ROOTS WHAT ARE ROOTS? The Garden Spread Them Deep & Wide: ROOTS A Rooted Relationship with Jesus is the path to Spiritual Growth John 15:5-8 July 8, 2012 Pastor Sandi Evans Rogers What comes to your mind first? How many of you remember or know who Alex Haley is? I am pleased to tell you he is a Tennessean. In 1977 he taught us one lesson on ROOTS. One of the first mini-series on TV ROOTS was the story of his life, His genealogy, His personal roots. He shared how ROOTS deep into African soil, Were ripped up. later transplanted into American soil How understanding ROOTS was significant for his today and his future We, those who watched, were mesmerized Many began to learn of their own ROOTS Genealogy became popular, Many wanted to know their ROOTS Reality show now: Who Do You Think You Are? But we are talking about the GARDEN And in the GARDEN, We are talking about a little different type of roots. They have similar qualities, but they are still connected Since I am not a Master Gardener, like my friend Patti Grove, 1
Actually I am not really any kind of gardener just ask David. I had a few ideas, thoughts, understanding. so I began to do some research I wanted to make sure I was passing on correct information. I learned much in my journey still learning Just like Alex, And what I discovered is impacting my today, And I pray it continues to impact my tomorrows Webster s Colligate Dictionary: Roots: the part of a plant, usually below the ground, that lacks nodes, shoots, and leaves, holds the plant in position, draws water and nourishment from the soil, I learned something Did you hear it? The last three words Something God has known all along from the soil, The soil is very significant; The type of soil a tree is planted in will determine the tree s rooting ability/habits Soil Properties: Roots are unable to grow far/deep into soil if they are: High, bulky, dense Filled with bedrock Stony soils Fine sands Clay Confinement Roots need OXYGEN if it falls below 20% 10-15%...root growth inhibited 3-5%...growth STOPS Infertile Soil produces long, poorly branched surface roots Fertile soil more rigorous, well branched roots, may descend deeper into soil 2
Moisture can get water logged, high water tables, develops shallow widespread rooting. God knows all about the significant of soil. Matthew 13 what we know as the Parable of the Sower Could also be call Parable of the SOIL READ: Matthew 13:3-9 3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear. Beside the road birds came, ate NO DEPTH Rocky places sprang up, sun destroyed - NO ROOT Thorns choked them out NO LIFE GOOD SOIL...yielded, 100, 30, 60 fold FRUIT BEARING Fruit bearing.remember that To yield a crop To be fruit bearing, you need GOOD SOIL Why are ROOTS important? Wikipedia: The four major functions of roots are: 1) Absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, 2) Anchoring of the plant body to the ground, and supporting it, 3) storage of food and nutrients, 3
4) vegetative reproduction. Roots are significant to the life of vegetation Absorption Anchoring, Supporting, Storage, ROOTS Reproduction They provide the way for a plant to get the nourishment they need to grow They provide the support a tree needs to stand tall, to grow into its potential They provide anchoring, I know you remember the visuals after last week s storm we saw many trees down, -- How many were uprooted? Not just split, branches down, but UPROOTED -- How many stayed in place? Through the roots new trees are begun. No ROOTS no healthy plant NO Life Roots bring life and health Fruit bearing BUT something that I was thought real I discovered is often a myth. That is strong roots are deep roots. For many trees it is the spread, not the depth that gives Stability Anchoring Take the Giant Redwoods. I read an article this week by a Marylander, Kate Chandler, an Assoc. Professor of English at St. Mary s College.. As she reflected on her trip to the No. California And a trip to the Redwoods. Trail guide explained WHY the redwoods do not topple with Pacific storms. To live and remain upright, redwoods work together 4
Redwoods grow 300 ft tall Roots grow down only about 3-6 feet tall. BUT what makes them special, what makes them strong? They INTERTWINE their roots together NOT all strong roots are deep roots Now, knowing what I have learned. Cultivating deep roots What we call strong roots. It is a priority if we want to be rooted in Jesus How do we CULTIVATE ROOTS Spiritual roots? Let s go back to our passage this morning: Jesus says. John 15 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. This passage tells us the measure of a strong, rooted relationship with Jesus is that you bear much fruit As followers of Jesus, we are called to strive or work to bear fruit for God. We are NOT fruit producers we are fruit bearers We are called to abide or rest in Him allowing Him to produce His fruit and good works through us. So to be rooted in Jesus, 5
What does it mean to ABIDE? to nourish such a relationship We need to. ABIDE: to wait for to endure without yielding to bear patiently to accept without objection to remain stable or fixed in a state to continue in a place ABIDE in Him to ABIDE in Jesus Let's explore the definition of abide: To wait for- We as Christians need to spend much more time waiting on God. By this I mean spending real time with God, Focused time, seeking His will, not jumping ahead of Him. Being attentive attentive to His presence To endure without yielding-to be determined to experience God's presence. Not to give up or give in, yield to the world Staying on course, Keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus in EVERYTHING To bear patiently- To abide in Christ when we don't feel like it. To be patient waiting for God to reveal His will and Himself. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. To continue in a place-we need to spend more time, staying in His presence. Living in the moment with the Holy Spirit Not is such a hurry for the next thing We always seem to be in such a hurry So practically what does this look like? Spending time with our Abba: To Abide is to experience His presence. Wasting Time with God Bill Clemmons, seminary professor 6
Pause, An intentional PAUSE in the pace of daily life. Time reflecting in His Word My words abide in you, Not just reading reflecting, This is a good disciple to continue in place Hanging out with God. To spend time with a passage until My words abides in you Rest with it, let it sit in you, memorize it! Your Word I have treasured /hid in my heart That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 For me: 13 passages a year. 12 Reflect on it daily for a month, at least once a day Slowly, resting and pausing as I reflect 1 - I read it over and over all year, abiding, and it abiding in me Memorize.adding passages from the Word. Prayer.not the asking kind of prayer we are so good at Supplication and Intercession Are both important and significant in the body.but so is listening, Contemplative Waiting. Waiting for the voice of God His presence Staying put till you Hear or experience Him In your very soul. 7
So go with me here Trust me for a few seconds 120 of them First, let s pause with some breathing. Feel free to close yours eyes relax This is often very hard, We are so uncomfortable with the stillness The silence. Breathe in, hold it.now let it out slowly. AGAIN Breathe in, hold it.now let it out slowly. Now just pause, rest! Continue in this place Till I speak AMEN! (you don t get that invitation often in a sermon) ---------------WAIT 120 SECONDS-------------2 MINUTES---------------- AMEN! How did that feel? Practice increase the time It will become nourishing!! So very filling & Refreshing God is in this very place With you, With me With us.. Us the family of faith, The body of Christ. Community! Rooted in Community I am a firm believer in the body of Christ, Shared life together GEMEINDE 8
I understand that community and rooting go together. I am not alone You are not alone We are sharing life together Remember the Redwoods of California? On the Redwoods, Professor Chandler, quotes an article by Richard Winkel This intertwining of roots creates a webbing effect. Most engineers would tell you this shallow root systems still would be impossible to keep the redwoods intact and protected against strong winds and floods. Principle of COMMUNITY the interconnecting root systems are the secret of their strength and teach us a great lesson these magnificent giants simply could not make it alone. Another powerful example is the Aspen Tree, Their root system is amazing One Aspen tree can spread its root in such a way that it produces saplings, these saplings reproduce additional trees even creating a forest of Aspen Trees from one tree (one of the 4 functions of roots I mentioned about earlier) Aspen trees can live 40-150 years above ground And thousand of years below ground Pando Utah 105 acres one root 80,000 thousand years I learned the strength of these roots Then just last week discovered the power in their strength, these uniquely rooted trees The trees above ground can burn, but the root system is protected and rebirth can happen. 9
I am so glad that Colorado is full of Aspen Trees With all the fire, there is HOPE, great HOPE That life is still in the root The importance of community: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 Jesus says So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 Sure sounds like it is connected to our passage My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples We are created to: Glorify God To reflect God s Glory to the world To bear fruit To be Jesus disciples That means we need to be deeply rooted in Christ. to have an intimate relationship with Him As we grow in Him To abide in Him To Remain in him And He is us 10
What will be our life if we choose not to root ourselves in Jesus? for apart from Me you can do nothing. So today I encourage you to cultivate a deeply rooted relationship with Jesus, May you reflect on the Word of God, staying in one place with him, until His Word abides in you May you breathe deeply & listen with your heart and soul to the voice of your Abba May you live with the strength of community, the family of faith, supporting you May you make time this week to waste time with Jesus, hang out with him May you Abide in Christ and He in you. May we become fruit bearers, together! May we GLORIFY Him - - - - as we reflect His GLORY to the world AMEN! 11