Sunday Sermon

Like a Tree Ralph Crump July 30, 2006

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Introduction: General Sherman Tree – Psa. 1:1-3
Metaphors – a figure of speech by which one thing is compared to a different kind of thing.

EIGHT TREE METAPHORS

I. GOPHER TREE Gen. 6:13-14
Make an ark of Gopher wood. Why?

A. Dan. 12:3; Prov. 11:30; 1 Cor. 15:58
B. The ark saved the weak Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 15:1.
C. Are you the type of wood useful in saving souls?

II. GOURD TREE Jonah 4:6-10
The conditions of Nineveh

A. Jonah had no pity on Nineveh.
B. Do you have pity on the lost in the U.S.A.?
C. Is the worm of sin cutting down your shade tree?

III. SYCAMORE TREE Amos 7:14-15 - Amos was a dresser of Sycamore trees for mulberry figs. The wood is very durable.

A. Luke 19:1-4 Zacchaeus, tax collector, climbed a sycamore to see Jesus. Are you looking above to see Jesus for spiritual direction?
B. Are you lifting up Jesus in your life?
C. A Christian is of great value to the Lord.

IV. MUSTARD TREE seed the size of a small berry.

A. Mt. 13:31-33 The least of all trees – full growth 15 ft.
B. A mans faith starts small Mt. 17:20.
C. A Christian’s character should be strong.
D. A Christian’s faith should be rooted and grounded in love Eph. 3:17.

V. OLIVE TREE bears fruit for 100’s of years – Olive oil.

A. Psa. 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the House of the Lord”.
B. Lk. 22:39 Jesus prayed at Mount of Olives his favorite place to pray.
C. Olive branch is a symbol of peace and strength.
D. We are grafted into Christ Rom. 11:14-19.

VI. CEDAR TREE Symbol of great strength – used for building
Jewish temple. Most enduring wood.

A. It grows straight and not crooked.
B. It endures greatly James 1:12. “Blessed is the man that endures temptation”.
C. Cedars are evergreen. We should always be evergreens.
D. Cedars drive insects away. Cedar closet. We should drive insects of sin far away from us, out of our heart so we will be pure and holy.

VII. PALM TREE has over 600 uses for its fruit, leaves, bark
and sap.

A. It grows with its roots in water and its head in the sun. We must look to the water of life and our heads looking to the son of righteousness.
B. Psa. 92:12 “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”.
C. The palm tree is fruitful Jh. 15:2.
D. A palm tree thrives when it is loaded with much fruit. SO DOES THE CHRISTIAN!

VIII. TREE OF LIFE Gen. 3:24 Cherubim’s guarded the tree of life with a flaming sword.

A. Tree of life in Genesis and Revelation 22:14.
B. 12 manner of fruits is mention from Tree.
C. What kind of wood are you?
D. WHAT TREE BEST SYMBOLIZES YOUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION?

ARE YOU LIKE THE:

-GOPHER TREE?
-GOURD TREE?
-SYCAMORE TREE?
-MUSTARD TREE?
-OLIVE TREE?
-CEDAR TREE?
-PSALM TREE?
-TREE OF LIFE?

THE TREE OF LIFE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TREE IN LIFE! AND IN AFTER LIFE.

INVITATION

HAVE YOU BEEN GRAFTED INTO CHRIST?