Sermon: Rooted & Grounded In Love: Rooted Before You Produce (Your Fruit Can Never Maintain What Your Roots Cannot Sustain)
Lesson Text
Ephesians 3:14–21 (KJV)14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of 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 by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Introduction
Today we will begin a new series on “LOVE!”
- John 13:35 (KJV)35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
- Ephesians 3:17 (KJV)17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
We live in a culture obsessed with results; we want to produce and display our fruit. We want successful marriages, successful businesses, careers, finances, children, ministries and churches.
Why? Because this is what the world celebrates.
We celebrate fruit; but God celebrates roots.
The problem with our insatiable desire to celebrate what we produce, we will short circuit the process necessary to produce said fruit; even when that’s our calling.
Perhaps you’ve heard one of these phrases: "Your talent can’t take you where character cannot keep you." –or– "Your gifts may open doors, but your character determines how long you stay in the room."
They speak to one’s quest for glory without first establishing the foundation of their story.
Our scripture text has two construction terms, Rooted & Grounded. The first is an agricultural term concerning trees, the second is an architectural term concerning buildings. But both teach the same truth: God is concerned about your foundation before your function!
Being rooted is establishing strong roots in a plant before expecting it to grow and thrive.
Being grounded is establishing a solid foundation in a building before expecting it to stand and endure.
Rooted prepares you to grow; Grounded prepares you to stand. Rooted gives life; Grounded gives strength.
Don’t expect to produce fruit without first establishing roots; Don’t expect to endure without first establishing a firm foundation.
Today we will look at the first term, Being Rooted!
Before God ever asks us to produce fruit, He first develops our roots. We live in a culture that celebrates visibility, productivity, and success. We applaud what grows above the ground, but God focuses on what grows beneath it.
The greatest work God does in our lives is often the work no one else can see. Every lasting work of God begins below the surface before it is ever revealed above the surface.
God never intended His children to live from fear, performance, or insecurity. He desires for us to live from the confidence of His love. Paul understood this, which is why he prayed that believers would become "rooted and grounded in love."
Before God enlarges our ministry, expands our influence, blesses our family, or increases our assignment, He first strengthens our foundation.
Why? Because fruit without roots never lasts.
Today I want to show you three things that happen when your life becomes rooted in God's love.
Series and Sermon: Rooted & Grounded In Love: Rooted Before You Produce (Your Fruit Can Never Maintain What Your Roots Cannot Sustain)
(Love Strengthens Our Foundation, Deepens Our Faith, Produces Our Fruit)
- Love Strengthens Our Foundation (The Stability of God)
Ephesians 3: 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
The first thing that being rooted in God’s love does, is it gives us stability.
James 1: 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
As stated earlier, God is more concerned about your foundation before you ever walk in our function; establishing your character before you operate in your gifts. Otherwise, you will get to places that your character can’t keep you; produce fruit that your roots can’t sustain you.
A tree is only as strong as its roots. A building is only as strong as its foundation.
Likewise, our spiritual lives will never rise higher than the foundation upon which they rest.
Many Christians are trying to build successful lives upon unstable foundations. Some are rooted in people's approval. Some are rooted in accomplishments. Some are rooted in past failures. Others are rooted in fear.
But Paul says we are to be rooted and grounded in one thing - The love of God. Why? Because whatever you're rooted in eventually determines how you live.
Why are so many Christians not producing or stopping producing? They are not rooted in Love!
Psalm 1: 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Love rooted in God gives us stability!
- Love Deepens Our Faith (The Security of God)
Ephesians 3: 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
The second thing that being rooted in God’s love does is it gives us security.
By security we mean sanctuary, refuge, confidence, and reassurance!
Roots grow where no one sees them: Most of God's greatest work happens underground. Nobody applauds roots, nobody celebrates roots, nobody even notices roots. Yet roots determine everything.
Many believers become frustrated because they don't see immediate fruit.
But while they're waiting...God is working.
David's roots grew in lonely fields. Joseph's roots grew in prison. Moses' roots grew in the wilderness.
Jesus spent thirty years developing roots before the world knew him; for a three year ministry!
God is never wasting time, He's strengthening roots.
Before you operate in your calling, your faith grows deepest in hidden seasons. And although others can’t see it, you have confident reassurance that God is keeping you.
Psalm 91: 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Isaiah 40: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Sometimes the season that feels unproductive is actually the season that is making you unshakable.
God develops our roots before He displays our fruit.
Love rooted in God gives us security.
- Love Produces Our Fruit (The Supply of God)
Ephesians 3: 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The final thing that being rooted in God’s love does, is it gives us supply.
Healthy trees don't struggle to produce fruit, they simply stay connected to the roots.
A lot of people can’t wait to show off their fruit. But fruit is never the goal, connection is!
John 15: 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
When it comes to producing fruit, you don’t have to try harder, just stay connected.
Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When hated, don’t try to love, just stay connected. When depressed, don’t try to be happy, just stay connected. When there is trouble on every side, don’t look for peace, just stay connected.
Love rooted in God will always reveal fruit produced in us.
When you are rooted in God’s love, you don’t have to prove yourself, just reveal yourself!
God’s Love is your supply, and it always produces.
Philippians 4: 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Instead of praying "God, use me." pray “God root me!”
Midweek Study Lesson Plan (Sermon: Rooted Before You Produce (Your Fruit Can Never Maintain What Your Roots Cannot Sustain))
Lesson Text
- Ephesians 3:14–21
Sermon Outline
- Love Strengthens Our Foundation (The Stability of God)
- Love Deepens Our Faith (The Security of God)
- Love Produces Our Fruit (The Supply of God)
Questions: (What was your main takeaway from this message?)
- Getting To Know “Me”
- This summer heat has been intense! What’s one thing you enjoy about summer… and one thing you could gladly live without?
- When the temperatures soar, what’s your favorite way to beat the heat… pool, beach, mountains, ice cream, staying inside with the A/C, or something else? Why?
- Into The Bible
- What does it practically mean to “let patience have its perfect work”(James 1:4) in our lives?
- What do you think Paul means when he prays in Ephesians 3:19 that believers would know a love that surpasses knowledge?
- Life Application
- What everyday habits help you grasp God’s love so you have the endurance to get through tough times?
- In what areas of your life are you trying to produce fruit on your own, rather than relying on Jesus?
