370. The Great Vinedresser

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2.

Every branch in “Me,” in Jesus Christ, in the body of Christ that does not bear fruit, He takes away. Who takes away the branch? The Vinedresser, the Father of Jesus Christ. From this we can see that the Father watches over the body of Christ, His members here on earth. It is not enough just to live a peaceful, quiet life. We must bear fruit. If not, we will be cut off. What does it mean to bear fruit? You must have the works of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23.

This is how a person can be kept holy and pure and bear fruit in the body of Christ. The vinedresser prunes the branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. How does that happen? A person is tried in diverse temptations and tribulations. See what the apostle Paul says about this:

“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” 1 Cor. 4:9-10.

Notice that it was in Christ that the apostles were fools for Christ; they were weak and dishonored.

In this way the great Vinedresser pruned His apostles, so they could bear more fruit. This is just what He is doing in His church today. Dishonor goes over all branches that bear fruit. In this way it is true what is written, “For over all the glory there will be a covering.”

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’” 1 Cor. 3:18-20.

Whether or not these thoughts are theological is of little importance. These thoughts are and always will be futile; they do not produce fruit or cleansing.

Then we come to the branches that do not bear fruit and are waiting their turn to be taken away. 1 Cor. 4, from verse 10.

They are wise in Christ. Take note of the “in Christ.” They know so much; they are enlightened and can quote lots of scriptures in order to refute and invalidate their opponents. The spiritual keep silent and appear utterly foolish and ignorant.

These unfruitful branches are strong. They boldly proclaim lots of opinions according to their knowledge. Their strength is great. They smile and enjoy themselves as they gratify their flesh. Not so with the spiritual. A spiritual person is weak, because he knows that in the next moment any apparent strength will evaporate before the power of God. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“You are distinguished, but we are dishonored.”

The outer man admires outward things, honoring those who are wise, strong, and knowledgeable in Christ. The outer man is considered distinguished by those he honors. The unfruitful branches were poor judges. They esteem false prophets above the apostles of Christ. 2 Cor. 11:13-14. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”

In the midst of such apostles, the branches could rapidly mature in a way that did not produce fruit. The great heavenly gardener keeps an eye on them and decides when they are to be amputated from the vine.

It is dangerous to stray from those servants God has placed in the church in order to perfectly prepare the saints. If the heavenly Gardener has given them the task of pruning a branch, that individual should endure the pruning. It is for his benefit, so he will be able to bear more fruit. Never regard such pruning instruments as fools in your eyes. You will suffer great loss if you do, for they have had to go through a cleansing in order to bear fruit.

Out of ten thousand teachers there are only a few fathers.