Like a Tree
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This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. I am so excited to be with you beautiful queens this morning! To the mighty woman of God Twana thank you so much for the invite, her sister Jackie and I go way back, were childhood friends, Ive always loved them and their family. I don’t take it lightly when someone allows me to come and share the goodness of Jesus! I’m honored and humbled to be here. This morning I wanted to share for a few moments on the topic “Like a Tree” I will sprinkle a few scriptures throughout our conversation this morning so the first one is Jeremiah 17:18 NKJ “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. And Psalms 1:3 “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Looking at a tree I don’t often begin to compare myself. Characteristics of a human don’t often cross my mind when thinking about trees. But Jesus used tree analogies often as he taught. Anytime you see or hear something repetively in scripture it carries value and we need to pay close attention. For instance, Jesus said in Matt 7:18 “a good tree is not able to bring forth bad fruit, and a bad tree is not able to bring forth good fruit.” Matt 7:16 “you will know them by their fruit.” As I began to study the word I turned my attention to the physical trees. One significance is that they stand tall, God said “It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” When you see a tree, there is no mistaking it for anything else but a tree. You cannot walk pass a tree and not be influenced by either the shade it provides or the lack thereof. They come in all shapes and sizes but they all have purpose. What were you created to do that you’ve been holding back on? What seed has been planted inside of you that has been begging to be fed and nurtured? so that it too can grow up big and tall and provide support to others? When people see you what are you known for? Does your fruit exemplify who God called you to be?
This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. I am so excited to be with you beautiful queens this morning! To the mighty woman of God Twana thank you so much for the invite, her sister Jackie and I go way back, were childhood friends, Ive always loved them and their family. I don’t take it lightly when someone allows me to come and share the goodness of Jesus! I’m honored and humbled to be here. This morning I wanted to share for a few moments on the topic “Like a Tree” I will sprinkle a few scriptures throughout our conversation this morning so the first one is Jeremiah 17:18 NKJ “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. And Psalms 1:3 “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Looking at a tree I don’t often begin to compare myself. Characteristics of a human don’t often cross my mind when thinking about trees. But Jesus used tree analogies often as he taught. Anytime you see or hear something repetively in scripture it carries value and we need to pay close attention. For instance, Jesus said in Matt 7:18 “a good tree is not able to bring forth bad fruit, and a bad tree is not able to bring forth good fruit.” Matt 7:16 “you will know them by their fruit.” As I began to study the word I turned my attention to the physical trees. One significance is that they stand tall, God said “It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.” When you see a tree, there is no mistaking it for anything else but a tree. You cannot walk pass a tree and not be influenced by either the shade it provides or the lack thereof. They come in all shapes and sizes but they all have purpose. What were you created to do that you’ve been holding back on? What seed has been planted inside of you that has been begging to be fed and nurtured? so that it too can grow up big and tall and provide support to others? When people see you what are you known for? Does your fruit exemplify who God called you to be?
Now, we cannot speak about the tree without first tending to the foundation. In the parable about the sower it talks about good ground and stony ground. Most of the time when this scripture is brought up it has something to do with where you sow (which is important) but I want to pull out something a little different and just focus on the condition of the ground. It says “ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: Somebody say “increase and produce” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” that’s found Mark 4:3-27 if we want to be ready to grow, to produce, to lead, to set trends, to move others ahead, we must be sure that our foundation is secure, our grounds are ready to handle the increased growth. The ground cannot be hardened with doubt, with confusion, with unforgiveness. The seed must be able to go down deep, go beyond the surface so that it can take root and spring up and not be choked out by the denomic thorns of this world. The word that God is speaking in times like these must penetrate beyond the surface and become a breeding ground for your harvest.
Now, we cannot speak about the tree without first tending to the foundation. In the parable about the sower it talks about good ground and stony ground. Most of the time when this scripture is brought up it has something to do with where you sow (which is important) but I want to pull out something a little different and just focus on the condition of the ground. It says “ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: Somebody say “increase and produce” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” that’s found Mark 4:3-27 if we want to be ready to grow, to produce, to lead, to set trends, to move others ahead, we must be sure that our foundation is secure, our grounds are ready to handle the increased growth. The ground cannot be hardened with doubt, with confusion, with unforgiveness. The seed must be able to go down deep, go beyond the surface so that it can take root and spring up and not be choked out by the denomic thorns of this world. The word that God is speaking in times like these must penetrate beyond the surface and become a breeding ground for your harvest.
So these questions become very important as you are engaging in tree like behavior “What are you doing to nurture yourself daily, to strengthen your spirit? To cause the grounds of your soul to be saturated and tilled for growth? I’ve always said “what you feed will be the strongest” so if you are feeding your spirit it is sure to shine forth God’s glory and if not, this is the time to turn things around.He is calling for us to be like a tree, whose roots go deep into the soil of God’s presence and bring forth much fruit as it says in John 15:5 “I am the true vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit” When the world is looking for hope our trees should feed them, when they’re looking for healing, our trees should feed them, when they are looking for direction our trees should feed them, when they’re looking for deliverance our trees should feed them. Today, I want us to examine our trees. Have they grown since we first believed? Since the last set of instructions he gave you? Many times we are asking God “what do you want me to do” and God is saying “do what I already told to you do!” Have your leaves withered and your branches weakened with doubt and fear? Come on take a good look at your tree this morning, are you still backbiting and complaining, being hurtful and manipulative in your household or in your relationships, being unproductive and stagnant? Wasting your days waiting for another to do what God told you to do?
So these questions become very important as you are engaging in tree like behavior “What are you doing to nurture yourself daily, to strengthen your spirit? To cause the grounds of your soul to be saturated and tilled for growth? I’ve always said “what you feed will be the strongest” so if you are feeding your spirit it is sure to shine forth God’s glory and if not, this is the time to turn things around.He is calling for us to be like a tree, whose roots go deep into the soil of God’s presence and bring forth much fruit as it says in John 15:5 “I am the true vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit” When the world is looking for hope our trees should feed them, when they’re looking for healing, our trees should feed them, when they are looking for direction our trees should feed them, when they’re looking for deliverance our trees should feed them. Today, I want us to examine our trees. Have they grown since we first believed? Since the last set of instructions he gave you? Many times we are asking God “what do you want me to do” and God is saying “do what I already told to you do!” Have your leaves withered and your branches weakened with doubt and fear? Come on take a good look at your tree this morning, are you still backbiting and complaining, being hurtful and manipulative in your household or in your relationships, being unproductive and stagnant? Wasting your days waiting for another to do what God told you to do?
Let’s go deeper are you becoming anxious and fearful at the sign of drought? When the storm winds blow, or seasons begin to change in your life do you still trust the God of all creation that says “your leaves will not wither nor cease from yeilding fruit” this is God’s word and His promises. A tree is place where others find refuge and safety. We should be like trees, bearing forth much fruit in each season. Now, some of you may be wondering what fruit should I be producing? And what is stopping me from producing it? My answer is seek God, get lost in his presence. He designed you and knows everything about you. It’s time to get into His presence, to seek His face and discover the You he called you to be. As you deepen your seek and your relationship with Him he will begin to speak directly to you. He said “my sheep know my voice and stranger they will not follow” it will be that inner voice propelling you forward. So, If you’re a pear tree bring forth pears, if you’re an apple tree bring forth apples. If he made you a wife, a mother, a business woman, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a preacher, a teacher, an evangelist, a prophet, an intercessor, bring forth fruit according to your design, don’t allow the enemy to decieve you and make you think that your season for producing is over! The devil is a liar, if there is breath in your body PRODUCE! As you meet God this morning I want you to focus in on your own tree, and it’s foundation and what it will take for you to produce. You probably don’t have the solution but the one who does is here and ready to pour out His spirit of clarity, of direction, of boldness, of courage, of understanding, of peace. It’s time to be like a tree and produce your fruit, the world is hungry for what you have. The longer you wait, you risk someone who is depending on you dieing of hunger. Come on sis, you have the solution to their problem, it’s time to produce. There must be a cry of desperation down in your belly that will break the oppressive chains off of your life. No more procrastination on that vision, that idea, that dream, that business venture, that ministry. Come on we are going to give that thing legs this morning. It’s got to walk in the name of Jesus! It can’t die! This is the season to nurture your tree, your individual gifts and callings so that your tree will be full of life and fruit. We want our trees to bring forth good fruit, we don’t want someone who is hungry to walk past us because our tree is bare. We our God’s children, his believers and if we remain in Him and he remain in us we will bring forth much fruit. It’s time for the world to see what God is made of! Not to boast or brag but to draw others to him. Some people are only going to be drawn by the miracles, signs, and wonders. He said these things shall follow them that believe. It’s time to produce. Don’t shrink back, and don’t overprune your tree. That means everytime you start producing you become paralized by fear of success, what people will think when you step out, you begin to cut back branches that were meant to remain.
Let’s go deeper are you becoming anxious and fearful at the sign of drought? When the storm winds blow, or seasons begin to change in your life do you still trust the God of all creation that says “your leaves will not wither nor cease from yeilding fruit” this is God’s word and His promises. A tree is place where others find refuge and safety. We should be like trees, bearing forth much fruit in each season. Now, some of you may be wondering what fruit should I be producing? And what is stopping me from producing it? My answer is seek God, get lost in his presence. He designed you and knows everything about you. It’s time to get into His presence, to seek His face and discover the You he called you to be. As you deepen your seek and your relationship with Him he will begin to speak directly to you. He said “my sheep know my voice and stranger they will not follow” it will be that inner voice propelling you forward. So, If you’re a pear tree bring forth pears, if you’re an apple tree bring forth apples. If he made you a wife, a mother, a business woman, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a preacher, a teacher, an evangelist, a prophet, an intercessor, bring forth fruit according to your design, don’t allow the enemy to decieve you and make you think that your season for producing is over! The devil is a liar, if there is breath in your body PRODUCE! As you meet God this morning I want you to focus in on your own tree, and it’s foundation and what it will take for you to produce. You probably don’t have the solution but the one who does is here and ready to pour out His spirit of clarity, of direction, of boldness, of courage, of understanding, of peace. It’s time to be like a tree and produce your fruit, the world is hungry for what you have. The longer you wait, you risk someone who is depending on you dieing of hunger. Come on sis, you have the solution to their problem, it’s time to produce. There must be a cry of desperation down in your belly that will break the oppressive chains off of your life. No more procrastination on that vision, that idea, that dream, that business venture, that ministry. Come on we are going to give that thing legs this morning. It’s got to walk in the name of Jesus! It can’t die! This is the season to nurture your tree, your individual gifts and callings so that your tree will be full of life and fruit. We want our trees to bring forth good fruit, we don’t want someone who is hungry to walk past us because our tree is bare. We our God’s children, his believers and if we remain in Him and he remain in us we will bring forth much fruit. It’s time for the world to see what God is made of! Not to boast or brag but to draw others to him. Some people are only going to be drawn by the miracles, signs, and wonders. He said these things shall follow them that believe. It’s time to produce. Don’t shrink back, and don’t overprune your tree. That means everytime you start producing you become paralized by fear of success, what people will think when you step out, you begin to cut back branches that were meant to remain.
Trust me, God will get rid of trees that don’t bear fruit The bible says in Matt 7:19 “every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire” I don’t want my tree to be wasted, to be cut down to be cast into the fire. What God has invested in me deserves to flourish and impact generations. Come on let’s prophesy to ourselves “my tree will impact generations” There’s nothing like leaving a legacy, a record of your presence here on earth. What will your legacy be? Come on let’s be like a tree, full of life and fruit. What are the byproducts of the life your’re living? If it does not align with God’s purpose for your life let’s make a commitment to allow this word to fall on good ground and push us into a season of producing!
Trust me, God will get rid of trees that don’t bear fruit The bible says in Matt 7:19 “every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire” I don’t want my tree to be wasted, to be cut down to be cast into the fire. What God has invested in me deserves to flourish and impact generations. Come on let’s prophesy to ourselves “my tree will impact generations” There’s nothing like leaving a legacy, a record of your presence here on earth. What will your legacy be? Come on let’s be like a tree, full of life and fruit. What are the byproducts of the life your’re living? If it does not align with God’s purpose for your life let’s make a commitment to allow this word to fall on good ground and push us into a season of producing!
Thank God we have a father who loves us unconditionally and offers grace when we don’t get things right. I believe this is a good point to go ahead and pray before I turn the mic over. Let’s create an environment favorable for God to do what he does best. God we enter into your gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We love you and honor you King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are our Keeper, our redeemer, our sustainer, our stabilizer, our heart fixer, our mind regulator, our healer, our provider, our way maker. We lean into you this morning and not our limited understanding. You are the one who takes little and it becomes much! There is nothing too hard for you Lord and we give you honor and praise. We lay aside every weight this morning, anything that distracts us or gets us off focus and we surrender ALL, all in your presence. We say create in us a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within us. We stretch out in you this morning for you to rain on our fields, to saturate our grounds, position us to prosper. We empty out so that you can fill us up with whatsoever things are pure, lovely and of good report. We need you Jesus, we need your spirit. Fall fresh on this line Holy Spirit move freely, We submit in your presence to experience the fullness of God’s glory! This is your time teach us, perfect us, strengthen us, refine us, push us, in the name of Jesus! Where this is lack birth abundance, where this is worry birth peace of mind, where there is fear birth courage, where there is intimidation birth a holy boldness. Whatever my sisters need in this atmosphere God send it now. Transform us in your presence, unify families God, build up broken marriages, open doors of opportunities Lord, beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness for mourning. We elevate our faith to tap into the greater that you have for us. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Fill our cups this morning let them overflow. Overflow on our families, overflow in our communities, overflow in the marketplace, overflow in our businesses, overflow throughout this nation. Your word says our gift will make room for us and bring us before great men, you are the ultimate gift and we know that you’re making room for us today. Room to dominate in the marketplace. You’re giving us the authority to take new territory, for your word says every place the sole of our foot shall tread you are giving it to us. So we tread on it today, we tap in for the greater! It’s our destiny to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, the lender and not the borrower! Accelerate my sister, push in his presence, because in his presence of our savior is the fullness of joy and pleasures forever more. We need our joy to overflow today! Open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see you, so that we can hear you, and move forward in the things your’re calling us to do. We are your children and as we hear your voice we will not harden our hearts, we will not procrastinate, we will not keep silent, we will not talk ourselves out of the abundant life that you have for us but we will produce in and out of season. For creation is eagerly waiting for the manifestation of the true sons and daughters of God. I decree in this atmosphere beautiful queens that you will not back down and you will not blend in but you will put your foot on the gas! Accelerate into your divine destiny. Accelerate into your appointed time, accelerate into your due season! You will stand tall in this season! He’s doing a new thing and now it shall spring forth, he’s making ways in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert. What God is calling you to do, you have what it takes. He said if you trust me, step out, if you love me, show forth my glory. Come on, out of your mouth say “I will produce and my tree won’t be bare” say it again I will produce and my tree won’t be bare” I speak generational blessings upon each of you today. Accelerate and produce in the name of Jesus. Accelerate and produce! We reinforce the hedge of protection around your mind gate, your ear gates, your mouth gate, we bind negative thought patterns and bring every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Jesus Christ. Anything that exalts itself against His knowledge, against who he said you are in the name of jesus! You will produce! No guilt, no shame only results! Push sisters, beyond the pain of past failures, push sisters beyond what your eyes see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Push in faith today! Watch our God do the miraculous. He can’t fail.
Thank God we have a father who loves us unconditionally and offers grace when we don’t get things right. I believe this is a good point to go ahead and pray before I turn the mic over. Let’s create an environment favorable for God to do what he does best. God we enter into your gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We love you and honor you King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are our Keeper, our redeemer, our sustainer, our stabilizer, our heart fixer, our mind regulator, our healer, our provider, our way maker. We lean into you this morning and not our limited understanding. You are the one who takes little and it becomes much! There is nothing too hard for you Lord and we give you honor and praise. We lay aside every weight this morning, anything that distracts us or gets us off focus and we surrender ALL, all in your presence. We say create in us a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within us. We stretch out in you this morning for you to rain on our fields, to saturate our grounds, position us to prosper. We empty out so that you can fill us up with whatsoever things are pure, lovely and of good report. We need you Jesus, we need your spirit. Fall fresh on this line Holy Spirit move freely, We submit in your presence to experience the fullness of God’s glory! This is your time teach us, perfect us, strengthen us, refine us, push us, in the name of Jesus! Where this is lack birth abundance, where this is worry birth peace of mind, where there is fear birth courage, where there is intimidation birth a holy boldness. Whatever my sisters need in this atmosphere God send it now. Transform us in your presence, unify families God, build up broken marriages, open doors of opportunities Lord, beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness for mourning. We elevate our faith to tap into the greater that you have for us. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Fill our cups this morning let them overflow. Overflow on our families, overflow in our communities, overflow in the marketplace, overflow in our businesses, overflow throughout this nation. Your word says our gift will make room for us and bring us before great men, you are the ultimate gift and we know that you’re making room for us today. Room to dominate in the marketplace. You’re giving us the authority to take new territory, for your word says every place the sole of our foot shall tread you are giving it to us. So we tread on it today, we tap in for the greater! It’s our destiny to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, the lender and not the borrower! Accelerate my sister, push in his presence, because in his presence of our savior is the fullness of joy and pleasures forever more. We need our joy to overflow today! Open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see you, so that we can hear you, and move forward in the things your’re calling us to do. We are your children and as we hear your voice we will not harden our hearts, we will not procrastinate, we will not keep silent, we will not talk ourselves out of the abundant life that you have for us but we will produce in and out of season. For creation is eagerly waiting for the manifestation of the true sons and daughters of God. I decree in this atmosphere beautiful queens that you will not back down and you will not blend in but you will put your foot on the gas! Accelerate into your divine destiny. Accelerate into your appointed time, accelerate into your due season! You will stand tall in this season! He’s doing a new thing and now it shall spring forth, he’s making ways in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert. What God is calling you to do, you have what it takes. He said if you trust me, step out, if you love me, show forth my glory. Come on, out of your mouth say “I will produce and my tree won’t be bare” say it again I will produce and my tree won’t be bare” I speak generational blessings upon each of you today. Accelerate and produce in the name of Jesus. Accelerate and produce! We reinforce the hedge of protection around your mind gate, your ear gates, your mouth gate, we bind negative thought patterns and bring every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Jesus Christ. Anything that exalts itself against His knowledge, against who he said you are in the name of jesus! You will produce! No guilt, no shame only results! Push sisters, beyond the pain of past failures, push sisters beyond what your eyes see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Push in faith today! Watch our God do the miraculous. He can’t fail.
Hallelujah, I hear a sigh of relief in the atmosphere someone is being restored in this moment, I see seeds going deep down in your heart’s soil, someone is gaining the water that their tree needed, someone is gaining the spiritual nutrients that their tree needed, come on lean in just a little while longer, someone is having a growth spurt in the spirit realm right now. God said “Produce, Produce, Produce!” Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard niether has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him. Come on, Accelerate my sister, produce your fruit! Excellent Father, creative ruler, Just and faithful God we bless you and we honor your presence on this line. We thank you for thinking enough of us to be in our midst. Your love never fails, your strength never fails, your provision never fails, you come through for us time and time again and for that we give you glory! Release your angels on assingment today to help us carry out what you’ve called us to do! We will stand tall, we will flourish and we will produce in your mighty son Jesus Name! Amen and Amen