Recently, John and I were studying about the Sycamine Tree from Rick Renner's book, Sparkling Gems from the Greek.  Following that, we met a friend of Gary Smalleys and he told us about meeting with a neuroscientist whose research showed through MRI's the tree form often found in the brain.  We found it to be a very profound and shared both connected studies at a local prayer meeting.  The results in all of us were profound as the Holy Spirit began cleansing our lives.  Luke 17:1-6
1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

 
Luke 17:6 Mulberry tree/Sycamine Tree-Sukaminos-Grk word

From: Sparkling Gem from the Greek By: Rick Renner-Dec 27-29

Jesus taught His disciples about bitterness and unforgiveness and how to remove these evil forces from one’s life. Jesus likened these forces to the sycamine tree.

Characteristics:

1. Similar in appearance to the mulberry fig which was a sweet fruit for the wealthy

2. The Sycamine produced a bitter fruit, a fig for the poor, to nibble slowly

3. Very difficult to kill-would come back if any root left

4. Endures extreme conditions of high temperatures, low moisture

5. Preferred wood for building caskets and coffins

6. Vigorous, quick growth up to 30 plus feet

7. Deepest root structures of all trees in Middle East -would take over rapidly

8. Pollinated by wasp when they stung the heart of the fruit, not naturally pollinated


Sycamine tree-example of bitterness (resentment) and unforgiveness.

1.Bitterness & Unforgiveness go deep into the soul. Must be dealt with to the roots or it springs up again. Fed by any offence; tends to resurface over and over.

2.These two evil forces grow quickly out of control.

3. Flourish where spiritually dry conditions exist.

4. Are deadly to your whole being. They steal your joy, kill your peace, and cancel your spiritual life. They cause many deadly diseases and illnesses in the body.

5. The poverty stricken, the poor, are usually those most eaten up with bitterness & unforgiveness

6. Bitter people are heard saying, “I’ve been stung by that person before, but never again.” (wasp of bitterness)

7. Bitter feelings, like the bitter fig, are chewed on for a long time

Gary Smalley flew to NY to meet with a Nueroscientis. He asked what effect words have on the brain. She reported through research of MRIs of the brain, negative thoughts, words, or actions create a black tree form in the brain. This prevents or short-circuits the electrical nerve pulses from the brain to the body parts. Depression shows up in the form of a cloud. These forms bring illness, disease, poor decision making and responses, and slow learning processes. It was recorded that the brain worked at an optimum in those who had love in their lives and relationships resulting in a positive attitude. Love could even dissolve this black tree form in the brain. This follows the first commandment to love God and love your neighbor as yourself…(and that means to also love yourself).  God is love and He commands us to love.

Speaking to bitterness and unforgiveness is necessary.
Greek word, lego, a strong, stern, serious, deeply felt kind of speaking. Rick Renner writes:

1) If you don’t speak to your emotions, they will speak to you.

2) If you don’t take authority over your emotions, they will take authority over you.

3) If you don’t rise up and conquer your flesh, it will rise up and conquer you.

Luke 17:6 states that the Sycamine tree should be told to go into the sea. Sea-salt will kill the plant. The bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness will never re-root, never grow back, never hound us again. They become dead issues to us, buried in the sea of forgetfulness so the roots can never regain a foothold in our soul.

Its time for you to do the speaking, take command of your thought life, and take authority over the enemies of Bitterness, Resentment, and Unforgiveness. Only the smallest amount of faith speaking out will cause them to be eradicated, permanently removed from your life. Order them out of your life now.

                                    “Be uprooted and removed forever!”

Clean out the wellsprings of your life and let the fresh love of God fill you to overflowing.