Rooted in Him
Many people search records trying to find their natural roots, there are many
computer networks that can search your line for you. Even though this is not bad,
we have to remember that we are born again and our spiritual roots are in God
Himself (Acts 17:28-29) “for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain
also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as
we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or
silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device”. Paul preached this message on
Mars hill and many believed came to the Lord (Acts 17:34). Paul said “I am crucified
with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now
live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself
for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Let us search to find our spiritual roots, the Bible tells us in Isaiah 11:1 “and there
shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his
roots” and Isaiah 53:2 says “for He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and
as a root out of a dry ground”; in Revelations 22:16 the Bible says “I, Jesus have
sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches, I am the Root and the
Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star”.
Jesus tells us to stay connected to Him in John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and My
Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away
and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I
in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more
can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that
abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you can
do nothing”. We abide in Him by abiding in His words and letting His words abide in
us.
In the parable of the sower Jesus tells us that the seed is the word of God and as it
is sown a part of the plant has to first be fix itself in the earth (Matthew 13:5-6) “some
fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and immediately they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away”; He then explained it
in verses 20-21 “but he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that
hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it. Yet has he not root in himself,
but endures for a while; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the
word, by and by he is offended”.
God told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you
shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that
is written therein, for then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall
have good success”. The word of God is to be continually coming out of our
mouths. Proverbs 4:20-23 goes on to say “my son, attend to my words, incline your
ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of
your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life”. Jesus tells us to
“continue in His words”.
As you plant a seed, it takes time for the seed to take root. The problem is many
people give up because they don’t immediately see what they prayed for. But like
and seed you sow, it must first grow underground before you begin to see it above
ground. We have to stand on the word until we see it (Proverbs 12:3, 12) “a man
shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be
moved. The wicked desires the net of evil men; but the root of the righteous yields
fruit”. Galatians 6:9 tells us “and let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season,
we shall reap if we faint not”.
The Bible tells us how our roots grow (Jeremiah 17:7-8) “blessed is the man that
trusts in the Lord Yahweh, and whose hope is in the Lord Yahweh. For he shall be
as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river; and her
leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the years of drought, neither shall
cease from yielding fruit”. This sounds like Psalms 1:1-3.
Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus “for this cause I bow my knees to the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is names.
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to comprehend with
all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the
love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness
of God”.
We are warned not to have a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15) “looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you and thereby many be defiled”. Remember that the devil comes to take away the
word that you don’t understand, so as the Proverbs 4:5-10 “get wisdom, get
understanding forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake
her not, and she shall preserve you, love her, and she shall keep you. Wisdom is
the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get
understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote you, she shall bring you to honor,
when you do embrace her. She shall give to you head an ornament of grace, a
crown of glory shall she deliver to you. Hear O my son, and receive my sayings; and
the years of your life shall be many”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 20, 2008
Many people search records trying to find their natural roots, there are many
computer networks that can search your line for you. Even though this is not bad,
we have to remember that we are born again and our spiritual roots are in God
Himself (Acts 17:28-29) “for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain
also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as
we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or
silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device”. Paul preached this message on
Mars hill and many believed came to the Lord (Acts 17:34). Paul said “I am crucified
with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now
live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself
for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Let us search to find our spiritual roots, the Bible tells us in Isaiah 11:1 “and there
shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his
roots” and Isaiah 53:2 says “for He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and
as a root out of a dry ground”; in Revelations 22:16 the Bible says “I, Jesus have
sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches, I am the Root and the
Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star”.
Jesus tells us to stay connected to Him in John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and My
Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away
and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I
in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more
can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that
abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you can
do nothing”. We abide in Him by abiding in His words and letting His words abide in
us.
In the parable of the sower Jesus tells us that the seed is the word of God and as it
is sown a part of the plant has to first be fix itself in the earth (Matthew 13:5-6) “some
fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and immediately they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away”; He then explained it
in verses 20-21 “but he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that
hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it. Yet has he not root in himself,
but endures for a while; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the
word, by and by he is offended”.
God told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you
shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that
is written therein, for then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall
have good success”. The word of God is to be continually coming out of our
mouths. Proverbs 4:20-23 goes on to say “my son, attend to my words, incline your
ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of
your heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life”. Jesus tells us to
“continue in His words”.
As you plant a seed, it takes time for the seed to take root. The problem is many
people give up because they don’t immediately see what they prayed for. But like
and seed you sow, it must first grow underground before you begin to see it above
ground. We have to stand on the word until we see it (Proverbs 12:3, 12) “a man
shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be
moved. The wicked desires the net of evil men; but the root of the righteous yields
fruit”. Galatians 6:9 tells us “and let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season,
we shall reap if we faint not”.
The Bible tells us how our roots grow (Jeremiah 17:7-8) “blessed is the man that
trusts in the Lord Yahweh, and whose hope is in the Lord Yahweh. For he shall be
as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river; and her
leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the years of drought, neither shall
cease from yielding fruit”. This sounds like Psalms 1:1-3.
Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus “for this cause I bow my knees to the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is names.
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to comprehend with
all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the
love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness
of God”.
We are warned not to have a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15) “looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you and thereby many be defiled”. Remember that the devil comes to take away the
word that you don’t understand, so as the Proverbs 4:5-10 “get wisdom, get
understanding forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake
her not, and she shall preserve you, love her, and she shall keep you. Wisdom is
the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all your getting get
understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote you, she shall bring you to honor,
when you do embrace her. She shall give to you head an ornament of grace, a
crown of glory shall she deliver to you. Hear O my son, and receive my sayings; and
the years of your life shall be many”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 20, 2008
