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The Olive Tree

Words of Faith Final

The Olive Tree
Words of Faith 10-27-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 11   
    [17] If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, [18] do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. [19] You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." [20] Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. [21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

      Paul gives us perhaps the most powerful Biblical image of the relationship between Israel and the Gentile Church-- the olive tree. In doing so, we gain a much richer understanding of the Body of Christ.
      Israel is the great olive tree planted as a seedling when Abram heard the call of God to walk by faith to a new place and a new way of life, trusting wholly in God. After so many centuries, Israel is much like the massive olive trees in Israel today that are nearly two millennia old. Those ancient trees are scarred and gnarled, yet rich and splendid. Israel is the root from which all our understanding of God comes.
       The journey of faith comes to us through the hands and voices of the patriarchs, prophets, judges, and kings of Israel. Christianity did not just appear one day in Jerusalem; rather, it was the culmination of thousands of years of hoping.  
       So when some Jews in the first century rejected Jesus as Messiah, Paul indicates that they were as branches broken off because of unbelief. Other Jews received Jesus as Messiah and became the fruitful branches of the early church. The olive tree and its root remained as the source of nourishing sap.  
       As Gentiles were evangelized, they were a branch grafted into the olive tree, now sharing in the nourishment of the olive root. For this reason, Gentile believers must be careful not to boast over the branches that have, for a time, been cut off. There is no place for arrogance. The Gentile Church is a lovely but tender young branch that is supported by the sap of the massive olive root. You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
       So here is the instruction of the Word through Paul for those who would look down on Israel: Don't be arrogant, be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he would not spare you either. Don't take for granted the grace and mercy of the Lord by judging others in arrogance and pride. We dare not reject our root, for it is from this root that the anointing of God comes. It is from this root that the Anointed One of God came. It is from the rich history of Israel that our relationship with God is born in Christ.

        Lord, God-- God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus, I give praise and thanks that You have chosen in Your sovereign will to bring blessing through Your chosen people, Israel. Thank You for grafting me into the legacy of the house of Israel. Nourish me from deep roots with the water of life and the presence of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.