WELCOME to the month of April, 2025! The Scriptural Reading is taken from the book of Psalms, 92:12-14: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they be fat and flourishing.”
I decree and declare that you shall flourish, grow, thrive and prosper in every realm throughout this month, in Jesus name!
When the Bible says, you shall flourish like the palm tree, it means your blessings will last very long; it will not be short-lived; you will be successful in every realm of your endeavours; your success and impact will not diminish in quantity and quality; and that in your life time, you will make steady progress.
I declare that your success and impact will last very long. It shall not be short-lived. Your blessings and greatness will not diminish in quantity and quality throughout this Month, in Jesus Name.
What does it mean to flourish?
It means to be successful; to prosper, to grow or to thrive in growth.
Growth – God expect us to grow, not to remain at one level or spot like the children of Israel who dwelled in the wilderness for 40 years. The journey of Eleven days (11) days lasted for Forty Years (40). He does not want our lives to be stagnated.
Thrive – Excel, evolve, develop. Jesus expected the tree to have produced fruits after certain stage of development and he found none and he said “cut it down” (Luke 13:6-7)
Prosper – To do well and to succeed. He said “Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. (3 John 2)
* To make steady progress (Proverbs 4:18)
* To be blessed/fruitful (Genesis: 1:28)
Introduction:
The palm tree is a symbol of resilience, longevity (it can live more than a century) and strength. It can thrive despite harsh weather conditions.
The leaves of the palm tree have medicinal value. Also, the palm trees are used for food, shelter, clothing, timber, fuel, building materials, fibres, starch, waxes, wines, and a host of other minor products are obtained from it. Its’ usefulness cannot be quantified.
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When the Bible says, you shall flourish like the palm tree, it means your blessings will last very long; it will not be short-lived; you will be successful in every realm of your endeavours; your success and impact will not diminish in quantity and quality; and that in your life time, you will make steady progress.
The Bible said: “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
The above scripture is telling us that we shall be blessed and fruitful in all that we do. This further means that we are not meant to be barren physically, spiritually and in every realm of life. God in His mercy, has so designed us to be blessed, fruitful and productive.
“And God blessed them, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
In this Month, I pray that nothing shall hinder your prosperity, establishment, greatness and productivity, in Jesus Name.
Biblical examples of people who flourished:
1. Abraham – He prospered in animal husbandry, silver, gold and God blessed him in all things (Genesis 13:2; 24:1);
2. Isaac – He sowed in the land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him (Genesis 26:12-14);
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3. Jacob – He left home with a staff and returned back in two bands (Genesis 32:10);
4. Joseph – He prospered in the house of his Master, the Egyptian and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hands (Genesis 39:2-4);
5. Aaron – Aaron’s rod was singled out of the Twelve rods placed in the tabernacle of witness. His rod blossomed, budded and brought forth fruits overnight (Numbers 17:1-10);
6. Job – He blessed Job in every realm and even the latter part of his life (Job 8:7; 14:9; 15:32; 42:12-17);
7. David – David was blessed and anointed. He said: “Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him” (Psalm 89:19-20). Other references (Psalm 72:7-8,16; 92:7,12-14; 104:16; 132:18);
8. Solomon – His riches surpassed all the Kings of the earth. He also wrote one thousand and five songs (Proverbs 11:28; 14:12; 28:28; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Song of Songs 7:12);
9. Isaiah – He declared prosperity in the midst of devastation (Isaiah 35:1-2); and
10. Hosea – (Hosea 13:15).
Benefits of flourishing:
1. You thrive and succeed in all seasons;
2. Your dominion, influence and authority are established (Psalm 72:7-8);
3. Abundance answers to you (Psalm 72:16; Genesis 26:12-14);
4. You become a blessing to your generation (Psalm 72:12-14,17; Job 29:12-14);
5. You enjoy absolute peace and joy;
6. You are distinguished and stand out in all your endeavours; and
7. You become a voice in your generation and silence the forces of evil and in our generation. You become a threat to the kingdom of darkness;
Secrets of flourishing like the palm tree:
1. You must be Born Again (Psalm 92:12): It’s only the righteous that shall flourish (prosper) like the palm tree. What does it mean to be Born Again? To turn away from your wicked ways, sinful habits and turn to the Lord for your salvation. It also means repentance (change). It means a change of heart and confessing Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour (2 Chronicles 7:14; Romans 10:9). The wicked cannot flourish or prosper (Psalm 92:7-9). The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just (Proverbs 13:22);
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2. Serve in the House of the Lord: Serve in the House of the Lord and serve faithfully. Service does not kill. It rather enhances. Service is not only limited to the Church, but also your employers and whatever your hands find to do (Eccl. 9:10). For instance, Jacob served Laban for Twenty (20) years – Genesis 30:29; 31:6,41. Joseph served in Potiphar’s house and in the prison (Genesis 39:4; 49:4). Elisha served Elijah for Twenty-One (21) years -2Kings 3:11. Joshua served Moses for Forty (40) years – Exodus 24:13; 33:11). God anoints people in the place of service, like He did to David (Psalm 89:20);
3. Be Faithful: Faithfulness is a requirement for stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:2). Great things are committed to the faithful (2Timothy 2:2). His eyes are upon the faithful and faithful people are made Rulers (Matthew 24:45; 25:21-23);
4. The Fear of God: God instructed Moses to provide, out of all the people, able men, such as fear God (Exodus 18:21). The midwives feared God and God dealt well with them. He also made them houses (Exodus 1:18-21);
5. Hating Covetousness: Do you want to flourish? Then you must hate greed and covetousness (Exodus 18:21);
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6. Liberality: The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself (Proverbs 11:25). You must give liberally to people and put smile on the faces of the needy (Proverbs 19:17; 2 Corinthians 8:2);
7. Work: You must labour. Isaac sowed in the land and dug wells. He laboured and God blessed him. The slothful will not prosper (Proverbs 19:15). Paul said “I laboured more than them all and he excelled out of all the Apostles (1 Corinthians 15:10); and
8. The Presence of God: Be a carrier of the presence of God in all your endeavours. Whatever you can do to secure the presence of God, do and you will succeed (Exodus 33:14-15). David prayed and asked the Lord not to take away His presence from his life (Psalm 51:11-12).
Prayers:
* Pray that the presence of God shall go with you throughout this Month and your life time.
* Ask the Lord to bless and prosper the works of your hands (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
* Declare that the heavens, be opened over your endeavours, consistently and permanently, in Jesus Name (Genesis 7:11-12)
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Prophesies:
I decree and declare that you shall excel, succeed and be blessed beyond measure throughout this Month, in Jesus Name.
I declare that you are preserved and every doors opened against you and your family this month is shut, in Jesus name!
Pastor Onoja is of Global Impact Revival Assembly International, P. O. Box 16504 Zone 3, Wuse-Abuja, FCT, Nigeria. E-mail: onojaaf@yahoo.com; Tel. Nos: +234(0)8055842594; +234(0)7034893475.
