FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE

What does it mean to Flourish like the Palm Tree?

This 2015 Winning Women Convention has the Palm Tree as a symbol of its scriptural theme. In this article Pastor Yemisi explains what it means to flourish like the palm tree…

THE PALM TREE REMAINS STEADFAST DURING THE STORM

Life is full of storms. Being born again does not exempt a person from experiencing challenges.

People experience storms in their lives at one time or another. It could be health related, in marriage, finances, shattered dreams, bereavement or even the storm of unanswered prayers.

Storms come because satan does not want you to reach the other side. He desires that we remain in a constant state of confusion and despair. He wants to lure us over to him and away from God.

The only way to remain standing in the midst of the storm is to hold on to Jesus. When faced with troubles we need to remember what Jesus said in John 16:33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Sometimes it is easier for us to see how God can work in the storms that other people are facing, than it is to see believe that God can work in our own storm. We need to realise that God is with us – He is Jehovah Shammah, He is Jehovah Jireh, providing for and protecting us. We mistakenly conclude that we are alone – that no one – not even God knows what is happening in our lives or understands how we are feeling. Jesus IS waiting for you to turn to Him.

FAITH IN ACTION: Learn to trust God for your deliverance: 2 Cor 1:8-10 (NCV)

Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. Truly, in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the dead. God saved us from these great dangers of death, and He will continue to save us. We have put our hope in Him, and He will save us again.

THE PALM TREE IS A SYMBOL OF PEACE

PEACE is:

• Calm – true – cease fire
• Free from agitation of mind and spirit
• The state of security and order within
• Free from tension – severe – light-hearted
• Physically, mentally and emotionally undisturbed
• Freedom from oppressing thoughts or emotions – The devil lying to you

WHAT KIND OF PEACE DOES GOD WANT TO GIVE US?

He wants to give us uncommon peace:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

This peace doesn’t make sense by the world’s standards – nor can we understand it. This peace comes when you realise that Christ is your source and that you are a carrier of the uncommon blessing: you already have everything you need in this life.

Jesus gives us a peace that allows us to say It is well with my soul.

FAITH IN ACTION: Trust God – let your mind rest on Him

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

THE PALM TREE PRODUCES FRUIT

If we are going to produce good fruit, we are going to have to let God prune us. Sometimes this is not easy but God knows exactly what He is doing and He will cut out the things that can hinder or harm us.

Nothing can stop a person bearing fruit like bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV) says:

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. That the root is the place where something begins, where it springs into being. Bitterness takes root in the heart and grows deeper. If we harbour bitterness, it becomes a disease that spreads, contaminating many.

THE CAUSE OF BITTERNESS

Bitterness can be caused by hurtful words, hurtful attitudes and hurtful actions.

It can grow from the literal loss of a loved one, a job or a promotion (employer). Sometimes it might be more subtle and grow from the loss of reputation, a forgotten favour, or wrongful accusations. While we can’t control what happens in life, we can control how we react. Bitterness necessitates that you walk in the flesh, and not in the Spirit. This can devastate a person, stopping spiritual growth and even affecting their health.

FAITH IN ACTION: OVERCOMING BITTERNESS

Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV) Says: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Forgiveness is the cure for bitterness.

BEAR GOOD FRUIT

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

The moment we became born again the Holy Spirit began a divine work to produce Christ’s character in us. There are nine fruits placed in the life of the believer at salvation. All nine are growing in you at the same time and they are meant to be visible and readily available for you to pick from and use.

Bearing fruit is not a matter of effort or struggle it is as natural as the growth of fruit on a tree – you don’t have to orchestrate it on your own. The fruit of the spirit is a simple expression of our inner life. It develops as we constantly abide in Jesus. The benefits of bearing these fruits are for the individual believer and the Body of Christ. Even though they are internal disciplines, these characteristics affect other people and they are also necessary for the effectiveness of the gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (NIV).

If you are not exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit, then it means that you are not walking as Jesus would have you walk and your relationship with Him is less than it should be. My sister, it is a new day. God wants you to Flourish, He wants the world to know Him through you, me and every believer. He wants to reach out and touch the world with His love. It’s time to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, to let the Spirit of God cut away the dead things and heal you, to throw off the sin that so easily entangles, to forget about the things of the past. It’s time for you to come out of the shadows and Flourish in Jesus Christ.

FAITH IN ACTION: The Fruit comes by keeping in step with the Spirit.

This is a daily walk, not just a moment in time. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-11 (NIV)

 This article is based on the following messages by Pastor Yemisi Ashimolowo:

Developing a winning Character: The Fruit of the Spirit, Get better not Bitter and Peace in the Storm. To obtain your copies of these and other messages please contact the MAMM Bookstore on 020 8525 0000