A Time of Pruning…

Lonnie EllisAugust 4, 2012

Blazing Fire Church

#3. An atmosphere of the Father’s love.

• Daddy loves us, not because of what we do or don’t do, but because we are His!• God is in a good mood—He is not mad at us!• Love wins! People flourish when they are loved!• We love each other as brothers and sisters in one family with the love we have received from our Father!• Love is the best indicator of the authenticity of God’s handiwork

John 3:16-17; 1John 3:1; Jeremiah 31:3; 1Peter 4:8;9

Core Values

#3 An Atmosphere of the Father’s Love

#3. An atmosphere of the Father’s love.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17NKJV

Core Values

#3. An atmosphere of the Father’s love.

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

John 3:16-17The Message

Core Values

A Father’s LoveRomans 5:8-10KKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

A Father’s LoveRomans 5:8-10The Message

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

My message for tonight

A Time of Pruning

John 15:2AMP

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

A Time of Pruning

A Time of Pruning

to cut or lop off undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; to trim.

to rid, remove or clear of anything undesirable.

Allowing God in to deal with areas in your life that He is highlighting

A Time of Pruning

Sometimes we can go through things and wonder what is going on, we’re living obedient faithful lives, trusting in God, knowing Him, reading the Word, yet things are hard and times testing. Take heart. You are being pruned to create more and more fruit. It wasn’t that you weren’t fruitful it is that there is opportunity for more fruit. Pruning involves cutting and breaking of branches. That can hurt. But growth comes. Pruning is done with tender care by the master gardener who knows what to do to produce the best crop, the best growth. Allow him to shape you.

Areas of Pruning happening in my life

My words

My thoughts

My eyes

Letting go of offense

Confrontation (in Love)

My teeth and body weight

WritingDeeper Forgiveness

Pruning produces

Spiritual maturity, Deeper levels of intimacy, Kingdom promotion, Greater influence in the world around you, People drawn to you, Humility, Meekness, and much, much more…

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

Areas of Pruning neededIn your life

Lets take a few minutes in private prayer and invite Holy Spirit to show us any areas in our lives or hearts

that He might want to start the pruning process

Because He Loves you and is for you

A Time of Pruning

It it time to trade in mediocrity for a lifeof consequence?

Do you want to experience the joy of making maximum impact for God?

Join Bruce Wilkerson for a journey through John 15.

A Question to Ponder?

"Do you want God to be the God you want Him to be in your life

or ARE YOU WILLING to let God be the

God that He wants to be in your life?"

quoted by: Lonnie Ellis

Old Joke: God will save me

There was an old man sitting on his porch watching the rain fall. Prettysoon the water was coming over the porch and into the house.The old man was still sitting there when a rescue boat came and the people on board said, "You can't stay here you have to come with us."The old man replied, "No, God will save me." So the boat left. A little while later the water was up to the second floor, and another rescue boat came, and again told the old man he had to come with them.

The old man again replied, "God will save me." So the boat left him again.

An hour later the water was up to the roof and a third rescue boat approached the old man, and tried to get him to come with them.Again the old man refused to leave stating that, "God will grant a miracle & save me." So the boat left him again.Soon after, the man drowns and goes to heaven, and when he sees God he asks him, "Why didn't you save me? I thought you would grand me a miracle and you have let me down."God replied, "You idiot, I don't know what you're complaining about. I sent three boats after you!!"

The AWE of God

Awe: An overwhelming feeling of

reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which  is grand,

sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God

The AWE of God

The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job

Job 38:1-41NKJV

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

2 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;

11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,And caused the dawn to know its place,

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.

15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,

20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?

21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?

22 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,

23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

25 “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,Or a path for the thunderbolt,

26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?

28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

29 From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?

30 The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.

31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?

32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?

33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?

36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?

41 Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?

The is OUR AMAZING DADDY

Who is passionately in love with us and for us

The AWE of God Lets never lose sight of it in our lives

"Do you want God to be the God you want Him to be in your life

or ARE YOU WILLING to let God be the

God that He wants to be in your life?"

quoted by: Lonnie Ellis

• Daddy loves us, not because of what we do or don’t do, but because we are His!• God is in a good mood—He is not mad at us!• Love wins! People flourish when they are loved!• We love each other as brothers and sisters in one family with the love we have received from our Father!• Love is the best indicator of the authenticity of God’s handiwork

John 3:16-17; 1John 3:1; Jeremiah 31:3; 1Peter 4:8; Ephesians 3:16-199

Core Values

#3 An Atmosphere of the Father’s Love

Ministry Team