Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Nov 12th, 2013 JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL

Today’s Passages –John 14 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read –Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)

Scripture Memorization for November – The Kenosis Passage – Philippians 2:5 – 11

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “The Joy Killers“

Read the “1112 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “He Will Never Leave You“

Fall Pruning

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1-6)

I don’t know about you, but I spent my Friday morning raking and blowing leaves and burning the branches that fell during the windy fall weather.

In the passages above, we see that God explains the question the disciple asked of how He will manifest (declare Himself plainly) to them and not the world.

The nutrition of a tree comes from the roots into the trunk or vine.  It then goes through the branch into the fruit or flower.  With out the vine the nutrition can not get to the branch to produce the fruit, no fruit.

As a child, my Dad had some fruit trees.  For a couple of years, one of the apple trees was yielding little fruit and it was all rotten.  Needless to say, he cut down that tree.  While I was blowing and raking leaves, I also picked up many fallen branches, which I burned in our fire pit.  In Texas, we rented a duplex that had a beautiful rose bush right outside the back door.  It grew so big that you had to move the branches in order to get in the door, but the roses were small.  At the end of the summer, I cut it back so much that I thought I killed it.  Come spring, I notice the bush was budding.  You would never believe the beautiful BIG roses it produced.  This is what Jesus was referring to when He said ‘purgeth it’.

I wanted to expand on the purging.  Because time is getting closer to Christ’s return, I believe God is warning us and trying to wake us up by purging us.  So many of us are under such oppression, that we are ineffective to God, our families, others and ourselves.  We must  be aware of were this is coming from.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1Peter 5:8)

What should we do when trials and tribulations come our way?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1Thessalonians 5:15-18)

Are you weary are you heavy hearted?  Tell it to Jesus – Tell it to Jesus

Are you grieving over joys departed Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tear flow down your cheeks unbidden?  Tell it to Jesus – Tell it to Jesus.

Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do you fear the gath’ring clouds of sorrow?  Tell it to Jesus – Tell it to Jesus.

Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?  Tell it to Jesus alone.

For Christ coming Kingdom are you sighing?  Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus He is a friend that’s well known.

You’ve no other such a friend or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone.

Thank You

1 John 5:13