You know that teaching where unless you're broken, God cannot use you because you're still filled with self.
I got news for you. After you're broken, you're still filled with self. As long as you're alive, you're still filled with self. Unless you're a robot or cylon. (but in BSG, they are also filled with 'self').
This kinda of thinking is in fact quite popular. I know of a few friends who has said similiar words to me. "Oh, I'm so ready to move on but I'm just afraid of what God will tell me. What if he sends me to Africa to do some mission work". Or "I'm not sure, I think God wants me to suffer so that I learn something from my experience".
Look here people, Jesus said that He came to give you life and life more abundantly but the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy. Anything that kills, steal and destroy is not of God. Period. It's that simple. Who in their right mind would train their child by breaking an arm?
But what about that part that says about pruning? If you're not fruitful it'll prune. If you're fruitful, you'll be pruned too.. right? Wrong!
(amplified version) John 15:2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
3You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
So clearly suffering is not because of pruning. This is talking about salvation (**I think I'm mistaken here not about salvation, about sanctification, see below).What about wisdom? We know many ppl who asked for wisdom and the next thing you know... they go through a very difficult time. Perhaps God is teaching them wisdom? Experientially that may be true but that again is against the teaching of the bible. Did solomon suffer to gain wisdom? no. Is death (killing), is losing all money (stealing), is broken relationship (destroying) from god? no.
Jesus said, as you have believed.. So it shall be done to you. Do you believe that it's going to be hard or easy? As you have believe, so it shall be done to you.
We pray.. let your will be done in heaven as it is on earth. Is there suffering on heaven?
Then there comes a question of flesh vs spirit. When there's conflict there could be suffering. But this isn't to say that God wants us to suffer. In fact, this support the fact that God doesn't want you to suffer. Hence the Holy Spirit guides you to - green pastures, to quiet waters, to path of righteousness. It isn't difficult for sheeps to eat grass, to lie down, to drink water you know. Time is difficult when the sheep don't have food, water and rest. But "though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death.... I fear no evil....."
So please don't think or believe that God wants you to suffer. He doesn't. This is very important. because whatever you believe - your actions will follow.
So will the REAL pruner please stand up? - JESUS!
If you believe in Jesus you are already pruned.
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in the bibly study yesterday, the word 'takes away'and 'prune' was further illuminated - in the context of
john 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."
takes away is
- airō
-to raise up, elevate, lift up
1. to raise from the ground, take up: stones
2. to raise upwards, elevate, lift up: the hand
*and what they do in wineyards, when a vine don't bear fruit they elevated the branches with a support beam. *
prune is EVEN more interesting, because it's
-kathairō
- to cleanse, of filth impurity, etc
1. to prune trees and vines from useless shoots
2. metaph. from guilt, to expiate
Now... re-read john 15:2 and think about what Jesus is saying. It is talking about our santification
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