THE MASTER GARDENER’S PRUNING

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”  (John 15:1-8 NIV)

In this passage, Jesus borrows a word picture from the plant kingdom. He explained that because God loves us, He must do some pruning in order for us to thrive, blossom and bare fruit. Do you understand how this principle works in gardening? Even with green things, God’s concept of discipline holds true.

But the Master Gardener is loving and devoted. Warren Wiersbe said, “Your Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you.” That statement is right on the mark. You will find this truth consistently affirmed in the lives of wise, godly people who have faced disruptive moments. They will look at you and say without hesitation, “Never in all my life have I sensed the closeness and provision of God as I did when I came to the bend in the road. Never before have I been more fruitful than I’ve been since I came through that season when everything seemed upside down.” 

-- Adapted from David Jeremiah in “Keep the Faith: How to Stand Strong in a World Turned Upside Down” 

#6357

PRODUCING FRUIT

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful… Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:1-5 NIV)

Two ways of staying connected to Christ involve (1) removing what is unnecessary in our lives, and (2) staying focused on the vine.

On one side we have the vine, our life source. On the other side we have fruit. Our effectiveness is determined by which one we focus on, and in our world it’s hard not to focus on the fruit. So much of our worth is measured by what we produce. …

We also measure ourselves by comparing our fruit to what others produce. We can feel fine until we look around. Focusing on the success, achievements, and appearance of others can undo us.

We can obsess over fruit. We start to believe that the fruit is up to us. But Jesus says that it’s not. … Our job is to be a branch and let God’s power flow through us. … We begin to think we are the vine and are our own source of strength. We have to ask ourselves, “Do I receive my identity from the things I produce or from the One who produces through me?” 

-- Rob Fuquay in “The God We Can Know: Exploring the ‘I Am’ Sayings of Jesus”

#6221

CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE

Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last -- and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you."   (John 15:16 NIV)

The NFL Draft is currently underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin. If you live in Northeast Wisconsin, as I do, you can’t miss it. In the NFL Draft, players are chosen not just for their skills but for the potential they bring to a team. Coaches and scouts see something unique in each athlete, and teams select them with a purpose in mind. Similarly, God has chosen you -- not because of your qualifications, but because of His love and His plan for your life. He has appointed you to bear fruit that will last, to make an eternal impact in His Kingdom.

Just as a drafted player commits to training, teamwork, and fulfilling their role, we are called to embrace our purpose with dedication, also committing to training, teamwork and fulfilling our role in the Kingdom. God’s choice is not the end of the story -- it’s the beginning of a journey where we grow, serve, and glorify Him.

And with His current pick, God chooses ________________ (fill in your name)! How can you live out the purpose for which God has chosen you today? 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry

#6102

A DISCIPLE ABIDES IN CHRIST

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5 NIV)

Jesus knows that His true followers desire to live productive, fulfilling, joy-filled lives. In John 15:1-17 (check it out) Jesus lays out four predominant characteristics of a growing disciple:

1. A Disciples Stays Close to the Master. Jesus encourages us to remain in Him (verses 4-5). Another way to translate “remain” is “to abide” in Him. The word abide signifies a permanent position. It means that you let your roots grow deep into your relationship with Jesus, allowing Him to fill every part of your life every day. If you maintain this unbroken fellowship with God, your lifestyle will change.

2. A Disciple Is Fruitful. Just as a branch can only be fruitful when attached to the vine, we can only be productive when we draw our strength from Jesus (verses 6, 16). The Bible describes this fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).

3. A Disciple Obeys the Master. Another clear sign that you are Christ’s disciple is your obedience to the principles and guidelines found in the Bible (verse 10). Only then will you discover what it means to live in God’s love.

4. A Disciple Loves Others. Jesus gave us the ultimate example of love by laying down His life for us. He, in essence, is asking us to do nothing less. That may not mean actually dying, but it may mean placing someone else’s needs before your own.

In verse 11 we find Jesus’ reason of sharing these principles: He wants us to be filled with joy. If you try to find happiness through the pursuit of worldly things, it will elude you. The only way to find happiness is through the pursuit of God. If you prioritize your life as Jesus has laid out in these verses, then “your joy will overflow.” 

-- Adapted from “How to Find God New Testament: Living Water for Those Who Thirst” 

#5557

CONSECRATION IN OVERALLS

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

FAITHFULNESS is consecration in overalls. It is the steady acceptance and performance of the common duty and immediate task without any reference to personal preferences -- because it is there to be one and so is a manifestation of the Will of God. It is Elizabeth Leseur settling down each day to do the household accounts quite perfectly (when she would much rather have been in church) and saying, “The duties of my station come before everything else.” It is Brother Lawrence taking his turn in the kitchen, and Saint Francis de Sales taking the burden of a difficult diocese and saying, “I have now little time for prayer -- but I do what is the same.”

The fruits of the Spirit get less and less showy as they go on. Faithfulness means continuing quietly with the job we have been given, in the situation where we have been placed; not yielding to the restless desire for change. It means tending the lamp quietly for God without wondering how much longer it has got to go on. 

-- Evelyn Underhill in “The Fruits of the Spirit”

#5551

GIVING CHRISTMAS FRUIT

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

This season of gift-giving provides an opportune time to imagine how we might share the fruit of the Spirit during these often hectic days, when both people and packages fill our lives.

• Love — We can sift every thought, word, and action through the filter of “Is it demonstrating the love of Christ?”

• Joy — We can be the source of smiles, laughter, and appreciation because of the joy of Christ in us.

• Peace — We can fill the atmosphere with our own sense of the peace Christ, a calm amid the chaos, so that it brings peace to others.

• Patience — We can be more tolerant when things go awry knowing Christ is that way with us.

• Kindness — We can shower others with affirmation, encouraging the flickering light of Christ to burn more brightly in their lives.

• Goodness — We can focus on the positives, rather than the faults, on what is good and acceptable as Christ did.

• Faithfulness — We can be true to the blessed meaning of the Christmas season -- Emmanuel, God with us.

• Gentleness — We can give our full attention to each person, one at a time, not omitting even the most outcast.

• Self-control — We can commit ourselves to no outbursts, no over-indulgences, only Christ-centered behavior.

We can’t give away what we don’t possess; our connection to the Spirit is vital. As the fruit of the Spirit is grown within us, we can bestow blessings on those around us out of the abundant crop.

-- Generously adapted from “Rhythms of Growth: 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul” by Linda Douty

#5497

DEPENDENT ON THE SPIRIT

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  (Galatians 5:22-23a NRSV)

We are responsible to clothe ourselves with Christlike character (Colossians 3:12), but we are dependent on God’s Spirit to produce within us His “fruit.” We cannot make one inch of progress in sanctification apart from the powerful working of the Spirit in us. And He does this, not because we have earned it with our commitment and discipline, but because of His grace. 

-- Jerry Bridges

#5293

LIFE’S PURPOSE

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)

This may be the best news you’ll hear all day: God has a wonderful purpose for your life!

Jesus described that purpose when He said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. This is My command: Love each other.”  (John 15:16-17)

God has chosen you to bear fruit. And that fruit is in your Holy Spirit-given character, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s simply the character of Jesus coming out through you. It’s your service as you lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, as you help them grow into maturity so they’ll also bear fruit.

Your life has eternal significance. Don’t miss out on God’s plans for your future. 

-- Anne Graham Lotz in “Fixing My Eyes on Jesus”

#5205

REMAINING IN CHRIST

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5 NLT)

The purpose of an apple tree is to bear apples. The purpose of a cherry tree is to bear cherries. The purpose of a grapevine is to bear grapes. Christians are also expected to bear fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23), and to win souls (John 15:16). Here, Jesus says He is the vine and believers are the branches. Thus, the secret to our bearing fruit is staying attached to the vine. Jesus’ point is that we are totally dependent upon Him. Just as we could not become God’s children through our own efforts but only through faith in Christ (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8) so, too, we cannot bear fruit by wishing and hoping for it or by working hard at it on our own. Instead, we must allow Christ to produce His fruit through us. The secret is in “remaining.”

We remain in Christ by communicating with Him, doing what He says, living by faith, and relating in love to the community of believers.

So stay close, be nourished, and bear fruit. 

-- Dave Veerman, quoted in “His Passion: Christ’s Journey to the Resurrection”

#5061

THE STORY OF OUR LIVES - Part 3 of 3

When we are passing through those awful chapters and difficult seasons [of life], we sometimes cannot see God or imagine how things will work out. But when we look back over our lives, in hindsight, we see how God moved the plot forward, enfolding it into the story of God’s redemption in our lives.

Here is what I know -- God can and will transform our pain, redeem our suffering, and lift us out of the darkest pits. Out of our dark moments, God writes a story of triumph. With God as our co-author, the dark times are never the end of the story…

Your story is not complete; the remaining chapters are yet to be written. God’s plan for your life is not yet set in stone; you have a chance to shape the story. As you do, this is God’s will: that you “lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10) 

-- Adam Hamilton in “Why? - Making Sense of God’s Will”

#5014

BEARING MUCH FRUIT

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:5, 8).

How is it possible for us sinful, finite creatures to glorify God? How can we -- with all our limitations -- add anything at all to the majesty and blessedness of the everlasting Creator? It seems so impossible. Almost incredible. Jesus assures us, however, that we can do so by “bearing much fruit.” It is through such spiritual productivity, He says, that we become His disciples. Maybe, then, we should make a distinction. Maybe there are Christians who never pass from mere belief into the category of discipleship. For only in proportion as, and to the degree that, we bear fruit that we are entitled to call ourselves disciples of Jesus.

What is the supreme purpose of human life? A Christ-like discipleship that glorifies God. And how do we become Christ-like disciples? By bearing fruit. No, by bearing ”much fruit”, by becoming maximally productive for the praise of our heavenly Father. We must bear much fruit, and that requires a close relationship with Jesus Christ. 

-- Adapted from Vernon Grounds in “Radical Commitment”

#4882

FINISHING STRONG

[The righteous] will still bear fruit in old age,” declares the psalmist, “they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm 92:14). I think of an older friend of mine, now in her eighties, who is still bearing fruit. She is limited in her physical mobility, but in her prayer life she ranges all over the globe, praying for Christian works and workers worldwide. She is not turning aside from God’s work, nor is she stagnating in her inner spiritual life. She will stay fruitful to the end because she will continue to serve God to the end.

None of us is ever finished “doing our share.” We can never repay the debt of love we owe to Christ. If we are running for the long haul we must determine to never to quit His service. If we want to run with endurance we must keep asking as long as we live, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Only in that way can we expect to stay faithful to the end and be greeted at the finish line by our Lord’s voice saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” 

-- Jerry Bridges in “Staying Faithful Through the Years: How Can You Keep Walking with God Throughout Your Life?” from “Discipleship Journal,” No. 58


#4438

THINKING LIKE A SERVANT

“The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world -- just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”  (Colossians 1:6b-8 NIV)

One of the prerequisites for being a servant of God is to think like a servant.  This would be fine if it wasn't so hard.  We are all naturally wired to think only of ourselves.

Learning to give preference to others is one of the true marks of a Christian because it is so contrary to human nature.  That's why desiring it comes from God, and doing it comes through the Holy Spirit…

Thinking like a servant doesn't automatically make you one, but it goes a long way toward getting you there.  If you are thinking like a servant, you are noticing others; and the more you are aware of others, the more the Holy Spirit can use you in reaching out to them.  All this increases the opportunity for the gospel; people are simply not used to being served...

Ask God to help you think like a servant today, and who knows?  Maybe you'll get a chance to be one.

-- John Fischer in THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN® LIFE Daily Devotional, September 2, 2004


#4232

BEARING GOD’S FRUIT

Holy God, Beloved Trinity, let me always be rooted in You so that I may live in You and You in me. Bless me so that Your grace may flow through me, allowing me to bear Your fruit to a hungry and helpless world. As I wander, prune me of all that inhibits Your growth in me. Let me do nothing apart from You so that Your joy me be complete in me. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

-- Vineyard Guild Prayer

#3936

PEOPLE OF JOY

The Apostle Paul reminds us that joy is at the center of the Christian's life. We are Easter people. Christ has defeated death. God has vanquished Satan. Easter has conquered Good Friday. That means we are people of joy. That is how Saint Paul, writing from a Roman prison, a difficult circumstance that would cause most people to lose hope, writes to the Christians in the church in Philippi, "REJOICE in the Lord always. I shall say it again: REJOICE!" (Philippians 4:4) Roman prisons were dark, dank places of death. Most prisoners died there. Yet, Paul found joy in his imprisonment.


In fact, in a letter from prison to the Philippians, rather than writing of his suffering and worries, Paul mentions his "joy in Christ" more than twelve times in just four chapters. That is worth hearing: Even in the most difficult times in your life, you can rely upon the deep, abiding joy that comes from Jesus Christ. The world and your circumstances may press in and seek to crush you, but a relationship with Jesus will grow a joy in you that cannot be squelched.


-- Allen R. Hunt in Nine Words




#3757

SPIRITUAL FRUITFULNESS

In all cases, fruitfulness refers to what results from what we've received, the change wrought within us and through us by the Holy Spirit, and the impact we have with our lives.  The quality of effect God has on our inner lives and the resulting outward impact we have on the lives of people around us -- these comprise spiritual fruitfulness.

When Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches," He reminds us that all our fruit derive from our relationship to God in Christ.  Our fruit is God's fruit.

The word fruit refers to the way plants reproduce.  Fruit contain seeds that multiply and create life apart from the original plant and yet related to it.  Through fruit, life passes along to another generation.  Fruit is new life.  Fruit is growth.  Fruit is future.

-- Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful Living


#3590

BEARING FRUIT

Jesus said, "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples." (John 15:8 NIV)

In all cases, fruitfulness refers to what results from what we've received, the change wrought within us and through us by the Holy Spirit, and the impact we have with our lives.  The quality of effect God has on our inner lives and the resulting outward impact we have on the lives of people around us--these comprise spiritual fruitfulness.

When Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches," He reminds us that all our fruit derive from our relationship to God in Christ.  Our fruit is God's fruit.

The word fruit refers to the way plants reproduce.  Fruit contain seeds that multiply and create life apart from the original plant and yet related to it.  Through fruit, life passes along to another generation.  Fruit is new life.  Fruit is growth.  Fruit is future.

-- Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful Living


#3408

TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

Through disciples following Jesus, God transforms the world.

If everyone thinks that nothing can be done, then nothing will be done.  In way mysterious beyond our comprehension, God multiplies our personal efforts, interweaves them with the work of others, and uses them to transform the world.  This is fruitful living.

-- Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful Living


#3310

THE FRUITFUL LIFE

The Christian life is a gift of God, an expression of God's grace in Christ, the result of an undeserved and unmerited offering of love toward us.  Every step of the journey toward Christ is preceded by, made possible by, and sustained by the perfecting grace of God.

However, becoming the person that God desires us to become is also the fruit of a persistent and deeply personal quest, an active desire to love God, to allow God's love to lead us.  The fruitful life is cultivated by placing ourselves in the most advantageous places to see, receive, learn, and understand the love that has been offered in Christ. 

-- Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful Living


#3236

APPRENTICESHIP TO A MASTER

Discipleship is apprenticeship to a master, so that one can learn the master's way of doing things…

We don't get there by pious aspirations, slavish copying of rules, well-polished public selves, or carefully guarded inner lives.  We get there by the messier, slower path of learning step by step and mistake by mistake how to love, cooperate, forgive, trust, work through harsh and dark emotions.  Part of the process of salvation, real soul healing and transformation, is in wrestling prayerfully with the rough places in our souls that resist Jesus' saving invitations…

Over time "fruit" is born -- a metaphor surely indicating the slowness of the process. 

-- Robert C. Morris in an article entitled "Enlightening Annoyances: Jesus' Teachings as a Spur to Spiritual Growth", in Weavings Journal, Sep/Oct 2001, published by The Upper Room, Nashville, TN.   Used with permission.


#3141