God’s Work With the Elect

God’s Work With the Elect

God prunes the branch that bears fruit so that it can bear more fruit. This is how God works with the elect, and Job is an excellent example of this.

“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in fetters, held in the cords of affliction, then He tells them their work and their transgressions—that they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they turn from iniquity. If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” Job 36:7-11.

Here Elihu describes Job’s position. Job was the most blameless and just man on earth. Now that God wanted to increase Job’s blessings, Job first had to experience a deeper cleansing. God does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous. Nevertheless, it was difficult for Job to comprehend God’s way to this greater blessing. He was amazed at the fire that came over him to test him. Peter says that we shall not do that, and Elihu says about the righteous who are exalted: “And if they are bound in fetters, held in the cords of affliction, then He tells them their work and their transgressions—that they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they turn from iniquity.”

It was not easy for the most blameless man on earth to see that there was more defiance and sin that had to be cleansed away. God opened his ear through sufferings. Job’s three friends did not understand this further cleansing either. They judged him to be an ungodly sinner since these things could happen to him.

When we are amazed at the fiery trials—the sufferings—that come over us, then our understanding is no better than that of Job’s three friends. Regardless of how far we have come on the way of sanctification, we must always be prepared for a deeper cleansing. This comes about through sufferings. There is more defiance and arrogance left. He opens our ears through sufferings. Job 36:13-16. “But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath.” They will perish.

“For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. In order to turn man from his deed, and to eliminate pride from man . . . .” Job 33:14-17.

Here we can see God’s work with a righteous person. He wants to eliminate pride from man. However, Elihu says that God does not regard a person who is conceited. Ch. 37:24. God cannot do this work with them. They may have a time during which they shine, but their end is corruption and destruction.

John says about Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matt. 3:11. Peter says that fire is the same as sufferings (1 Pet. 4:12-13), and these sufferings lead us to glory.

We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. Acts 1:8. Everyone would like to have this experience, but we shall also be baptized with fire. We must have power if we are to bear the fire—endure God’s cleansing so He can eliminate pride from man. However, grace will become our judgment if we receive power without wanting to go into the fire.

We can see many people who have been baptized in the Spirit and who speak about the power from on high and the gifts. They do not love one another. They divide into groups and argue among themselves. This goes to show that there is much pride and arrogance that should have been eliminated. They don’t have a sense for further cleansing. Tribulations and sufferings cannot open their ears. A baptism in the Spirit without fire satisfies only the flesh.

The reason for disunity among Christians—in spite of the baptism in the Spirit and the gifts—is their pride and stubbornness, and so they dishonor Jesus’ name. Instead of the world coming to faith because of the unity among them, they blaspheme the name of Jesus. Jesus’ prayer was that they all may be one so that the world may believe. The sign that would convince the world to believe that they were Jesus’ disciples was that they loved one another. John 13:35, 17:21. The large masses of believers in our days are like the conceited people whom God does not regard, and yet they boast of all God’s blessings. “And not only that, but we also glory [boast] in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance,” etc. Rom. 5:3.

Here we see that Paul had a sense for the fire and for the cleansing; and God be praised for the work He does with the elect. Those who love the fire and experience cleansing so they can bear more fruit are increasing in number. They are sufficiently humble to understand God’s purposeful goal with them to remove more arrogance and stubbornness. The fruit of this baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is a genuine brotherhood in which each one esteems the other more highly than himself. Then Jesus’ prayer will be fulfilled: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You . . . .”