Yehovah by their good deeds. They accept salvation by faith but then they want to take over from there.

Note: What was the root of the original sin? Eve believed Satan’s lie that they could be as God - Yehovah. Adam was not deceived as Eve was, took the fruit from Eve’s hand and ate it. He knew that if she died he would also die. In his mind, he thought if Eve was going to die because she ate the fruit, he didn’t want to be alone in the garden and so ate the fruit of the tree of good and evil and chose to die with her.

Note: Wouldn’t be nice if we could cross over some unseen barrier and achieve perfection without the pain and uncertainty of passing beyond death?

Our sin must be exterminated by the most relentless methods possible. God will accept nothing less as he roots sin out of us and pulls us through death, the final barrier that will ultimately set us free. Nothing can be left behind. No speck of sin may be ignored. How does He do so?

He has reconciled us to Himself by the sin-offering sacrifice of His uniquely begotten son Jesus. When we come to call on the name of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, we will obey his command to repent and be baptized. As we walk into the water we will have died to self [selfishness] and died with the Messiah Jesus and rise out of the water and receive the promised Spirit we become new creations in the Messiah Jesus.

In union with him, we become holy and the righteousness of God – Yehovah, which is nothing of ourselves but is all that Jesus is! All things are ours in the Messiah Jesus, because of the amazing grace of our God and Father Yehovah who loves us as His sons and daughters in the lord Messiah Jesus.

KNOWING WHEN ITS TIME TO STOP AND REST

The scripture says: “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” [Hebrews 4:9-11].

I think we underestimate how much of our lives we cannot control. What if at least half, if not more, of our work throughout the day, was to recognize the things that are beyond our grasp/ability, and taking a deep breath, and rest at that moment? Or better yet, we could be going for a walk thanking Yehovah for the physical ability to do so that He gives us. We could enjoy the smell of rain in the air and rejoice in what Yehovah has created. We could talk with a close friend enjoying the relationship that we have in the Messiah as brothers/sisters in him.

So often Jesus left his disciples and wandered in the wilderness. Did he take a nap beneath a tree? Did he offer up prayers for the individual needs of each disciple? Did he praise his God and Father Yehovah for the arid beauty of the land around him and the cluster of stars in the heavens? We don’t know but do not those things sound restful. Do these things count as a kind of ‘work’? It strikes me as the sort of work I do when going for a long walk and communicating with my God along the way, or when I discover a really good book, such as Rosablanca Suen's book “SALVATION IN THE NAME OF YHVH”. This kind of restful work brings me great joy.

In all seasons, we should strive to enter God’s rest.

THE NAMES OF OUR GOD AND FATHER YEHOVAH

Abba: Father

Alpha and Omega: The Beginning and End

Attiyq Youm: The Ancient of Days

El Chuwl: The God who gave you birth

El Deah: The God of knowledge

El Elyon: The God Most High

El Omam: The Everlasting God

El Roi: The God who sees

El Shadai: God Almighty

Elohim: God - Yehovah, god – a representative of Yehovah

Yehovah: The Self-Existent One

Yehovah-Bore: Yehovah Creator

Yehovah-Jireh: Yehovah our provider

Yehovah-Nissi: Yehovah our banner

Yehovah-Rapha: Yehovah our healer

Yehovah-Rohi: Yehovah our Shepherd

Yehovah-Sabbaoth: Yehovah of hosts

Yehovah-Shalom: Yehovah is peace

Yehovah-Shammah: Yehovah is there

Yehovah-Tsidenu: Yehovah our Righteousness

WHY A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS SHOULD CONSIDER BECMING A CHRISTHIAN?

The reason that a JW should become a Christian is that you need to give up the idea that Jesus was the archangel, Michael.

Notice:

Hebrews 1:13: But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool?

This could not be said of the arch-angel Michael

Hebrews 2:5: For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

This verse definitely excluded any angel, including the arch-angel Michael

Hebrews 2:7: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

The lord Messiah Jesus is going to rule over this world in the coming new age and he will do so as a glorified man, not as the arch-angel Michael

Hebrews 2:9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

This shows that Jesus was not an angel but a man who died on the stake for all of mankind.

Hebrews 2:16: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

This again proves that Jesus was not the arch-angel Michael, there is no way the archangel Michael could lay claim to being of the seed of Abraham

1 Peter 3:22: ho is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Notice that angels are now subject to the glorified man who is seated at the right hand of God, his name is Jesus, not Michael.

For all of the above reasons, you as a JW should realize that you have been deceived by those who handed down to you the idea that Jesus is the archangel, Michael. This is another one of Satan's deceptions that he has caused to be developed through false ministers whom he influences to deceive people from coming to know who the real lord Jesus, God's anointed one is!