West Cocoa Chat

For the past few Wednesday nights we've been watching a video series produced by Bruce Wilkinson based on his book, "Secrets of the Vine." His book is based on the following passages from John 15:

15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes 139 it, that it may bear more fruit.15:3 (emphasis mine) "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.15:6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.15:8 "By this is My Father glorified, that 140 you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."

Discipline or Pruning?

Dr. Wilkinson states that there are 4 baskets being described here. They are baskets with:
1. No fruit
2. Some fruit
3. More fruit
4. Overflowing and abundant fruit

The “fruit” being described here are “good works.” Last night’s lesson was on going from basket #2 (some fruit) to basket #3(more fruit). If you’re in “basket (no fruit) #1,” God disciplines us (Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;) by “weeding” and “scourging us.” It isn’t very pleasant but it is a sign of God’s activity in our life. Just as with weeds in a vineyard that must be pulled, sin that is preventing us from bearing fruit for the Kingdom must be “pulled” from our lives.

Then there is the “pruning” that goes on when God needs us to move from basket #2 (some fruit) to basket #3(more fruit). Dr. Wilkinson stated that for fruit to be more abundant and to taste good, the “Vinedresser” must prune some of the branches from the vine. If he doesn’t, the sap that makes the fruit sweet will be too spread out to make the fruit sweet. He knows that some branches must be taken away to insure that the remaining branches with their fruit will bear good fruit.

So if you buy this what are the implications? Here are some:
1. The pain you feel from God’s discipline when we are in sin and God’s pruning when He wants us to bear even more fruit can be essentially the same.
2. When you are going through this time and you’re not sure which is which, ask God to reveal any sin that you’ve done within a week. More than likely you’ll receive a call, email, or a visit from a brother who will reveal the sin if God is disciplining you.
3. If nothing happens after you’ve been praying for a week, smile! That’s right, smile for it means that God is pruning you in the hope that you bear even more fruit (good works) for the Kingdom.

I believe this lesson is applicable for churches as well. Perhaps when things are being removed (people, staff, programs) and a church and, or it’s leadership experience pain from these deletions, perhaps God is preparing that church for a time of bearing even more fruit.

Something to think about family.