“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.” (John 15:2)
What is it about us that God the Father must remove, prune—cut away; in order for us to be able to bear more fruit to Him?
First, we need to understand what fruit He is looking for.
Some think the ”fruit” God most desires is soul winning; leading unsaved people to Christ. And while that is certainly part of it, I think we need to look much deeper within.
What is the purpose and process of our sanctification?—to be set apart for holiness.
Knowing that the Father is pruning each of us that we bear more fruit to Him, then we need to look at what scriptures specifically mention spiritual fruit.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Isn’t this a literal description of what it means to be Christ-like?
So if being more like Jesus is to see more of the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives, then what would God need to prune from each of us to bring this to fruition?
The answer is simple; anything that gets in the way of that process and goal.
And He is not primarily pruning physical things out of our lives, but bad attitudes. Things of the heart. Wrong thoughts. Selfishness. Stubbornness. Immaturity.
And this pruning—this cutting away—can be quite painful; when we resist God in His efforts to do so.
Time for some serious, sincere, self-examination before God.
When the fruit of the Spirit mentioned above is absent, the works, or fruit of the flesh is evident. This fleshly fruit is as follows:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident;, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, partying.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
And though you may not physically be murdering anyone, or committing the act of adultery with someone who is not your spouse, are you contentious with someone in your life? Do you frequently explode in childish outbursts of wrath whenever something does not go your way? Are you being selfish or self-centered in your personal ambitions? In your relationships? Are there temporal, earthly things that are so important to you that you have in effect made them idols?
These are the kinds of destructive things that God must painfully prune from your life—from your heart—in order for you to be able to bear more fruit of the Spirit to Him.
The question is—will you continue to resist Him?
You will never experience true freedom, peace and joy in your life until you willingly surrender your heart and the things in your life to God.
People who regularly demonstrate any of the works (fruit) of the flesh in their lives are not free, They are bound; prisoners of their own hard-hearted rebellion against God.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16)
What fruit are you known by?
When your spouse, your children, your friends, your co-workers see you, do they see a person who regularly explodes in outbursts of wrath when you don’t get your way?
Or do they see a person who is at peace, kind, gentle, and who demonstrates self-control when faced with a challenging situation?
Really take some time and do some honest soul-searching before God, and examine your heart and the fruit of your life.
You are known by your fruits.
People see you. If you’re a follower of Christ, they are watching you, to see if you’re the real deal.
Jesus is the Vine, and you are a branch. God the Father prunes His branches that abide in Jesus, so that you will bear more fruit of the Spirit to Him.
Are you submitting to Him?
Or resisting Him in His efforts to prune you?
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
Some think the ”fruit” God most desires is soul winning; leading unsaved people to Christ. And while that is certainly part of it, I think we need to look much deeper within.
What is the purpose and process of our sanctification?—to be set apart for holiness.
Knowing that the Father is pruning each of us that we bear more fruit to Him, then we need to look at what scriptures specifically mention spiritual fruit.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Isn’t this a literal description of what it means to be Christ-like?
So if being more like Jesus is to see more of the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives, then what would God need to prune from each of us to bring this to fruition?
The answer is simple; anything that gets in the way of that process and goal.
And He is not primarily pruning physical things out of our lives, but bad attitudes. Things of the heart. Wrong thoughts. Selfishness. Stubbornness. Immaturity.
And this pruning—this cutting away—can be quite painful; when we resist God in His efforts to do so.
Time for some serious, sincere, self-examination before God.
When the fruit of the Spirit mentioned above is absent, the works, or fruit of the flesh is evident. This fleshly fruit is as follows:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident;, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, partying.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
And though you may not physically be murdering anyone, or committing the act of adultery with someone who is not your spouse, are you contentious with someone in your life? Do you frequently explode in childish outbursts of wrath whenever something does not go your way? Are you being selfish or self-centered in your personal ambitions? In your relationships? Are there temporal, earthly things that are so important to you that you have in effect made them idols?
These are the kinds of destructive things that God must painfully prune from your life—from your heart—in order for you to be able to bear more fruit of the Spirit to Him.
The question is—will you continue to resist Him?
You will never experience true freedom, peace and joy in your life until you willingly surrender your heart and the things in your life to God.
People who regularly demonstrate any of the works (fruit) of the flesh in their lives are not free, They are bound; prisoners of their own hard-hearted rebellion against God.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16)
What fruit are you known by?
When your spouse, your children, your friends, your co-workers see you, do they see a person who regularly explodes in outbursts of wrath when you don’t get your way?
Or do they see a person who is at peace, kind, gentle, and who demonstrates self-control when faced with a challenging situation?
Really take some time and do some honest soul-searching before God, and examine your heart and the fruit of your life.
You are known by your fruits.
People see you. If you’re a follower of Christ, they are watching you, to see if you’re the real deal.
Jesus is the Vine, and you are a branch. God the Father prunes His branches that abide in Jesus, so that you will bear more fruit of the Spirit to Him.
Are you submitting to Him?
Or resisting Him in His efforts to prune you?
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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