First Wednesday - May 2020
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 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.”
Seasons: Drought = Scarcity of a resource
- Time
- Energy
- Money
- Health
- Opportunity
- Family or Friends
- Help
- Fun/Laughter
Proverbs 17:22
“A merry heart does good, like medicine.”
Psalm 1:1-3
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
1. Planted by the riverbank
John 7:37-39
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. And let anyone drink who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him will flow rivers of living water.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
2. Roots that reach deep into the water.
1. Meditate on Scripture
Psalm 1:1-3
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
2. Big trees are connected to big water.
Ephesians 6:18
“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions…”
Galatians 5:25
“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. We do this by heeding the direction of the Holy Spirit. Inklings that are not selfish.”
3. Fruit Bearing
Galatians 5:22-23
Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you find someone demonstrating these fruits or characteristics in a season of drought, then you want to get close to them and learn as much as you can. LIFE GROUPS help. You are the sum of your five closest relationships. They impact your thinking, self-esteem, and decisions. If those closest relationships are not demonstrating fruit, then consider finding some new relationships or influence them to go deeper with you.
Jeremiah 17:5-6
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person is like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.”
Romans 10:9-10
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.”