Intro: Today I want to speak to you about coming out from among the trees, and into the fulness of God. The church today has found its self in a state of weariness, waiting, and searching. We have grown weak and weary; the signs of the times have taken a toll on the church we have seen a fallen away of young and old alike. But church today I want you to know that God is still in control; the game is not over yet, but has just begun. For such a time as this for those that hunger and thirst after righteousness they shall be filled, for all that feel worn down and broken your time of restorations is at hand. The Word of God tells me in 1 John 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
I. In my opening scriptures I introduced you to a man named Zacchaeus that climbed a tree to see Jesus, but before we get to him, I want us to look at two other men that found themselves hanging around trees.
A. The first is a man by the name of Elijah.
1. Many of us are acquainted with Elijah and his ministry.
2. He was a man of fearlessness, a bold and dauntless reformer, a rebuker of kings, a mighty intercessor, praying with faith and intensity, he was a man prone to discouragement, one capable of fallible judgment, a prophet divinely honored, a performer of miracles, and a God-inspired prophet ready to obey and trust God, who had a glorious departure.
3. But even a man with a resume like his; he still found his place among a tree.
B. Elijah the Tishbite in 1 Kings 19, after completing what many call the greatest act of his ministry. Which was that show down of Elijah and the 400 prophets of Baal.
1. We find him now in chapter 19 learning of a plot against him from Queen Jezebel that she is going to kill him just as her 400 prophets of Baal were killed.
2. Elijah gets scared and heads to the wilderness where we find him in 1 Kings 19:4 sitting under a juniper tree crying out to God to just kill him.
3. You see a juniper tree is a small tree that gives enough shade for one person. This tree reflected his out look. He felt alone and was weary and wanted God to just kill him.
4. After doing an awesome testament to our Lord in chapter 18, he was now ready to hang it up. He felt defeated, alone, and weary. Satan’s bride Jezebel had his number and he in a moment of weakness runs. And hides under the lonely tree, begging for a death sentence.
C. You see I brought up this man of God that found himself among a tree, because you see I know that there are some in the church today that feel alone and weary.
1. You have run a good race, but now have found yourself in a moment of weakness and are under your own juniper tree. You feel as if no one understands; not even God. You hurt and have been hurt, and it all seems to be coming back to you.
2. All that you have gone through has become a heavy burden for you and you can’t even seem to be able to raise your head high any more. You feel defeated.
3. You feel as if Satan has stolen, killed, and destroyed you. He has worn you down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
D. But I want to proclaim to you today that there is one that came to RESTORE, REVIVE, AND REBUILD you and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Though you may be weary the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2. At our weakest points in our walk with Christ know that when you abide in Christ that is the moment when you are at your strongest to make it though this hurdle, to continue running this race to obtain the prize of eternal rest in the presence of our Savior and our Heavenly Father.
3. Know that at our weakness when the devil starts messing, you proclaim Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
4. When you start feeling low in your walk with Christ know that you have overcame by Christ’s precious blood, and by your testimony. And I am not only talking about what you were saved from, but in whom you abide in.
5. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells me that I am an ambassador of Christ and that means I am REPRESENTING the Lord Jesus Christ and all His glory. And Satan can’t touch this.
II. But you see even past the tree of weariness there is another that many face and that is the tree of waiting.
A. And for this we go to the New Testament where we find in the book of John 1:45-50. A man by the name of Nathanael waiting under a fig tree.
1. It reads in John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (46) And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (48) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (49) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (50) Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
2. Nathanael was under a fig tree which is ironic because this is the same type of tree Adam and Eve plucked the leaves from to cover their sins during their fall in Genesis 3. This same tree could only provide shade for one that was waiting for the one who could cover their sins with His precious blood.
3. You see during that time every one was waiting for there deliverer, their King. For all that was promised to come to pass.
4. And when Nathanael was told that the one, he has been waiting has come he got up to and see the promise.
B. I brought this example up of another among a tree because there are some now that are waiting on a promise, waiting on healing, waiting on a miracle, waiting for strength, waiting on deliverance, waiting for answers to prayers, waiting on backslidden family members, waiting on etc… (Give more examples).
1. But know that Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. Isa 30:18 …for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
2. Unlike Elijah this was not a place of despair, this was a place of rest. While Nathanael was waiting, he was resting.
3. While you are waiting on your promises you can be resting. It doesn’t mean you have given up on the promise you are just resting in your faith that God will bring it pass.
4. Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
5. Ps 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
6. Ps 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (2) [O my soul], thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou [art] my Lord: my goodness [extendeth] not to thee; (3) [But] to the saints that [are] in the earth, and [to] the excellent, in whom [is] all my delight. (4) Their sorrows shall be multiplied [that] hasten [after] another [god]: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. (5) The LORD [is] the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. (6) The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant [places]; yea, I have a goodly heritage. (7) I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. (8) I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. (10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.
III. Which brings me to Zacchaeus. He had to overcome the short comings of life. We all have to deal with those short comings. We don’t have to let them keep us from Jesus.
A. Life comes with problems. Job 5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
1. Mt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
2. Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
3. Ps 34:19 Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: Pr 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:
4. We still face problems. We still have to deal with death, sickness, depression, anxiety, etc…(More Examples)
B. While we have to deal with life, we can overcome it with the Lord. Let me finish Ps 34:19 Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
1. Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
2. Ps. 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. (3) O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (4) Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. (5) For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning. (6) And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. (7) LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, [and] I was troubled. (8) I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. (9) What profit [is there] in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? (10) Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. (11) Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; (12) To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
C. While there are trees, we have to deal with there is a tree that was embraced. 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1. While we overcome some trees, we need to embrace the one that hung on one for our sins. Jesus is the answer to all our problems. He is the only one that can restore you, redeem you, heal you, cleanse you, etc… (More Examples)
2. It’s all about Jesus. All you need is Jesus. Put your faith and trust in Jesus.
Conclusion: I said earlier Pr 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: let me finish the rest of that verse but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Jesus is our tree of life. He may have died on a tree but it wasn’t about His death on it, it was the Life after it. Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. We have life in Jesus!
