Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
What it means to be initiated into the secret of the mystery. Part 69. The mystery behind the vine.
Sunday, July 3, 2005
Some people think their vine is their bank account, education, sexual relationships, popularity, skills, connections, possessions, or social relationships; some people even think the church is their vine.
The vinedresser constantly pruned the branches that could bear fruit to enable the vine to concentrate its energy on maturing so that it could bear more fruit.
Pruning is the removal or reduction of certain parts of the vine that are no longer effective or no use to the plant.
DEU 22:9 You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the produce of the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard become defiled.
The last thing that some of you need with the struggles you are having living the spiritual life is to be around the wrong kind of people.
Separation is the technique of switching from personal love to impersonal love when dealing with friends and loved ones in the cosmic system.
Separation is based upon the perception of Bible doctrine by which one establishes his priorities in life.
Separation is further based on the application of that doctrine in your the soul.
1. “Separation unto” is the principle of perpetuation momentum in the pre-designed plan of God.
2. “Separation from” should be applied to both believers and unbelievers in the cosmic system especially those who seek to influence the believer to leave God’s system.
a. Mental separation.
Your volition is for the purpose of protecting you from becoming antagonistic toward others even when they are antagonistic toward you, and you do that through impersonal love.
To avoid this negative influence, the believer must have correct priorities, mental preparation and separation, switching from personal love to impersonal love.
Mental separation emphasizes the integrity, honor, and doctrinal application of the believer residing in God’s plan.
Impersonal love emphasizes your personal love for God and so is perpetuated and functions on its own integrity.
Impersonal love sets aside personal love for antagonistic believers and places personal love for God above them.
Impersonal love emphasizes your honor and integrity and does not compromise the believer’s status inside the pre-designed plan of God.
Two categories of separation from people:
a. Mental separation.
b. Physical separation.
Getting false information in a church.
When a woman is used as a punching bag by her husband, she should leave.
Physical separation means to avoid any personal contact with a person under any circumstances.
Physical separation is sometimes needed to maintain one’s priorities and to use one’s volition to remain inside the PPOG.
PRO 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
2TI 3:5 They [believers and unbelievers in the cosmic system] hold to external forms of godliness, but have renounced the power of that same godliness; you also be turning yourself away form these men.
ROM 16:17-18 - “turn away from them” = physical separation from troublemakers.
Separation is necessary because of the cosmic system, ROM 12:1-3.
By switching from personal love to impersonal love you get away from your illusions about people you have loved.
Separation from unbelievers inside the cosmic system is taught in 2CO 6:14-17.
“Therefore come out from among them.”
Separation is also important in social life, JER 15:16-17, 1PE 4:3-4.
Pruning is done to supply additional energy for the development of the fruit that remains on the branch.
The vinedresser knows exactly what and when to prune.
You do not prune the plant when it is too young, because you would kill it, so you give it time to grow.
You will never lose your salvation, you are just taken away.
Whom does He prune?
Those who have begun to bear fruit.
Pruning from God will only begin after the believer has reached a certain stage of spiritual growth.
Never look at another believer and judge him because you do not think they are getting pruned when you are.
PHI 2:12b Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
1PE 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
1TH 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and mind your own business
2TH 3:11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
There are times we can expect unjust and unfair treatment, but those are the times that we need to give it over to the Supreme Court of heaven and to the Supreme Court Judge, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The royal priesthood must have privacy to fulfill its mission in this life.
COL 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Throughout the Gospels the Lord dealt with the disciples privately, since much of what occurred was “family business,” MAT 17:19; MAT 24:3; MAR 4:34; MAR 9:28; LUK 10:23.
MAT 18:15 And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private;
Rieu translation - “Go and have it out with him privately.”
Paul respected the privacy of the leaders of the Jerusalem church when he presented his gospel to the Gentiles for their consideration, GAL 2:2.
JOH 21:21-22 - Peter was sticking his nose into John’s business and the Lord told him it was none of his business what happened to John.
Phillips translation - “Is that your business, your business is to follow Me!”
Violation of privacy means judging others, ROM 14:4,10.
JOH 12:42-43, Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing {Him,} lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Privacy includes the principle of live and let live, 2TH 3:11-12.
Apostates always violate the privacy of others,
1TI 5:13.
1TI 5:13 And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
Violation of privacy is similar to violations of other freedoms.
Freedom means life, privacy, and property,
The principle of life is violated by murder, slavery, and tyranny.
Property is violated by stealing.
1PE 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
Intrusion into the privacy of someone else is compared to stealing and murder.
There are a variety of spiritual gifts and a variety of believers who are at different stages of spiritual growth.
The skilled pruner first removes all dead, broken, diseased or problem limbs by cutting them at the point of origin or back to a strong lateral branch or shoot.
The vinedresser not only cuts away dead or useless branches, but he can also make “training cuts” that will shape the vine for maximum fruit production.
PHI 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun in you an absolute good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
PHI 2:13 for it is God [the Holy Spirit] who is at work in you, both to will [give you motivation] and to work [He gives you the ability to execute] above and beyond His good pleasure.
Make additional corrective prunings to eliminate weak or narrow crotches and remove the less desirable central leader where double leaders occur.