The Divine Reset

John 15:1–8 NKJV

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

The Reset Button

Electronic devices often have a “reset” button in case of an overload or short.

Computers have “restore points” to restore a troubled operating system.

“Reset” means “to set again or anew” and “to change the reading of often to zero”.

On March 6, 2009 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov with a red “reset button” to symbolize improved ties.

“The Great Reset”

The United Nations, through the World Economic Forum, is using the urgent challenges and crisis of our times, whether real or manufactured, to justify a global initiative to bring all nations under their one world governance mandates. Currently these “crises” include global warming, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social and economic justice.

According to WeForum.org (World Economic Forum):

“The Great Reset” will be the theme of a unique twin summit in January 2021, convened by the World Economic Forum.

“The Great Reset” is a commitment to jointly and urgently build the foundations of our economic and social system for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future.

It requires a new social contract centred on human dignity, social justice and where societal progress does not fall behind economic development.

The global health crisis has laid bare longstanding ruptures in our economies and societies, and created a social crisis that urgently requires decent, meaningful jobs.

The twin summit will be both in-person and virtual, connecting key global governmental and business leaders in Davos with a global multistakeholder network in 400 cities around the world for a forward-oriented dialogue driven by the younger generation.

Currently there is an orchestrated effort to silence or “cancel” all conservative and Christian voices that would resist “The Great Reset” with its mandates.

This global initiative is the manifestation of the end-time rebellion against the God of heaven and His Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Crisis and the Need for Change

These “crises” in the world has revealed the need for a change in the Church.

The Church that thrived in the modern age must now adapt to the challenges of a post-modern age.

The Church that produced fruit in times of freedom, popularity, protection, and abundance must learn how to produce fruit in a time of restriction, rejection, persecution, and frugality.

The Church can thrive in this current season but not without eliminating superfluous hindrances to growth.

God is using the events of today to bring about The Divine Reset.

“The Divine Reset”

God is Shaking

God is Pruning

The Vine is Jesus Christ, and the branches are churches and individuals.

John 15:2 NKJV

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

The branches that produced fruit in a former season must be pruned of unfruitful methods and processes that will hinder fruitfulness in a new season.

Pruning looks like death to the onlooker.

Pruning cuts off what is dead.

Pruning cuts off what is corrupt, impure, unrighteous, and unholy.

Pruning cuts off what is false. (doctrine, ministers, people)

Pruning cuts off corrupting additions to the gospel message.

Methods may change but the message remains the same.

Pruning re-calibrates the message of the Church to agree with Scripture.

Pruning cuts old methods that once bore fruit but are no longer effective.

Pruning cuts new growth that threatens fruitful growth.

These are called “suckers”.

Just because it is a good idea doesn’t mean it is a God idea.

Just because someone imagined it doesn’t mean God inspired it.

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

Just because it worked somewhere else doesn’t mean it will work here.

Pruning cuts wasteful spending and redirects it effective kingdom priorities.

Pruning cuts earthly distractions for maximized kingdom focus.

Pruning directs the spiritual life of the Vine to branches that are fruitful.

Pruning refocuses the church on things that help us to fulfill its divine mandate, the Great Commission. (preaching the gospel, making disciples of all nations, proving faithful leaders, and establishing strong New Testament churches)

Pruning prepares the way for kingdom growth through an emphasis on repentance. (John the Baptist)

Pruning reduces the Church to the basics of Christianity.

Pruning brings us back into an intimate relationship with the Vine, Jesus Christ.

John 15:4–5 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Pruning restores book of Acts impact to the Church.

Such pruning is grievous and painful but necessary.

Charles H. Spurgeon, in a message on John 15, said, “All fruit-bearing saints must feel the knife.”

God is Ordering and Establishing

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jeremiah 1:9–10 NKJV

Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

God is uprooting what He did not plant. (Tares)

God is pulling down what He did not erect.

God is destroying what is condemned.

God is casting down what is profane.

God is building what He has ordained according to His pattern.

God is planting genuine and fruitful plants. (Wheat)

Someone has said: “Jesus started the church the way He wanted it, and now He wants it the way He started it.”

God is Resetting our Perspective

From the temporal to the eternal

From man to the majesty of God

From the fear of man to the fear of God

From the will of man to the will of God

From the love of this world to the love of God

From the kingdoms of this world to the kingdom of God

God is Preparing a Glorious Church

Ephesians 5:25–27 NKJV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Isaiah 60:1–5 NKJV

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.

Submit to The Divine Reset in your life

REPENT of any entrapment in this world system.

RESIGN yourself to the Father’s pruning.

RELEASE the past. (failures, disappointments, offenses, pain)

REKINDLE your first-love relationship with Jesus.

REFOCUS on the kingdom of God and your place in it.

RECONNECT with the Church that Christ is building.

RE-PRIORITIZE your life to do God’s will.

REFUEL with the power of the Holy Spirit.

RE-ENGAGE with the Great Commission. (evangelism, discipleship)