Sermon Date: Sat, 12/31/2011
Key Passage: “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit. – Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. – Matthew 13:21 (NLT)
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
BE COMMITTED TO THE FIRST:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:33 (NKJ)
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. – Revelation 2:4 (NKJ)
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. – Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJ)
HE WANTS YOU TO BE PLANTED
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. – PSALMS 1:3 (NKJ)
1. GET PLANTED WHERE THE RIVER IS FLOWING
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. – REVELATION 22:1-2 (NKJ)
2. COMMITT TO BEARING GREAT FRUIT
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. – JOHN 15:1-4 (NKJ)
3. PROSPER WITH A PURPOSE
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – JOSHUA 1:8 (NKJ)
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO GOING INTO 2012?
GIVE HIM MY JUNK!
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” – ISAIAH 61:3 (NKJ)
