Spiritual Gardening – Part 4
Hybridization
“How Beautiful the Bride”
Alanna Jennings
No gardener worth his or her salt would go to the trouble of planting a garden and then not tend to it. Our Heavenly Father is a good and loving gardener, who tends to His garden by cultivating, watering, feeding, pruning, and propagating. He even uses hybridization to make us unique individuals, while at the same time ensuring that each of us are in His image, reflecting Him.
Through hybridization (the breeding of a blended “offspring” from unique “parents”) there are now thousands of different kinds of roses alone, and countless species and varieties of other flowers. The varieties developed by hybridization are called cultivars. In the plant world, new cultivars can occur as the result of “sport” – or, in other words, chance genetic mutation. While these plants may resemble other flowers, they are not the same as “species” flowers.
New roses are developed through cross-breeding, where the attributes and characteristics of the old rose are bred into the new rose through cross pollenization or seeding. With these thoughts in mind, I will quickly leave the natural garden and get right to the spiritual gardening concepts that are on my heart.
We, like new roses, are new creatures in Christ Jesus, created through cross-breeding. When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we become partakers of the divine nature, as we read in II Peter 1:2-4 : “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
How wonderful to know that we are not “sport” or chance genetic mutants - as evolutionists would have us think. Rather, we were created in the likeness of an awesome God (Gen. 1:26-27, Gen. 5:1) and our purpose was determined before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4, 2:10, 3:10-11).
If we and our brethren are indeed created in the image of God, as Scripture tells us; how is it that we feel we have the liberty to be critical of one another, either corporately or individually? After 25 years as a pastor’s wife, I have heard more than my fair share of criticism of the Church (most of it from the Church, I might add). One of the terrible truths about Christians is that, occasionally, we eat our own. Like every decadent civilization, we have been known to sacrifice our young (immature believers) and leave behind our wounded (hurting believers). In our rush to get off the battlefield, or extricate ourselves from spiritual warfare, or alleviate our own pain and suffering in troubled times, we walk away from our brethren, thinking they are beyond hope when they’re really just “mostly dead” and in great need of rescue.
I write to you, my Brethren, in the fear of God, knowing that I am chief among sinners with regard to the judgmental thoughts I entertain and the critical words I speak. How often I find myself judging according to the flesh, the precise thing that Jesus warns us about in John 8:15. I am endeavoring to change these unprofitable habits in my life, as I am more and more often reminded of the dire warnings that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about improperly “discerning” the Body of Christ.
We can all agree that the Church, in the natural realm, has deficiencies and weaknesses clearly visible for all to see. But, I think we take too lightly the fact that it is the Messiah’s Bride, created in His image, that we speak ill of, dare to entertain critical thoughts of, and treat in a manner unworthy of the Lord.
How then, should we view the Body of Christ? Simply put, just as God views her - as pure and spotless. And, by the way, we will never love her as we ought until we begin to look at her with the eyes of the Bridegroom. This “view” will never come into focus as long as you are looking with carnal eyes. You will need your spiritual eyes to behold the awesome beauty of the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife (Revelation 21:9-27). You see, dear Saints, divine grace has expressed the eternal purpose of God in the statement that Christ will one day present unto Himself a glorious Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”, Ephesians 5:25-27.
Note that it is not you who will present yourself, or anyone else, to Him pure and spotless. The washing of the water of the Word is still needed to keep us cleansed, defiled as we may become by the fallen world in which we live. With defects yet to be remedied, and wounds still in need of healing, how gracious are the words used of us: “not having spot or wrinkle”.
Her sins are forgiven (but we do not forgive). Her sins are removed as far as the east is from the west (until we throw them in her face). Her shame has been rolled away (until we roll it back onto her). For what, after all, are “wrinkles” but the marks of age; and what are “blemishes” but the effects of sin.
How is it, then, that we can believe of ourselves and others that we are without wrinkle and without blemish before God? Because His word clearly states it as fact! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”, II Corinthians 5:17-19
God here looks beyond all of history, including ours, and sees His Church reflecting nothing of man’s fall, but reflecting only the glorious image of His Son. Is God seeing what will be, or what already is? I am of the opinion that this promise is not afar off, but speaks of the condition of the Church right now. Have the wages of sin been paid for, or is payment yet to come? Are we cleansed by the blood of the Lamb or not? Are old things passed, and have all things become new, or is this promise yet unfulfilled? Do we live in redemption, or are we waiting to be redeemed? Has His blood shed once, for all, washed us clean, or is there need for more bloodshed to make us spotless? Are we without wrinkle in our Bridegroom’s eyes right now, or do the effects of time and decay mar our beauty for our Beloved? The answer to these questions is found in Hebrews 9:13-14: “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
If we are indeed the pure and spotless Bride, what is left for us to do? While the purpose of this article is not to expound on the process of sanctification, I leave you with the following verses for your consideration:
“Buy from Me white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.” Revelation 3:18
“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:8
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:11-14
“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” II Peter 3:14
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” I Peter 1:17-21
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24 - 25
Hybridization
“How Beautiful the Bride”
Alanna Jennings
No gardener worth his or her salt would go to the trouble of planting a garden and then not tend to it. Our Heavenly Father is a good and loving gardener, who tends to His garden by cultivating, watering, feeding, pruning, and propagating. He even uses hybridization to make us unique individuals, while at the same time ensuring that each of us are in His image, reflecting Him.
Through hybridization (the breeding of a blended “offspring” from unique “parents”) there are now thousands of different kinds of roses alone, and countless species and varieties of other flowers. The varieties developed by hybridization are called cultivars. In the plant world, new cultivars can occur as the result of “sport” – or, in other words, chance genetic mutation. While these plants may resemble other flowers, they are not the same as “species” flowers.
New roses are developed through cross-breeding, where the attributes and characteristics of the old rose are bred into the new rose through cross pollenization or seeding. With these thoughts in mind, I will quickly leave the natural garden and get right to the spiritual gardening concepts that are on my heart.
We, like new roses, are new creatures in Christ Jesus, created through cross-breeding. When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we become partakers of the divine nature, as we read in II Peter 1:2-4 : “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
How wonderful to know that we are not “sport” or chance genetic mutants - as evolutionists would have us think. Rather, we were created in the likeness of an awesome God (Gen. 1:26-27, Gen. 5:1) and our purpose was determined before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4, 2:10, 3:10-11).
If we and our brethren are indeed created in the image of God, as Scripture tells us; how is it that we feel we have the liberty to be critical of one another, either corporately or individually? After 25 years as a pastor’s wife, I have heard more than my fair share of criticism of the Church (most of it from the Church, I might add). One of the terrible truths about Christians is that, occasionally, we eat our own. Like every decadent civilization, we have been known to sacrifice our young (immature believers) and leave behind our wounded (hurting believers). In our rush to get off the battlefield, or extricate ourselves from spiritual warfare, or alleviate our own pain and suffering in troubled times, we walk away from our brethren, thinking they are beyond hope when they’re really just “mostly dead” and in great need of rescue.
I write to you, my Brethren, in the fear of God, knowing that I am chief among sinners with regard to the judgmental thoughts I entertain and the critical words I speak. How often I find myself judging according to the flesh, the precise thing that Jesus warns us about in John 8:15. I am endeavoring to change these unprofitable habits in my life, as I am more and more often reminded of the dire warnings that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about improperly “discerning” the Body of Christ.
We can all agree that the Church, in the natural realm, has deficiencies and weaknesses clearly visible for all to see. But, I think we take too lightly the fact that it is the Messiah’s Bride, created in His image, that we speak ill of, dare to entertain critical thoughts of, and treat in a manner unworthy of the Lord.
How then, should we view the Body of Christ? Simply put, just as God views her - as pure and spotless. And, by the way, we will never love her as we ought until we begin to look at her with the eyes of the Bridegroom. This “view” will never come into focus as long as you are looking with carnal eyes. You will need your spiritual eyes to behold the awesome beauty of the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife (Revelation 21:9-27). You see, dear Saints, divine grace has expressed the eternal purpose of God in the statement that Christ will one day present unto Himself a glorious Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”, Ephesians 5:25-27.
Note that it is not you who will present yourself, or anyone else, to Him pure and spotless. The washing of the water of the Word is still needed to keep us cleansed, defiled as we may become by the fallen world in which we live. With defects yet to be remedied, and wounds still in need of healing, how gracious are the words used of us: “not having spot or wrinkle”.
Her sins are forgiven (but we do not forgive). Her sins are removed as far as the east is from the west (until we throw them in her face). Her shame has been rolled away (until we roll it back onto her). For what, after all, are “wrinkles” but the marks of age; and what are “blemishes” but the effects of sin.
How is it, then, that we can believe of ourselves and others that we are without wrinkle and without blemish before God? Because His word clearly states it as fact! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”, II Corinthians 5:17-19
God here looks beyond all of history, including ours, and sees His Church reflecting nothing of man’s fall, but reflecting only the glorious image of His Son. Is God seeing what will be, or what already is? I am of the opinion that this promise is not afar off, but speaks of the condition of the Church right now. Have the wages of sin been paid for, or is payment yet to come? Are we cleansed by the blood of the Lamb or not? Are old things passed, and have all things become new, or is this promise yet unfulfilled? Do we live in redemption, or are we waiting to be redeemed? Has His blood shed once, for all, washed us clean, or is there need for more bloodshed to make us spotless? Are we without wrinkle in our Bridegroom’s eyes right now, or do the effects of time and decay mar our beauty for our Beloved? The answer to these questions is found in Hebrews 9:13-14: “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
If we are indeed the pure and spotless Bride, what is left for us to do? While the purpose of this article is not to expound on the process of sanctification, I leave you with the following verses for your consideration:
“Buy from Me white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.” Revelation 3:18
“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:8
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:11-14
“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” II Peter 3:14
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” I Peter 1:17-21
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Jude 24 - 25
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