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WHAT KIND OF TREE ARE YOU? By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Isaiah 41:8-20
Our focus is going to be on verses 17-20. This passage of scripture is an
assurance of G-d's help. It is also prophetic for our churches G-d says we
are His servants that He has called and placed us that He has chosen us.
We must look on this as an honor. It is not easy planting a church. But G-d
says "Fear not for I am with you." It is easy to get discouraged when
people don't come to church, when your church finances always operate in
the red, when the laborers are few. But G-d says, "Be not dismayed, for I
am your G-d. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand." If that isn't enough, G-d says He is doing a new
thing. He is making us into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth an
instrument that in G-d's hands will pulverize the mountains of our current
difficulties. We are called to expect deliverance as we praise G-d in all
circumstances.
Isaiah 17-20
When I first read this scripture G-d placed a strong desire in my spirit to
look up the characteristics of these trees. I went to the library and
attempted to check out a tree book, but there wasn't one available. Yet
G-d provided because the librarian had her own personal copy of a tree
book that she entrusted to me, a perfect stranger. She didn't even ask me
for my name or address. While I couldn't find all the trees listed in that
book, G-d provided more information through encyclopedias. When I went
to attempt to put the sermon together I ran up against another obstacle.
None of my Bibles or commentaries had any information on these
particular verses. But G-d kept impressing my spirit to dig deep and
depend on Him that He had a message of Hope for our church. I went to
the Hebrew/Greek Bible and found a tremendous word.
Verse 17, The poor and needy seek water; but there is none, their tongues
fail for thirst. I, the L-rd, will hear them. I, the G-d of Israel, will not forsake
them. The poor and the needy seek water, they are seeking something to
fill that void that G-d has placed in all of us, a void that only G-d can fill.
They look for worldly things to fill the thirst like drugs, alcohol, sex, money,
fame and prestige. In their search for happiness their tongues (spirits) fail,
they become depressed, suicidal, unhappy as a last resort they cry out to
G-d. G-d says He will hear them and will not forsake them. The L-rd does
not abandon the poor and oppressed.
Verse 18, I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst
of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land
springs of water. The Holy Spirit is often represented by water G-d is
going to pour out His spirit. Isaiah 43:19-21, G-d is doing a new thing.
The word land in Hebrew is Erets and means land of the living. New
England is a dry land a wilderness but restoration and revival are coming.
Verses 19, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,
themyrtle and the oil tree, I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the
pine. And the box tree together. The word set in Hebrew is Suwm. It
means to bring about a change, appoint people to positions, to establish a
new relationship, to assign something to someone, and to set aside for
special purposes. G-d has a purpose and special mission for each of us.
A tree comes from a seed. It is born. It breathes and grows. A tree drinks
water and makes food. It produces seeds from which new trees grow. It
provides shade and protection, bears fruit that is refreshing and useful to
man. We are like trees, we are reborn when the seed of G-d's word is
planted in the soil of our hearts and watered by the Holy Spirit. Luke 8:5 A
sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed, some feel by the
wayside and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear the word of G-d, they are our
visitors, people we witness to but because they don't come to church to get
rooted in the word the devil comes and takes away the word out of their
hearts so they can't believe. Some of us grew up as seed scattered on the
path. We had life in us, but somehow it got trampled down; people walked
over us and some kicked us. Birds flew overhead and some pecked at us
and made fun of us. After a while on the dry road of life, we withdrew, build
a wall of protection around us and said I'm not going to let anyone hurt me
ever again. Verse 6, Some fell on rock and as soon as it sprang up, it
withered away because it lacked moisture. These are those who when
they hear the word they get all fired up and believe for awhile but when
temptation comes they can't make a stand because they have no roots.
Some of us grew up on the rocks with no moisture to maintain us, no
nurturing to let us know we were of value. We didn't have the
encouragement we needed; we wondered who we really are. When we
cried for attention we were told to be quiet. We tried to be what others
wanted us to be, and we grew up confused with roots that never quite took
hold. We withered and dried up emotionally. Verse 7, And some fell
among thorns and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. The ones
who fell among the thorns heard the word but get choked with the cares,
riches and pleasures the world offers and they bring no fruit to maturity.
Some of us grew up choked by the worries of the world, we had parents
who were fearful or who always thought the worst of us. Some of us were
abandoned and our little hearts were broken as we wandered in the weeds
of the world hiding our feelings and smiling at grief. Some of us had
siblings who were our thorns, who mocked us, who were considered better
than us, who may have abused us. Thorns who grew up with us and
choked out our emotional growth. Vs 8 But others fell on good ground,
sprang up and yielded a crop a hundred fold. These are those who hear
the word, believe it, letting it change their lives so they bear fruit with
patience. Maybe you were a fortunate seed that grew up in a Christian
home, in good soil with parents who were emotionally mature and stable,
who gave you healthy unselfish love, and treated you as a precious gift
from G-d. Roots anchor a tree in the ground, holding it firmly in place. The
growing tip of a root is sensitive as well as strong. If it meets obstacles it
can grow around it or actually split a rock and grow through it. G-d can
help us go around or through our obstacles the many trials and tribulations
we face. The outer layer of the trunk is its bark. As a tree grows thicker
and taller its bark stretches and may split. As we grow spiritually G-d
sometimes has to stretch us, by giving us a circumstance where we simply
have to depend on G-d. Inside the tree is sap, which is soil water with
minerals or food dissolved in it. This gives every part of the tree the energy
it needs to grow. The Holy Spirit and the word of G-d give us the spiritual
food we need to grow. Each kind of tree has its own requirements for sun,
rain and soil. We also grow at different rates and need different
requirements to be what G-d wants us to be. Isaiah 41:19 says I will plant
in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree. The cedar tree has a
smooth resistant wood, prefers moist or swampy soil and is grown for
windbreaks and ornamental use. This person is a mature Christian who is
well grounded in the word and resistant to every wind and doctrine. They
have a regular relationship with the Holy Spirit as their soil is moist. They
are windbreaks they protect and teach new Christians so they can be
grounded in the word.
The Arcadia tree is used to describe simple pastoral living. Peaceful
living. The church will be able to provide a living for the pastor.
The myrtle tree is a tropical tree such as the eucalyptus tree. It is a fragrant
tree and it is used for medicine and perfumery. These people will have the
gift of healing and praise. The Bible tells us that our praise and worship is
like an incense or perfume to G-d's nose.
The oil tree is the olive tree. It is a type of evergreen. It has long life and
can live through long dry periods because of it's wide spreading roots.
They are usually reproduced from cuttings and can grow into a new tree if
properly planted. These are people who've been to many churches or
have stayed out of church because they've been cut or hurt. G-d is doing
the planting and grafting and these people will grow into new and stronger
trees. The cypress tree is an evergreen that prefers moist or wet soil. It is
a durable wood that is very resistant to rotting. Knees grow up from the
roots. These people are our prayer warriors and intercessors.
The pine tree is an enduring, lasting tree. It grows in sandy and easily
eroded land. It provides cover under which more valuable trees may get
started. These persons will be with the church through good with bad
times. They are the stall worths of the church. They teach and train up
children and new believers so they can get rooted properly. The box tree
grows rapidly and shelters plantings. These will be the people who are
trained up and will go with others to begin new church plants.
Verse 20, That they may see and know, the word know in Hebrew is yada
which means to advise, answer, have and take knowledge, teach G-d will
make our church a place where people can hear the truth of G-d's word.
And consider and understand together, the word understand in Hebrew is
sakal which means to behold, to pay attention, to have and give success,
to make prudent, to teach G-d will make us successful together.
That the hand of the L-rd has done this, the word hand in Hebrew is yad
which means power strength and assistance. The L-rd's power, strength,
and assistance will complete our church and the work G-d has planned for
it.
And the Holy One of Israel has created it. The word created in Hebrew is
Bara and it means to create, form or make an entirely new production, to
bring into existence, or refers to activity that only G-d performs. God has
brought into existence our ministries for such a time as this.
The Bible describes man like a tree. In Jeremiah 17:7-8 it says blessed is
the man who trust in the L-rd, and whose hope is in the L-rd. For he shall
be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the
river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will
not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. Ps
92:12-14 Says the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow
like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the L-rd
shall flourish in the courts of our G-d. They shall still bear fruit in old age;
they shall be fresh (full of sap) and flourishing (green). In Matt 7:16-20 It
says you will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn
bushes or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a
bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
What kind of tree will you be? Do you have some roots that need to be
dug up? What do you see in your life that needs to be uprooted now?
Jesus says in Matt 15:13 Every plant which My heavenly Father did not
plant shall be uprooted. What weeds are tripping you up? Heb. 12:1 Says
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. What dead branches
have you been saving from the fire? What weaknesses have you held on
to? John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Jesus, he is like a branch that
is thrown away and withers. These branches are picked up and thrown
into the fire and burned. Is your life a wasteland a desert that is thirsty and
need or repair? G-d wants to rebuild your life and repair the desolations of
generations to restore the years the locusts has eaten. Are you producing
fruit that endures? Will you be the planting of the Lord that He may
be glorified, trees of righteousness?
Pray with me now.
Dear Jesus,
I have not been the person I know you want me to be. I've tried to bend the
twigs my way without any thought of what you had in mind. I've trained
them up in the way I wanted them to go and sometimes not trained them at
all. Forgive me for bruising fruit or not bearing fruit. Forgive me for what
I've done to others. I want to be a tree that bears good fruit. I give you the
branches of my weaknesses that I've been saving even though they are
withered and dried up. I place them on your alter that you might kindle fire
upon them and remove them. Thank you G-d for loving me and saving me.
Help me to be willing to obey what is your good will for my life. L-rd Jesus,
I call upon your sacrificial blood to cleanse me from my secret and open
faults. I call upon your Holy Spirit to empower me to necessary change and
I call upon you to bind Satan and any dominion he may have on me and
upon my children to the third and fourth generations. I call upon you Jesus
the name above all names, knowing that everyone who calls on the name
of the L-rd will be saved. Jesus save me and my family forever. In your
precious name I pray. Amen.
Our focus is going to be on verses 17-20. This passage of scripture is an
assurance of G-d's help. It is also prophetic for our churches G-d says we
are His servants that He has called and placed us that He has chosen us.
We must look on this as an honor. It is not easy planting a church. But G-d
says "Fear not for I am with you." It is easy to get discouraged when
people don't come to church, when your church finances always operate in
the red, when the laborers are few. But G-d says, "Be not dismayed, for I
am your G-d. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand." If that isn't enough, G-d says He is doing a new
thing. He is making us into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth an
instrument that in G-d's hands will pulverize the mountains of our current
difficulties. We are called to expect deliverance as we praise G-d in all
circumstances.
Isaiah 17-20
When I first read this scripture G-d placed a strong desire in my spirit to
look up the characteristics of these trees. I went to the library and
attempted to check out a tree book, but there wasn't one available. Yet
G-d provided because the librarian had her own personal copy of a tree
book that she entrusted to me, a perfect stranger. She didn't even ask me
for my name or address. While I couldn't find all the trees listed in that
book, G-d provided more information through encyclopedias. When I went
to attempt to put the sermon together I ran up against another obstacle.
None of my Bibles or commentaries had any information on these
particular verses. But G-d kept impressing my spirit to dig deep and
depend on Him that He had a message of Hope for our church. I went to
the Hebrew/Greek Bible and found a tremendous word.
Verse 17, The poor and needy seek water; but there is none, their tongues
fail for thirst. I, the L-rd, will hear them. I, the G-d of Israel, will not forsake
them. The poor and the needy seek water, they are seeking something to
fill that void that G-d has placed in all of us, a void that only G-d can fill.
They look for worldly things to fill the thirst like drugs, alcohol, sex, money,
fame and prestige. In their search for happiness their tongues (spirits) fail,
they become depressed, suicidal, unhappy as a last resort they cry out to
G-d. G-d says He will hear them and will not forsake them. The L-rd does
not abandon the poor and oppressed.
Verse 18, I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst
of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land
springs of water. The Holy Spirit is often represented by water G-d is
going to pour out His spirit. Isaiah 43:19-21, G-d is doing a new thing.
The word land in Hebrew is Erets and means land of the living. New
England is a dry land a wilderness but restoration and revival are coming.
Verses 19, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,
themyrtle and the oil tree, I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the
pine. And the box tree together. The word set in Hebrew is Suwm. It
means to bring about a change, appoint people to positions, to establish a
new relationship, to assign something to someone, and to set aside for
special purposes. G-d has a purpose and special mission for each of us.
A tree comes from a seed. It is born. It breathes and grows. A tree drinks
water and makes food. It produces seeds from which new trees grow. It
provides shade and protection, bears fruit that is refreshing and useful to
man. We are like trees, we are reborn when the seed of G-d's word is
planted in the soil of our hearts and watered by the Holy Spirit. Luke 8:5 A
sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed, some feel by the
wayside and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear the word of G-d, they are our
visitors, people we witness to but because they don't come to church to get
rooted in the word the devil comes and takes away the word out of their
hearts so they can't believe. Some of us grew up as seed scattered on the
path. We had life in us, but somehow it got trampled down; people walked
over us and some kicked us. Birds flew overhead and some pecked at us
and made fun of us. After a while on the dry road of life, we withdrew, build
a wall of protection around us and said I'm not going to let anyone hurt me
ever again. Verse 6, Some fell on rock and as soon as it sprang up, it
withered away because it lacked moisture. These are those who when
they hear the word they get all fired up and believe for awhile but when
temptation comes they can't make a stand because they have no roots.
Some of us grew up on the rocks with no moisture to maintain us, no
nurturing to let us know we were of value. We didn't have the
encouragement we needed; we wondered who we really are. When we
cried for attention we were told to be quiet. We tried to be what others
wanted us to be, and we grew up confused with roots that never quite took
hold. We withered and dried up emotionally. Verse 7, And some fell
among thorns and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. The ones
who fell among the thorns heard the word but get choked with the cares,
riches and pleasures the world offers and they bring no fruit to maturity.
Some of us grew up choked by the worries of the world, we had parents
who were fearful or who always thought the worst of us. Some of us were
abandoned and our little hearts were broken as we wandered in the weeds
of the world hiding our feelings and smiling at grief. Some of us had
siblings who were our thorns, who mocked us, who were considered better
than us, who may have abused us. Thorns who grew up with us and
choked out our emotional growth. Vs 8 But others fell on good ground,
sprang up and yielded a crop a hundred fold. These are those who hear
the word, believe it, letting it change their lives so they bear fruit with
patience. Maybe you were a fortunate seed that grew up in a Christian
home, in good soil with parents who were emotionally mature and stable,
who gave you healthy unselfish love, and treated you as a precious gift
from G-d. Roots anchor a tree in the ground, holding it firmly in place. The
growing tip of a root is sensitive as well as strong. If it meets obstacles it
can grow around it or actually split a rock and grow through it. G-d can
help us go around or through our obstacles the many trials and tribulations
we face. The outer layer of the trunk is its bark. As a tree grows thicker
and taller its bark stretches and may split. As we grow spiritually G-d
sometimes has to stretch us, by giving us a circumstance where we simply
have to depend on G-d. Inside the tree is sap, which is soil water with
minerals or food dissolved in it. This gives every part of the tree the energy
it needs to grow. The Holy Spirit and the word of G-d give us the spiritual
food we need to grow. Each kind of tree has its own requirements for sun,
rain and soil. We also grow at different rates and need different
requirements to be what G-d wants us to be. Isaiah 41:19 says I will plant
in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree. The cedar tree has a
smooth resistant wood, prefers moist or swampy soil and is grown for
windbreaks and ornamental use. This person is a mature Christian who is
well grounded in the word and resistant to every wind and doctrine. They
have a regular relationship with the Holy Spirit as their soil is moist. They
are windbreaks they protect and teach new Christians so they can be
grounded in the word.
The Arcadia tree is used to describe simple pastoral living. Peaceful
living. The church will be able to provide a living for the pastor.
The myrtle tree is a tropical tree such as the eucalyptus tree. It is a fragrant
tree and it is used for medicine and perfumery. These people will have the
gift of healing and praise. The Bible tells us that our praise and worship is
like an incense or perfume to G-d's nose.
The oil tree is the olive tree. It is a type of evergreen. It has long life and
can live through long dry periods because of it's wide spreading roots.
They are usually reproduced from cuttings and can grow into a new tree if
properly planted. These are people who've been to many churches or
have stayed out of church because they've been cut or hurt. G-d is doing
the planting and grafting and these people will grow into new and stronger
trees. The cypress tree is an evergreen that prefers moist or wet soil. It is
a durable wood that is very resistant to rotting. Knees grow up from the
roots. These people are our prayer warriors and intercessors.
The pine tree is an enduring, lasting tree. It grows in sandy and easily
eroded land. It provides cover under which more valuable trees may get
started. These persons will be with the church through good with bad
times. They are the stall worths of the church. They teach and train up
children and new believers so they can get rooted properly. The box tree
grows rapidly and shelters plantings. These will be the people who are
trained up and will go with others to begin new church plants.
Verse 20, That they may see and know, the word know in Hebrew is yada
which means to advise, answer, have and take knowledge, teach G-d will
make our church a place where people can hear the truth of G-d's word.
And consider and understand together, the word understand in Hebrew is
sakal which means to behold, to pay attention, to have and give success,
to make prudent, to teach G-d will make us successful together.
That the hand of the L-rd has done this, the word hand in Hebrew is yad
which means power strength and assistance. The L-rd's power, strength,
and assistance will complete our church and the work G-d has planned for
it.
And the Holy One of Israel has created it. The word created in Hebrew is
Bara and it means to create, form or make an entirely new production, to
bring into existence, or refers to activity that only G-d performs. God has
brought into existence our ministries for such a time as this.
The Bible describes man like a tree. In Jeremiah 17:7-8 it says blessed is
the man who trust in the L-rd, and whose hope is in the L-rd. For he shall
be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the
river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will
not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. Ps
92:12-14 Says the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow
like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the L-rd
shall flourish in the courts of our G-d. They shall still bear fruit in old age;
they shall be fresh (full of sap) and flourishing (green). In Matt 7:16-20 It
says you will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn
bushes or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a
bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
What kind of tree will you be? Do you have some roots that need to be
dug up? What do you see in your life that needs to be uprooted now?
Jesus says in Matt 15:13 Every plant which My heavenly Father did not
plant shall be uprooted. What weeds are tripping you up? Heb. 12:1 Says
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. What dead branches
have you been saving from the fire? What weaknesses have you held on
to? John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Jesus, he is like a branch that
is thrown away and withers. These branches are picked up and thrown
into the fire and burned. Is your life a wasteland a desert that is thirsty and
need or repair? G-d wants to rebuild your life and repair the desolations of
generations to restore the years the locusts has eaten. Are you producing
fruit that endures? Will you be the planting of the Lord that He may
be glorified, trees of righteousness?
Pray with me now.
Dear Jesus,
I have not been the person I know you want me to be. I've tried to bend the
twigs my way without any thought of what you had in mind. I've trained
them up in the way I wanted them to go and sometimes not trained them at
all. Forgive me for bruising fruit or not bearing fruit. Forgive me for what
I've done to others. I want to be a tree that bears good fruit. I give you the
branches of my weaknesses that I've been saving even though they are
withered and dried up. I place them on your alter that you might kindle fire
upon them and remove them. Thank you G-d for loving me and saving me.
Help me to be willing to obey what is your good will for my life. L-rd Jesus,
I call upon your sacrificial blood to cleanse me from my secret and open
faults. I call upon your Holy Spirit to empower me to necessary change and
I call upon you to bind Satan and any dominion he may have on me and
upon my children to the third and fourth generations. I call upon you Jesus
the name above all names, knowing that everyone who calls on the name
of the L-rd will be saved. Jesus save me and my family forever. In your
precious name I pray. Amen.
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008 |