RJ - When The Worst Thing Becomes The Best Thing

Thank & honour Ps Mel

Theme - GROWTH

Often the (perceived)worst thing, becomes the best thing!

Church burning down - new growth from it

Healings, creativity, growth

John 15:1–8 NKJV

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Jesus paints a picture of a vineyard, with Him as the vine and us as the branches.

Focus in on verse 2

John 15:2 NKJV

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

1. Understanding the Vine and Branches Relationship:

Jesus is speaking to Christians - you and I

The premise of this scripture is that fruit is born on the basis that we are connected to the vine, Jesus

Just like branches need the vine to thrive, we need Jesus at the centre of our lives. He’s not just a distant figure; He’s the source of our strength, growth, and purpose.

When we understand the relationship we have with Jesus - we better understand the purpose behind God’s pruning

2. Embracing the Pruning Process:

Picture of the vine dresser

Great care & intimacy

A privilege - means we are His & bearing fruit

1940Many trials are not sent for chastisements at all, but as preparations for higher usefulness. “Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth,” evidently not because of any offense in the branch, but because the branch is good and does bear fruit! Therefore, it is allowed the special privilege of the pruning knife that it may bring forth more fruit.—23.424

Charles Spurgeon

Bonsai Trees

Purposeful God - with a purposeful plan

Speaks a lot about the identity God Gives us when we’re in Christ

Identifying Dead or Diseased Wood: The vinedresser begins by inspecting each vine carefully, identifying any dead, diseased, or damaged wood. These parts of the vine are not contributing to growth and can even harm the overall health of the plant if left unchecked.

Removing Unnecessary Growth: Next, the vinedresser removes any excess or unnecessary growth, such as shoots that are overcrowding the vine or growing in undesirable directions. This helps to maintain airflow and sunlight penetration within the vine canopy, reducing the risk of disease and promoting even ripening of the grapes.

Selecting Fruitful Canes: The vinedresser selects the most fruitful canes, those that have the potential to produce high-quality grapes in the upcoming growing season. These canes are typically young and vigorous, with well-spaced buds along their length.

Pruning Back: Using sharp pruning shears, the vinedresser carefully prunes back the selected canes to a specified number of buds. The number of buds left on each cane depends on various factors, including the vine’s age, variety, and desired yield. Pruning back to fewer buds encourages the vine to focus its energy on producing fewer, but higher-quality, grape clusters.

Training and Shaping: As the vinedresser prunes, they also shape the vine by training it along trellises or support systems. This helps to maximise sunlight exposure and airflow while ensuring that the vine grows in a balanced and orderly manner.

Timing: Pruning is typically performed during the dormant season, usually in late winter or early spring before the vines begin to bud. This timing allows the vine to heal quickly and minimise the risk of disease or infection.

Let’s face it—pruning isn’t fun.

It involves letting go of things that might be comfortable but aren’t helping us grow.

It could be habits, relationships, or mindsets that hold us back.

It can be seasons that need to end

Sometimes pruning hurts - but its for our benefit

Sometimes something has to die for something to grow

It’s painful to lose something that you think is good, but has to go for the better thing to come

Sometimes you have to sacrifice the thing your holding on to, to see the new

God’s pruning isn’t punishment; it’s preparation.

Although even in correction God loves us and does so for our benefit

Hebrews 12:10–11 NLT

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

He’s shaping us into the people He created us to be, and that sometimes means cutting away what’s not working.

SO DON’T OVER REACT!

Have you ever had a bad haircut …you’re devastated because you think it’s the end of your life..like you’re going to have to wear a paper bag over your head for the rest of your life…

Your hair will grow back!

Fire through the trees - new growth comes

Don’t fight God when he starts to prune

Don’t let the enemy lie to you or take you to a place where you overreact

Don’t overreact - trust God

THE WORST THING CAN BECOME THE BEST THING!

3. Pruning & Trust Go Hand in Hand:

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

It’s easy to panic when life throws curveballs our way.

God’s got a plan, and it’s a good one.

Story of Job—through all his trials, God was at work, and in the end, Job’s life was richer for it.

Let’s trust that God knows what He’s doing, even when we can’t see the big picture.

Practical Application

So, how do we respond to God’s pruning? Here are some practical steps:

Stay Connected to Jesus: Make time for prayer, reading the Bible, and spending time with other believers. The more we stay connected to Jesus, the more we’ll grow.

OUR THREE QUESTIONS:

WHAT ARE YOPU READING

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO YOU THROUGH YOUR READING

WHAT ARE THE GOOD THINGS GOD IS DOING?

2. Embrace Change: When God starts pruning, it’s easy to resist. But instead of fighting it, let’s embrace it. Trust that God’s pruning is bringing something new!

3. Keep the Faith: Even when life gets tough, hold on to your faith. Remember, God’s pruning leads to greater fruitfulness in the end.