.Pruning

Matthew 7: 15-20"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."

 The following is an expert from a book titled Purging your House, Pruning your Family Tree by Perry Stone. If you have time, it is soooo encouraging, and I know that you will enjoy reading it!

   Let's look at a simple process for pruning the tree. It is necessary to remove dead or fruitless branches from trees or vineyards. In a grape vineyard, the pruning process begins after the harvest and during the coldest months. It is done after the plants lose their foliage, which enables the vine dresser to see the branches needing removal from the vine. Trimming will stimulate growth prior to the spring.
   The grape vine is important in the Holy Land. Grapes are listed as one of the seven foods God promised to Israel (Deut. 8:8). The New Testament uses the analogy of the olive tree and the grafting process, comparing it to how a natural olive tree (Israel) received nourishment from the wild branches (Gentiles) that are grafted into the side of the natural tree. Christ called Himself the vine and said that we are the branches and must produce fruit. Any branch that is fruitless will be pruned from the vine so that the other branches will be fruitful (John 15:1-5).
   If you have witnessed God's blessing but presently see no answers to prayer, no results in your work, and feel rather cold in your spirit, you may be encountering a pruning process in which the Lord is dealing with your need to separate form certain habits, bad attitudes, and people. Once you are pruned, then strength will return to your vine. You will sense both mental and spiritual relief after you make the decision to separate from the things that are pulling you down!
    My wife once wrote an article for our magazine in which she shared a story related to her by her sister Shelia. Here is the original article:
       
                  Recently, my sister Shelia was a participant in a conference in California. During the conference there was an opportunity to tour a large, beautiful vineyard. It was what the tour director said that caught her undivided attention. It was a natural law that is parallel to a spiritual law in the Scriptures. She noticed that on some beautiful vines there were red tags marking certain branches.
     As the tour guide was explaining the details of a vineyard, he said, "I am sure many of you are wondering why some of the branches are marked with red tags." He then explained that these were the branches that were healthy, because they could produce leaves, but during the harvest time these branches did not produce fruit. They were marked while they had leaves on them, because once the leaves fell off, it would be impossible to tell which branches were good branches and which were fruitless branches.
     He stated that the branches with red rags would be severed from the vine. If these branches were not cut off, they would be detrimental to the entire vineyard. The branches that did not produce fruit would take the strength from the good vines, eventually killing the entire vine. The man said: "This branch is deceiving, because it looks like it is producing because of the leaves, but there is n fruit on it. The fruitless branch must be pruned, or it will sap the strength away from the other branches."

    Jesus taught us that He is the vine and we are the branches. If a branch does not produce fruit, it is cut off, or pruned, so that it will produce fruit.
     I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without  Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:5-6)
   Often it is a person's hidden sins or inner weights that will cut off the spiritual life that proceeds from God. Unforgiveness, strife, fear and doubt can actually shut off the blessings of the Lord from our lives. We must nip these carnal weaknesses in the bud. People tend to judge their own spirituality by the number of leaves they can count on their vine. However, it is fruit (of the Spirit) that the Lord is looking for in our lives, not just the show.
   The Bible says that we must "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor 7:1). Cleansing ourselves means we are to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us" (Heb 12:1). Instead of asking someone to pray for your personal problems or bad attitude, get out your clippers and start nipping away! We are told to lay aside the weight and to cleanse ourselves. Sometimes God is saying, "Throw the junk in your house in the trash, put filters on the Internet, and tell the cable man to take the X-rated channels off your tube." You choose how much fruit you want in your life. You choose what type of testimony will follow you. Prune off the dead branches so the living branches will grow and mature. The fruit that those whom you love will enjoy blossoming in your life will well be worth the effort!