Tag: pruning

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 15:1-11: Face to face with the Vine

If a branch is not productive, the vineyard owner sends out workers to prune away any branches that are sickly or unproductive. When one prunes a branch, it is removed. It can no longer get nutrients, water, etc. When it no longer abides in the vine, it dies. To live, the branch must remain attached to its source. Part of remaining in the vine is wanting to be connected to the vine, wanting to be connected to God and being in His presence. That is our great hope: to know God and be known by Him.

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Discussions Life With God

God ‘cuts off’ parts of House of God to promote growth

6:9 digital painting in intricate layered paper-origami style. A vast vineyard fills the landscape beneath an early morning misty dawn. A majestic divine gardener, represented only by glowing hands descending from heaven, carefully prunes branches from an enormous vine shaped like the nation of Israel based on the pre-1948 borders. Some vine branches are being trimmed while others burst with clusters of ripe fruit. Paper-cut rays of sunlight stream into newly opened spaces where dense foliage was removed. The discarded branches lie below while healthy growth expands upward. Rich symbolic storytelling, folded-paper textures, intricate shadows between layers, of shimmering silver, emerald green, and deep burgundy tones, dramatic depth, highly detailed origami craftsmanship, inspirational and hopeful atmosphere. At the bottom center of the graphic, the title "God 'cuts off' parts of House of God to promote growth" and in the bottom right corner, the logo of Hallel Fellowship is in the shadows.

There’s a common theme occurring throughout the Hebrew Roots/Messianic community recently — separation and regrouping. We also see in Scripture the recurring symbol of “cutting off” in an agricultural sense to talk about God’s action in improving the health of the “vine” of Israel. It’s OK when God cuts off parts of the vine to promote growth. It’s OK if there is a time of not producing fruit.