Flourishing Like A Tree To Live A Fruitful Life

1. Flourish to be a Blessing Psalm 1: 3

Introduction

A.) today I would like to share about one way to be a blessing to others

b) in today's reading we learn about being a tree,

c) tree in the Bible is symbolic of an individual

d) and there are 3 aspects about being flourished like tree

1. Planted

a) first of all, we need to be planted the right way so we will flourish and be healthy

b) we need to be planted by streams of water

c) there are several symbolisms for water

* water for drinking symbolizes the Spirit of God-

-On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.-John 7: 37-39

* water for washing symbolizes the Word of God You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.-John 15: 3

-…To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…-Ephesians 5: 26

* Thirst for water symbolizes thirst for God-

-As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.-Psalm 42: 1

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.-Psalm 143: 6

* river is often a picture of God's provision of spiritual blessing and help-

-They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.-Psalm 36: 8-

-Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.-Revelation 22: 1-2

d) so what does this tell us? We should be a blessing the way God intends for us to be, we need:

* to be sanctified by the word of God–v. 2

* to thirst for Him

* to be ready to be used by God

2. Produce

a) when we are planted by God with his sanctifying word, we then can produce:

b) fruit in season–ripe and good to eat; what does the Bible tell us about fruit or produce?

* salvation of souls--I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.-Romans 1: 13

* Godly character--But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.-Galatians 5: 22-23

* material blessing--For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it,

and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.-Romans 15: 26-28

* ministry--And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…-Colossians 1: 10

* praise--Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.-Hebrews 13: 15

c) when we are planted by streams of water through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the word of God, we produce fruit; and it will always be fresh, ripe fruit, whose leaf does not wither d) and lastly,

3. Prosper

a) whatever he does

b) speaks of success in all our endeavors

c) let’s put this in the right perspective

When we thirst for God and seek him through His word, we are sanctified so we grow in character that will enable us to be fruitful in His work of reaching out to the lost, ministering to others, blessing others–which is really building His kingdom—and we will find success. Because we are fulfilling His purpose in us.