Roots
Pt. 1 - Praise and Purpose
I. Introduction
Beneath the surface. Overlooked but powerful and essential. Unseen but they can split concrete and destroy roads. Essential to sustain life. They produce all of the seen life and fruit. We brag about fruit. No roots and no fruits. What is beneath the surface is directly responsible for what you see above the ground and directly responsible for maintaining what is above ground. We very seldom stop to think about roots. That gets us in trouble sometimes. Have you ever met someone who didn’t have the roots necessary to sustain the fruit?
Roots have two specific purposes that have caught my attention:
1. The root cap secretes a substance that acts as a lubricant to aid/assist in its movement.
As we take the next few weeks to talk about the roots of Passion I think we could easily see the correlation – these roots aid us in our movement and our growth.
2. Roots anchor a plant during a storm and they provide sustenance in dry weather.
There are some scary prophecies and predictions coming out right now about what we are headed toward and will face. I believe that what we are rooted too will have huge implications for us.
I think it is essential as Christians and as a body to occasionally do a root check. I know that when it comes to hairdos no one wants to hear someone say “I can see your roots.” However, in this case I want to not only see our roots I want us to examine them closely because they will help us move forward in growth and they will anchor and sustain us.
Our roots are in plain sight every week. Our roots enable and empower us to accomplish our purpose which we will talk about in a minute. Our roots are our core values. They are the underpinning and foundation of everything we do. We hold 8 things dear. That is the purpose of the banners that hang in our sanctuary. They are to remind you that these are the things that keep us moving, keep us strong, and keep us passionate.
Our root system is:
Praise
Purpose
People
Place
Prayer
Pentecost
Presence
Preaching
Today I want us to look at 2 vital roots that sustain us and help us to grow. Praise and Purpose.
II. Praise
We believe that praise is a life giving root to us. I believe that we are purposed to praise. It is what we are created to do. I know you expect to hear that praise is important when you attend a church. My question is why is it important? Why should we spend time in worship? Why take time in a service and worship? How does praise anchor us, move us, and sustain us?
Text:
2 Chronicles 20:1, 20-25, 30
1Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. 20They were up early in the morning, ready to march into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen Judah and Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say! Believe firmly in GOD, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you’ll come out on top!” 21After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for GOD; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to GOD, His love never quits. 22As soon as they started shouting and praising, GOD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. 23The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. 24As Judah came up over the rise, looking into the wilderness for the horde of barbarians, they looked on a killing field of dead bodies—not a living soul among them. 25When Jehoshaphat and his people came to carry off the plunder they found more loot than they could carry off—equipment, clothing, valuables. It took three days to cart it away! 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest round about.
They faced a huge army and a hostile army!
It is important to be rooted to praise because the task at hand is huge and the one who opposes us is hostile! We find ourselves in the same situation of Jehoshaphat. The enemy we face is not small. He is not dormant. He is in fact advancing and determined to take not only more territory, but our territory!
1. No praise equals no victory and we have to fight for ourselves.
David was very clear throughout the Psalms that God fights for us. In fact, he often cried out to God to fight his battles. In Psalms 35:1, David said, “1Harass these hecklers, GOD, punch these bullies in the nose. 2Grab a weapon, anything at hand;stand up for me!”
He called God our shield, our buckler, our strong tower, a very present help in a time of need. David recognized the fact that God will fight for us. However, there is a hinge pin that determines whether God will fight for us or not. Jehoshaphat’s unlikely victory teaches us that when we worship God goes before us and not only routes the enemy, He actually sets ambushes for them. He lies in wait for them.
I don’t know about you but I have some things that I want God to ambush. I have some situations that I need God to hide around the corner from and step out and destroy. The enemy lies in wait. I want God to lie in wait.
If we fail to praise we leave our enemies un-ambushed! I don’t want to have to fight my own battles because when I fight I lose. When God fights I win. Silence leads to surrender.
2. Our praise goes before our victory.
It was Easter morning, 1799, and the people of Feldkirch, Austria, were terrified. They believed this Easter would probably be the very worst day of their lives. Outside the gates stood the army of Napoleon, and he wanted in. The citizens were ready to raise the white flag of surrender.
But the bishop of the church had another agenda. In a voice trembling with emotion, he said to the townspeople, "This is Easter Day. This is the day of our King’s resurrection. We must have one moment of triumph. Let us at least ring all the bells of Easter." Fearfully, the people agreed. Soon the sound of church bells pealing out a celebration of victory filled the air.
Napoleon’s army was astounded. What could it mean? It didn’t take long for the generals to conclude that only one possible explanation could account for such celebration: the Austrian army had arrived during the night to help defend the town. The bells had not yet stopped ringing when the French army broke ranks and fled.
Our praise produces retreat in our enemy!
Yes, there is praise after the victory. However, the Austrians found out what Jehoshaphat knew and that is praise must go before the victory. Another way to say this is your victory is wrapped up in your praise!
Ps 8:2, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Even childlike praise silences our enemies!
That is why I am not interested in just putting on a good praise and worship show. That is why I am not impressed by slick worship! This is battle. This is warfare. Our worship is in fact hand to hand combat and it should be raw (excellent yes) but raw with power, and guts, stained by the blood of the enemy. Our enemy should be left shaking and frightened when we worship. That is why it is imperative for you to come to service prepared to worship. Engaged in worship. Not spectators. Yes the worship team goes before us, but we too must engage in this warfare. Don’t stand idly by and watch. Pull out your praise and enter the battle. No praise … no victory.
3. Praise provides plunder!
I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to vs. 25. I am looking forward to the day that God gives us more plunder than we can carry! I have told you in the past that God will prosper us. I am not saying that He will make sure we all drive new cars. I am saying that He has provision and blessings that we cannot contain. That day is directly linked to our praise! Our praise provides plunder. Since we have already said that our praise is a weapon and that we are in warfare there are always spoils that go to the victor! If we have no spoils it may be an indication that we have no praise!
4. Praise produces peace!
Vs. 30 tells us that God gave Jehoshaphat rest and peace during the rest of his reign. Praise produces peace. It is imperative that we root to praise because when we praise we find peace. It is hard to stay stressed out and scattered when you praise. When we refocus our attention on God everything else fades away. Troubles seem to vanish. Rest overtakes us. What happens when we worship? Why does worship produce peace?
a. Our perspective changes.
Our problems or adversaries may seem huge, but in comparison to God not so much. When we worship our view changes. Our vision is corrected. We understand that in light of His power, His authority, His reach, His strength, His ability our problems are small and doable. I would stay depressed constantly if I only focused on my ability and strength. But one glimpse of Him changes my perspective. That is why our time of worship is so crucial. Get your eyes off the worship leader. Off the musicians. You watch them your perspective doesn’t change. Get them on Him and you will find peace.
b. We become like what we worship.
Jeremiah 2:5b says, “They worshiped worthless statues of gods. Then they themselves became worthless.”
It is imperative that we root to praise so that we become more like God! We become like what we worship.
One man said,
"If you worship superficial things, your life becomes superficial.
If you worship perverted things, your life becomes perverted.
If you worship evil things, your life becomes evil.
If your worship the true God, you become godly."
Our goal is for you to become more Christlike! Therefore in order for that to happen you must worship Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that as God’s Spirit works in us we become more and more like Him.
If you worship something that is worthless you become worthless. If you worship something of worth you become a person of worth. Worship changes us! By worshipping God we are changed, we are bettered. We come up! We gain peace because the One we worship is peace personified and as we worship become more like Him!
It is crucial that we stay rooted to praise. That is why in our statement of beliefs we declare boldly that we believe in passionate times of praise and worship. That these times will be intense, deep, full of life and will assist people in encountering God. We also state that we believe in protecting the "flow" of the Holy Spirit. We will not hurry. We will not break the "flow" for unnecessary activities. We are not willing to back down from this. We will stay rooted to praise. It is a key component in order for our church to be what we are called to be. It is also crucial for you being who you are called to be! Which brings me to purpose for just a few moments.
III. Purpose
Everything has a purpose. A chair is designed to provide a place to sit or to support weight. The intention determines the design. The same is true for us.
Our purpose determined our design as a body. Our purpose is simple. We have done everything we can to make our purpose clear and plain to you. You know that as our 3 E’s. We are committed to this purpose: To encounter God, Equip People, and Engage Culture. That is our purpose and we are rooted in that. There are other causes that are great and God breathed, but we have been given a mandate that this is what we are supposed to be about. Therefore, our purpose determined a simple design, a focused design.
In that design we have been purposed to equip people. Therefore, we are committed to helping you discover your purpose. It isn’t enough for this church to know its purpose. You too must find out what you are designed to do.
That is apparent in Ephesians 4:16:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Paul tells us that the body is fitted together and that every joint supplies. How does each part supply? By giving of the measure that we have. In other words, as each part finds and fulfills its purpose the body is sustained and grows!
We each have a specific God-given purpose. That is the revelation that Jeremiah received when God said to Him, “5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee;” That is what David understood when he declared, “I am fearful and wonderfully made.” These men understood that God fashioned us. He has a mapped out destiny for your life. So, our goal isn’t just to come and worship and feel good about God. We do that because we know that as we do that our encounter with God will help us discover our purpose in life and in the body. We are rooted to helping each of you find your place and purpose! If you come to church the rest of your life and you can roll the 3 E’s off your tongue complete with the hand signs, but never discover your purpose in life then we have failed and our root system has been ineffective.
That is why House and Angie’s testimony is so encouraging. They have tapped into the root system and they are growing.
Together let’s find your purpose. We are rooted to the E’s. But we are also rooted in finding your purpose in life.
Let’s worship. Let’s work.
IV. Close
Need victory? Praise. Need plunder? Praise. Need peace? Praise. Need fulfillment find your purpose!
