Pruning is necessary

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

In this passage Yeshua is leading the Disciples to the garden.  On the way he is teaching them about their necessity to bear spiritual fruit. He doesn’t only command them to do something but he teaches how to do it and by example.  He compares The Father Almighty as the husbandman, Himself as the true vine and the believer as branches.  Yeshua describes the nature of two types of branches, one that bears fruit and one that does not bear fruit  and  how the Lord deals with both of them.  We must recognize that Yeshua  is taking about true believer, fruitful or unfruitful denote the fact that you can be a believer that is unfruitful but that unfruitful believer can be taken away but the fruitful believer will be purged that it brings forth more fruit.   

Yeshua makes spiritual concepts simple to understand by examining and comparing them to  natural occurrences in life.  He takes the labor of a farmer when tending to the health of his vines to teach us how to stay productive and have success in our relationship with him and in the world. YHWH gives favor to the faithful.  When a vine, plant, bush or tree has a branch that has no leaves or fruit on it, that is a sign that it is dead and useless taking up space and resources that can be used by healthy branches.  Sometimes it is clear why a branch dies, it gets broken or cut off from the source of nutrition, a rabbit bites into it and sometimes it’s not clear why.  It is connected to the rest of the plant just like the other branches but it is not yielding fruit.  The farmer knows when a branch is dormant and without life and judges according to his knowledge and wisdom when to cut it off.  Sometimes there are believers who are in Church(in the body)  but are not connected to the Church, backslidden, overcome with the cares of this life.  It is the true believer’s duty to try to revive that seemingly spiritual lifeless branch.  This is fruit that the true believer bears but if the person doesn’t revive then they are in the hands of the Lord.  There is only one lawgiver  and judge and that is YHWH,  The Lord makes salvation clear and plain, simple to understand and to live by.  The principles and commands of YHWH are simply done by believing and trusting in him because Yeshua  has provided all of the answers and carved out the pathway to Heaven and eternal life.

What is the motive behind your conversation and way of life.  Is it for the glory of YHWH or justification for oneself?   Do you speak from the well of knowledge and the Spirit or have you derived upon your judgments and conclusions based on carnal traditions and interpretations?  What are you trying to prove or achieve, your intellectual superiority,  your spirituality or are you walking in the will of YHWH?  The enemy will have you caught in a cycle and pride that won’t allow you to see and admit to your mistakes in judgment or a lack of understanding of life in Christ. Yeshua said to the Laodicean to examine themselves carefully, be absolutely sure that they are fervently adhering to the word of YHWH and yielding to the Spirit of the Lord continuously. If they would examine themselves they will find out their own flaws.  “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  (Revelation of John 3:16-19)”.   Paul spoke to the Corinthians in defense of his Apostleship and in reproof exhorts them to mark their own report card, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (II Corinthians 13:5)”.  There is only one lawgiver and one judge and that is YHWH but sin is never justified on condemned.  

Yeshua made it plain.  He says that “you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you”.  Cling to the Word of YHWH,  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)”.  When you believe the word you get to know him.  “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8a)”.  Yeshua says “abide in me”, live in him, breath him, through praise and worship, lean on him, acknowledge him in all your ways.  Then the Father will prune you to make you more fruitful.  He will remove the things that hinder your growth and success.  You will understand your flaws and shake them off.  He will take out those things that seem insurmountable.  He has already given you power, use it.  If you do these things he will give you more attention.  YHWH wants to see growth in you.  When the farmer sees progress in the field he is please.  The Lord watches over his word and his eyes is always on the fruitful believer willing to provide your every need.