Filadelfia International Church Barcelona

‭John 15:1-2 NIV‬
[1]  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] 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.

Did you know that grapevines will take up to 3 years to produce grapes?

Pruning and removing all the sprouts that come from the ground around the grapevine is necessary so it can give good results in producing fruits because grapevines harbor a variety of pests and the development of flowers and fruits are mostly affected.

Though pruning is God’s way for a believer to become more fruitful, not everyone who experienced it understands the significance it holds because oftentimes it is a painful process.

And unlike the grapevines where it will only take 3 years to produce fruits, bearing spiritual fruits takes a lifetime process.

Galatians 5:22-23 says
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control.

Pest is the enemy of the grapevines which can affect them to make their fruits. In the same way, the pleasures and the worries of this world can affect the growth and the bearing of fruit for one believer.

There will be no spiritual fruit in continuous conformity to the worldly life. Only in connecting to the true vine, Jesus alone. 

And when there is no fruit? We have to remember that Jesus said his Father, the gardener, would cut off the branch.

Luke 10:41-42 says
[41]  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be
taken away from her.”

Our relationship with the Lord is not all doing but sitting, seeking, and staying with Him. 

This act of connecting to the Lord is essential in our daily lives and our ministry. So that in times when the Lord wants us to become more fruitful, we would understand and consider pruning as God’s love for us. It is essential to bear fruits that will last.

Blessed day!

D.B.