PRUNING IS THE PITS...BUT NECESSARY

In the words of Paula Dean...Hey Yaaaa'll. In our last episode...we discovered the joys of BUD-NIPPING...AND THE FOX PATROL (sounds like a T.V. show like the Rat Patrol...or Swamp Fox). Whatever happened to that version of Christianity called GRACE, MERCY AND THE EASY LIFE? You know the one...the one where I turn from my sin...and from that point on it's EASY LIVING...until the Lord comes back and delivers us from the the world falling apart.

There is GRACE (unmerited favor, free gift, divine influence in the heart, manifested in the life). This is that wonderful work of God in us...from the inside out. It is nothing that we can do from the outside in. "He saved us NOT ON THE BASIS of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." But that's where the fun part starts. Until He comes back...not only is He working IN us....but He is working ON us. ENTER THE PRUNING.

Notice the character Dick Tracy known as PRUNEFACE. Do ya know why he is called PRUNEFACE. Because he is wrinkled up like a PRUNE. I had an eighth grade teacher named Mrs. Pittard. She was also prune-like. When her back was turned...I could get a laugh by singing..."Whose the creature from the Black Lagoon...Look out it's Pittard the Prune." The question is...what does prunes have to do with pruning? Well...actually nothing...unless you consider the work of the PRUNES from the inside out...as what was once clogged and blocked... would BE LOOSED!!!! The PURGING...by PRUNES...is not a pleasant experience...but in some cases...necessary...if you want to live life to the fullest...or would that be the emptiest. There may be some cramps...some creaking sounds...the release. I don't know about you...but there is nothing that feels so good...as when the PAIN STOPS. So it is with the rebuke, chastening, discipline of the Lord in our lives.

Another picture of the maturing process in the life of the believer is the ART OF PRUNING. As we said, tongue in cheek...PRUNING IS THE PITS...BUT NECESSARY...if you want to BEAR FRUIT.

RECOMMENDED READING: I would highly recommend the book SECRETS OF THE VINE. It is written by Bruce Wilkinson...who included this book in his Breakthrough Series...including THE PRAYER OF JABEZ and EXPERIENCING SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGHS. I first came into contact with Bruce Wilkinson back in 1976 when I went through a seminar called WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE. This was one of the foundational seminars in my Christian walk.

SECRETS OF THE VINE is a journey through John 15 as we find out why Jesus is the Vine of life and explore the four levels of FRUIT BEARING. One section is especially good as Bruce goes through the differences between DISCIPLINING versus PRUNING.

He covers: (1) How do you know it's happening (2) Why is it happening? (3) What is your level of fruitfulness (4) What is the Vinedressers desire? (5) What needs to go? (6) How should you feel? (7)What is the right response? (8) When does it stop? Some of the answers are the same...like the answer to the first question of "How do you know it's happening?" The answer to both discipline and pruning...PAIN. The Vinedressers desire is also the same...fruit and more fruit.


Even before you get the book SECRETS OF THE VINE...you can read the original SECRETS OF THE VINE for yourself by turning to The Gospel of John chapter 15:1-8.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

1. The true Vine= Jesus
2. The Vinedresser= The Father
3. The branches= You

CONNECTION BETWEEN THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

Keith Green sang that He is deVine...and we are deBranches. We (the branches) are called to ABIDE in the Jesus (the vine). The cause and effect and desired result it for the branches (us) to bear fruit. Fruit production is classified into: (1) NOT bearing fruit (2) bearing fruit (3) bearing MORE fruit
(4) bearing MUCH fruit

To go through the various stages of FRUIT BEARING...there may need to be A PRUNING. This is different from someone who is walking in disobedience and rebellion...who needs to be rebuked, chastened, disciplined. Jesus is teaching branches who ..."are ALREADY CLEAN because of the word I have spoken to you." (John 15:3) Read John 13 to see about them being cleansed by His words. These FRUIT BEARERS...are already BEARING FRUIT... but Jesus wants to take them to the next level of NOT bearing fruit...to bearing MUCH fruit. The bottom line is that APART FROM HIM...THE VINE...WE CAN DO NOTHING..NO THING...ZILCH...ZERO.. NADA...GOOSE EGG.

According to Mr. Wilkinson...many people talk about John 15:2 where it says..."Every branch in Me that DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT...He takes away." The phrase TAKES AWAY..is the airo which means TO TAKE UP...or LIFT UP. It means that sometimes...the fruit gets heavy...and falls down into the dust, dirt, mud...and the growth process is impeded....SO...the loving Vinedresser...takes away...take UP, lifts up...OUT OF THE MUD....binds up...and ties the branches closer to the VINE...so that it can continue to BEAR FRUIT...MORE FRUIT...AND MUCH FRUIT. It does not mean to TAKE AWAY and be done with that BRANCH.

The Vinedresser...then begins the CULTIVATION process...including pruning. This is where there is a cutting away...of the dead wood, pruning back in preparation for GROWTH. In the eyes of the uniformed...it looks like Edward Scissorhands gone WILD. It is like the Chainsaw Massacre on foliage. It's like me trimming my bushes...and Brenda coming out with a shocked look of unbelief...as what was to be a slight trim around the edges...ends up to be to a nub coming up out of the ground. Now I did not mean to do it....BUT...lo and behold...those bushes grew back thicker than ever...THANKS TO MY EXPERTISE AS A PRUNER.

Like discipline...pruning is a painful process...but it is momentary....with the outcome become stronger, more fruitful, with proven character in our lives. We will bear the fruit that will be crushed and made into a fine wine...that will be poured out on the altar of sacrifice.

Well...Okay Lord...a little of the top please.

Love and Prune Danish Kisses
Rodney "I Said A Little Off Of The Top...Not A Flat Top Lord" Boyd