The Rock OKC

Text: Isaiah 37. 31 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.

ØWednesday Series on Hezekiah and Me will explain all that was going on at the time of this writing

ØThe focus of this message is that God’s will for Judah was that they would take root downward and bear fruit upward

The Fruit & the Root

NOTE: There are 3 topics that really draw a crowd in today’s society
o Prophecy
o Miracles
o Prosperity

There is nothing wrong with confessing interest in these subjects
God addresses them in Bible for good reason

John 15.16 (NKJV) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Matthew 7:15-16 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?


STILL – the reality is that people are more interested in the fruits of righteousness than they are in being rooted and grounded.
The bible makes it clear that being properly rooted and grounded is very important…

Ephesians 3.14-21 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


NOTE: The affect that the Word of God has on an individual is directly determined (at least at first) by the soil the seed falls into…

Parable of Sower

Matthew 13.18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

How To Be Properly Rooted & Grounded

NOTE: Ephesians 3 says to be rooted and grounded in LOVE
Wednesday studied – God is love

Q: Still – How can we find practical application of this serious subject?

(A) Care For Roots Already There

NOTE: Bible tells us to keep our minds fertile soil for God to work with by guarding what we think on …

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you…

Philippians 4:8 (NJKV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

(B) Properly Water & Fertilize Soil

NOTE: No one would plant a seed (even in good soil) and then leave it without water and fertilizer – and expect fruit
Paul states that what happens through the church is like planting and watering…

1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase

NOTE: It is amazing that people often come to God and the church in their time of need
Then withdraw when good fruit comes into their lives
And then wonder why the fruit dried up

NOTE: God’s desire has never been for His people to only look good
He desires fruit from our lives

Luke 13. 6 (NKJV) He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

(C) Pruning
NOTE: Just because we are satisfied with the amount of fruit in our lives
Doesn’t mean that God is…

John 15:2-6(NKJV) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit…

Q: Are you willing to allow God to prune you as He sees fit?

(D) Pull The Weeds

NOTE: Some like gardening, some don’t mind the watering and fertilizing, some even come to the understanding of pruning enough to do it – but everyone hates pulling weeds
Left alone – weeds can choke out the good plants.
Keeping the appearance of no weeds by cutting them off is counterproductive – it only makes their roots deeper.
They have to be pulled

Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

NOTE: Bad roots can creep into our lives unnoticed until their damage become evident.
There are 3 steps to identifying and dealing with bad roots
ØPraying for God to search you
ØNot withdrawing from the Holy Spirit– when The Holy Spirit convicts and identifies actions needed
ØTaking actions (don’t procrastinate)

Psalms 139.23-24 (NKJV) Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Conclusion

(text) Isaiah 37. 31 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.

NOTE: God’s promise is a positive statement