Chapter Five

Learning How To Grow The Good Tree

Understanding the Nature of the Good Tree
Recently, I mentioned that I was a Christian counselor to someone whom I had just met. In response, he said that he was interested in talking with me. He made the statement, "I am a melancholy." I responded, "I am a Christian." The young man got the point, I think. We need to understand who we are in Christ. I grew up in a denomination which defined a Christian as being a sinner saved by grace. When I first heard it, I felt uncomfortable with it. I was a sinner. However, God saved me by his grace, according to the Bible, and made me a saint. I like to call my Christian brothers and sisters, "Saint __________," and watch a smile form on his or her face. If we see ourselves as sinners, then that is exactly the way that we will act. However, if we see ourselves as saints, then we begin to act as saints. If we see ourselves as victims, then we will act that way. However, if we see ourselves as victors, then we will act as victors.

You have seen elderly couples who look alike, talk alike, and act alike. There is a reason for this. They have been focusing on each other for a long, long time. Whatever you focus on is what you act like. A child who focuses on a violent parent will also normally become violent in his actions. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to focus on who we are in Christ so we will act like who we are. One may be a child of God, but to act like one is something else. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). The question is, "Who are we in Christ?"

Paul declares, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). As a Christian counselor, my first goal is to lead people to Christ. My second goal is to establish the meaning of who they are as a new creation. We need to see ourselves as who we are in the spirit-man. I have gleaned the following material from the Word on the meaning of being a new creation.

We are born again. The first birth was a fleshly birth, but the second birth is a spiritual birth (John 3:1-8). This birth is from above. We are born not of seed that is corruptible, but of incorruptible seed. We are born of the Word of God, which lives and dwells in us forever (I Peter 1:23). This means that when we do choose to sin within the soul, that we will not corrupt the spirit. When we are born again in the spirit, we are not able to sin in the spirit. We can not sin because God's seed lives within us (I John 3:8). Satan can't touch the spirit of the believer to destroy it (I John 5:18). We are taken out of Satan's kingdom of darkness and have been translated into the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13). We have been joined unto Christ (I Corinthians 6:17). In Christ we are complete. We need nothing more (Colossians 2:10). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

We were spiritually dead to the things of God. We were actually dead in our spirits, but we have been made alive by the spirit of Christ (Ephesians 2:5). We were considered sinners, but now we are made the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:21). Because of the righteousness that we have in Christ, we are fully accepted of God (Ephesians 1:6). We are actually called saints. We are set apart from the world unto the living God (I Corinthians 1:2). We are not condemned as we live in Christ (Romans 8:1). We actually have the divine nature of God dwelling within us (II Peter 1:4). In the spirit we are seated with Christ Jesus in heaven (Ephesians 2:6). We have eternal life in Christ. From the very moment that we receive Christ, until the end, we shall not perish. Why? Because Jesus keeps us and God, the Father, keeps us (John 10:28-29).

We should see that God has called us unto Himself, but not according to our works, but by His own gift of grace (II Timothy 1:9). He has elected us to be holy and receive his love (Colossians 3:12). He has predestinated that we be formed into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). God has confirmed us unto the very end. We are considered to be without blame (I Corinthians 1:8). We can be confident that since God began the work in us that he will continue that work until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). God will keep that which we have committed unto Him until the day of judgment (II Timothy 1:12).

As new creations, we are made free through Jesus from the power of the enemy (John 8:36). Since we are born of God, we have overcome the world. We have victory over the world through our faith (I John 5:4). We are more than conquerors through God that loves us (Romans 8:37). In fact, nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35). The spirit of Jesus that lives in us is greater than the enemy in the world (I John 4:4). God always causes us to triumph in Christ (II Corinthians 2:14).

As new creations, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. What the Father gave to Jesus, also belongs to us (Romans 8:17). We have access to all of the promises of God in Christ. God says, "Yes" and "So let it be" (I Corinthians 1:20). We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). God has redeemed us from the curse of the law that he might give us the promises of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14).

As new creations, we have the capacity to hear and obey the voice of Jesus (John 10:27). We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). We have the ability in Jesus to do anything that God asks us to do. We are the light of the world, giving off the light of Christ (Matthew 5:14). We are the salt that gives life flavor and the salt that preserves purity (Matthew 5:13).

We are a chosen people, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, and a God-possessed people who should declare the praises of God who has called us out of darkness unto His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9). NOTE: Now read through this section again, making personal application. Use your name or "I" where the pronoun "we" is used.

Growing in Good Soil
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalms 1:1-3). Let us consider what the good soil is not. It is not walking in ungodly counsel. It is amazing how many Christians go to counselors for help without considering whether or not the counselors are Christians. They go to the counselors because they are "professionals" not considering if or not they use Biblical principles in counseling. Then they wonder why they did not find lasting solutions to their problems. At this point the prophet in me comes out to warn, "Just because someone is a Christian counselor or even a minister of the gospel does not mean that they use Christian principles in counseling." God's Word warns us, "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD" (Proverbs 21:30). We should be careful about seeking ungodly advise of any kind! For example, ungodly financial advise such as encouraging us to buy on credit will often lead us into deep financial bondage (Proverbs 22:7).

Good soil is not standing around listening to sinners. Teenagers often say, "Well, they aren't my close friends. We are just friends." Being just friends is dangerous! Yes, I know about friendship-evangelism, but I am talking about listening to sinful people. There is an expression among those who talk about computers that says, "Garbage in ... garbage out." This means whatever we put in the computer is also what comes out of it. It is impossible to listen to the words of sinful people without becoming contaminated by them! Even as a Christian counselor, one can become contaminated. Exposure is inevitable. I often have to ask the Lord to cleanse my mind of the words that I hear and the mental pictures that I visualize while counseling. It is essential for me to keep a clear mind.

Good soil is not sitting down to learn of those that are scornful. The picture is of one being seated in the position of a student sitting at the feet of a sarcastic teacher. The Hebrew word used in Psalms 1:1 means to scorn, make mouths at, or to talk arrogantly. This reminds me of some university classes that I was taking in the field of psychology. Often the teachers were arrogant and boastful about their knowledge about man. They also put down the Biblical view that God created man. They esteemed the views of Freud, Adler, and Maslow above that of the Word of God. Many of our youth are planted in the poor soil of our secular school system that derides the truths of the Bible. Bad soil also reminds me of a Sunday School class in which I sat. Various class members mocked me for bringing my Bible. I had simply suggested that the Bible might have some answers to their discussion topics. Any church that denies the authority of, the application of, and the practice of, God's Word is bad soil.

What then is good soil? The good soil is God's Word. Joshua 1:8 states, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Everything that comes out of our mouths should be in accord with the Word of God. For such to happen, we must first get the Scripture inside of us. In one sense we must plant ourselves in the Word. We must delight ourselves in God's Word. We must agree with Job (Job 23:12) that the words from the mouth of God are more important than our necessary food. We are to meditate in the Word day and night. Meditation is like a sheep chewing it's cud. The sheep has several different stomachs. First, the sheep must bite the grass off, chew it slightly, and swallow it. Then at a later time, it belches it up and chews the cud. The Word states in several places that we are like sheep. We are to read the Word (Revelation 1:3) and memorize (Deuteronomy 6:6) the Word. Then we are to recall the Word and ponder on it.

Meditation is turning the Word over in your mind through a process of visualization. We should visualize what the Word is saying. When I was a small boy, my dad would occasionally take me fishing. I just loved fishing. The river was about ten miles away from my house. As a small lad, I did not know how to get to the river. There were small mesquite trees on much of the pasture land around where we lived. However, at the river, there were big tall pecan trees. When we came near the river, I would spot the pecan trees and my heart would almost leap inside. This is the picture I get when I think about Psalms 1:3. I see those big pecan trees planted by the river. Their roots were down in the earth where they could get the water. They didn't concern themselves about how much it rained that year as long as there was water in the river. Their leaves were always green in the summer and they produced an abundance of pecans.

Feeding the Tree
For any tree to grow, to mature, and produce fruit, it must receive the proper nutrients. When a logger cuts a tree down, he can examine the rings of the tree and tell what years the tree received food for growth and what years it did not. The thicker the rings, the more nutrients the tree received that year. As baby Christians, we are to feed upon the milk of God's Word. Peter writes, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"; (I Peter 2:2). We should learn some basic doctrines. The Bible lists these doctrines in Hebrews 6:1. They are the doctrines of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. What do you know about each of these doctrines? Would you be able to share the meaning of each with an honest inquirer?

Do you understand that any work that you do to obtain or maintain your salvation is a dead work? Yes, a DEAD work. The Word states, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14).
Do you understand that a Christian is not to live by his intellect, will power, or emotions, but by a faith in God? Where does that faith come from? How does one get faith? The faith is strictly a gift of God. Faith comes through a revelation of the Word of God. When Simon Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is heaven" (Matthew 16:17).
Do you understand the doctrine of baptisms (plural)? There is a spiritual baptism in which the Holy Spirit baptizes us in the Word and joins us unto Christ in his death and burial (Romans 6:3-4). There is a water baptism for the purpose of saving the soul (mind, will, and emotions) (I Peter 3:21). There is a baptism where Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit for the purpose of receiving power for witnessing unto Jesus (Acts 1:5, 8). There is also a baptism of which we normally hear little. This baptism is the baptism of suffering, even unto death (Luke 12:50).
What do you know of the laying on of hands? Have you laid hands on anyone or have you had anyone to lay hands upon you? There can be a transference of anointing, spiritual gifts, and healing through the laying on of hands (Deuteronomy 34:9, II Timothy 1:6, Mark 16:18).
Did you know there are two resurrections? One is for the saved and the other for the unsaved. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren ... for the Lord himself shall descend form heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:13, 16-17). There is also the resurrection of the unsaved. "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5).
Do you know there are two judgments? One is for the saved and another for the unsaved (Daniel 12:2). Jesus is to be a Contest Judge to those saved, handing out rewards. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). However, Jesus also is to be a Court Judge to the unsaved. "And I saw a great white throne ... and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11, 15).

Please understand that the preceding discussion is only meant to be an introduction to each of the doctrines, a challenge to the new born Christian, and not a comprehensive study. There is milk to babes and meat for the mature. "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Maturity comes by a continual feeding upon the word. "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little": (Isaiah 28:9-10). It is like building a house. You lay down one row of brick, then put another row of brick on top. We are to understand that this comes with work and patience.

Letting the Tree Breathe
How does a tree breathe? It takes in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen. As sunlight falls upon the leaves of the plant, chlorophyll combines water with carbon dioxide to start a chemical process. Through this process the tree digests its food. Also by this process the tree gives off oxygen. The tree must have its leaves in the sunlight for the process to occur. We must also have our leaves in the light of the Son. We place our leaves in the Son by getting into the Word which is light. We also place our leaves in the Son by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). As we search the Word, we find the light of Christ. David declared in the Psalms, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105). David also exclaimed, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalms 119:130). Solomon also said, "For the commandment is a lamp; and law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Proverbs 6:23). Peter sums it up by saying, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (II Peter 1:19-20). We walk in the SON LIGHT by reading, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word. The way that we know that we are walking in the SON LIGHT is by studying the Word.

I like the prayer of Paul for the church at Ephesus. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe..." (Ephesians 1:17-19). The way that the Word becomes alive and gives light is through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth that leads us into all truth (John 16:13). John also states that the Holy Spirit reveals the SON to us (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit also reveals to us what our inheritance is in Christ (John 16:14-15).

We are to spend time in the Word and receive revelation of the Word. The engrafting of the revealed Word causes us to walk in the LIGHT. The light of the Word scatters the darkness! David beautifully wrote, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalms 119:133). However, the process does not stop there. There is to be a breathing process. We are not only to take in the Word, but we are also to breathe out the Word. "And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). There is to be the inhaling of the written Word and the exhaling of the spoken Word. This serves as a means of growth to the good tree and also growth for other good trees.

Go to Chapter Six or return to Evil Tree Menu.