The ship has to untie the dock lines and raise anchor to set sail! AI created using Night Cafe Studio.
In our journeys of faith, God guides us through seasons of letting go. Opportunity to seek His guidance to move forward in His call upon our lives. This process typically involves ending relationships, patterns of thinking/behavior(s) in our lives, careers, ministry service, and other aspects of life.
What might be keeping you from moving forward and growing/bearing fruit? Why does “pruning” involve difficulties and struggles? Why does Jesus call us to abide in Him?
God desires to bear fruit through us! As He prunes and shapes us to be more like Him and for His presence/nature to work through us. Jesus teaches this concept in John Chapter 15: verses 1-8.
Dr. Cloud explains how God prunes us and how that we are to consider if our hope is true or false. This video gives a great overview of his book.
His book Necessary Endings explains how God prunes us. Below is a link to a review and summary written by Douglas Balzer:
https://preachthestory.com/necessary-endings
The farmer inspects and prunes his grape vines to ensure their health and productivity.
Abiding in Christ & Salvation
What does it mean to abide in Christ?
The phrase abiding in Christ pictures an intimate, close relationship, and not just a superficial acquaintance. . .The branches who “abide” in Him are the truly saved—they have a real and vital connection to the Savior.
The difference between those abiding in Christ and those not abiding in Christ is the difference between the saved and the unsaved.
The withered branches who do not “abide” in Him are the unsaved pretenders who feigned an attachment to the Vine but drew no life from Him. In the end, the pretenders will be seen for what they were: hangers-on who had no authentic attachment to Jesus.
For a while, both Peter and Judas seemed identical in their walk with Christ. But Peter was attached to the Vine; Judas was not.
https://www.gotquestions.org/abide-in-Christ.html
Are you walking with Christ daily? Relationship or rules?
To be saved means to be in a relationship with God! People are “turned off” to God by the religious, toxic individuals they encounter. After negative encounters with people loudly arguing about conspiracy theories, government taking control, etc. , I can see why people want nothing to do with God or His church. It leaves a “bad” taste and sets a poor example of what being in relationship with God looks like.
Religion vrs Relationship:
Moving toward faith and interdependence
The religious were the ones who hated Jesus. They started their own conspiracy against him–that He was working with demons! Matthew 12:22-32, and Luke 11:14-23 record this false accusation and Jesus’ response. They ultimate demanded that Pilate crucify Him.
The post below explains Religion vrs Relationship in context of 1 John 4.
https://wordpress.com/post/wordsofencouragementinchrist.com/3589
The remedy for these issues is to be faithful and true to God’s Gospel. That’s what true believers seek: opportunities to live Gospel truth with others. Consider the Book of Acts and examine how Holy Spirit guides people and the proclamation of God’s truth. If you’re turned off to God by the “religious” consider God’s Gospel Good News that calls everyone to God’s grace to be transformed/born again. It’s about God’s grace and forgiveness for us sinners, not about a human kingdom and worldly power.
The Gospel Good News brings life and truth! It’s the Life Giving Truth for transformed lives.
Letting Go of the Past to Live For God’s Glory
Peter instructs us in 1 Peter 4 on how to live for God’s glory. Consider Peter’s faith journey in context of this passage. Quick summary of Peter’s faith journey:
https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Peter.html
Peter turns away from fishing. He becomes the early leader of the believers–the one who denied Christ three times! He isn’t perfect as we see that he is mistaken about the Gentiles and the Gospel until God speaks to him. Yet, Peter responds to God’s conviction and leadership! Peter’s great boldness comes from his trust, dependence, and ultimately his obedience in relationship with Jesus!
Peter preaches to the crowd at Pentecost.
Pruning and shaping lead us to live for His Glory and bear fruit!
Nourished by His Grace and Holy Spirit’s presence, we bear fruit that refreshes and serves as a testimony to others.
2 Peter 4:1-12 Berean Standard Bible
Living for God’s Glory
(1 Corinthians 10:23–33)
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
Explanation of verses 1-2
“Hiebert observes that the phrase has ceased from sin “Depicts the spiritual state of the victorious sufferer. It carries a note of triumph; he has effectively broken with a life dominated by sin. It need not mean that he no longer commits any act of sin, but that his old life, dominated by the power of sin, has been terminated.”
Jesus calls us to die to self and make our lives about Him! The old ways die. Doesn’t mean that we don’t struggle, but that we aren’t defined and consumed by sinful ways.
4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Verses 4-5 indicate that others will see you as different, strange because you walk with God and not in the worldly manner of sin/selfishness. Peter reminds us that everyone will face judgement! Not just believers but those who are separate from God and His Kingdom.
Explanations for verse 6: “those who are now dead”: emphasis mine
“So, when Scripture says the gospel was preached to those who are dead, it means to those who have died after trusting in Christ. Their choice to live for God, to suffer in their bodies for Christ’s sake while alive, lead to their opportunity to live in the spirit in the next life even as God Himself does.” https://www.bibleref.com/1-Peter/4/1-Peter-4-6.html
“e. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead: Peter also says that because of this eternal judgment the gospel was preached to the dead. The righteous dead know and live on in constant awareness of the reality of eternity – and are rewarded by this understanding as they live according to God in the spirit.” Enduring Word Commentary
Pruning and the Coming of the End
Jesus Speaks to John in Revelation 1: 4b-8 A Wonderful Promise of His Return to His Churches!
Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
Notice that God refers to Himself as the One who is (present), who was (past) and is to come (future). God is coming to us in His Perfect Time. Will He find us being faithful and fruitful? Peter encourages us to be prepared and positioned for His Second Coming!
Facing the End Times 1 Peter 4:7-9
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
Peter reminds us to be sober and clear minded–remaining focused on Christ–why–so what we can pray! Prayer requires focus on God lest we be distracted by the turmoil and worries of the world around us. Then we are to love each other deeply and show hospitality. These are the antidotes to the increasing cold and darkness of the world around us. Consider that the early followers of Jesus were known by their love and compassion for others and amongst their fellowship. Tim Keller identifies five ways in which the early church was unique:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-features-early-church-unique
Be Good Stewards of God’s Grace!
10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Our lives are about His manifold grace! We are to use the gifts He gives us to serve others! The purpose of letting go, being pruned, is that we will live for His Glory!
Words of Grace & Hope 