Removing Old Dead Wood
March 13th, 2010
Priscilla van Sutphin
This morning on awaking, I had a vision of a bowling ball hitting the back of the head of a person. That was pretty shocking and could kill a person. So
Waited and much later in the evening while contemplating it I heard “ Heads will roll”.
Then while I was outside having to deal with trimming way back the bougainvillea on my patio, which had usurped so much of the patio, that it had fallen over a bit, top heavy. So I don’t have an electric trimmer or saw, and was branch by branch cutting and trimming it back then cutting in small pieces to put in the garbage bin so I could take it to the dumpster and carefully as it is full of thorns. As I was trimming, there was a lot of old dead wood branches. And I heard the Lord say to me, “I’m removing the old dead wood”
Then I had this impression as I thought on this that the government wanting to get rid of the older people, which is implied in the health bill, was reflective of something that goes on in the church, with the older not allowing the younger to come forth in their callings and giftings. I thought of how the old dead branches can keep the plant from growing in a healthy way, sapping too much of the energy needed by the new branches.
“….Remember that pruning is the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant. It is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers, fruits, and limbs that remain on the plant. Pruning, which has several definitions, essentially involves removing plant parts to improve the health, landscape effect, or value of the plant.”
From: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/landscape/pruning/pruning.html
Still small voice:
“I am looking for a people who will respond to Me in WORSHIP, like you saw in Haiti ! Notice how even when enduring terrible hardship, instead of blaming Me, some came out from under the rubble worshipping Me. Worship is a great key to freedom. Praise ME in all situations, good or bad, because I am in control. I know what you need before you ask Me.
There are stagnant waters in the midst of My garden of reknown. There are polluted waters that do not give forth life, but rather bring forth death. There are living waters even who have become polluted out of fear, that only trust in themselves, and who do not know how to give away the Kingdom, or how to be poured out. I am bringing My whirlwind to purge the filthy waters, and to cleanse My temple. I am cutting off old dead wood on My trees, and I will remove those in authority who have held back the waters of revival and who cause division in the camp by their skepticism, doubt, and witchcraft control. And I will remove also those who have taken what I’ve given and used it as a means of gain, rather than sharing freely what I’ve given.
I will purify My bride. That is not your job. It is Mine. I will use some of the prophets I’ve trusted with My words, to bring about change, but mostly, sovreignly, I will move upon leaders who are out of touch with the reality of these times, and who are resistent to My Holy Spirit, and all those who have
NOT been preparing My Bride for the end times harvest. Do not weep for the wicked cut down in their prime, though they were foolish, they serve as banners of injustice, and be reassured that I will avenge the enemy of your souls. I will raise up the standard against Him through you and I will increase authority in you that will bring My vengeance on his head.
I will remove the old dead wood in the church, in the world, and you being part of the church, are having it removed now to make way for My glory.
Do the same with your own homes. Get rid of what is unnecessary, or hindering to your walk with Me. Live simply and cling to ME in this hour.
Yes there are those that don’t want to call My judgments, “judgments” but I am judging. I am judging the wicked hordes of hell in the earth, the sea and the heavens. And I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. It is not your lot to be like JONAH who wanted to see my vengeance on people. He acted sorrowfully when they were warned, & they repented, because He wanted to see vengeance on them. He didn’t want them to repent and be saved.
How much more compassionate should you be towards your brothers and sisters in the Lord. YES I WILL JUDGE, but do not be found laughing and scoffing and acting in pride superior to them when it happens. For I will judge you as you have judged. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Re the wicked:
Job 18:16-21 NKJV His roots are dried out below, and his branch withers above. 17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name among the renowned. 18 He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. 19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. 20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, as those in the east are frightened. 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God."
Isa 9:14-16 NKJV Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. 15 The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed.
Ps 80:15-19 NKJV And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. 17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. 18 Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
Isa 4:2-5 NKJV The Renewal of Zion
2 In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious;
And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. 3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy — everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,
Isa 17:9-10 NKJV In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough
and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel; and there will be desolation. 10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold,
Isa 60:21-22 NKJV Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. 22 A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time."
Ezek 19:13-14 NKJV And now she is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. 14 Fire has come out from a rod of her branches and devoured her fruit, So that she has no strong branch — a scepter for ruling.'"
This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
Mal 4:1-3 NKJV "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, "Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this," says the Lord of hosts.
John 15:2-4 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 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.
John 15:6-8 NKJV 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. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
