Importance of Success
John 15:2

Eight ways to become more intimate with the Lord.

Let’s now look at eight points that are taken from these verses that will help us understand how God wants us to be close to Him. This is the third step.

#3: Important of Success

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away (‘lifts up’ is better translation); and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2).

Believers in Christ are the branches that are connected to Christ’s vine. The Vinedresser is very concerned with the productivity of His vine. He does everything to rightly care for it. There are two kinds of branches: nonproductive and productive.

(1) He gives special care to the branches not bearing fruit.

This describes the Christian not bearing fruit. Does God the vinedresser want every Christian to bear fruit? Most definitely.

Even in the Book of Numbers we see God’s great patience with His people. The means by which God ‘lifts’ these branches from the world are unique. But if you do not repent and turn back to the vine, God will need to use difficult means to restore you.

Jesus says, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.” This phrase ‘takes away’ is a poor translation that has conjured up wrong interpretations. Jesus is not saying that He will make the believer lose His salvation.

Literally the phrase ‘takes away’ means to ‘lift up.’ Grapevines grow fast and wild. The goal is to keep the grape vine up high so it can get sun and stay off the ground. When a grape branch hangs down upon the ground, it gets mud and disease rather than bear fruit. The goal is to lift the branch off the ground.

(2) He prunes the branches bearing fruit so that they can bear more fruit.

Jesus says, “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” God is not only discontent with those branches that are not productive, but even from the good branches bearing a minimum amount of fruit. The Father wants more from us. So what does He do? He prunes them.

Pruning is a drastic step in which God causes further growth in our lives through difficult situations in a Christian’s life. Through this hard action, the believer becomes even more successful. I like you no doubt can mention numerous difficult times in our lives where though tough there was an inner strengthening coming to our lives.

God wants to bless His people. He wants to bring more fruit from their lives. You might be content not to bear more fruit but God isn’t. The vinedresser is even willing to induce painful experiences that there might in the end be a net increase of blessings. We are not often thinking about eternity. But if we would weigh eternity into the equation, we would be much more quick to accept the temporary struggles for greater eternal results.

Do you see God’s purpose for difficult times? It might be because we are being lazy or on the other hand it might be because we are being faithful. In both cases, however, God is seeking to cause more fruit. It makes sense to work in cooperation with God rather than in opposition to Him.

=> Continue reading Step #4 to closer intimacy with the Lord: Success comes from abiding in Christ.

Other BFF Articles on pruning and success

A Word on Christian Suffering John 15:1-2
Jesus, however, also speaks about the process of pruning with pain here. ... In trying to prune, I cut off all the tiny little branches where the blossoms ...

Nehemiah 8:13-18 Reward of Obedience - Rebuilding Our Faith
Actually, I want you to know that pruning and cutting back in the fall is one of the best ... Obedience doesn't ask if we understand nature and pruning. ...

Book of Job: Job 42:10-17 Satisfaction with Life's Reward – A ...
We just need to remember that the righteous will be pruned so that they might bear ... God knows how to best implement the pruning of the righteous man. ...

Waiting On God Not Self ... The Godly Man Series
In this respect 'Waiting upon the Lord' is similar to pruning. FUNCTIONAL DEFINITION OF WAITING UPON GOD Waiting upon God is exercising ...

Joshua 1:6-9 Bible study questions on A Divine Formula for True Success. Learn much about true success and what true meditation is all about!

2 Samuel 23-24 - audio podcast - Handling Success and Failure, shows the importance of seeking success and avoiding failure. At the end of David's life ...

Biblical Foundations for Freedom ( BFF )

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell