There’s Life in the Tree

You are my children, you shall produce fruit and take dominion over what I have given you.

Posted on

Recently I had a dream that I want to share that the Lord changed into a message.  In the dream, I had a big rake in my hand and I began raking all the sticks, that were once branches, now scattered on the ground beneath me.  The sticks, we’re all broken and disconnected from the branch and trunk of the tree.  As I was raking there was an overwhelming sense of loss that I was experiencing.  I bent down and gathered all the sticks and began emptying them into the garbage can that was beside me. 

I awakened immediately after that, rubbed my eyes, and headed to my Keurig for my morning cup of coffee.  As I sat down I asked the Lord to explain what He was saying in the dream.  

He took me to Luke 3 when John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing the people, he said, “The ax is at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”   (Luke 3: 9)

The people were apparently responding to his message so they started asking, “What should we do?” That’s a good day when the preacher gets responses that quick!  I long for the day when crowds run into the churches asking, “What should we do to be saved?”

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”  (Luke 3: 11)  

Another group, the tax collectors, asked the same question, “What should we do?”  John answered the tax collectors.  “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.”  (Luke 3: 12)

Here come the soldiers, asking the same question.  John replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely–be content with your pay.”  (Luke 3: 14)

Challenged with this question, I asked the Lord, “What should we do, as your followers?”  Immediately, He said, “Go and do likewise.”  

Kingdom-minded folks are content with what they have; they are honest and share with those in need.  

In the Garden of Eden when mankind was created, God plopped Adam and Eve right in the center of everything surrounded them with fruit-bearing trees.    

Prophetically, I propose to you that, God was saying, “You are my children, you shall produce fruit and take dominion over what I have given you.”  

  • Fruitfulness was displayed all around them.

God has called us to be fruitful and multiply, even in a drought, this can happen.

How?  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17: 7-8)

  • Trust in the Vine, Jesus, to produce.
  • Be confident in what He will produce.
  • He makes the fruit grow.  

There’s life in the tree.  There’s life upon the tree on Calvary!  “For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands.  They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.”  (Isaiah 65: 22-23) 

What produces good fruit?  By being rooted and grounded in Him.  We must remain in Him and allow our roots to go deep.  Jesus told us, “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned.”  (John 15: 6)  

Kingdom-minded believers recognize that bearing fruit is to our Father’s glory.

The fruit of the Spirit will enable us to produce, as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  How can we enjoy for a long time the works of our hands?  There’s one word:  Multiplication!  The harvest and crops are ripened by Him.  Everything that God produces through us, will be multiplied and blessed.  Why?  It’s HIM producing it.   

All we need to do is yield and position ourselves in the place that we have been called to, be obedient, and watch the Lord grow it. 

There’s still life in the vine. The prophet Jonah was angry with the Lord for He was a compassionate God who desired to save Nineveh.  Jonah did not care or even want the people of Nineveh to be saved.  In defiance, he went out of the city and made himself some shelter, and sat in its shade.  “Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.”  (Jonah 4: 6)  

  • We are happy when the Lord provides comfort and answers our cries.  

The next day at dawn God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so it withered.  When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint.  He wanted to die.  But, God asked him, “Do you have the right to be angry about the vine?” (Jonah 4: 9)  Jonah responded, yes.  The Lord said to him, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not make it grow.  It sprang up overnight and died overnight.  But Nineveh has more than 120,00 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.  Should not I be concerned about this great city?”  (Jonah 4: 10-11)  

  • Remain in Him even when a worm arrives and provisions appears to be gone.  
  • Worms seek to destroy delicious, juicy golden apples; but seek to remain steadfast in your loss.  

Lord God make us concerned with the things that concern you, and the people that you love.  You provide life, for you are the vine.  Even in times of loss and calamity, you provide!  May we show our concern as you give us opportunities to grow. 

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE:   Christ-followers stay concerned about the dominion and the authority He has given us to help to grow and to cultivate. 

 

FOR A VISUAL MESSAGE CLICK HERE

 

 


KINGDOM ASSURANCE

You can find all of the Kingdom Assurance series posts by clicking the button below.

VISIT SERIES PAGE

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Mary Beth Pecora, a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, worshiper and servant leader, who loves life and loves people. More importantly, she passionately loves God and the fullness of who He is! For twenty-three years she has served in leadership positions within the ministry of Aglow International. Currently, she and her husband serve at The Secret Place--A Psalm 91 Ministry. It's a place for individual folks to come, be exhorted and prayed for, while being ushered to ministry stations within the room. They continue to serve monthly in the Prayer Room at their home church that they have been a part of for almost forty years. In April of 2022 they both received their Ministry License and were Ordained in May of 2023. She delights in encouraging folks of all ages within various walks of life. Her love of writing is now her passion, which led her to publish two books, "Restoration Explosion In The New Year," and "Navigating The Mysteries Of God." Above all that’s been accomplished and concluded, the BEST thing to her is knowing her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is her everything—her very best friend. Visit: Mybelovedsvoice.com