John 15:1 &2 “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[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.” [a The Greek for he prunes means he cleans] (NIV)
The process of pruning is vitally important in the lives of every true believer. The act of pruning means to remove what is necessary or unwanted. It encourages growth and productivity.
I never understood spiritual pruning until after I learned how to prune my houseplants. I could not understand why my plants were dying and someone, I do not remember who, told me that I needed to cut away the dead branches and leaves in order to promote growth. I was overjoyed when in a few days I saw little buds forming on the branches that were thriving.
God takes spiritual growth very seriously and it is necessary for Him to cut away those things in His children that hinders our growth. Cleansing must take place in order to bear Jesus’ fruit. We must be cleaned from the inside out. There are things deep inside of each of us, residue from our sinful lives. Deep and dark things which must come up and out.
Father does not take pleasure in the pain His children suffer during the pruning process, but I believe He takes pleasure in the much fruit bore by those who endure the process. Pruning is necessary throughout our walk with Christ and can be quite painful, so those playing church need not apply.
Verse two, states that the gardener (Father God) cuts off every branch in Jesus that bears no fruit. He’s not talking about unbelievers here; Jesus is referring to those who show up for church week after week for the wrong reasons. Those people with personal agendas in hand, expecting God to move according to them. Such people are incapable of bearing fruit for Jesus and will eventually be cut away. You are probably wondering how this cutting away takes place. I am not an expert on this, but I believe it is possible some may leave the church with their agendas unfulfilled; they may become church hoppers. Others may even turn their backs on God altogether.
Sometimes we get it twisted. We are not in control, Father God is. We do not have all power, He does. He has the power to remove all those who are not growing in the fruit of the spirit, those who are stagnant and stinky.
Those who waste time playing church and pretending they are super Christians are in for a rude reality check. Father can see you, and He knows what’s in your heart and soul, even if others cannot.
He knows those who memorize the bible just so they can throw scriptures in other’s face.
God does not care how many scriptures you can quote if you do not apply them to your own life and have fruit to feed those who need to taste and see that the Lord is good.
The fruit of Jesus (Holy Spirit) can be found in the fifth chapter of Galatians. A study of this chapter will itself prove to be fruitful.
The fruit Christians bear is not for the bearer, it is to feed those in need. An apple tree would look strange trying to eat the apples it bears wouldn’t it.
The fruit of the believers is meant to draw the lost to the vine. The vine is responsible for creating the fruit; the branches have the responsibility for bearing the fruit. Let us not just bear fruit, let us strive to please our Savior and bear much fruit.
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