Roots - Part 1 - Praise And Purpose Series

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!”