Secrets of the Vine

Session 6: “Fruit” to “More Fruit” – B –Jn 15:1-2

The Pruning Process

Pruning Process # 1 – The Lord’s Universal Pruning System

• Do you believe God prunes you at the perfect moment?

1. Does He start pruning you at the perfect time?
2. Does He prune you for the perfect length of time?
3. Does He prune you to the perfect depth?
4. Does He prune you at the perfect breadth?

• Do you believe that God prunes you with the perfect method? – Rom 8:28

1. Does He carefully select the absolute best pruning tools?
2. Does He watch out for you by limiting unnecessary pain?
3. Does He stay intimately involved as your pruning coach?

• Do you believe God prunes you with the perfect motive? – Rom 8:31-32

1. Does He truly have your best interest in mind at all times?
2. Does He ever use you and then discard you when He is finished?
3. Does He ever forsake you when you fail His pruning?

Pruning Process # 2 – The Lord’s Seven Pruning Tools

• Pruning Tool # 1 - possessions (money house, furniture, jewelry, clothing, retirement, recreation) – Gen 37:23
• Pruning Tool # 2 - position (position in the family, church, organization, community, business) – Gen 37:20, 36
• Pruning Tool # 3 - physical (sickness, weakness, discomfort, exhaustion, aging, blind, deaf) – Gen 37:24
• Pruning Tool # 4 – people - injustice (family, friends, employer, employees, co-workers, strangers) – Gen 39:11-14
• Pruning Tool # 5 – profession – more work (job title, responsibilities, demotion/promotion, success/failure) – Gen 39:4, 19-20a
• Pruning Tool # 6 - place (location of home, employment, transfer, desk location, church move) – Gen 39:20
• Pruning Tool # 7 – plan – my plan is God’s plan (plans for wife, children, education, finances, retirement) – Gen 40:14-15, 23; 41:1a

Pruning Process # 3 – The Lord’s Pruning Cycle of preparation

• Pruning prepares you to step into more significant roles

1. Cycle 1 – Youngest son 
2. Cycle 2 – Overseer at Potiphar’s house
3. Cycle 3 – Overseer in the prison 
4. Cycle 4 – Leader over the nation

• Pruning prepares you to handle more extensive responsibilities

1. Cycle 1 – Menial tasks, sheep 
2. Cycle 2 – Manage home/business affairs
3. Cycle 3 – Manage large affairs 
4. Cycle 4 – Manage the economy/policy

• Pruning prepares you to handle major tests with godly responses

1. Cycle 1 – Betrayal and slavery 
2. Cycle 2 – Accusation and prison
3. Cycle 3 – Forgotten in prison 
4. Cycle 4 – Brothers 

• Pruning comes first, then the fruit comes later.

Precept: 

God prunes all fruit-bearing believers by various methods throughout their lifetime in order to maximize the quality and quality of their fruit.

Conclusion: you can choose to actively rebel and reject, passively resist and remain reluctant, or proactively rest and rejoice.