BRANCH PRUNING

Recently in the night I received this word: Branch Pruning is to bear fruit and the John 15 text says the Father does the pruning. “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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

Bearing fruit by pruning and caring for branches is presented here as mandatory and typically I think the application is the pruning matures us to be better prepared to share Christ with others by being able to bear fruit more suitably.

But this thought came to me: pruning branches to bear fruit and to be more fruitful is first personal. It is allowing the Father to prune away from our own hearts, anger, resentment, bitterness, being judgmental, racism, unbelief, selfishness, heretical teaching, selfishness, stinginess, pride, etc. The more these things are pruned away the more fruitful we become. Jesus continues by saying that “clinging to the Vine (Himself)” is our first step in right vine-life.

“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus