Pruning in John Chapter 15
John 15:1-8 – Be pruned to bear fruit and more fruit
Pruning: I have a blueberry bush that is probably close to 30 years old. In the last few years it has not been producing much. So last year I gave it one more chance. I completely trimmed it down with the hopes that it would respond in a good way to the pruning. Remarkably, this year it is my best producing blueberry bush. It responded to the pruning and then started again to produce fruit.
Are you bearing fruit? If not, you will eventually be cut off and thrown in the fire.
Do you want to bear more fruit?
Are you willing to let the Lord prune you?
The Father can prune us individually through study of the Word (2 Corinthians 13:5).
We can be pruned through our brethren helping us through exhortation and rebuke (Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20).
Our trials can prune us to help us mature and be better and better (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4).
John 15:9-17 – Love is the driving force; to be a friend of Jesus
If we want to abide in Him we will love Him, keep His commandments, and trust they are for our good (1 John 5:1-4).
This results in love for God, love for each other, and love for our fellow man (Mark 12:28-34).
Even Jesus let the Father prune him
As a child (Luke 2:51-52).
As an adult (Hebrews 5:5-10).
When we allow God to prune us and we love Him as we should, we should expect trials. Look at what He warns his disciples will happen in John 15:18 through 16:3. These are high expectations indeed.
Jesus expects you and I to be willing to give our life for our brethren (John 15:13-14).
That is what He did for us and we are to have the same mindset (Philippians 2:5-8).
Conclusion – What do we learn from all this?
Either we are a branch in the vine or not. There is no in between.
If we are a branch in the vine we need to abide in the truth and allow God to prune us to make us better and better for Him.
If we are a branch in the vine and not bearing fruit, we need to repent and start bearing fruit.
If we are bearing fruit, we need to let God, the vinedresser, prune us so we can bear more fruit!
If we are not a branch in the vine, we will never bear fruit and never be pleasing to the Lord.
If you need to get in the vine of God today, we are here ready to encourage and assist you. Repent of your sins and be baptized for the remission of those sins, then you can be a branch of the Lord, the true vine.
If you need to be pruned and start bearing fruit or you need to bear more fruit, we are here to encourage you and pray for you.
We invite all in our audience to our Bible studies on Wednesday at 7pm and Sunday morning at 9am. We would love to study God’s together with you! Please check the scriptures we have covered tonight. We want to help you in any way we can. Contact us for Bible studies by telephone, e-mail, or simply come to one of our assemblies. Contact: We assemble at 8000 River Drive in Oak Ridge at 9am on Sundays and 7pm on Wednesdays; oakridgechurch.com; david.barry@oakridgechurch.com, murray.wade@oakridgechurch.com; (865) 693-1416.
Our next live program is planned for October 5, 2026 when we plan to study “The Perfect Law of Liberty” and we hope to see you next time on "Speaking the Truth in Love".