Wednesday night while preaching in our service I said something about the old oak trees in our midst. I wonder, are they needful anymore? If we understand Bible terminology, we know that God sees the Godly as fruitful trees; Psalms 1:3 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.
WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AND OLD OAK TREE?
Brother Branham spoke of the old oak trees and the great purpose they had for the new generation of believers coming up. When the young evangelist, T. L. Osborne came to him for instruction in ministry, he pointed him to the elderly minister F. F. Bosworth. He told him to set under that old oak tree for a while and learn all you can.
Later, Brother Branham congratulated Brother Osborne on the great work for the kingdom of God that he was doing. His response was the following: “Brother Branham,” he said, “I’m glad I set under that old oak tree.”
The old oaks have old ways and deep roots that have come by weathering many high winds and storms, not yet to be encountered by the young trees.
HAVE THE OLD OAKS ALL GONE?
I was thinking about how many of the old oaks are now gone. I hear it often today, “we are the new generation that is going to carry this message to the consummation.” That may very well be true. However, I hear this by many that have never set under an old oak tree and if they did, they always felt the poor old tree has seen its day and has no real value in the great things God is going to do with this younger generation.
Maybe so, but that new generation that went in and took the Land of Canaan could have never done it without those two old oaks, Caleb and Joshua, they had weathered so many dreadful storms of fear and doubt that plagued the people along the journey. They had experienced many battles.
May God always have a few OLD OAK trees, but alas, will anyone want to set under them?
Pastor Bill Ivy, Living Word Tabernacle Campbell MO USA