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Creflo Dollar

Creflo Dollar - The Chastening Of The Lord (Part 2)

September 5, 2025 | S25 E905 | 28:52

Creflo Dollar - The Chastening Of The Lord (Part 2)
Join the dynamic leadership and teaching of Dr. Creflo and Taffi Dollar.
#inActive #Pastors #Change #Lord #Chastisement #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod #Salvation

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Creflo Dollar | Creflo Dollar - The Chastening Of The Lord (Part 2) | September 5, 2025
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: this program is brought to you in part by
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  • The partners and friends of creflo dollar ministries.
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  • Announcer: coming up next on "changing your world."
  • 00:00:08.944 --> 00:00:12.347
  • Creflo dollar: you have settled that your life can't do
  • 00:00:12.347 --> 00:00:15.117
  • Nothing more than what it has already done,
  • 00:00:15.117 --> 00:00:17.219
  • And god's got so much more he wants to bring through you,
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  • So much more.
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  • You settle for everything and i'm saying get rid
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  • Of the settling, praise god, don't settle for average
  • 00:00:26.061 --> 00:00:28.897
  • Praise god, stir yourself up.
  • 00:00:28.897 --> 00:00:31.066
  • When the pruning takes place, you just go ahead and fight for
  • 00:00:31.066 --> 00:00:34.503
  • The joy of the lord in the midst of the pruning
  • 00:00:34.503 --> 00:00:36.805
  • Because he's doing something, man.
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  • You're gonna produce better fruit than you've ever produced
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  • Before in your life, hallelujah.
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  • ♪ this is your world, ♪
  • 00:01:18.747 --> 00:01:21.583
  • ♪ so let's vow to make it a better place. ♪
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  • ♪ let every heart that needs to know, ♪
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  • ♪ your love is here to stay. ♪
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  • ♪ whoa, oh, it's time we live a new life. ♪
  • 00:01:34.296 --> 00:01:38.233
  • ♪ whoa, oh, let his love shine bright in you. ♪
  • 00:01:38.233 --> 00:01:42.237
  • ♪ whoa, oh, we're saved by his grace, ♪
  • 00:01:42.237 --> 00:01:45.574
  • ♪ so we embrace your love today. ♪
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  • ♪ we are changed. ♪♪
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  • Creflo: the chastisement of the lord versus punishment.
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  • Is it punishment?
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  • 'cause i--you know if it--if it's punishment,
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  • Then all i'm doing is, you know, releasing fear into the
  • 00:02:03.325 --> 00:02:06.528
  • Atmosphere, "get ready, god's gonna punish you."
  • 00:02:06.528 --> 00:02:10.599
  • But the chastisement of the lord is not the same as punishment.
  • 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:15.704
  • Punishment is a consequence for wrongdoing,
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  • Whereas chasing--chastening is a form of discipline that is
  • 00:02:19.975 --> 00:02:24.112
  • Intended to correct and refine.
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  • God's not punishing you for your wrongdoing.
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  • Someone says, "well, it kind of sounds like it."
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  • No, no, no, jesus took your punishment.
  • 00:02:33.889 --> 00:02:36.558
  • Jesus was punished for you so you wouldn't have to be
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  • Punished, i'll show you that in a moment.
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  • Chastening is a form of discipline or correction that's
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  • Intended to cause refinement.
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  • God does not punish his children,
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  • But rather seeks to guide them towards total dependence on him.
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  • And like i said, besides all that,
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  • Jesus was already punished in our place.
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  • Look at this isaiah 53, verse 4 and 5,
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  • In the king james.
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  • Jesus was already punished in our place.
  • 00:03:05.654 --> 00:03:08.190
  • That was jesus's job, jesus took our punishment,
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  • So we don't have to be punished.
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  • Now, what that sound like if he took our punishment,
  • 00:03:14.596 --> 00:03:16.465
  • So we wouldn't have to be punished,
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  • And then you're still expecting to be punished?
  • 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:20.168
  • So now you got to change your view and your perspective of how
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  • You're looking at these things that are happening to you.
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  • This is not punishment, god is trying to guide me,
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  • God's trying to correct me, god's trying to show me
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  • Some things.
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  • He said in verse 4, "surely he hath borne our griefs and
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  • Carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him,
  • 00:03:35.117 --> 00:03:37.786
  • Stricken, smitten of god, and afflicted.
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  • But he was wounded for our transgressions,
  • 00:03:39.921 --> 00:03:43.191
  • He was bruised for our iniquities.
  • 00:03:43.191 --> 00:03:46.295
  • The chastisement of our peace was upon him,
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  • And with his stripes we are healed."
  • 00:03:50.365 --> 00:03:53.268
  • Look at this same thing in the new living translation,
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  • I want you to get a picture.
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  • Isaiah 53, verse 3 in the new living translation,
  • 00:03:56.938 --> 00:04:00.142
  • I want you to get a picture of the punishment that jesus went
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  • Through, and i'll probably read most of this chapter here.
  • 00:04:03.345 --> 00:04:06.181
  • He says here, "he was despised and rejected,
  • 00:04:06.181 --> 00:04:09.318
  • A man of sorrows acquainted with deepest grief.
  • 00:04:09.318 --> 00:04:13.288
  • We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
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  • He was despised and we did not care.
  • 00:04:17.192 --> 00:04:21.396
  • Yet it was our weaknesses he carried.
  • 00:04:21.396 --> 00:04:23.598
  • It was our sorrows that weighed him down,
  • 00:04:23.598 --> 00:04:26.101
  • And we thought his troubles were a punishment from god,
  • 00:04:26.101 --> 00:04:30.138
  • A punishment for his own sins.
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  • But he was pierced for our rebellion,
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  • Crushed for our sins.
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  • He was beaten so we could be whole.
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  • He was whipped so we could be healed."
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  • This is awesome here because he was punished and check it out,
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  • He was punished so you-- we could get the benefit.
  • 00:04:48.857 --> 00:04:53.995
  • The chastisement of our peace was on him.
  • 00:04:53.995 --> 00:04:57.366
  • He was being chastised so we could have peace.
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  • Verse 6, "all of us like sheep have strayed away,
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  • We've left god's path to follow our own.
  • 00:05:06.241 --> 00:05:09.144
  • Yet the lord laid on him the sins of us all.
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  • He has oppressed and treated harshly.
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  • He was oppressed and treated harshly,
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  • Yet he never said a word.
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  • He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
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  • And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
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  • He did not open his mouth.
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  • Unjustly condemned, he was led away.
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  • No one cared that he died without descendants,
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  • That his life was cut short in midstream.
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  • But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.
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  • He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone,
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  • But he was buried like a criminal.
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  • He was put in a rich man's grave.
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  • When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
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  • He will be satisfied and because of his experience,
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  • My righteous servant will make it possible for many to be
  • 00:05:54.156 --> 00:05:58.293
  • Counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins."
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  • It's possible.
  • 00:06:02.564 --> 00:06:04.232
  • "i will give him the--" excuse me,
  • 00:06:04.232 --> 00:06:05.867
  • "i will give him the honors of the victorious soldier because
  • 00:06:05.867 --> 00:06:08.170
  • He exposed himself to death.
  • 00:06:08.170 --> 00:06:10.238
  • He was counted among the rebels.
  • 00:06:10.238 --> 00:06:13.775
  • He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels."
  • 00:06:13.775 --> 00:06:18.113
  • Wow.
  • 00:06:18.113 --> 00:06:19.481
  • "sing oh childless woman, you who have never given birth,
  • 00:06:19.481 --> 00:06:24.052
  • Break into loud and joyful song oh jerusalem," and it goes down
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  • Some other stuff about the covenant of our peace.
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  • He's been punished with our punishment,
  • 00:06:30.325 --> 00:06:34.596
  • So we could receive something awesome and goodness that we
  • 00:06:34.596 --> 00:06:40.202
  • Didn't deserve.
  • 00:06:40.202 --> 00:06:42.571
  • Chastisement ends up in benefit.
  • 00:06:42.571 --> 00:06:49.544
  • So, if you're being chastised, corrected,
  • 00:06:49.544 --> 00:06:53.515
  • Disciplined, pruned, it's for your good.
  • 00:06:53.515 --> 00:07:01.089
  • Take your medicine.
  • 00:07:01.089 --> 00:07:03.391
  • Go through what you got to go through,
  • 00:07:03.391 --> 00:07:07.028
  • Because at the end it's gonna be good.
  • 00:07:07.028 --> 00:07:12.467
  • My god, my god.
  • 00:07:12.467 --> 00:07:16.705
  • Now, here's the question, i want you to think with,
  • 00:07:16.705 --> 00:07:20.442
  • I'm gonna--let's just ask this, do you think that we
  • 00:07:20.442 --> 00:07:24.980
  • Deserve punishment?
  • 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:27.148
  • Do we deserve judgment from god?
  • 00:07:27.148 --> 00:07:30.785
  • The answer to that is yes.
  • 00:07:30.785 --> 00:07:33.288
  • Deserving it?
  • 00:07:33.288 --> 00:07:35.423
  • We deserve 50,000 lifetimes of pain and turmoil and grief.
  • 00:07:35.423 --> 00:07:43.765
  • We deserve eternal punishment in hell.
  • 00:07:43.765 --> 00:07:48.036
  • All of us in here deserve hell.
  • 00:07:48.036 --> 00:07:50.305
  • Don't you--get it straight now, that's what you deserve,
  • 00:07:50.305 --> 00:07:55.410
  • That's what we deserve.
  • 00:07:55.410 --> 00:07:59.047
  • We deserve the penalty that was promised,
  • 00:07:59.047 --> 00:08:01.750
  • That the wages of sin is death.
  • 00:08:01.750 --> 00:08:05.287
  • That's what we deserve, praise god,
  • 00:08:05.287 --> 00:08:07.756
  • But that's not what we get if we truly trust and depend
  • 00:08:07.756 --> 00:08:10.625
  • In jesus christ as our lord and savior.
  • 00:08:10.625 --> 00:08:13.028
  • When we made him the lord and savior of our life,
  • 00:08:13.028 --> 00:08:15.297
  • We're no longer getting what we deserve,
  • 00:08:15.297 --> 00:08:18.066
  • We now get what we don't deserve, amen?
  • 00:08:18.066 --> 00:08:24.372
  • So why do we not receive eternal punishment?
  • 00:08:24.372 --> 00:08:28.343
  • Well, i showed you, because christ already endured
  • 00:08:28.343 --> 00:08:33.715
  • The punishment for our sins on this cross.
  • 00:08:33.715 --> 00:08:36.785
  • Why do we not receive punishment in our lives as christians?
  • 00:08:36.785 --> 00:08:40.655
  • Did you not hear me?
  • 00:08:40.655 --> 00:08:42.023
  • Because christ already endured the punishment for our sins
  • 00:08:42.023 --> 00:08:47.028
  • On the cross.
  • 00:08:47.028 --> 00:08:48.396
  • So, the sufficiency of the cross of christ is a fundamental piece
  • 00:08:48.396 --> 00:08:55.203
  • To our living today.
  • 00:08:55.203 --> 00:08:57.339
  • Other than that, you gotta be careful because you'll get back
  • 00:08:57.339 --> 00:08:59.841
  • Into self-righteousness.
  • 00:08:59.841 --> 00:09:02.243
  • You gotta always remember everything you got,
  • 00:09:02.243 --> 00:09:05.513
  • You don't deserve.
  • 00:09:05.513 --> 00:09:07.082
  • You don't deserve god's-- you don't even deserve
  • 00:09:07.082 --> 00:09:09.250
  • His chastening, why?
  • 00:09:09.250 --> 00:09:12.454
  • If he's gonna chasten you and correct you,
  • 00:09:12.454 --> 00:09:14.556
  • I mean, we don't deserve any of that.
  • 00:09:14.556 --> 00:09:17.692
  • We gotta receive everything from him as a gift,
  • 00:09:17.692 --> 00:09:20.528
  • Praise god.
  • 00:09:20.528 --> 00:09:22.831
  • Now, let's now use the synonym for chastening,
  • 00:09:22.831 --> 00:09:28.703
  • Purging, and see what the scripture says about that.
  • 00:09:28.703 --> 00:09:34.075
  • Look at john 15, verses 1.
  • 00:09:34.075 --> 00:09:36.478
  • In the nlt we'll look at verses 1 through 8.
  • 00:09:36.478 --> 00:09:39.781
  • Now he's going to use this illustration,
  • 00:09:39.781 --> 00:09:43.385
  • We are branches, he is the vine.
  • 00:09:43.385 --> 00:09:46.721
  • And he's gonna tell you all the things that are going to happen
  • 00:09:46.721 --> 00:09:50.425
  • And you can't ignore this piece.
  • 00:09:50.425 --> 00:09:53.161
  • And if you get a hold of this man,
  • 00:09:53.161 --> 00:09:56.197
  • You--you'll never be the same again.
  • 00:09:56.197 --> 00:09:59.501
  • Verse 1 says, jesus is speaking here,
  • 00:09:59.501 --> 00:10:01.136
  • He says, "i am the true grapevine.
  • 00:10:01.136 --> 00:10:04.339
  • And my father is the gardener."
  • 00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:07.542
  • Okay, the gardener.
  • 00:10:07.542 --> 00:10:11.046
  • Verse 2, the gardener "cuts off every branch
  • 00:10:11.046 --> 00:10:20.722
  • Of mine that doesn't produce fruit."
  • 00:10:20.722 --> 00:10:25.560
  • What's he doing?
  • 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:26.928
  • "he prunes the branches that do not--that do bear fruit.
  • 00:10:26.928 --> 00:10:32.701
  • He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they will
  • 00:10:32.701 --> 00:10:36.204
  • Produce even more."
  • 00:10:36.204 --> 00:10:39.374
  • I tell you i freaked out when i came to church one day and all
  • 00:10:39.374 --> 00:10:42.911
  • Of the branches of the trees were cut off.
  • 00:10:42.911 --> 00:10:47.515
  • I thought what the heck?
  • 00:10:47.515 --> 00:10:52.420
  • Or when i came home one time, jamie,
  • 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:54.055
  • You remember this?
  • 00:10:54.055 --> 00:10:55.457
  • And i looked against the house and all them bushes were pruned
  • 00:10:55.457 --> 00:10:58.660
  • And i'm like, "my cousin had lost his mind."
  • 00:10:58.660 --> 00:11:05.600
  • Listen to me 'cause this is the same thing that happens--
  • 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:09.304
  • Gonna happen with.
  • 00:11:09.304 --> 00:11:10.638
  • He prunes the branches that do not bear--that do bear fruit.
  • 00:11:10.638 --> 00:11:13.742
  • They--them trees were looking good to me.
  • 00:11:13.742 --> 00:11:16.211
  • But if you prune the ones that do bear fruit,
  • 00:11:16.211 --> 00:11:20.081
  • So they will watch this produce even more.
  • 00:11:20.081 --> 00:11:25.520
  • I mean, i got a hold of this principle.
  • 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:27.355
  • I'm pruning every tree that go down the driveway.
  • 00:11:27.355 --> 00:11:29.390
  • It's gonna look like a scary picture.
  • 00:11:29.390 --> 00:11:33.661
  • Look at verse 3: "you have already been pruned and purified
  • 00:11:33.661 --> 00:11:38.533
  • By the message i have given you.
  • 00:11:38.533 --> 00:11:41.402
  • Remain in me and i'll remain in you,
  • 00:11:41.402 --> 00:11:45.907
  • For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed
  • 00:11:45.907 --> 00:11:50.512
  • From the vine.
  • 00:11:50.512 --> 00:11:52.413
  • And you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
  • 00:11:52.413 --> 00:11:57.685
  • Yes, i am the vine, you are the branches."
  • 00:11:57.685 --> 00:12:01.256
  • Say out loud, "i'm a branch."
  • 00:12:01.256 --> 00:12:04.092
  • Say it again, "i'm a branch."
  • 00:12:04.092 --> 00:12:06.461
  • All right, so you know, the branch has gotta be connected to
  • 00:12:06.461 --> 00:12:09.030
  • It's life source, so since you are a branch,
  • 00:12:09.030 --> 00:12:12.634
  • Don't expect to ever bear no fruit in the branch if you leave
  • 00:12:12.634 --> 00:12:15.303
  • Your life source, god.
  • 00:12:15.303 --> 00:12:18.706
  • "those who remain in me, i--and i and them will produce," what?
  • 00:12:18.706 --> 00:12:21.810
  • "much fruit for apart from me, you can do," what?
  • 00:12:21.810 --> 00:12:25.246
  • "nothing."
  • 00:12:25.246 --> 00:12:27.348
  • "anyone who does not remain in me is--" watch this,
  • 00:12:27.348 --> 00:12:29.884
  • "anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless
  • 00:12:29.884 --> 00:12:32.821
  • Branch and withers.
  • 00:12:32.821 --> 00:12:35.256
  • Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
  • 00:12:35.256 --> 00:12:38.927
  • But if you remain in me and my words remain in you,
  • 00:12:38.927 --> 00:12:42.297
  • You may ask for anything you want and it will be granted.
  • 00:12:42.297 --> 00:12:48.269
  • When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.
  • 00:12:48.269 --> 00:12:54.042
  • This brings great glory to my father."
  • 00:12:54.042 --> 00:12:58.479
  • What brings great glory to the father?
  • 00:12:58.479 --> 00:13:01.015
  • Producing much fruit.
  • 00:13:01.015 --> 00:13:04.419
  • Now listen carefully here now.
  • 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:08.890
  • What jamie understood and what these guys up here understood,
  • 00:13:08.890 --> 00:13:12.393
  • Was that they knew that a bush, the life of a bush,
  • 00:13:12.393 --> 00:13:18.199
  • Actually increases with pruning.
  • 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:26.641
  • You're the bush: your life is not gonna increase
  • 00:13:26.641 --> 00:13:32.146
  • Without pruning.
  • 00:13:32.146 --> 00:13:35.583
  • You're the bush: your life is not going to mature
  • 00:13:35.583 --> 00:13:40.588
  • Without pruning.
  • 00:13:40.588 --> 00:13:45.226
  • Pruning is a necessary part.
  • 00:13:45.226 --> 00:13:48.596
  • John 15 and 2, notice what he says in john 15:2 in the nlt.
  • 00:13:48.596 --> 00:13:54.269
  • And this is concerning you and i,
  • 00:13:54.269 --> 00:13:56.304
  • He says he, "cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't
  • 00:13:56.304 --> 00:13:58.973
  • Produce fruit," and he what?
  • 00:13:58.973 --> 00:14:02.110
  • "prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will
  • 00:14:02.110 --> 00:14:07.282
  • Produce," what?
  • 00:14:07.282 --> 00:14:08.716
  • "even more fruit."
  • 00:14:08.716 --> 00:14:10.118
  • So, jesus was telling the disciples and all christians,
  • 00:14:10.118 --> 00:14:14.756
  • That he was setting them apart for a lifestyle
  • 00:14:14.756 --> 00:14:18.226
  • Of bearing fruit.
  • 00:14:18.226 --> 00:14:20.728
  • Their fruit would come as a result of god's intentional
  • 00:14:20.728 --> 00:14:24.732
  • Pruning or chastening.
  • 00:14:24.732 --> 00:14:29.871
  • It comes as a part of god intentionally doing that.
  • 00:14:29.871 --> 00:14:34.442
  • It's a plan of god's, pruning is a plan of god.
  • 00:14:34.442 --> 00:14:40.748
  • This idea that now i am saved.
  • 00:14:40.748 --> 00:14:43.318
  • I don't have no correction, no discipline,
  • 00:14:43.318 --> 00:14:46.354
  • No afflictions, no pruning.
  • 00:14:46.354 --> 00:14:49.223
  • And then the worst thing about it is,
  • 00:14:49.223 --> 00:14:52.593
  • Once you get some, you think that's the devil.
  • 00:14:52.593 --> 00:14:54.729
  • It was god that was cutting that thing off.
  • 00:14:54.729 --> 00:14:59.634
  • He will prune us, of course, differently,
  • 00:14:59.634 --> 00:15:02.303
  • But this is a--this is a process we entrust to him,
  • 00:15:02.303 --> 00:15:05.406
  • Knowing that he is good and that he is at work in our lives,
  • 00:15:05.406 --> 00:15:11.312
  • Pruning us.
  • 00:15:11.312 --> 00:15:12.880
  • He promised now that he was gonna mature us and he is at
  • 00:15:12.880 --> 00:15:15.616
  • Work in our life pruning us.
  • 00:15:15.616 --> 00:15:17.385
  • Our trials are times to depend and to trust god,
  • 00:15:17.385 --> 00:15:23.358
  • To use even our pain to make us more like christ and to make us
  • 00:15:23.358 --> 00:15:28.730
  • More dependent upon christ.
  • 00:15:28.730 --> 00:15:30.531
  • So this thing of, i'm christian, no more tribulation,
  • 00:15:30.531 --> 00:15:34.135
  • No more persecution, does not line up with the word.
  • 00:15:34.135 --> 00:15:37.105
  • "they that live godly shall suffer--" what?
  • 00:15:37.105 --> 00:15:38.973
  • "persecution."
  • 00:15:38.973 --> 00:15:40.308
  • Why?
  • 00:15:40.308 --> 00:15:41.909
  • Gonna be used for some pruning.
  • 00:15:41.909 --> 00:15:43.611
  • Gonna be used for on the prune--
  • 00:15:43.611 --> 00:15:45.179
  • Now, you'll have these people who just,
  • 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.714
  • You know, you know, la, la, la, la and say,
  • 00:15:46.714 --> 00:15:48.182
  • "well, no god, god will not prune you."
  • 00:15:48.182 --> 00:15:50.318
  • Yes, he will.
  • 00:15:50.318 --> 00:15:51.786
  • How are you ever going to bear more fruit by you thinking that
  • 00:15:51.786 --> 00:15:56.224
  • Just how you living is fine?
  • 00:15:56.224 --> 00:15:58.326
  • There's so much more fruit that god expects from our lives that
  • 00:15:58.326 --> 00:16:01.963
  • We can't get at without some pruning.
  • 00:16:01.963 --> 00:16:08.236
  • You cut up a rose bush real good,
  • 00:16:08.236 --> 00:16:10.038
  • You think it was actually producing nice and pretty roses,
  • 00:16:10.038 --> 00:16:12.740
  • Prune that thing real good, next season,
  • 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:15.176
  • Man, you got all kinds of beautiful roses
  • 00:16:15.176 --> 00:16:16.677
  • Coming out there.
  • 00:16:16.677 --> 00:16:18.880
  • See, we got to stop settling from where we are right now.
  • 00:16:18.880 --> 00:16:23.251
  • You have settled that your life can't do nothing more than what
  • 00:16:23.251 --> 00:16:26.587
  • It has already done, and god's got so much more he wants
  • 00:16:26.587 --> 00:16:30.324
  • To bring through you.
  • 00:16:30.324 --> 00:16:32.960
  • So much more.
  • 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.328
  • You settle for everything.
  • 00:16:34.328 --> 00:16:35.797
  • And i'm saying get rid of the settling,
  • 00:16:35.797 --> 00:16:38.199
  • Praise god, don't settle for average, praise god.
  • 00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:40.368
  • Stir yourself up.
  • 00:16:40.368 --> 00:16:41.769
  • When the pruning takes place, you just go ahead and fight for
  • 00:16:41.769 --> 00:16:45.306
  • The joy of the lord in the midst of the pruning because he's
  • 00:16:45.306 --> 00:16:48.309
  • Doing something, man.
  • 00:16:48.309 --> 00:16:49.911
  • You're gonna produce better fruit than you've ever produced
  • 00:16:49.911 --> 00:16:52.380
  • Before in your life, hallelujah.
  • 00:16:52.380 --> 00:16:54.582
  • The pandemic didn't do nothing but set you up to do it better
  • 00:16:54.582 --> 00:16:58.086
  • Than it's never been done before.
  • 00:16:58.086 --> 00:17:00.588
  • [applauding]
  • 00:17:00.588 --> 00:17:08.529
  • James 1:2 through 4 in the nlt, shows us that,
  • 00:17:12.467 --> 00:17:16.771
  • And then i'm gonna give you four reasons why god chastens
  • 00:17:16.771 --> 00:17:19.740
  • And prunes us.
  • 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:23.177
  • I believe this, it kind of-- it helps you to go through.
  • 00:17:23.177 --> 00:17:27.148
  • You know if you're not careful, you'll start beating yourself up
  • 00:17:27.148 --> 00:17:29.717
  • Every time you have a trial, every time you have a trial,
  • 00:17:29.717 --> 00:17:33.821
  • You go to god, "what's wrong?
  • 00:17:33.821 --> 00:17:35.189
  • What did i do?
  • 00:17:35.189 --> 00:17:36.524
  • Did i make you mad?"
  • 00:17:36.524 --> 00:17:37.892
  • It's like, would you stop?
  • 00:17:37.892 --> 00:17:40.361
  • You assume, you presume upon yourself that you good,
  • 00:17:40.361 --> 00:17:42.797
  • You--that you where you need to be and god's like,
  • 00:17:42.797 --> 00:17:44.699
  • "for what i called you to do, you're nowhere near where you
  • 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:47.401
  • Need to be.
  • 00:17:47.401 --> 00:17:49.203
  • I need to prune you.
  • 00:17:49.203 --> 00:17:50.738
  • You still acting like a baby.
  • 00:17:50.738 --> 00:17:52.306
  • You still dogging people out.
  • 00:17:52.306 --> 00:17:54.408
  • You still don't know how to walk in forgiveness.
  • 00:17:54.408 --> 00:17:57.378
  • You just--you just need to be pruned some more.
  • 00:17:57.378 --> 00:17:58.980
  • You got issues, i know you had the issue in the first place,
  • 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:02.216
  • But i'm gonna prune you."
  • 00:18:02.216 --> 00:18:05.286
  • It ain't got to do nothing to do with,
  • 00:18:05.286 --> 00:18:06.621
  • "but i don't wanna be pruned.
  • 00:18:06.621 --> 00:18:07.955
  • What if i don't wanna be pruned?"
  • 00:18:07.955 --> 00:18:09.290
  • And god says, "i'm grown, you gonna be pruned."
  • 00:18:09.290 --> 00:18:17.999
  • You know, your children come ask you a question.
  • 00:18:17.999 --> 00:18:19.333
  • "well, why you do that?"
  • 00:18:19.333 --> 00:18:20.668
  • You say, "i'm grown," and you proceed not to give
  • 00:18:20.668 --> 00:18:23.905
  • No explanation.
  • 00:18:23.905 --> 00:18:25.239
  • "i'm grown."
  • 00:18:25.239 --> 00:18:26.574
  • And we go before god, "well, god,
  • 00:18:26.574 --> 00:18:27.909
  • Why is this happening?"
  • 00:18:27.909 --> 00:18:29.243
  • He ain't saying that.
  • 00:18:29.243 --> 00:18:31.012
  • You're gonna go through this and you're gonna understand
  • 00:18:31.012 --> 00:18:34.215
  • Better by and by.
  • 00:18:34.215 --> 00:18:39.453
  • Someone said that song ain't according to the word.
  • 00:18:39.453 --> 00:18:41.088
  • Yes, it is, honey you know there's a lot of things you were
  • 00:18:41.088 --> 00:18:43.724
  • Going through you didn't understand why you were going
  • 00:18:43.724 --> 00:18:45.393
  • Through it, but when you came out of it and a little later on,
  • 00:18:45.393 --> 00:18:47.695
  • By and by, when the morning comes,
  • 00:18:47.695 --> 00:18:51.632
  • "all god saints are gonna gather home."
  • 00:18:51.632 --> 00:18:53.968
  • I ain't gonna sing that.
  • 00:18:53.968 --> 00:18:55.369
  • "tell the story, how i got pruned.
  • 00:18:55.369 --> 00:18:58.739
  • Then we will understand it better."
  • 00:18:58.739 --> 00:19:04.145
  • What i said?
  • 00:19:04.145 --> 00:19:05.680
  • "by and by."
  • 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:08.115
  • "dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your
  • 00:19:08.115 --> 00:19:14.288
  • Way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."
  • 00:19:14.288 --> 00:19:21.395
  • What?
  • 00:19:21.395 --> 00:19:22.730
  • Now joy is not--and happiness are a little different.
  • 00:19:22.730 --> 00:19:24.832
  • Joy comes from what you know.
  • 00:19:24.832 --> 00:19:28.736
  • "so consider it great joy, cause you're not ignorant about this
  • 00:19:28.736 --> 00:19:32.139
  • Trouble that has come your way."
  • 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:36.043
  • What you do is say, "uh oh, it's growth time,
  • 00:19:36.043 --> 00:19:38.713
  • It's growth season," and i'm gonna show you how to tell
  • 00:19:38.713 --> 00:19:40.848
  • When you're in a season of pruning.
  • 00:19:40.848 --> 00:19:43.618
  • How do you know?
  • 00:19:43.618 --> 00:19:44.952
  • Some of you may be in a season of pruning right now,
  • 00:19:44.952 --> 00:19:46.887
  • And you may not be aware of it.
  • 00:19:46.887 --> 00:19:48.956
  • Loss and that season go hand in hand, yeah.
  • 00:19:48.956 --> 00:19:54.095
  • "well, i don't understand why i lost that.
  • 00:19:54.095 --> 00:19:55.630
  • I don't understand why i lost that?"
  • 00:19:55.630 --> 00:19:56.964
  • You're being pruned girl, you're being pruned.
  • 00:19:56.964 --> 00:20:00.234
  • God got a seven-figure job waiting on you and he can't get
  • 00:20:00.234 --> 00:20:02.970
  • You to leave that one, so he gonna prune you,
  • 00:20:02.970 --> 00:20:05.606
  • So he can get you where you need to be 'cause,
  • 00:20:05.606 --> 00:20:07.341
  • He needs to use your heart to be able to move some stuff
  • 00:20:07.341 --> 00:20:10.011
  • Where it needs to be.
  • 00:20:10.011 --> 00:20:11.345
  • He can't do it because you just--you just shut your ears
  • 00:20:11.345 --> 00:20:14.248
  • Down, you don't memorize your scripture,
  • 00:20:14.248 --> 00:20:15.716
  • He been trying to talk and nudge you the whole time.
  • 00:20:15.716 --> 00:20:17.652
  • So he said, "okay, they need some chastening,
  • 00:20:17.652 --> 00:20:20.788
  • Some pruning.
  • 00:20:20.788 --> 00:20:22.156
  • Clip!"
  • 00:20:22.156 --> 00:20:24.425
  • What was once attached, has now been lost.
  • 00:20:24.425 --> 00:20:29.130
  • "dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your
  • 00:20:29.130 --> 00:20:31.832
  • Way, consider it an opportunity for joy."
  • 00:20:31.832 --> 00:20:34.168
  • Verse 3, "for you know that when your faith is tested,
  • 00:20:34.168 --> 00:20:38.673
  • Your endurance has a chance to grow.
  • 00:20:38.673 --> 00:20:44.045
  • So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
  • 00:20:44.045 --> 00:20:48.683
  • You will be perfect and complete,
  • 00:20:48.683 --> 00:20:51.786
  • Needing nothing."
  • 00:20:51.786 --> 00:20:53.654
  • He says, "i got an outcome, but i need to do some pruning in
  • 00:20:53.654 --> 00:20:58.426
  • Order to see that outcome come and so you can see the beauty
  • 00:20:58.426 --> 00:21:01.162
  • Of what comes as a result of that pruning."
  • 00:21:01.162 --> 00:21:07.335
  • So why does god chasten or prune us,
  • 00:21:07.335 --> 00:21:10.971
  • His branches, why would he do that?
  • 00:21:10.971 --> 00:21:12.606
  • Number one, so that we will bear more fruit.
  • 00:21:12.606 --> 00:21:17.945
  • So that we can bear more fruit.
  • 00:21:17.945 --> 00:21:20.214
  • God does not prune us because he is angry at us,
  • 00:21:20.214 --> 00:21:23.751
  • Nor does he prune us because jesus's sacrifice
  • 00:21:23.751 --> 00:21:27.521
  • Was not enough.
  • 00:21:27.521 --> 00:21:29.423
  • God prunes us so that we may bear more fruit,
  • 00:21:29.423 --> 00:21:34.695
  • Just like john 15, and 2 say, so we can bear more fruit.
  • 00:21:34.695 --> 00:21:38.532
  • In other words, god looks at our christian lives and he concludes
  • 00:21:38.532 --> 00:21:42.002
  • That we are not bearing as much fruit as we could bear.
  • 00:21:42.002 --> 00:21:48.776
  • We are out of balance, we've had--we have dead branches and
  • 00:21:48.776 --> 00:21:52.613
  • Sin is draining away our spiritual vitality.
  • 00:21:52.613 --> 00:21:57.084
  • We need to prune.
  • 00:21:57.084 --> 00:22:00.187
  • We need to do some pruning.
  • 00:22:00.187 --> 00:22:02.723
  • You wonder how many dead branches you got around you?
  • 00:22:02.723 --> 00:22:05.292
  • We need some pruning to take place.
  • 00:22:05.292 --> 00:22:07.395
  • Why does god chasten or prune us?
  • 00:22:07.395 --> 00:22:10.297
  • So that we will become more dependent on him.
  • 00:22:10.297 --> 00:22:16.370
  • Too often we become proud and independent of god and the
  • 00:22:16.370 --> 00:22:19.640
  • Impurity of self-dependence begins to lead our lives instead
  • 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:24.311
  • Of depending on god.
  • 00:22:24.311 --> 00:22:27.248
  • So god loves us enough to prune us,
  • 00:22:27.248 --> 00:22:30.050
  • So that we will learn to abide and to rest and to depend
  • 00:22:30.050 --> 00:22:35.122
  • On him.
  • 00:22:35.122 --> 00:22:37.558
  • Our father, the vine dresser, trains us to learn and practice,
  • 00:22:37.558 --> 00:22:44.231
  • Not only in precept, but he trains us to learn in practice
  • 00:22:44.231 --> 00:22:50.571
  • So we can truly, truly, come to the place where we can
  • 00:22:50.571 --> 00:22:56.510
  • Do nothing without christ.
  • 00:22:56.510 --> 00:22:59.046
  • That we're practicing depending on him,
  • 00:22:59.046 --> 00:23:03.184
  • 'cause we now know we can't do nothing without him,
  • 00:23:03.184 --> 00:23:05.719
  • Just like the branch can't do nothing without the vine.
  • 00:23:05.719 --> 00:23:09.256
  • As vital as it is for that connection to remain,
  • 00:23:09.256 --> 00:23:14.495
  • So likewise equally as vital as it is for the connection between
  • 00:23:14.495 --> 00:23:20.367
  • You and your father to remain.
  • 00:23:20.367 --> 00:23:23.437
  • Number 3, why does god chasten or prune us?
  • 00:23:23.437 --> 00:23:28.909
  • To assure that we are truly saved.
  • 00:23:28.909 --> 00:23:33.514
  • God does not prune unbelievers in order that they may become
  • 00:23:33.514 --> 00:23:36.417
  • More fruitful, for their fruit--
  • 00:23:36.417 --> 00:23:41.655
  • And i say it, unbelievers,
  • 00:23:41.655 --> 00:23:43.190
  • He's not--he's not pruning unbelievers
  • 00:23:43.190 --> 00:23:46.160
  • Because their fruit would just simply consists
  • 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:49.930
  • Of more dead works.
  • 00:23:49.930 --> 00:23:51.699
  • They're not saved, they're unbelievers,
  • 00:23:51.699 --> 00:23:55.269
  • What is there to prune?
  • 00:23:55.269 --> 00:23:56.604
  • The whole thing's dead, okay?
  • 00:23:56.604 --> 00:24:00.374
  • And so instead, he eventually throws them into the fire
  • 00:24:00.374 --> 00:24:05.012
  • And they're burned.
  • 00:24:05.012 --> 00:24:06.647
  • John 15 and 6: "it is the true child of god who is chastened by
  • 00:24:06.647 --> 00:24:13.087
  • The heavenly father."
  • 00:24:13.087 --> 00:24:15.055
  • This is a father chastening and pruning.
  • 00:24:15.055 --> 00:24:18.125
  • Announcer: do you ever wonder if god is punishing you?
  • 00:24:21.795 --> 00:24:24.298
  • In his two-message series, "the discipline of grace,"
  • 00:24:24.298 --> 00:24:27.201
  • Creflo dollar uncovers the truth about how god actually corrects
  • 00:24:27.201 --> 00:24:30.905
  • And guides his children.
  • 00:24:30.905 --> 00:24:32.640
  • Creflo: self-dependence is impure.
  • 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:37.177
  • God's chastening is to correct and to purify.
  • 00:24:37.177 --> 00:24:40.648
  • If a thought comes up, oh my goodness,
  • 00:24:40.648 --> 00:24:42.716
  • Because of god's punishment i'm gonna end up in hell,
  • 00:24:42.716 --> 00:24:45.653
  • No, no, no, your destiny has already been set,
  • 00:24:45.653 --> 00:24:48.289
  • You've already passed from death to life.
  • 00:24:48.289 --> 00:24:50.558
  • You are being dealt with by a father who loves you.
  • 00:24:50.558 --> 00:24:54.395
  • This is chastening of the lord.
  • 00:24:54.395 --> 00:24:56.597
  • It's the father dealing with you in love,
  • 00:24:56.597 --> 00:25:00.134
  • But he is going to be dealing with you.
  • 00:25:00.134 --> 00:25:03.637
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  • Male announcer: god has given us a grace gift to help overcome
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  • Creflo: the bible teaches us to give generously with
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  • A cheerful heart, not out of necessity,
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  • But out of a cheerful heart.
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  • And that's why i'm so grateful for the friends and partners of
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  • This ministry who freely and cheerfully give financial
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  • Offerings to support us.
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  • You understand our vision.
  • 00:26:08.135 --> 00:26:10.070
  • You know that when people understand grace,
  • 00:26:10.070 --> 00:26:13.007
  • They are empowered to change their lives for the better.
  • 00:26:13.007 --> 00:26:16.210
  • Thank you for supporting us with your financial donations.
  • 00:26:16.210 --> 00:26:19.913
  • And every time you give, you're being used by god
  • 00:26:19.913 --> 00:26:23.450
  • To stop misfortune in someone else's life.
  • 00:26:23.450 --> 00:26:26.053
  • And for that, we say thank you.
  • 00:26:26.053 --> 00:26:29.089
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:29.089 --> 00:26:30.691
  • Male announcer: if you want to honor the lord by sowing
  • 00:26:30.691 --> 00:26:32.593
  • Financial seeds into creflo dollar ministries,
  • 00:26:32.593 --> 00:26:35.062
  • Call the number on your screen or log on to
  • 00:26:35.062 --> 00:26:37.931
  • Creflodollarministries.org.
  • 00:26:37.931 --> 00:26:40.501
  • Male announcer: because of you, creflo dollar ministries is
  • 00:26:44.004 --> 00:26:46.607
  • Providing a new understanding of grace and empowering change in
  • 00:26:46.607 --> 00:26:50.544
  • The lives of millions of people every day.
  • 00:26:50.544 --> 00:26:52.846
  • Thank you, partners and friends.
  • 00:26:52.846 --> 00:26:54.882
  • Your love and financial support makes it possible to bring this
  • 00:26:54.882 --> 00:26:58.385
  • Message into millions of homes all across the globe.
  • 00:26:58.385 --> 00:27:02.690
  • The preceding program was brought to you in part
  • 00:27:02.690 --> 00:27:04.558
  • By the partners and friends of creflo dollar ministries.
  • 00:27:04.558 --> 00:27:08.929
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:27:08.929 --> 00:27:13.934
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:13.934 --> 00:27:29.999