The Palm Tree
Those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ will be transformed & grow from the inside out. The Lord Jesus performs a remarkable transformation within us when we abide IN Him. (John 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:5, 15:6, 15:7, 15:8, 15:9, 15;10) If I believe in Jesus, I obey Him. If I say I believe in my marriage to my husband, yet I practice adultery, then it is clear I do not truly believe in the marriage. Let us be found faithful to Christ.
He is the author and finisher of our faith, but we are reminded that we must, in fact, continue in the faith. (Hebrews 12:1, 12:2, 12:3) As verse 3 of Hebrews 12 instructs, we must not faint in our minds, and as Paul instructs Christians in Acts 14:22, we must continue in the faith enduring great tribulation to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven from everlasting to everlasting. The Lord is faithful to “finish” our faith IF we continue IN the faith.
Just the other day, the Lord shed new light on my understanding of the palm tree, and I shared the information with my husband. The palm tree is quite unique in that, unlike many other trees, the palm is endogenous. The palm tree’s growth occurs from deep within the tree and becomes apparent externally - this is in contrast to many other trees that grow from the outside (exogenous).
We discussed how the palm's deep inner growth surely represents the same kind of growth that occurs within followers of Christ. He transforms us from the inside out. Within mere seconds of saying this, our 4 year old, who was sitting quietly in the backseat, said, “The heart.” Now, I love my four year old, but he doesn’t possess that kind of wisdom. : -)
We knew the Holy Spirit had shared His Wisdom during our conversation. It’s a transformed heart that leads to true growth spiritually and outwardly. The Word of God teaches that our hearts are despicable (Jeremiah 17:9) without the transforming power of Jesus Christ within us. He is the Word made flesh (John Chapter 1). Unless that Word takes root and flourishes deep within our hearts - sustaining us, nourishing us, and growing us, we are doomed for damnation. What a Saviour! What mercy for God to offer HImself to a dying world.
We must understand this Truth about the Lord’s Word: The Truth of God’s Word must penetrate first deep within us; otherwise, our external “works” are superficial and hollow. Empty. Dead. If only our ears are tickled, our hearts won’t be transformed. (2 Timothy 4:3) Messages that make our flesh comfortable will never seep into the core of our hearts. There will be no true growth from the inside to the outside. There may be a ‘flashy imitation’ for the world to gawk at, but it is worth nothing in the end. The inner man will remain the same: damned.
Is the True Word of God Implanted Deep Within You?
James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (Matthew 13:22, 13:23, Luke 8:11)
Are You Growing From The Inside Out Because of The Holy Spirit? Or Are You Performing External Works When There is Really No Internal Transformation Occurring? These Are Difficult Questions, But We Can’t Afford To Deceive Ourselves.
Psalm 92:12
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
[The Song of Solomon is symbolic of the pure, righteous, and fruit bearing relationship between the Bride (the true Church) and the Groom (Jesus).]
Song of Solomon 7:7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
Song of Solomon 7:8
I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;
John 12:13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Revelation 7:9-10
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Facts About Palm Trees:
From BibleStudyTools.com
“Its trunk is straight, tall and unbroken, terminating in a crown of emerald-green plumes, like a diadem of gigantic ostrich-feathers; these leaves are frequently twenty feet in length, droop slightly at the ends, and whisper musically in the breeze. The palm is, in truth, a beautiful and most useful tree. Its fruit is the daily food of millions; its sap furnishes an agreeable wine; the fibres of the base of its leaves are woven into ropes and rigging; its tall stem supplies a valuable timber; its leaves are manufactured into brushes, mats, bags, couches and baskets.”
“There is in the Psalms, (Psalms 92:12 ) the familiar comparison, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree," which suggests a world of illustration whether respect be had to the orderly and regular aspect of the tree, its fruitfulness, the perpetual greenness of its foliage, or the height at which the foliage grows, as far as possible from earth and as near as possible to heaven. Perhaps no point is more worthy of mention, we wish to pursue the comparison, than the elasticity of the fibre of the palm and its determined growth upward even when loaded with weights.”
“To these points of comparison may be added, its principle of growth: it is an endogen, and grows from within.”
From www.sciencedaily.com/terms/tree.htm
“Exogenous trees, which comprise the great majority of modern trees (all conifers, and all broadleaf trees), grow by the addition of new wood outwards, immediately under the bark.”
“Endogenous trees, mainly in the monocotyledons (e.g. palms), grow by addition of new material inwards.”
What author could possibly include such intricate and vast symbolism within a book? None other than the Creator of all, Lord God Almighty. My mind cannot possibly fathom the depths of His Book’s Wisdom. Yet - when His Spirit teaches a portion to me, I am humbled by Who He Is.
Is Your Heart Growing or Decaying?
Hebrews 3:12-1912 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Psalm 17:3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalm 10:17Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Psalm 19:14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 27:3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Psalm 28:3Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Matthew 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 15:8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mark 12:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mark 12:33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Matthew 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 15: 18-2018 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
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