Title: You Are Being Pruned I
Memorize: For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Hebrews 12:10 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Philippians 1:6 (Nkjv)
[6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Message:
Many Christians when in trying periods, tell God, “Don’t you love me?” “Can’t you see what is going on in my life right now?” “God, you must really hate me,” et cetera. My dear child, God does not hate you; He is only pruning you.
One of the misconceptions many Christians have about pruning is that it is a form of punishment. No! It is not. John 15:1 says Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. For the branches to bear fruits, they must be pruned. Being pruned could mean being denied of some things, such as the pleasure of sleep, food, partying, et cetera. It could require a higher level of consecration or more days of fasting.
None of these is punishment. Even if you have been bearing fruits, God wants you to bear more. So, He will make you go through a process of pruning. which is for a greater good.
Just the same way you put in extra work to pass an examination, you must put in extra efforts to bear more fruits for the kingdom. Therefore, never see His pruning as punishment, for all things work together for the good of them who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Key Point:
God is not wicked; He has a purpose for everything
HYMN 9 – DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
CHORUS
O deeper yet I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed, Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.
2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqueror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Bible In One Year Numbers 30:1-31:54 Luke 4:1-30
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE