Text: Matthew 7:24-27
Memory verse:
“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”
Psalms 92:12 NKJV
It takes two things to break a tree: a heavy wind outside and a rot inside. Sometimes, you see a tree standing and appearing strong until a strong wind blows against it. The strong wind breaks it because it has been destroyed internally by boring insects.
Also, palm trees are known to be resistant to strong winds. They rarely break, even with hurricanes. Rather than breaking, they bend, sometimes as much as 90 degree angle and rise back after the wind. Their unique features give them such advantage. Palm trees have fibrous trunks and have no hollow inside, unlike wooden trees. It will not crack or split like wooden trees.
In addition, instead of having a few large roots they have hundreds of small root system that spreads wide and anchoring the tree to a large area of soil. Thus, they cannot be easily dislodged!
It is often said, that life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchor. Yes, the storms reveal what is inside of you and what is holding you. Like Solomon warned, “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small” (Prov 24:10).
According to our text today, two people experienced the same adversities but one stood and the other fell. In fact, it was a great fall! One was built on the rock and the other, on the sand.
Jesus is the Rock of ages. Is your life built on Him? No storm can pull down the life that is built on Him (Matt 16:18).
The word of God is the word of His grace that builds up. Are you building your life, future or family with the word of God or human philosophies and traditions? (Acts 20:32).
Is your confidence rooted in God or the arm of flesh? Nothing can undo the man who puts his trust in God. (Psa 125:1)
Are you continuing in the Lord after beginning with Him? When you sleep spiritually, you allow the devouring insects to eat up your strength and create a hole inside of you (Matt 13:25)
Do you practice what hear and learn? It is what you hear, believe and practice that profits you and not just what you hear and know (Jam 1:25).
You won’t be broken, pulled out or destroyed in the midst of the storms of life but you will stand firm and flourishing like a palm tree in Jesus name.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, make me to be rooted and established in You and Your word in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, let me never lose my strength, break or fall in the days of adversity in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. I am like a palm tree, I flourish and don’t break even in adversity.
2. The Lord remains the source of my strength so I don’t faint or fall during the days of adversities.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng