Pruning Season Part 1
Luke 5:1-3
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Luke 5:4-6
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Before we can be sent out into the masses, we must go through a pruning season. It will require us to cut things off and during this season he will shape our lives.
Isaiah 18:4-5
4 This is what the Lord says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” 5 For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches.
John 15:1-4
15 “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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.
The Pruning
- Trim by cutting away dead or overgrown branches to increase fruitfulness and growth
The Pruning Process does 4 main things
Trims the Overgrown-If growth is not monitored or checked, the spirit of Satan will enter in.
Cuts away the Dead-These are the things in our lives that needs to be cut that are obvious to us.
Provides a Godly Shape-You become in tune with the holy spirit and obey God.
Prevents Diseases- It eliminates the chances for diseases to enter and destroy the vines.
Will you allow yourself to be pruned?
This season will require sacrifice and will require us to give up somethings. This season will also be beneficial for future spiritual growth and growth in general. If we are not careful, we can get comfortable in the overgrown period and bear no fruit.
The Nazarite Consecrate
Numbers 6:1-5 (NIV)
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. 5 “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over…
Numbers 6:13&21 (NIV)
13 “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord:…
21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”
The purpose of the Nazarite vow was to raise up a group of leaders devoted completely to God, and God wants to raise us up. He wants our devoted time and for us to draw closer to him. If God is tugging on your heart to go to that next level us this time to sit at his feet while not partaking in these things below or anything you feel that is a distraction in your walk with God. Allow this time from now until May to just be your season of growth in the Lord. He wants to use you for so much more but its time to go through this pruning process.
- Abstain from Alcohol
- Run from Impurity
(Sex, Masturbation, Cursing, Pushing Boundaries, Porn, Gossip)
- Turn away from Drugs & Smoking
- Pause on the Pursuit of new Relationships