Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:18 — 41.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
Note: To download the mp3 file directly from this page, right click the download button above and choose Save Link As… Browse to where you want to save the file and click save. Also you can subscribe to the podcast feed via email or in iTunes using the options in the sidebar.
This sermon – The Planted Man – was originally preached 2013.07.21 by Jerrill Schrock.
Scriptures used: Genesis, Revelation 22, Jeremiah 17:7, Psalm 1, Galatians 6, John 15:4.
The Beauty of the Trees
There is much beauty to be found in a tree. The character of an old oak or walnut tree is incredible.
In the Garden of Eden there were trees. Besides the various trees that were good for food, there was a “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” and “The Tree of Life.”
God gave Adam and Eve the trees of the field. Some of them were pleasant to look at and others gave fruit that was very good to eat.
The Planted Man (or Woman)
Let’s think some about a man who is “planted.” He is like a tree that is planted, not a tree that has naturally grown from an acorn that fell in some random place in the forest.
The location of a tree has a lot to do with how well the tree will grow. A tree that is planted by a river, or stream, where it can get water, always does better than one that grows far away from water.
A farmer can’t just plant a tree and expect to pick fruit from it the following day. Before the farmer can pick the fruit from the tree – there is a period of waiting for the tree to grow to maturity.
A seed needs to be planted carefully. To grow a good tree a “tree farmer” needs to put a fair bit of thought into the location of the trees he is planting.
A Healthy Tree Needs Good Soil
We can develop healthy decisions and appetites. It takes a lot of perseverance to be good at anything, the same goes for developing our decisions and appetites for Christ and God’s Word. It takes time and effort to learn to delight in the Law of the Lord.
If your Bible reading is becoming boring, try changing it up. Do some things different.
Fellowship with other Believers is also something we need to decide to do. A close brotherhood makes for a great place for a good, strong tree to grow.
We need to have the attitude of willingness to obey God no matter what. To believe that God can and will meet our needs. To believe that God’s way is best. Period. God knows how much fruit we are capable of producing as well as what it is going to take to get us there.
A Healthy Tree Needs to Remain Strong and Healthy
A tree that is healthy is able to withstand heat and drought, it has the ability to make it through the tough times and still produce a good harvest of fruit when the time arrives. A tree that is healthy prospers in whatever he does.
When we look at David and Jeremiah we see that they went through things that definitely didn’t feel like prospering. However, prospering based on what we normally think about as being “prosperous” isn’t necessarily how God looks at prospering. Even when we can’t see the “prospering” we need to realize that God is looking farther down the road than we ever could. He has a plan and His plan does involve our prospering. Trust God with the “prospering” in your life.
Conclusion – You Are Like a Tree – Be a Good One
Roots need to be deep. Pay attention to your roots. Develop your spiritual life by studying obedience to God.
Roots also need to be wide. A healthy tree with a broad spread of roots is much better equipped to face the storms that come. Draw insight and advice from good friends. Develop good friendships.
How can you be sure that you are getting good advice? Line it up with the Bible. Line it up with “good sense.” Is the person who is giving you advice walking like they are telling you to? Aim for the sun, don’t just aim to be as “tall” as those around you – aim high.
Spread your branches wide. Touch the world around you. Grow good fruit.
Be grounded. Keep your roots growing and spreading with the fuel provided through the Word of God.