Father and Fruitfulness

I have been in John 14-16 for the last few months, with a focus on John 15 where Holy Spirit has been highlighting some fresh revelation.  I love the flowing vine picture of John 15 it sounds poetic but there is also deep meaning for us in this season of life.  I was particularly struck by Father being the Vinedresser, in light of a recent revelation that when Jesus pronounced God as "Our Father" that God took personal responsibility to Father us for the rest of eternity.  Father being the Vinedresser also struck me in light of Genesis 1:28 where God blesses Adam and Eve saying, "Be fruitful and multiply,..."  We were created to be fruitful and here Father steps in to guarantee our fruitfulness by being the Vinedresser that prunes us as we grow.

A vine that is unpruned will grow leaves first, then fruit, and then eventually wood.  When it gets to the point of growing wood it will put all it's sap and energy into growing wood choking off sap to the fruit.  The wood actually is dead but the vine will put all it's sap (life) into something that is dead without having the Vinedresser prune it.  When the Vinedresser goes to prune the vine, He will prune off 80-90% of the last year's growth all the way to the base of the vine.  This actually ensures that you will get the best quality fruit.  Thus the Vinedresser maintains a tension between fruitfulness and expansion.

Moving into the realm of our lives, we are the branches on the vine and Jesus is the vine.  It is the Vinedresser who prunes the branches on the vine for maximum fruitfulness.  Even pruning us back where there has been growth, so that we will bear the best fruit.  As Bill Johnson once said, "God rewards all growth with pruning."

What is God trimming in our lives so we can bear the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives?  I have found He is trimming off beliefs (lies or traditions of men), thoughts, attitudes, and perspectives that fuel the way I live but are no longer bearing fruit or never did.  We cannot be transformed without the renewing of the mind.  Holy Spirit spoke to me this last week saying, "you can't think like an orphan and live like a son."  Father will use His Word, reaping bad fruit, other people in our lives, or the Holy Spirit speaking to us directly to prune us.  Remember you are being pruned for greater fruitfulness.

Greater Fruitfulness,
Bret