THE CARPENTER

© By Carlos Padilla, September 2008

The Carpenter is a spiritual profession allegory of our Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt this is the oldest profession which implies the use of elaborate designs and handcraft, and which was involved in the construction of the first structures, houses, bridges, boats and temples. Involved in transport – by land and sea – in the first centuries. Nowadays, it is still used to a large extent, but artisan craftsmanship carpentry has become a specialty, when we come to speak about valuable works of art like classical music instruments and traditional utensils used for worship, like the ones used in the times of the temple of Jerusalem.

Just like God designed creation with His infinite intelligence following His plans, as the Architect of the universe to accomplish the magnificent work which we are part of. In His design He includes the creation of materials with different qualities and characteristics. If we did, what for us is a simple trip of millions of light years, placing ourselves in the history of humanity, where He sent His Son Jesus Christ, and we focus on the material which we are made of, in terms of spiritual character, we can use the allegory of wood to identify many similarities with ourselves, between the qualities of the different types of wood for each use, sacred and for work, and therefore understand how man, each one of us, like symbolic trees, have unique qualities and how the Carpenter, with expert knowledge of them, can make – if we allow Him – real works of art with our soul, and tools, and utensils for life, spiritual and brotherly life in this case.

One of the aspects which the “teknon” (carpenter in Hebrew) has to master, is the origin of the raw material which he is going to use: the trees; this is precisely the knowledge which the Lord has of each and every man. Besides the characteristics of their wood, He also knows the fruits which they bear and the use of these fruits. In Israel, the carpenter is who works with wood in all aspects, such as obtaining fire wood, fine wood craftsmanship and the different types of carpentry work.

Yâsaph’s carpentry

Yahshua spent part of his early years learning about carpentry with his father Yâsaph (Joseph), from whom He surely learnt not only how to work with the wood but also its qualities. He would learn how to deal with clients and also, of course, to create new designs. During His ministry, the Lord would use His human experience – the similarities between trees, the wood and the different uses – to preach the Gospel. Everybody has a piece of furniture, opens doors or windows, sits on a chair or eats at the table, jumps on a boat, has seen the yoke of the oxen, etc. and we also know the twelve types of trees which the Lord uses mainly, as well as their fruits which they used to eat – and so do we regularly.

The heavenly father made creation with His Son, and He has planted and grown every tree and every man. It is the perfect knowledge which the Lord has of the purpose of each and every one of them in creation – I refer to both trees and people – allows Him to be our Master, Rabbi! Whom we must ask about everything we do in life. Unblessed are those who don’t.

Tools and processes used by the carpenter

The axe is laid to the root of the trees; he who does not obey God is cut down and thrown into the fire. We can also see here a resemblance of the death of our carnal lives, of repentance, of denying oneself to be born again to the spiritual life. We, willingly, allow God to cut us down if we repent and let the construction of our life without Him be demolished in order to start again with Him and bear fruits of the Spirit and not from the mind, like we did before. …8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 3.

When Jews justify themselves saying that they have Abraham as their father, they become just like any other religion which makes their disciples believe that because of their family hereditary belonging they are already accepted by God; Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Muslims, etc… All of them must be aware of the fact that the Lord can raise “spiritual” children from Abraham even out of the stones, since they are whoever has faith in the Son of God. This is where we see a parable of the spiritual circumcision of the heart.

The saw is used to cut to measure the pieces which are to be used, just like in our lives we have worldly experiences which are of no use for the spiritual works, and we have to let our “old man” in order to use the parts revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God, out of which the Carpenter can build our temple inside our soul. We can see the similarities between the cut of the saw and the pruning of the branches which do not bear fruit.

The plane is used to smooth and provide an elegant finish to the pieces which have been previously cut with the saw, a symbol of the fact that in our life we learn how to live spiritually by God’s hand and it is through our brothers that the excess wood is cut down, we are shaped together with our character, our pride is reduced so we move along humbly and patiently.

The chisel is used to carve shapes and finishings and is used with the hand or hammer to penetrate the wood; just like God, when we are determined and we believe and trust Him, penetrates His Word in us, His commandments, His blessing, His power, His wisdom, His mercy and His unique love.

The fire burns the firewood or the surplus, but many times it is also used to treat wood, shape it or burn impurities.

The file softens the edges. This is the friction between brothers, which polishes our edges through the Lord’s mercy. It is brotherly love, which is the step prior to Godly love.

Oil, wax and varnish are the protection and beauty of the finished piece, the anointment of the person who has entrusted his life and has submitted it to the Lord’s carpentry, and out of it comes a humble, brotherly, patient, wise and spiritual character which conveys the Lord’s enthusiasm and strength, the boldness to preach which Paul asked for in 1 Thessalonians 2:2, or the one used by the virgins when they came to look for the groom, who is the Lord, and our souls must have Him so we do not cease to give light. These anointments culminate with a finely finished piece of work which symbolizes those who emanate the love of God.

Carpenter wood

The first major man-made carpentry work in the Bible was Noah’s ark, whom we could consider the first relevant carpenter on Earth, and this piece of work was built to save those who loved God. There is another piece of wood work, a rough piece but the most relevant and well-known carpentry work ever, with a simple design, which was also built to save those who loved God, but in this case throughout the times. Yes, it is the Cross.

The firewood for Isaac’s atonement, which Abraham used. This is not a literal wood work, but through faith. The fact that he gathered the firewood for the atonement was part of the determination of a man of faith, such as Abraham. We must also be willing to sacrifice our way of thinking, doing and living before the Lord. How many of us, today, would obey God like Abraham did?

Moses’ staff or Aaron’s rod, made of wood, are the symbol of the pastor’s crosier. The faith on the Lord’s directions and power. The leading guide of the Spirit which shows us the Way, with signs and wonders in our lives. Christianity throughout the world can speak of so many spiritual experiences, not just this generation but throughout history! They are experiences which the non-believers constantly deny, most of the times facing the evidence.

The doors, with their posts and lintels, which were marked with blood to protect the firstborn, are another symbol of the wood where the Lord put an advance of His Blood on the wood of the Cross, which makes us clean of our sins and covers us in holiness.

The Ark of the Covenant, made of acacia wood and covered with gold, which represents the heart of Christ and ours, where the tablets of the Law and Aaron’s rod, priesthood, were placed. All renewed in the new Covenant in His Blood.

The temple’s walls, of cedar wood, were made by artisan wood work with expert hands of the best carpenters in the world. Our temple of the soul must be covered with a piece of work which only our Master Carpenter can do inside us, mercy, peace and God’s love.

The boat of the (fisherman of men); cannot be built with any type of wood, but many different types of wood are used; furthermore, what is known as “Jesus’ boat” is an archaeological discovery made in 1986 of the oldest boat ever found in the lake of Genesareth, dated on the first century after Christ and which is considered to be a miracle since the wood should have disintegrated after so long under the lake water, which did not occur because it was protected by mud. It is kept in The Israeli Archaeological Museum of Galilee. http://www.jesusboat.com/boat.php The boat is made of 12 different types of wood, mainly cedar and oak, which immediately reminds us of the twelve apostles and a call to the diversity of characters of the sons of God, all different, which the Lord, the Carpenter, uses and prepares granting us different gifts that provide spiritual ad brotherly richness to the Church of Jesus Christ. The boat, made of wood chosen specifically for its durability, flexibility and water resistance, especially treated to prevent the sea water from coming through, to carry a large load of fish, to carry those who fish, where Peter came down out of it and started sinking, where Jesus slept amidst the storm. Each Christian is on a boat, with his sailing brothers going out to fish with the Bible’s nets, the Gospel which is the Lord’s power. Lets fish many souls for Christ!. May your fishing be abundant, brother. Row out to seas with the wooden oar which the Carpenter has made.

The plough that works the soil, the soul of man, so the seed goes deep inside, and the pitchfork or winnowing fork to collect the wheat and winnow it separating the grain from the straw. Likewise, the Lord works on our souls first and then plants the seed, to collect the grain which will feed our spirit.

The table where we break bread, and the chairs where we sit, are made of wood, made by the carpenter. How many of them the Lord must have made together with Joseph! But the one used for the Holy Supper would be the culmination of all tables in the history of mankind.

The yoke is one of the most relevant symbols in the Carpenter’s teachings, since we have to place ourselves under it to pull the burden with the Master, who leads and pulls strongly; we share it because His work is easy and His burden is light, because it is God’s love.

The cross. The simplicity and roughness of its contraction with two heavy planks is a contrast with the relevance of the eternal design, calculated and fulfilled at the exact time of the event which took place on it in Calvary, where mankind received the opening of the door to salvation through faith in Yahshua, in Jesus Christ’s victory over death, confirmed in His resurrection. Jesus Christ says: …I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9.

The paper itself which my Bible is made of comes from wood. The Bible keeps the bread from Heaven so that we may eat from it every day of our lives. A privilege that the Apostles did not have and which you and I have today, and that we can give to our neighbour inviting him to the congregation.

Trees of the bible

The Lord planted the trees on the soil, and we take wood from them for different works. Different trees which, apart from their wood, bear different fruits. Two of them stand out, the most relevant on a spiritual level: oil and figs. Oil, as we know, is a symbol of the anointment and the presence of the Lord. It was used to consecrate, to anoint kings, but also to anoint the sick. Mixed with wine, it is used to cure wounds and help them heal. Spiritual wounds, they are also healed by prayer and with the anointment of the oil and wine of the Blood of Christ in the Holy Supper. Figs, like the Lord told us, are the fruits of Israel’s faith, when we see them it will be the time for them as a nation to receive Yahshua.

Following the context of this approach, we can obtain different types of wood with their specific characteristics out of different trees. Just like the Lord planted us, men, on the earth and who are so often seen as trees in the Bible’s parables, we have a series of traits in our character which are used to build the body of Christ, the family of the church for good works, mutual help and to bear the fruits of the Spirit: ...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 5:22 to 6:2. We can also add to these qualities: perseverance, vision, motivation and brotherly love, and all of them come from the law of Christ which emanates from the Lord’s love.

Take a look at the qualities and their symbolic meaning, in the man and woman of Christ, of each of the twelve most relevant trees in the Bible – spiritually – like the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Oak. The Lord appeared to Abraham in the oak trees of Mamre, Genesis 12:6 and 7. The Lord called Gideon under the oak, Judges 6:11. Oak wood is very strong and can be used for tools such as the plough. A solid and strong character which can remain in impiety and imposition if it is not worked on.

Acacia. This wood is so noble that it hardly needs any treatment. It is used for the ark of the testimony, the table of the Presence, the bronze altar, Exodus 27:1. The ark was before the temple, just like the Lord makes a covenant with us in our hearts from the moment we are born again by faith, even though the interior temple of the soul is a life-long work. Numbers 10:33.

Cedar. The famous cedars from Lebanon were used for the temple’s walls, covering the stones, the stones of faith are the Church and the Lord’s Israel. In this tree we can see how the Lord calls men of all nations to become part of His work. Cedar wood has a special smell and repels insects, a good character which the Carpenter can shape, after repentance, for those who preach the Gospel amongst gentiles. 2Samuel 5:11.

Cypress. Cypress wood for the floor of the temple. The best and most water-resistant wood, the longer lasting, used in naval constructions, it is not attacked by insects and has a pleasant smell. No doubt a reference to the character of those who kneel at the Lord’s feet, their souls live through eternity. 1Kings 5:10.

Beech. Ideal for curving, impregnation or varnish. It is used in very thin and resistant layers. Used for worship instruments. 2Samuel 6:5. Carrying the Ark to Jerusalem. It is a character which allows the Holy Spirit to shape it and anoint it, and the Lord invites such a person to worship.

Walnut. Song 6:11. One of the most elegant woods and with better finishing, with a decorative strip. Walnuts are no doubt a gift from the Lord for our brain and body – as we all know their shape reminds us of the skull with the brain. Two qualities which, in man, are symbolic for praise and wisdom.

Pine tree. In the future glory of Zion, this wood will come from Lebanon to be laid at the Lord’s feet, to decorate the Holy Place. Isaiah 60:12. This is another wood from a tall, slim tree, famous in the construction trade, symbol of those people who stand out and who, if they are humble, will be used for the Lord’s work.

Fig tree. Israel is the fig tree of the prophecy, figs, Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover themselves. Curse of the barren fig tree, Mark 11. The fig tree is Israel’s character, a nation chosen by the Lord to keep the Bible for humanity and that has survived even in spite of the dispersion or diaspora, adapting themselves to different countries and cultures where they have lived, just like this small tree and bush grows in any type of soil, even in other trees or walls. Israel has lived everywhere and has survived Holocaust, until they have been called to their land, fulfilling the Bible’s prophecy in 1948 by England’s cession through United Nations. The fig tree dried spiritually until it receives Jesus Christ the Messiah, which is already happening through Messianic Jews. Fig tree wood is almost indestructible. It was used for fine utensils, such as cutlery.

Sycomore. Luke 17:6 and 19:4 tells us about the height of this tree which was greatly appreciated for carpentry use. Fig-like fruits grow from the trunk and branches. A double characteristic which we can see in some men: strength and fruit. Through faith, the Lord tells us that we can tell them to uproot and plant elsewhere, and those who have the faith, will do so.

Olive tree. The most spiritually significant tree in the Bible. The dove which flew back to Noah brought an olive leaf; it came from a land where oil could be found. This is the message of a man of God who is sent out and taken to another one by the Holy Spirit and if he comes back with oil it is because the soul has received the anointment and emanates oil. Olive tree wood is used in construction. With the oil, we started this introduction. God’s anointment is extremely important, without it there is no presence or spiritual work. In the anointment of the Lord, we can see prophecy and healing for body and soul.

Wild olive trees bear worthless fruit, but if they are grafted in a good olive tree, they produce good oil. People are the same. Those who are in the world do not bear good fruits, but those who are grafted in Christ bear the love of God. Similarly, those who walk away become wild, but the Lord is almighty to graft them in again. Therefore we are not the ones who produce good fruits, the oil, the anointment which we bring to others through the word of God and His manifestation, but the Holy Spirit, the rich sap which produces the oil. How can we forget Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Lord’s prayers for us there, the cup which he drank and all the times he was there with the disciples. Luke 21:37 and John 8:1. But let us not forget that He will return to that same place as King of kings, Zechariah 14:4 and Acts 1:11.

Finally, two trees of undefined and symbolic wood end this list, but they are surely the most relevant for our salvation. I refer to the two trees in the Garden of Eden, which mankind has depended on since Adam and Eve. The forbidden tree and the tree of Life, which we can see again in Revelation in the new Jerusalem, the return to Eden. 

Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The wood from this tree is specifically designed for construction, but if it is not spiritually worked with learning the science of the Master, it remains warped and any construction made with this wood will break. This, I refer to the attitude and the misuse, is what human mind is made of, a wood which does not allow the Carpenter to work with; the result: a self-destructive society attacked by the destructive plagues of sin, of being separated from the Carpenter, the Creator. But I would prefer to focus on the view of man in his separation away from the Lord, a child who does not listen to his Father, a friend who rejects the advice from a dear one, an unfaithful wife. Its sap is nourished from bad soil, soil with a dead soul and the fruit is an evil one. In Genesis 2:9 our Father gives us every tree to eat from. What man does when he listens to the serpent through his mind, represented by Eve, is disobey the Lord, our loving Father, knowing that the moment we decide to proceed on our own we get confused, we cannot tell between good and evil; what is good for some is evil for others, we can see it in the different cultures, due to the cunning serpent, the devil.

Take a look at Eve’s (Adam’s mind) conversation carefully: Genesis 3:3… but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' ...what do you think about Eve’s approach?. God never told us not to eat from the tree in the middle, which is the tree of Life. Eve is confused between the Tree of Life and the one of good and evil and, of course, the serpent tells her that they will not die, but it refers to them eating from the tree in the middle, and hides the fact that Eve thinks that it is from the tree of good and evil which is in the middle. The mind has to submit to the Lord’s Spirit, this is why we must receive the mind of Jesus Christ in order to be able to have spiritual discernment.

Tree of life, Christ. The perfect wood in man is the one which emanates from the Master Carpenter of the soul and spirit of man through the Lord’s spirit, Jesus Christ. He has the majesty, courage, temperance and determination to love until death, and death on the cross. He chooses the wood which is better suited for our qualities in order to work with us. Let us learn from Him in the Word, of His character: gentle and humble, yet straightforward and determined, who fulfills His ministry focusing on the result of His work, not in the difficulties of the Way. I invite you to take a tour through the new Jerusalem in Revelation 22…And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

I leave a question unanswered, with a spiritual focus in terms of character, not physical: Which wood is the Cross of Jesus Christ made of? And what about the one of the disciple, your one?

THE SPIRITUAL CARPENTER

Our Lord has learnt from His Father until the Cross. Yahshua does not work in His carpentry alone, his partners are the Holy Spirit and His Father who taught Him his trade in the wooden Cross.

In Yahshua’s carpentry, the work is to shape people’s character. Come to see the Carpenter of Nazareth and give Him the wood of your heart for Him to work on it. His works are the most precious craftsmanship ever known. Out of unscrupulous people He makes compassionate individuals; out of selfish people, individuals who dedicate their lives to others. He makes the spiritual dead become alive, sculpts rock-hard hearts into others carved with the Lord’s love, with oil, the anointment treat. His work will shape and carve the whole of your being, your heart, soul and mind so that your spirit flows from Him, like precious fragrant wood.

The Lord’s work in eternity, just like a carpenter’s project, selects and uses the best quality woods and the most adequate ones; the Lord chose 12 men and received many women who, together with the millions of people who love Him, will be in His Kingdom with a spiritual character like His, treated, varnished, anointed with oil and dried after carving, shaping a heart from the Spirit which emanates the Lord’s love. Dry wood cannot be used in a piece which requires flexibility, just like a fresh one cannot be treated until it dries to make exclusive pieces of work such as a XVII century desk or a Stradivarius violin, combining woods with different sound qualities – which remind us how to deal with different situations and how self-control is an essential trait for a disciple.

Man, just like wood, needs to let his character dry, mature, experiment; but there is a frequent problem that we see many times: I refer to “green” men and women acting – or thinking that they can act as – the teachers or masters who are made of wood that has dried with time, and which God has shaped and used because they have devoted themselves to Him for His works. On the other hand, we also too often see – almost regularly – those who have dried up spiritually in their pride, and they have not had a purpose in their lives in the Lord’s spiritual carpentry. They are self-made individuals who have never allowed the Lord to deal with them, and they will be attacked by woodworms and insects and burnt in the fire. They have been warped, so if we try to work on them or shape them, they will break. This is the type of society we have in the world we live in and it also happens between brothers who do not allow for their feet to be washed, they close their eyes and ears to continue feeding themselves; a structure of misused wood, wrongly selected and mistreated, a mass-production carpentry shop of prefabricated pieces of furniture, a society that must be burnt in order to receive the new bodies, made of new wood selected by the Lord for a unique piece of work, the one of His temple of souls in the new Jerusalem of Revelation 21, so that each and one of us can be treated, carved and used with masterly ability by the artisan Carpenter.

BIBLE TEXTS

…2And when the Sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. Mark 6.

...17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18Where they crucified him… John 19

...32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24.

…17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. 1 Kings 5.

…13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And 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; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold 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. 24For 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?. Romans 11.

… I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.  26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11.

...14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Carpenter of the Spirit and gives us the right to the Tree of Life through faith.

WORKING THE SPIRITUAL WOOD IN CRUCIFIXION

Our Lord worked the Cross of Calvary by dying on it, on those two fixed planks, which He must have seen so many times, made of tough wood, where His own hands would be hammered down with nails the same as those used for bridges, doors and others. The enemy was attacking those hands which performed so many miracles on people who were sick, dead, possessed or tormented, but above all, miracles of faith opening up the hearts o people through His Work, by His mere presence in front of anybody who may have a willing heart, or just by having had the privilege of looking into His eyes, catching His glance. They also hammered down His feet, those which were washed with very costly pure nard and tears from the soul, of that woman and ours, feet which carried the Master during the ministry that His Father gave him, and which saved us for eternity. The Carpenter of the soul died on wood, the eternal Carpenter on the temporary wood, and that is why He could not remain on it. Through His resurrection He reminded us that just like He denied Himself, we also have to take our own cross, deny ourselves and die inside, the same as our Master carpenter on the cross. Blessed be Him who, being the Creator – of the wood as well – has come to us in our daily duties becoming part of the lives of men and women, telling us the stories of hope in the eternity of souls which transform the spirit and make hearts of stone be born again so they become treated wood and with faith – rock hard faith – faith on the Carpenter of the Universe, our King. May the Glory and the kingdom be with Him throughout eternity. Amen.

My beloved friend, brother, reader, pray so that the Lord may show you the wood which He chooses for you to work on in your life, the friends in Christ whom the Lord will put on your side to accomplish the spiritual work; there are many beloved brothers, but just like the Lord chose 12, you will have to discern and pray to know with whom and where do you fit in the body of Christ, where is your efficient joint, work to achieve being made of a type of wood that can be used for as many things as possible, but you will not be able to undertake everything, the Lord will specialize you with the gift or gifts from His Spirit and which only He will give you, because He knows our wood better than ourselves. Talk about Him and show the qualities of the Master, invite your neighbour to come into Yahshua’s carpentry, where they will find the Book of books, the learners’ manual for life to receive the Master in their lives, the fine craftsmanship piece of soul work which those whom you love – and love Him too – will receive through faith and that will save their souls for eternity. Do not hesitate, it is worth denying oneself and dedicate to others, in the Gospel and humanitarian help, and in true friendship, without tricks, because we were chosen by the grace of God and our life is safely kept in Christ who gives us the rich sap of the good olive tree where we were grafted, to produce the oil of anointment for our lamps, the presence of the Lord to those who still do not know Him. Go on, work the wood, your own and other’s; the Lord will never leave you alone and you will see many projects achieved of transformed lives which were dead and hopeless, who were walking in the dark without reconciliation with God, without repentance. Plough the soil around your life, nourish it, secure the water, pray and receive the Lord, worship and preach, never give up, you will bear fruits of the Spirit, guided by the Carpenter’s hand. May the blessing from Zion be poured over those who love Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, Yahshua. Amen.