Like A Tree
Jeremiah 17:5-8 “Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his are, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6-For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in theh wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7-Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8-For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that speadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
The Bible uses trees and sheeps to metaphorically describe those that trust in Him. Let us take a look at the definitions of a tree.
The American Heritage Dictionary: 1) a perennial woody plant having a main trunk and distinct crown. 2) A wooden beam, post, stake, or bar used as part of a framework or structure. 3) A diagram showing a family lineage. 4) A cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Informal definition: 5) To force into a difficult position; corner. 6) To stretch. 7) In a situation of great difficulty or perplexity; helpless.
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To me this revelation is great, even huge if you can catch a glimps of it. The Sons of God are part of the framework of Christianity. Because we publicly made our great confession of believing on Him, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, made us engrafted into the Kingdom of God – family lineage.
Like A Tree – Let’s break down the characteristics:
Point #1
We have a distinctive look. The Bible teaches us in the Book of Matthew 12:33-35 “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit…..”
Point #2
Because we are in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in us – The teachings in the Book of John 15:4 and the Book of Ephesians 3:17, because He is embedded in us, our roots will grow down into GOD’s Love and keep us strong. As we come together in fellowship, we are exemplifying stakes and post in the ground as believers. When Satan tries to enter, he sees a perimeter. That perimeter in his view is our understanding of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the LORD’s Love is according to the Book of Ephesians 3:18.
Point #3
The Book of Psalms 92:12-15, declares that the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
Point #4
He was placed on a tree for our sins, iniquities, trespasses and transgressions. Isaiah 53
Point #5
The Book of Luke 9:23 Jesus is teaching us to take up our own cross to the place of crucifixion daily. We live to serve His purpose. You can’t be selfish, it doesn’t feel good and you are never at rest. Are you willing to deny yourself and follow Christ? Anything less is not discipleship; it is merely superficial lip service.
Point #6
The Book of Proverbs 3:18 teaches us that Wisdom is the Tree of Life. How much of Her are we seeking. The rings of the inside of the tree are layers of weathered storms, years of growth. The bark will always look the same even during a shedding period. This isn’t the same as putting on a mask – this is knowing Who is your Strength and Protection.
Point #7
Like A Tree – How are we to live in partnership with Christ Jesus? 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; I’ll give you this one myself: “3-Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: 4-But in tall things approving ourselves as the ministers of GOD, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5-In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fasting; 6-By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffing, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7-By the Word of Truth, by the Power of GOD, byt the armour of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8-By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9-As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10-As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
Like A Tree – Have large deep roots, strong outer layer, know your time for seed and time for harvest, enjoy a gentle breeze. You can weather many storms, bear fruit, much fruit that brings pleasure to those that taste or observe. Your branches not only bears fruit but your branches are also extensions that can reach out to help the smallest creatures get from one place to the next or provide shelter in a storm or comfort as shade on a hot day. A place where some make a home and others for a distant view of what is beyond the valley they must of through.
But notice that the tree’s strength is in it’s roots. No matter how young or old the tree(Palm Tree specifically) is, it’s roots are out to sight. The roots grow so long and deep in the earth it can break through cement. It can uproot a house. Anything that obstructs it’s growth it can grow through or it will develop many, many-many extensions around that obstruction, covering it like a force shield and keep growing.
The roots of a tree continue to live when the body of a tree is cut down and used. some roots are visible – they may be exposed, but they are strong, they keep growing. To kill the Tree, you have to expose and dry out the Root. To expose or dry out the Root, you have to loose its soil.
To kill my spirit, you have to take the Word out of my heart. To take the Word out of my heart – Well, that is a matter of self-destruction, which you don’t have that kind of power over me. My identity is in Christ Jesus – He is the True Vine and I am the Branch, We are One.
Psalm 1:1-3 “1-Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2-But his delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night. 3-And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall not prosper.”
The Integrity of God’s Word
In the old days when someone made a promise to another, the word he gave was good as any written document. His word was sealed by a simple hand shake. Their word was a goldmine. It created trust, loyalty, and shaped their reputation good or bad.
In the Old Testament of the Bible – The men of God (Prophets and chosen Kings) depended on God’s counsel in everything. When they received a Word from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies to fight, they went to battle. When there was a problem amongst the people of Israel, they sought the Lord God for direction. In other words, they knew and understood the integrity of the Word of God from day to day.
The Hebrew word and translation of the word integrity according to the Strong’s Concordance: 8537. tom/ definition: completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest’s breastplate.
Brown-Driver-Briggs/ definition: completeness, fullness, according to their full measure; in his very completeness.
Merriam-Webster/ definition: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility; an unimpaired condition: soundness; the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness.
When we are speaking of one’s character: implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.
The Bible teaches us in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God and His Word are One, and the words defining integrity point to God Almighty, Who is pure, Who is genuine, Who is not capable of being false. Also, we learn from the Bible in the Book of Jeremiah 32:27, it ends with Jeremiah prophesying to the people of Israel and poses this question, “…is there anything too hard for me?”
My friends, I believe the Word of God, I have faith in God – not by someone else’s experience or testimony – but simply because, I have called out to Him and He answers all the time – Just like He said He would. I am more than convinced that there is nothing too hard for Him, He is the Creator.
Let me share my testimony with you. A few years ago, we were in a tight spot financially and needed to pay our lease. We tried to borrow the money, but it didn’t work out. Whom we asked said, “Let me see and I’ll get back with you.” But the closer it got to the due date, the more pressure the enemy applied. You know the type of pressure – you start looking to others to borrow from Peter to pay Paul – you try to pray and doubt that He hears – your patience is short with everyone in the house to the point where you don’t even speak to each other – you begin to think
about who or what you can blame for the situation you found yourself in. Yes, fear of not meeting your obligation causes division, depression, oppression, jealousy, and anger.
I began to speak to my Father, like He was my Father. I spoke to Him with a sincere heart, like the Bible teaches in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” I pleaded my case, I reminded Him what He said about supplying all my needs (as if He didn’t already know that.). I explained to Him that I wasn’t going to ask anyone anymore and He has the right-of-way to fix this. Let me tell you – within two minutes of ending my conversation/prayer with my Father – I received a call from my wife about a check in the mail for four times more than what we needed and not to trouble anyone.
God and His Word are One, so He is watching over His Word to perform it!(Jeremiah 1:12) We can trust in God with all our heart, all our mind, and all of our soul. His integrity speaks for itself through countless times of provision. Rahab said in the Book of Joshua 2:11, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD you GOD, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
My friend, He is the same God today and He is on our side. I encourage you to make God first – the One who we run to for any and all answers pertaining to life and Godliness. The Book of Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should not lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” – is another perfect confirmation of the integrity of God and His Word.
So have faith in God and take Him at His Word!