Spiritual Pruning:

Growing Godly Character

A Metaphor for Character Development

Jesus used two primary metaphors to describe what it meant to be his disciple. He talked about believers as sheep in his flock and as branches attached to him the grapevine. In one of his final lessons to his disciples, he described the importance for his followers to produce fruit that gloifies his heavenly Father. Godly character developing in a believers reflects God’s glory (Gal 5. 22-23; 2 Pet 1:5-9). In other words, Christians will experience supernatural character change to be more like Jesus and that glorifies the Father (Jn 15: 8). Let’s follow in Jesus’s footsteps by using this agricultural illustration to understand supernatural character change described as pruning.

Ancient Israelites pruned olive and grapevines to keep them strong and healthy. The stock was initially pruned down to one or two feet tall allowing the central trunk to support many branches. So the trunk itself is first pruned and eventually so are the branches. Anyone having trimmed or pruned bushes around their home knows a freshly trimmed vine doesn’t look nice. Yet over time it becomes fuller and greener. Pruning is necessary for shrubs to remain healthy. Pruning encourages growth and increases fruit production.

Pruning takes on two forms. And in Jesus’s metaphor of the vine and branches two types of cutting are described. Dead branches are cut away and discarded (vs. 2). The Greek word used is “airei”. It’s a very strong word used to describe removal by force, even killing. Jesus used the word to describe being destroyed by fire. Paul used the word to describe the urgency of removing an unrepentant person who remains sexually immoral from Christian fellowship (1 Cor 5:2).

The second form of pruning is a cutting away of good stock to keep branch production of fruit at a higher level. Both dead branches and living branches experience cutting. Here we understand what Jesus taught about pruning a person’s character. Cutting is painful but necessary for the believer to remain healthy. The dead branches are taken away because they are no longer organically or vitally connected to the vine (Tim Keller’s distinction). The living branches are pruned to keep them vital and fruit producing.

I grow rose bushes and learned early on to practice both kinds of cutting. If the dead branches are not cut off, fungus will grow and attack the plant eventually rotting and killing it. If more beautiful flowers are desired, the dead blooms are trimmed off so the healthy branches can generate new flowers. So too spiritual pruning has two purposes. One is to remove any branch (unbelief) that remains attached to the vine but is no longer alive in Christ and the other is to trim healthy branches (believer) for them to, in faith, produce more character fruit in the form of godly character.

Four People Involved in the Pruning Process

The vine/branch analogy describes four individuals involved in the pruning process.

First there is Jesus who is the vine. He was the first one to be pruned down to one or two feet making him the strength of branches. This “I am” statement is the seventh and last of his “I am” proclamations. In each of these “I am” declarations Jesus claims deity. Jesus isn’t one of many spiritual vines we can connect to. He is the “true vine” in that he was pruned through his death on the cross, which was according to the heavenly Father’s plan (vs 1). John describes the vine using the Greek word “ampelos” which is rendered true and in some context dependable. In this context the word means to be the genuine or real vine in contrast to any others who claim to be a divine connection to God.  Just as Jesus said, “I am the true bread”, so John records this later claim that Jesus is the true God; indicating he is the only God (1 Jn 5:20; Isa 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21).

The second person involved in pruning is the Father. He is the “georgos” the cultivator of the vineyard. God the Father is the farmer who owns the field and the one responsible for the crop (Mt 21:33-41). He tills the soil making it receptive and prunes the vine stock so that it will produce living branches. Jesus spoke of the Father as the sovereign one who prunes him and chooses those who will be grafted into him (Jn 10:29).

The third and fourth people mentioned are believers and nonbelievers (living and dead branches). Just as Jesus taught there are sheep and goats, with the two animals represent those who belong to Jesus and those who claim to be but in reality don’t, there are also vitally connected branches and superfluous ones. The dead branch that doesn’t bear fruit, though it seems connected to the living true vine, is removed by force, cast away, gathered together, and burned in the fire as useless. Those living vital branches remain organically connected to the vine and bear fruit. They too are pruned but not thrown away. Their pruning increases their ability to produce fruit. Pruning healthy branches allows for a greater harvest than if they were left gangly and unkempt.

Pruning signals we are not condemned along with the world (1 Cor 11:32). Pruning, a form of discipline in a Christian’s life, is a loving act of the Father (Heb 12:5-11). It is designed to change and enhance character so we become more like and attuned to Jesus and his mission. It’s painful because pruning means losing something that’s a part of us. Jesus taught that a grain of wheat must die if it is to bear much fruit (Jn 12:24-25). Thus, there is always a death or loss associated with God’s Spirit pruning a believer. But it is for gain and not an eternal loss (vs. 26).

Pruning is painful, frustrating, and at times lonely (Heb 12: 11). Pruning hurts but it’s more than just enduring a difficult time (vs. 7). It’s a death of something we treasured that has limited our service to Christ. The Lord prunes not out of disgust, hate, or disappointment. We are his sons called to give him glory (vs. 8) Christians are his precious possessions (Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9). It’s for our good and God’s glory that we are pruned. The Lord prunes not as a punishment but as part of the process of spiritually maturing. And there is an eternal purpose behind it (vs.10).

What Does Pruning Look Like?

What does pruning look like in a believer’s life? It is the letting go of a bad habit or a toxic relationship. We may have limiting beliefs that must go even though we have held on to them for a long time. Pruning removes things that hinder our relationship with God. They may be bad or good things from our perspective but they are not God’s will. None the less, God removes aspects of our lives to foster spiritual growth that produces abundant fruit. Peter explains the process of pruning.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3–8 ESV).

Pruning removes ungodly desires and passions that hinder spiritual fruit—especially passions that limit the development of godly character, which is the foundation for ministry and fundamental to any type of service in the name of the Lord. Notice how Peter learned that virtues are to continually improve keeping a believer fruitful.

When hindrances threaten the race of faith, pruning becomes necessary . When our obedience to the truth stagnates (Gal 5:7-9) and our attachment to the vine declines, branch pruning is necessary. Pruning addresses the contrary desires of the flesh (Jm 1:14-15). Ungodly passions surface and plague a believer throughout the sanctification progress.

Abiding as a branch and walking in the Spirit means we won’t gratify fleshy desires (Gal 5:16, 19-21). Being led by the Spirit removes the works of the flesh and produces the fruit of the Spirit (vs. 22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is character development that aligns with the nature of Jesus (1 Pet 1:13-16). Peter encouraged his readers to make every effort to “supplement your faith with virtue” (2 Pet 1:5). By supplement he didn’t mean add something additional to saving faith but that the longing for virtue belongs to the nature of saving faith. This is why James said that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jm 2:14-17).

Suffering, hardship, loss, feeling uncomfortable, facing a serious challenge, isolation or separation from a support group, excusing sin, falling into temptation or a weakness, having a ministry door close, and being temporarily unrepentant are indications God is pruning.

Anger and the Wild Vine

Rather than being angry at God for allowing a loss it is better to realize pruning is an opportunity for godly change and for faith and trust in the Lord to deepen. Pruning prepares us for something more. It produces growth and extends the life of the branch. Pruning develops quality character. It often contrasts the quantity or size of a ministry with the quality of the minister. God is more interested in the quality of his servants than in the volume of ministry or the quantity of people associated with a ministry.

Our temptation, similar with the Hebrews, is to become a wild vine (Jer 2:21). Left to ourselves we will be ineffective and unfruitful in ministry. Daniel prophesizes the northern kingdom of Israel is about to be severely pruned (Dan 11:33). He warns the remnant that “some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white”. He is describing a national pruning! What we see as unfair, God considers it good for those he loves (Gen 50:20).

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah saw Israel turn from being a vital living branch into a wild vine that faced the wrath of God. Don’t rely on evil passions, one’s giftedness, systems, personalities, or cultural elements and traditions to replace a vibrant growing trust in Christ. We are not to stop listening to the Lord like a dead branch. Those who are pruned are the vine branches of the Lord. They are the remnant (Jer 6:9). Don’t become bitter under the pruning of the Lord. Rather, realize that the sons of God are trained through loss to depend on him more.

• 1) The Bible mentions three things that damage or destroy a vineyard. The palmerworm (aka locust) is a general description of any caterpillar that voraciously eats vegetation (Amos 4:9). Amos declared Israel judged for their lack of godly character and obedience. Idolatry had eaten away at their character and obedience. Peter taught that Satan is a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). He should know for Satan tried to sift him out of the family of God (Mt 16:23; Mk 4:15; Lk 22:3, 22:31). Evil beings and forces work against the fruit of the vine.

• 2) The healthy fruit of the vine can be counterfeited. One of Elisha’s young prophets was tasked with feeding the sons of the prophets during a famine. He found a wild vine and filled his lap with its wild gourds. He served his porridge to his fellow prophets who cried out “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” (2 Kg 4:38-41). Elisha added flour to the pot which supernaturally neutralized the poison and made the stew safe and eatable. A lack of character in someone desiring to be a spiritual leader or godly example poisons the church. Ananias and his wife Sapphira wished to be recognized as godly examples. They were actually liars. Their lack of character made them unfit for ministry and like a dead branch faced God’s severe judgment (Ac 5:1-11).

• 3) And thirdly, the New Testament offers a parallel between Christ and his branches and the foxes in the vineyard. Palmerworms and counterfeits are external sources that cause damage to the vine of the Lord. But foxes represent an internal source of destruction. Solomon mentioned foxes spoiling the vineyard (Song 2:15). The Song of Solomon is a love poem describing the marital love between a husband and wife. He mentions foxes that destroy a beautiful location, the vineyard, where they can express love toward each other. But first they must catch and remove the foxes running throughout the vineyard. The vineyard was a place to love one another but foxes left unchecked made it unfit for love to flourish.

Foxes as a damaging animal is a common metaphor in the Bible. Samson physically illustrated the damage foxes can do to a field. He sent yoked foxes with lit torches between them into the Philistine’s fields (Jackals, part of the dog family). They burned and destroyed the stacks of grain and olive orchards (Jud 15:4-5). The prophet Ezekiel called the false prophet of his day jackals (Ez 13:4). Jesus called Herod a fox because he was deceitfully cunning toward God’s people. And John mentioned Diotrephes by name. He was someone in the church who “put himself first,” and “does not acknowledge our authority” (3 Jn 9). People like Diotrephes who teach heresy are like a fox. They cause schisms and have weaseled their way into the church to damage the vital branches.

Church leadership must protect against external and internal damaging elements. False teachers and those using the church for personal gain remain among the vine of the Lord. Jesus taught that anything causing one of the little ones who believe to sin must be cut off and thrown away (like a dead branch). Anyone who causes stumbling will be seriously dealt with (Mt 18:6-9).

The Value of Spiritual Pruning

On a positive note, pastors and elders can help a believer see God’s love for them as they are pruned. Pruning is a difficult process but seeing its value helps. Pruning affirms that we are sons of God and are abiding in our Savior Jesus Christ. It reminds us that we haven’t achieved holiness. Yet, by the grace of God, we stay clean before him. We are being cleansed by him. Pruning reveals God is with us. He is not finished with us and has a future for us.

God calls Christians to bear more than they can conceive. What can God do with a pruned will (Jn 14:12-14)? Much in every way! With an alteration of character through pruning and because Jesus has gone to the Father as our advocate, and him sending the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we can ask boldly of the Father in Jesus’s name for whatever the Lord wants and be assured our prayers will be effective and transformative in our own hearts. Jesus fully expressed dependent prayer during his earthly ministry as a Christian character trait. Christians in the process of being pruned must follow Jesus’ experiences as their model for spiritual growth.

Pruning is God’s way of receiving from us great glory. Christ’s joy pulsates through his pruned branches so they can experience joy to its fullest potential (Jn 15:11).

Attributions:

Cutting Branch Image by Ray_Shrewsberry from Pixabay; Dead Branch Image by ddzphoto from Pixabay; Image of Grapes by bulaak from Pixabay; Image of Snake by Rey Movida from Pixabay