The Daffodil Principle

The Daffodil Principle

Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

l. INTRODUCTION – SOWING AND REAPING

-This is a Scripture that I found more than ten years ago. It has brought encouragement to me, it has brought relief to me, it has brought hope to me. Those are the words that you will find under my picture in the 1992 Texas Bible College Pioneer. When they asked each senior to give them their favorite Scripture, that was my choice.

-We realize that in our walk with God that often the things of God are not accomplished over-night or even in a day or a week but rather over the course of time, dreams, visions, and desires come to fulfillment.

-Men reap what they sow. It is in the old, arduous route of work that men come to success in their lives both materially and spiritually. Along that road are many landmarks and many wrecks. It is lesson after lesson that the student finds his mind being enlarged. It is nail after nail that the builder builds the house. It is block after block that the mason completes the walls. With the farmer, it is crop after crop. With the artist, it is painting after painting. For the author, it is word after word. For the traveler, it is step and step and mile after mile.

ll. TWO TREES FROM THE PSALMS

Psalm 92:12-13 -- “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

-The word of God has particular pictures used by many of it’s authors.

• The eagle to be a symbol of strength and courage and ability.

• The mule is pictured as a stubborn, unyielding animal who resists the reins and bit of the rider.

• The sheep is portrayed as an animal that is quiet, yields to the call of the shepherd, requiring gentle hands to guide it, and finding the guarding of it’s welfare a necessity to be given by the shepherd.

-The word of God also has particular symbols used by divine inspiration.

• There is the comparison of great quality and value to the gold of Ophir.

• There is the evidence that fire is a symbol of both the power and anointing of God.

• The palm and cedar has it’s place also.

A. The Palm Tree

-The Palm tree is related to the lily. However, it is in a class all it’s own. This palm tree has a specific code of behavior. It grows only by seed alone. It cannot grow from being grafted in or from being cut.

-It is always green and bears fruit that is sweet. One of the most interesting things about the palm tree is that the wind can never blow it over. It may have to endure the blasts of the hurricane but the storm can never defeat it.

-If the tree is damaged during the storm, the top will began to grow straight (50-100 Feet high). It grows from within and takes a long time to mature (30 years). It’s roots go down over 100 feet and thrives in adversity. It produces where there is little rain.

-What do you do when things are dry? Where do you go when it seems like the heavens are shut up? Where do you go when it seems like you are the only one walking the path of righteousness?

-You worship anyway. . . . you preach anyway. . . .you believe anyway. . . . .you pray anyway. . . .

-Because of that you must pray for any need:

• For lengthened life as Hezekiah did.

• For help as David did.

• For light as Bartimaeus did.

• For rain as Elijah did.

• For a son as Hannah did.

• For grace as Paul did.

-Prayer is not limited to geography, you can pray anywhere:

• In the deep like Jonah.

• On the sea or on the housetop like Peter.

• On your bed like Hezekiah.

• In the mountain like Jesus.

• In the wilderness like Hagar.

• In the street like Jarius.

• In a cave like David.

• On a cross like the dying thief.

-You can pray in different ways:

• Short like Peter on a troubled sea.

• Short like the publican in Luke 18.

• Long like Moses at the consecration of the Tabernacle.

• Long like Solomon at the dedication of the Temple.

• In silence like Hannah.

• In your secret thoughts as Nehemiah did before Darius.

• Aloud like the Syrophoenician woman.