This is One Way: From Barrenness to Breakthrough

God has been pruning His people to prepare them for prosperity—but they must steward it well by putting God first and not falling in love with money.

PRUNING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROSPERITY
From Barrenness to Breakthrough
Series: This Is One Way | One Way Church

So today, I'm going to teach you:

1 - The Season of Pruning – What God Has Been Cutting Away
2 - The Purpose of Pruning – To Bear MORE Fruit
3 - The Promise After Pruning – Prosperity, Provision, and Peace
4 - The Warning in Prosperity – Don't Fall in Love with Money
5 - The Stewardship of Prosperity – Put God First, Always

And then, I'm going to pray over every person in this room for financial breakthrough and supernatural provision.

KEY SCRIPTURE

John 15:1-2 (ESV)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

1. THE SEASON OF PRUNING – What God Has Been Cutting Away
Key Truth:
Pruning is not punishment—it's preparation for promotion.

The Vinedresser's Sacrifice:
Ancient vinedressers would cut off every bloom in the first year after planting a grapevine. Why? Because if the vine bears fruit too early, it will exhaust itself. The roots aren't deep enough yet. The fruit would kill the vine.

God has been cutting away:
Opportunities that looked good but would have exhausted you
Relationships that felt right but would have weakened you
Income streams that seemed promising but would have distracted you
This wasn't punishment. It was protection.

REMEMBER THIS:
"Pruning is not punishment—it's preparation for promotion."
"The depth of your pruning determines the abundance of your fruit."

2. THE PURPOSE OF PRUNING – To Bear MORE Fruit

Psalm 1:3 (ESV)
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Key Breakdown:
"Planted by streams of water" – You're strategically positioned by God's supply
"Yields fruit in its season" – Not early. Not late. In the appointed time.
"In all that he does, he prospers" – Holistic prosperity (spiritual, relational, financial)
Your season is shifting.

REMEMBER THIS:
"God didn't prune you to leave you bare—He pruned you to make room for abundance."
"Your fruitfulness is tied to your rootedness."

3. THE PROMISE AFTER PRUNING – Prosperity, Provision, Peace

Abraham at Moriah (Genesis 22:14):
God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeyed. At the last moment, God provided a ram. Abraham named the place Jehovah-Jireh: "The Lord will provide."

Key Principle:
When you're willing to release what God has given you, God releases what He's been holding for you.

RECEIVE THIS:
"God is about to release provision you didn't work for, favor you didn't earn, and blessing you didn't deserve."
"The same God who sustained you in the pruning will multiply you in the prospering."

4. THE WARNING IN PROSPERITY – Don't Fall in Love with Money

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

What is Mammon?
Mammon is not just currency—it's a demonic spirit that seeks to replace God as your source, control your decisions, and corrupt your heart.

King Uzziah's Story (2 Chronicles 26):
God blessed him with success
He became powerful
His pride led to his downfall
He forgot who the source was
Uzziah's downfall wasn't caused by his failure—it was caused by his success.

The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-23):
Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Him
He walked away sad because he loved his wealth more than Jesus
Whatever you can't release owns you

REMEMBER THIS:
"The moment you love money more than God, you've lost both."
"Mammon wants to replace God as your source—don't let it."

Make a decision NOW, before the blessing comes:
I will tithe, no matter how much God blesses me
I will be generous, no matter how much I have
I will stay humble, no matter how high God promotes me
I will worship God, not money

5. THE STEWARDSHIP OF PROSPERITY – Put God First, Always

Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."

Key Principle:
When you honor God FIRST—even when it doesn't make sense—He multiplies what's left.

The Tithe = Obedience, Not Generosity
Malachi 3:8 – "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me... In your tithes and contributions."

The tithe belongs to God. It's not yours to give—it's His.
Generosity starts AFTER the tithe.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."