Faith and Fruitfulness

It's been about a week since I've been consistent with my devotional times.  I've been pretty ill.  Today is the first "normal" day we've had in a while.  So, for this morning, I decided I needed a devo that would really get me going.  When I'm feeling really inspired, I have been trying to make my own studies...pick a word, pull out Vines, Webster, Strong and my Bible and go to town.  When I need something topical and a little practical, I go for Joyce.  When I want something specific and historic, I'll pull up Pastor George.  But when I need a punch and some real thought provoking sentences, there is none other than Furtick.  That's who I'm going with today. 

I'm catching up on his current series, "Power of the Same".... I'm on the 3rd part.  He's talking about John 15:1-2 where Jesus makes the connection between faith and fruitfulness. 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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."

Steven is really focusing on the talking about the difference between being pruned and cut off.  Between cut back and cut off.  There are times in your life when you know you are doing the right things, but you are not seeing any fruit.  The thing is, Jesus said the branches that bear NO fruit are cut off... but even the ones that DO bear fruit are pruned.  For a while, even fruitful branches will have no fruit on them. 

You're snipped if you do, and snipped if you don't!

But what He is saying is that in those times, even though you don't feel like you're experiencing fruitfulness - even though you're life has cut you and you feel hurt, frustrated and let down - if you are planted in the right soil, there will always be fruit to come.  It's not being cut off (which is how not being fruitful feels), it's being cut back.  It means God is working in you.  Preparing you.  Making you stronger.  Pruning you.

If it's cut back, it means it's coming back! 

"...pressed down, shaken together, and running over - it will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)

Life may make the cut, but God is holding the scissors. No matter how live cuts you, it's your Father that controls your destiny.

Habukkuk 3:17   Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!! 

Last thought...

If we can learn how to remain in Christ while we are being pruned, we will grow.  If we can learn how to praise while we are still hurt...if we can learn to be thankful while we are in tears, we will prosper! 

John 15:4-7,9  Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you....As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.

God wants you to know, He will make it worth your while.  He will make it worth the pain.  Worth the sacrifice.  Worth the expense. 

I just really loved this message.