Celebration CA '15: The Place of Pruning in Our Progress
Scripture References: John 15:1-8 (Main); Hebrews 12:6; Philippians 3; Acts 1:8
Intro: This sermon by guest speaker Tom Shaw explores Jesus' teaching on the vine and branches in John 15, focusing on God's desire for our lives to be abundantly fruitful for His glory (v. 8). While we rightly desire and celebrate fruitfulness, Jesus reveals a crucial, often counter-intuitive principle: the path to bearing more fruit involves divine pruning.
Key Points:
- God's Goal: Much Fruit (v. 8): The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit. This affirms our God-given desire for significance and impact. We should celebrate the fruit God is already producing.
- The Pruning Principle (v. 2): Jesus states clearly: "Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." Pruning isn't punishment for fruitlessness, but preparation for greater fruitfulness.
- Understanding Pruning: This divine "cutting back" often feels like being weakened, limited, or "brought low" (cf. Heb 12:6). It contradicts the cultural lie that life should be linear, constant upward growth.
- Why Pruning? Sometimes it addresses sin, but often it's God's wisdom strengthening a branch to handle greater future fruit, or shifting focus from local comfort to global mission (Acts 1:8).
- Reframing Failure: Seasons of pruning are not signs of failure but potentially God's pathway to promotion and deeper maturity.
- Our Response: Abiding (v. 4-5): When experiencing pruning, Jesus' command is clear: "Abide in Me." Abiding means intentionally remaining connected to Christ, the True Vine.
- Not Striving: The instinct when fruit diminishes is often panic and increased activity. Jesus calls us instead to deepen our connection to Him.
- Internal Focus: Abiding prioritizes the unseen inner life over measurable external results. It gives permission to be outwardly "unproductive" while God works internally.
- Identity Check: Abiding combats addiction to the fruit (results, success, approval) and reaffirms our identity is rooted solely in relationship with the Father. Like Sabbath, it declares dependence on Him, not our own efforts.
Conclusion: God desires maximum fruitfulness in us for His glory. His method includes necessary seasons of pruning to strengthen us and refocus our dependence. Our vital response during pruning isn't frantic activity, but intentional abiding—staying deeply connected to Jesus, trusting His work, and allowing Him to prepare us for even greater fruitfulness to come.
Call to Action: Recognize the divine pattern: fruitfulness invites pruning, which requires abiding, leading to more fruit. If you feel pruned, view it not as failure but as God's loving preparation. Resist the urge to strive; instead, prioritize abiding—deepen your connection with Jesus through His Word, prayer, and rest. Trust the Vinedresser's wisdom.
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