“Ken, what kind of fertilizer did you put on your grape vines? Mine have two small pods of grapes and we planted them from the same cuttings at the same time. Yours are huge and more pods than I can count.” Being a novice at growing grape vines his answer surprised me. “Prune them until you think you have killed them.” Although reluctant, I followed his advice and the next year my vines produced an abundant crop of grapes. That experience gave me personal insight into Jesus’ teaching, every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit (Joh 15:2). Ken’s definition of pruning was a bit overstated however correct in principle. Without pruning, a vine produces an enormous amount of branches, but not the kind that bears fruit and takes the nourishment and moisture needed for the fruit bearing branches.
When Jesus gave the metaphor, I am the true vine; and My Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1) because vineyards were so common in Israel, His disciples were familiar with all aspects of producing grapes. Vines required two aspects of pruning. Frist, the vinedresser cut away all dead wood lessening the chance of insects and disease that could spread to the entire vine. Second, trimming back last year’s productive branches at the correct point allowed them to sprout additional branches thus producing more grapes.
We become branches the instant we receive Christ as our Savior. Then a lifelong process begins. The Father’s desires that believers progress from fruit to more fruit (v2) and finally to much fruit (vv. 5, 8). This happens through abiding in Christ because the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me (v4). I along with countless others have tried producing our own fruit by following rules of do’s and don’ts taught in certain discipleship books. I learned the difficult way the truth of Jesus’ words; apart from Me you can do nothing (v5). A vine will produce limited fruit without pruning; however, it will never yield more and much fruit. Increase in fruit bearing requires pruning, which happens during the winter or early spring, before new foliage emergences and new growth begins. I can imagine if the branches had feelings and a mouth they would yell, “Ha, that’s a good branch you are cutting. Stop! That hurts.” Pruning sometimes leaves us bewildered wondering why He is cutting away certain areas and can be painful.
Remember the vinedresser is the Father. He knows when to prune, what to prune and only cuts away what is necessary. Note the instrument for pruning, which readers can miss in English translations. He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (vv. 2, 3). The words, prunes and clean, are the exact same word in the original. Jesus tells His disciples they are already clean or pruned because of the word He has spoken. The Father uses the Word for pruning and cleansing us. This shows the importance of studying the Bible. Often the process requires more than a mere intellectual knowledge of the Word. God may put us in difficult situations or around unlovable people, or in a wilderness experience where we must apply the Word by faith. In other words, we must flesh out the written Word through our actions.
During times of pruning, the Lord cuts away ‘dead things’ in our life. He also trims the past productive areas in order that we will produce new buds and bring more and much fruit in the coming season. We must not rest in our previous accomplishments. Paul said he forgot what lies behind and reached forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13). God gave us a free will and when the Holy Spirit shows us areas that need pruning, we must allow Him to prune. We have all resisted releasing particular aspects of our life and especially those areas that have produced fruit. My first experience came when the Holy Spirit directed me to move on from a successful ministry in which I was involved. Difficult? Yes but I finally launched out not knowing where I was going. The next ministry produced far more fruit. ‘Dead things’ are not always sinful things that need pruning. It can consist of hobbies, people, activities, jobs, etc. that drain our nourishment and productivity. When our fruit is not increasing, we should ask God to show us why, study the Word, and then allow Him to work and prune us.
Sustaining Word for the Week: It may be painful, you may wonder why that area, but He knows when and what to prune so that in the next season, you will produce more and then much fruit.