How is Purging a Part of Abiding?- Part 6

Let's check out some more verses that will help us with what we are studying.

Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22.  Paul said, "Now He which establishes us with you in Christ...
What did he say?....He which establishes us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is...Who?
"God"  God does this; God places us in Christ.  He not only places us in Christ, but then He actually follows through.

Now notice verse 22: "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

God puts us into Christ, anoints us in Christ, and than tells us that instead of our doing this, it is the Holy Spirit who is doing it.  The Holy Spirit puts us in Christ, keeps us in Christ, and then seals us.
The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit working in us.

I didn't mention purging, so let's talk about it for a moment. Purging is not an after kind of thing; it is a while thing.  Purging takes place while other things are going on.  Here is what happens.  The purpose of the branch  is to bear fruit; purging makes it bear more fruit; more purging makes it bear much fruit.  So you go from fruit, to more fruit, to much fruit, and Jesus said that His plan for you and me is to bear much fruit.  So a lot of purging is going to take place along the way.  This is absolutely a fact, because when the Gardener--the Husbandman--sees the branch and recognizes that it needs a little pruning here and there, He goes ahead with the pruning whether the branch likes it or not.

Purging is pruning away at the things that don't belong in our life.  Yes, God does the pruning, His Spirit works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.  We need this pruning to produce much fruit.  Hold on until tomorrow and we will discuss more about this.  Grandma Joan