Pruning is a slow process with selective cuts. There are multiple reasons for pruning, but each is for the betterment and good growth by allowing light to reach the interior of the tree. You don't prune just to prune, there has to be a reason that you cut things away. No two trees grow alike. When pruning, you need to understand WHY you are pruning and HOW to prune each tree.
Our Heavenly Father understands these things. When He begins to remove things from our lives there is always a reason, and even though it may seem like it's a bad thing it is actually always for our good.
Ephesians 4:15-16- But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The first reason to prune is to create or maintain the shape of a plant. This is a slow process. Generally a cut is made and then you would step back and evaluate the tree. Is it growing in the way that you want it to?
I Corinthians 15:49- And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Romans 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Pruning should be done from a young age, not as a problem-solving dilemma when it’s too late. Pruning is really the best preventive maintenance a young plant can receive. It is critical for young trees to be trained to encourage them to develop a strong structure.
God is shaping you into the image of His Son. You've been adopted into His family, but you weren't automatically changed into His image. That will take time.
Pruning is also often done to assist a plant in recovery from storm damage. When Hurricane Ida passed through Louisiana, they had to prune a lot of branches from the old Oak Trees on Oak Alley Plantation. The plants won't grow properly if you don't remove the portions affected by root injury, wind or mechanical damage.
Hebrews 12:10- For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
I Corinthians 5:6-7a- Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.
Sometimes the Lord removes certain people from our lives because they have done damage to our Christian walk. If these people were left in our lives we could eventually become unprofitable. We would still go to heaven when we died, but we would be of no earthly value to the Lord's family.
Severe disease and insect infestations can be another reason to prune. If you have tried all the other control methods and can’t get it under control, reducing the size of the plant can help in controlling a persistent pest. Thinning a shrub can increase air flow; good air flow will reduce disease and insect issues. Thinning a plant will also make controlling these pest issues easier.
Pruning can also remove safety hazards. Limbs that reach out over your house can fall during a storm causing damage to homes. Those that grow into power lines create a fire hazard to all around them. Even roots can grow through pipes in the ground or underneath sidewalks ruining the pathway.
II Peter 2:1- But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Romans 16:17- Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
If God left those who would lead others astray in the church, there would be so many young, naive christians who would be deceived. These must be pruned out so that the weaker, younger christians can grow properly.
THe more air and light a plant gets the stronger it will grow. The more prayer, sound doctrine, and guidance by the Holy Spirit a Christian gets the more mature and profitable they will grow!
Pruning can encourage new growth, which creates another good reason to prune. That may sound severe, but sometimes they need to be cut back further than usually recommended to remove dead or dying branches. If the roots are healthy, new shoots should emerge and can develop. If the roots aren’t healthy, the plant may not recover. Sometimes, these drastic measures are worth it to try to recover a plant. Sometimes not; that choice is God's to make.
I Timothy 1:18-19- This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
There are both blessings and curses associated with older christians. An older christian that is sound in the faith and humbly walking with the Lord can be a great asset to the church; on the other hand, there are many young christians that have been rendered useless or destroyed by a stubborn, arrogant older christian who is set in His ways and not yielded to the Lord.
Careful pruning of both trees and brambles will encourage blooming and therefore, fruiting. When you remove the branches that suck the life from the plant, your tree can dedicate more resources to other parts of the plant that may be competing for the resources which your plant needs to produce fruit. Allowing more room for sunlight can provide the energy required to bear more fruit, and decreasing the weight of the branches can reduce the possibility of them breaking under the burden of the fruit.
John 15:2,8- Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Christ wants us to grow. Not just by transforming us into the image of His Son, but also by us winning the lost- spreading the seeds of the gospel so new christians can take root and grow!
Trees can be plagued by suckers. Suckers need to be removed before they get big enough to start diverting energy from the growth of the main trunk. If there are christians in the church who do nothing but suck the life out then that church cannot use its resources to help the ones who need it, the ones who are trying to grow and mature and reach others. So sometimes, God cuts them out.
II Peter 2:1-3- But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
There are those who would suck the very heart and soul out of christians. They make merchandise of them taking what they can and giving nothing in return. God wants them removed before they can do irreparable damage!
Sometimes the pruning is needed to remove branches that rub together. Rubbing branches cause friction and can impede the growth of other branches. When one branch rests against another branch, they may rub in the wind, possibly causing damage to one or both branches in the process. If a rubbing tree branch causes a deep wound, one or both of the branches could be lost.
II timothy 2:24-26- And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Galatians 5:15- But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Christians are human. They have likes and dislikes. Sometimes they rub each other the wrong way and this creates strife and division. God chooses who should stay and who should move on. Sometimes both are pruned out for the good of the whole congregation. If God is the one doing the pruning you shouldn't worry, for He knows what is best for the church!
Pruning is not something to be taken lightly. It's a wound created on the tree and it needs time to heal. When you see that God has pruned some church congregation you should not be critical of WHY or HOW it happened. God may have had a reason for it. You should allow the Great Physician the time that is needed to heal the wound that He allowed.
I Timothy 4:6,16- If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
