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  PRUNED TO YIELD FRUIT
  by Charles E. Cowman
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of God's pruning in our
lives to cultivate greater spiritual fruitfulness through trials and
afflictions.

Topics: "Spiritual Growth", "Divine Pruning"
Scripture References: John 15:2, Romans 5:3, Hebrews 12:11, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6

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DESCRIPTION
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Charles E. Cowman preaches about the pruning process in the life of a
believer, drawing inspiration from John 15:2. He shares a story of a
child of God who questioned the afflictions in her life, only to receive
a profound message from the Heavenly Gardener through a vineyard. The
message highlights the necessity of pruning for growth and the purpose
behind trials and suffering in our lives, emphasizing that it is through
the pruning of God's love that we can bear much fruit.

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CONTENT
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"And every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit"

(John 15:2).

A child of God was dazed by the variety of afflictions which seemed to
make her their target. Walking past a vineyard in the rich autumnal glow
she noticed the untrimmed appearance and the luxuriant wealth of leaves
on the vines, that the ground was given over to a tangle of weeds and
grass, and that the whole place looked utterly uncared for; and as she
pondered, the Heavenly Gardener whispered so precious a message that she
would fain pass it on:

"My dear child, are you wondering at the sequence of trials in your
life? Behold that vineyard and learn of it. The gardener ceases to
prune, to trim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit only when he
expects nothing more from the vine during that season. It is left to
itself, because the season of fruit is past and further effort for the
present would yield no profit. Comparative uselessness is the condition
of freedom from suffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruning your
life? Shall I leave you alone?" And the comforted heart cried, "No!"

--Homera Homer-Dixon

It is the branch that bears the fruit,

That feels the knife,

To prune it for a larger growth,

A fuller life.

Though every budding twig be lopped,

And every grace

Of swaying tendril, springing leaf,

Be lost a space.

O thou whose life of joy seems reft,

Of beauty shorn;

Whose aspirations lie in dust,

All bruised and torn,

Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream,

Each hope of thine

Shall fall and fade; it is the hand

Of Love Divine

That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks

With tenderest touch,

That thou, whose life has borne some fruit

May'st now bear much.

--Annie Johnson Flint

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/charles-e-cowman/pruned-to-yield-fruit/
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