Date: April 22, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The key phrase for April is “Is Your Life and Walk Bearing Fruit?”

It is currently the season for pruning.  The spirit of the Lord says, love, protect, provide, listen, and prune sin out of our hearts. Pruning can be done effectively or ineffectively. Two types of branches must be removed from our lives. The first is a branch that is growing in the wrong direction. These branches can rub against other branches, cause disease (sin), and block sunlight (Jesus Christ), which is needed for the flower buds (new converts) to form. The second type of branch that needs pruning is sprouting beneath the graft. These branches are dangerous to the life of the tree. They will draw all the strength and energy from the tree into themselves, ultimately causing the tree to die. This pruning occurs when our fruit-bearing is self-edifying. Examples of self-edification include, “Oh, I know I can preach,” and “Oh, I know how to stir up the people” (John 15:1-8).

God prunes our lives in different ways. The first way is by trimming branches going in the wrong direction, and the second is by pruning the branches that sprout out of our flesh. This pruning is not done to hurt or punish us but is a sign that the Father loves us. Pruning is a natural part of life, even when we are doing things right. Therefore, we are pruned whether we do something or not; this is how God grows His fruit in us. God prunes us through His Word. He shows us where we have missed the mark so that we can begin to live to please Him. His Word gives us the power to live and walk a life that produces good fruit. He removes our guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1) and cuts away the habits that bind us (1 Peter 2:11). God prunes away the old to invigorate, freshen, revive, and renew our lives (Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 40:31). He also removes the things that hurt us. Therefore, by beholding His Word, we are pruned, groomed, corrected, and encouraged to be like Him.

Lastly, our relationships with others are used to prune us. God introduces people from different walks of life to ensure we produce the right fruit. God created us all and put us together like a big fruit salad. He observes how we interact with each other to see if actual fruit is produced or exposes the lack. Hence, when we experience this type of pruning, we can take it as a sign that God cares for us and is taking an active role in our daily walk and growth. 

Remember, “…With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop