Secrets of the Vine

Session 5: “Fruit” to “More Fruit” – A – Jn 15:1-3

“Do you want all these leaves or the fruit?” - 

Passage – Jn 15:2b

• “Every branch that bears fruit” describes a fruit-bearing believer
• “He prunes” specifies the pruning-agent as God the Father
• “Prune” is an act by the vinedresser to cut back to bear more

1. Pruning is the primary method to make branches productive
2. Pruning redirects the sap from the wood and leaves to the fruit
3. Pruning occurs numerous times throughout the season

• “Bear more fruit” reveals God’s goal as increasing good works

Pitfall

The more you live for God, the less pain you will experience. Misconception: God brings pain into your life only because you have done wrong. Truth: God brings pruning pain into your life because you are bearing fruit.

• Pruning can be confused with discipline as both are painful - Heb 12:11, 1Pt 1:6 (They feel the same. Discipline is when I have done wrong, no fruit, remorse and repent; pruning is when I have done right, bearing fruit, relief and release).
• Pruning can lead people to become angry with God – confusion, misunderstanding
• Pruning often causes sin in believers who are mature – Let me do more for You, anger causes avoidance and a hardened heart.

Principles of Pruning

Pruning Principle # 1 – Pruning puts pressure on you to change your major priorities

• Pruning releases you from using your weaknesses to using your strengths – from good to better.
• Pruning leverages your life by focusing you on the strategic
• Pruning stimulates you to reallocate your primary resources

1. Reprioritizing the way to invest your time - Eph 5:15-16
2. Reprioritizing the way to invest your talents - Mt 25:20-21
3. Reprioritizing the way to invest your treasure - 2Cor 9:6-8 (the heart will follow the activity)

Pruning Principle # 2 – Pruning increases your productivity by clarifying your life purpose – “no fruit” people have no clue to their purpose.

• Pruning seeks to discover why God laid hold of you – God laid hold of me so I can lay hold of the fruit (Phil 3:12-13)
• Pruning forgets the past failures to focus on the future
• Pruning causes you to focus upon your lasting legacy

Pruning Principle # 3 – Pruning transforms and intensifies your heart passion – Titus 2:14

• Pruning lessens the pleasure you experience from unfruitful activities
• Pruning intensifies your passion by requiring personal sacrifice - Phil 3:7-8
• Pruning increases your desire to bring great joy to God’s heart

Conclusion:

1. God wants you to know if He is disciplining or pruning
2. Ask yourself if there is any known major sin.

• If unclear, ask God to reveal sin in one week – (a reason for the discipline)
• You may be in pruning if no sin is revealed

1. God disciplines His children and desires you to repent
2. God prunes His children and desires you to relax and release