Back to Basics

12/2/18
- Peter DeWitt
Audio Written Summary

Matthew 13:52 says “Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” 

It’s just got to be both. If you are going to operate KINGDOM it’s just got to be both. Old AND New.  What have I bringing forth the last 2 months or so? New. 
 
We are about to bring out the old. The things that are review are actually the finest things - the mature wine.
 
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away (lifts up); 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.”  (John 15:1-3)
 
Bill Johnson says it like this: when God prunes you, He reduces you to your place of strength. What is growth met with? Pruning.
 
The strength is always in the vine - it’s never in the branches. When branches are fruitful, our tendency as branches is to say “by golly, this is goin’ good!” God will come in and SNIP and you think “uh, that thing I was starting to trust in isn’t here anymore. Where did it go God?” He says “just draw back into Me. This was your place of strength from the start. Let’s just come right back to here. That out there (branch growth, great fruit) was only ever caused by this … do you remember? I know you forget right now, but do you remember? It was only ever produced by this connection so let’s just come back to this.”
 
Why does He do that? So that you can bear more fruit! That’s the process.
 
We're getting back to basics - to the gospel of grace! Right back to who we are in Christ! What’s God say about you? Who are you in Him? Is there any judgment left for you? These are those foundational truths!
 
All of the power in the Kingdom exists in ONE message. There are many good messages but all the power in the Kingdom is only in ONE message: Romans 1:16 shows us which one. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”