THERE’S A TREE GROWING IN ME
PROV 11:30 & Matt 13:31-32
I. THE TREE OF LIFE
A. There were two tree’s planted in the garden (paradise) of Eden - the tree of life and the tree of knowledge
B. Background of man’s fall and the two tree’s
C. The tree of life had the quality to give eternal life both physically and spiritually
D. After man sinned God, banned all access to the tree of life
-Gen 3:22-24 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
-in this condition man would have remained in sin with the ability to live forever. Imagine the condition this world would be in, if unrepentant, wicked people lived forever
II. THERE IS STILL HOPE
A. God didn’t leave fallen man with no hope but promised a redeemer
B. The plan of salvation through Jesus Christ restores eternal life to all who believe upon him
-John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
C. From the moment we believe upon Christ, we become a part of God’s kingdom and His kingdom is imparted into our life
-Luke 17:20-21 ...The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
D. The kingdom of God compared to a tree
-Matt 13:31-32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
III. THERE’S A TREE GROWING IN ME
A. Put the above verses together and it all says “There’s a tree growing in me”. The believer is often compared to a tree in scripture
-Ps 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
-Jer 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
B. An O.T. promise concerning Christ and those who believe upon Him
-we are tree’s of the Lord’s planting
-Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
C. When we got saved a seed was planted in our life
-illustration - telling kids if they swallow water melon seeds they will grow inside them
-1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
D. A spiritual “Tree of Life” is growing in us which represents the kingdom of God in our life.
IV. THE PURPOSE OF A TREE - PROV 11:30
A. A tree bears fruit - God expects spiritual fruit in the life of a believer
-Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
B. This is fruit that God likes, enables us to live for Him and shows the world what God expects from us
-Eph 5:9-10 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
-Matt 7:20 ...by their fruits you shall know them
C. A tree provides shelter - people can find shelter from sin, healing for the heart, peace for the mind
-people broken by sin can find shelter in Jesus Christ, the “The Tree Growing in Me” (Matt 13:31-32)
D. This tree restores to man the eternal life that was lost in the Garden of Eden, spiritual and physical
V. CONCLUSION
A. The Christian life is like a tree that bears life giving fruit
-Prov 11:30 (NLT) The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit,...
B. The wise Christian will use the fruit he bears to bring people into the kingdom of God
-Prov 11:30 (NAU) ....and he who is wise wins souls.
C. Finally, the fruit of the tree in our life must pass the Father’s inspection
-Matt 7:17-20 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
D. God promises we will partake of the Tree of Life
-Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise (garden) of God.
