LEAVES… THE LEAVES ARE TELLING
By Wade Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
PASTOR JOSH FRANKS was asked: WHAT‘S THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A PASTOR? Franks answer was clear: Walking with people through a major life issue only for them to leave the church at some point over something petty, often without ever talking to you.
Psalm 1:3 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 prosper.
WHAT IF A TREE COULD TALK? WHAT WOULD THE LEAVES TELL? THE TREE TRUNK? THE GROWTH RINGS? THE ROOTS?
Learn a lesson from trees and leaves. I AM TOLD YOU CAN TELL THE AGE OF THE TREE BY THE RINGS. The growth rings can reveal lean years? Droughts? Fires? Etc.
We watched Willie Nelson one night. He sang: “I am the last leaf on the tree, the autumn wind blows, they are already gone, they flutter on the ground, --I have fought the snow, I have fought the hail… time has took the rest.
I am the last leaf on the tree.
RECENTLY WE STUDIED SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. 1. DEMAS- the quitter; 2. JOHN MARK- the vacillator up, down and up again; 3. LUKE- the faithful; 4. ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH- he did me much harm.
LET US LOOK AT TREES: THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF TREES. 1. FRUIT TREES or 2. FIRE WOOD TREES. WHAT EVER THE LESSON, WE MUST KNOW THAT THERE IS AN AXE --- THE JUDGMENT IS SURE! TWO KINDS OF TREES: FIRE WOOD THEN FRUIT TREES…
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
The judgment of God is very imminent. Life, if we do not bear fruit we will stand in front of God. John the Baptist is warning people to repent and bring forth fruit.
THERE CAN BE SOME GREAT SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM TREES AMD LEAVES… PEOPLE CAN BE LIKE TREES.
Some of our spiritual experiences are like leaves. Things come and go. Every year the tree loses all of its leaves showing many things in life are temporary at best. They come into our lives for a SEASON. They are here and then will be soon gone, leaves fallen on the ground. They are with you for what they can get then they are gone.
SPIRITUAL BEINGS CAN BE LIKE THE BRANCH PEOPLE. The lesson of the branch is they are strong and stay longer than the leaf people. They will stay for several seasons but when the storms come and go they quit bending with the wind and the storms will come and they will get hard and the wind will break them. They refuse to bend.
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
THEN THERE ARE EXPERIENCES LIKE THE ROOTS. These groups are so important to healthy life. They are long term helpers with many working behind the scene. They are deeper and grounded and they bring life through droughts and floods. Like a tree planted by the waters. Root people stop erosion and support healthy growth. The strength of the root is grounded in faith and hope. All healthy growth comes up from the roots which are the support system.
DON’T MISS THE TRUE MEANING OF THESE LESSONS OF FIG TREES AND FIG LEAVES. THEY BECOME A SYMBOL OF COVERING UP AND OFFERING EXCUSES.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
IT IS A FACT THAT ADAM AND EVE SOWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER TO MAKE A COVERING TO HIDE THEIR SIN AND NAKEDNESS. THEREFORE HISTORY RECORDS THE FIG TREE AND ITS LEAVES ARE A TYPE OF EXCUSING BEHAVIOR INSTEAD OF GODLY SORROW AND REPENTING. THE FIG LEAF IS MAKING COVERING UP AND EXCUSES THE NORM. ADAM BLAMED EVE. EVE BLAMED THE SERPENT. He that excuses himself is also accusing himself.
COME LET US REASON ABOUT LEAVES IN THE BIBLE.
* Leaves are a symbol of LIFE, HOPE, RENEWAL, HEALING, PROSPERITY AND JUDGMENT. Leaves can represent hope in difficult times. Remember Noah releases a bird. The dove flies out and then returns. The next time the dove flies away and returns carrying leaves to show the water is receding with leaves. The leaves bring forth hope.
Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
THE FIG TREE CAN EXPRESS POTENTIAL NOT BEING THE GOAL, THUS DISAPPOINTMENT FOLLOWS.
Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
WANT TO TALK ABOUT A NEGATIVE MIRACLE? NO FRUIT? ONLY LEAVES?
Let us understand the CYCLE OF THE FIG TREE. There are 7 different kinds of fig trees. The fig tree plays a role in the history of Israel. Most fruit’s flowers develops into the fruit. Not so with the fig. We have learned that the flower of the tree is totally encapsulated within the fruit. THE FIG FRUIT COMES ON THE TREE BEFORE THE LEAVES. So the fig tree actually has two times of bearing fruit in one season. The first picking is smaller and normally more bitter than the fall picking. If the fig tree fails to produce a spring picking there will be NO FALL CROP.
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
Our religion must be more than habitual ceremonies showing off human goodness. Jesus measures the heart not the brain. THE TREE IS HYPOCRITICAL, AS THE FRUIT COMES BEFORE THE LEAVES, IF IT HAS LEAVES IT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BORE FRUIT.
WE SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE RELEASE OF THE FIG LEAVES AS JESUS IS SOON COMING.
Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
CONCLUSION: LISTEN TO MY HEART? STICK TO THE PLAN OF GOD…
Habakkuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
God never removed the obstacle of the Red Sea from before His people. God could have. God chose to part the waters before them and then to close the waters to destroy the enemy. Perhaps our Heavenly Father will not remove the obstacles before you. God’s plan might be to make a way through the problems and trials. By Faith we trust in an on time God.
Perhaps the storms rage high all around us. It might even appear that our little boat is sinking fast. In God’s infinite wisdom He might calm the storm. But perhaps God’s plan is to just calm the believer that everything is going to be all right. God is the WAY MAKER, HE ASKS US TO TRUST HIM.
Just ask Mary and Martha it appeared Jesus was four days late… but they learned JESUS WAS JUST ON TIME. Life refuses to wait for all the situations to be A-OK. We must get in the word, get on our knees and arise to carry our burdens and press forward. A good person becomes a better person when we invite Jesus to enter our trials and obstacles.
DON’T MISS THE TRUE MEANING OF THIS LESSON… THE FIG TREE IS BEING HYPOCRITICAL , AS THE FRUIT COMES BEFORE THE LEAVES, IF IT HAS LEAVES IT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BORE FRUIT.
Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
