The Question

1. ENGAGE: The Setup (Moso Bamboo)

The Process:

Consider the Moso Bamboo. If you plant the seed, you don't see 'nothing'—but you don't see much.

For the first four or five years, all you see is a tiny, stubborn sprout.

It might grow a few inches.

To the naked eye, it looks like a failure.

The Underground Reality:

But while the surface looks stagnant, something massive is happening underground.

The plant is aggressively building a root system (rhizomes) capable of supporting tons of weight.

It is doing the heavy lifting in the dark."

The Explosion:

Then, in the fifth year, the 'Shooting Phase' begins.

Because the foundation is finally ready, that same plant can explode—growing up to 60 feet in 60 days.

The Principle:

We look at the shooting phase and call it a miracle.

But the tree didn't grow 60 feet in 60 days; it grew 60 feet in five years.

The years of 'insignificant' growth were just as critical as the weeks of 'impressive' growth.

Transition:

Spiritual life is often like those first four years.

You pray, you obey, you serve... and the results look tiny.

John the Baptist is in that season.

He did the work.

But instead of a Kingdom explosion, he is sitting in a small, dark cell.

2. TENSION: The Problem

The Struggle:

We confuse Slow Growth with No Growth.

When our prayers aren't answered instantly, we assume God has abandoned the project.

The Conflict (John's Crisis):

John isn't just impatient; he is confused.

Last week, he promised the "Shooting Phase"—the Axe, the Fire, the Demolition.

Instead, he got the "Root Phase"—silence, prison, and a Messiah who is quietly healing people in the countryside rather than taking the throne.

3. TRUTH: The Biblical Solution

Context: The Crisis of the Timeline (vv. 2-3)

The Call-Back: John swung the axe of truth at King Herod Antipas (calling out his marriage to his brother's wife).

The tree didn't fall; Herod threw John into a hole in the ground (Machaerus).

Read Matthew 11:2-3

Matthew 11:2–3 ESV

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

The Crisis: This is the crisis: "I did everything right, so why is this happening?"

Exposition Point 1: The Evidence (and the Omission) (vv. 4-6)

Read Matthew 11:4-6

Matthew 11:4–6 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

The Cross-Reference (Isaiah 35 & 61): Jesus is quoting the messianic checklist from Isaiah.

But pay attention to what He leaves out.

The Missing Line:

Isaiah 35:4 ESV

Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

The Silence: 

Jesus lists the blind, the lame, the deaf, and the poor.

He stops right before he gets to "the prisoners are released."

The Message: 

Jesus is effectively saying: "John, I am doing the works of the Messiah. But I am skipping the line about opening the prison. I am not coming to get you out."

Jesus is saying that John needs to be faithful even if the plan does not include Jesus getting John out of prison.

Exposition Point 2: The Verdict on Faithfulness (vv. 7-11)

Matthew 11:7–11 ESV

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The Defense: 

The crowd thinks John is weak because his "Axe" strategy failed.

Jesus defends him.

The Paradox: Jesus calls John the "greatest" human ever born at the exact moment He decides to leave him in prison to die.

He validates the worker even while changing the work.

Exposition Point 3: The Nature of the Kingdom (v. 12)

Matthew 11:12 ESV

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

The Reality: The Kingdom is advancing, but it is in a war zone.

Why the delay?

Why hasn't the Axe fallen on Herod yet?

Because God is patient. The "Root Phase" allows time for repentance.

The delay of the Axe is the mercy of God.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Transition: "So John gets the confirmation, but he doesn't get the jailbreak.

We are in the same boat.

How do we wait for the harvest without losing hope?"

4. APPLICATION: The Choice

The Metaphor: The Farmer (James 5:7-8)

Read James 5:7-8

James 5:7–8 ESV

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

The Insight: We think patience is passive. But a farmer doesn't just "wait"; he works. He tills, plants, waters, and protects. He does everything except make the seed grow.

Practice 1: Respect the Root Phase (Don't Dig It Up).

The Trap: When we don't see results, we panic and dig up the seed.

The Action: Just because your marriage, ministry, or career is hard right now doesn't mean it's dead; it means you are in the root phase. Remind yourself: "I am not failing; I am rooting."

Practice 2: The Evidence Audit.

The Trap: Focusing on the prison bars (what God isn't doing).

The Action: Focus on the blind seeing (what God is doing). Where has He sustained you? Where is the peace? Trust the evidence over the sil5ence.6

Practice 3: Active Endurance (Water the Soil).

The Action: Keep watering through prayer and obedience. Establish your heart. Decide today: "I will be standing at this post when the rain finally comes."

5. INSPIRATION: The Vision (Series Con10nection)

The Arc of the Watchman:

Week 1 (Romans 13): The Alarm ("Wake Up"). We started with a jolt. We realized the night is far gone, the dawn is near, and we made the choice to stop sleepwalking through our spiritual lives.

Week 2 (Matthew 3): The Preparation ("Clean Up"). We moved from waking up to washing up. We went down to the river with John. We laid down our "Works of Darkness." We got the house ready for the King.

Week 3 (Matthew 11): The Endurance ("Stand Firm"). Now we hit the hardest part of the night. The alarm has faded. The house is clean. But the Guest hasn't arrived yet. The excitement is gone, and the silence has set in.

The "3:00 AM" Reality:

"It is easy to be a Watchman at midnight when the adrenaline is high. It is easy to be a Watchman at dawn when you can see the sun. But right now? It’s 3:00 AM. It’s dark. It’s quiet. It feels like nothing is happening."

"This is the moment most people abandon their post. They say, 'He isn't coming,' and they go back to sleep. But the Watchman stays."

The Definition:

"Real faith isn't just the energy to start; it's the fortitude to stay.

We are the people who don't leave the wall just because the timeline got long."

The Vision:

"I see a church that is content to be in the 'Root Phase.' While the world demands immediate results, we are underground, gripping the rock, preparing for a harvest that will shake the earth. Hold on. The dawn is coming."

6. ACTION: Your Assignment

Step 1: Identify. Think of one area of your life that feels like the "Root Phase"—lots of work, little visible result.

Step 2: Pray. "Lord, I trust You with the timeline. I will not stop watering."

Step 3: Encourage. Send a text to someone else in the "Root Phase." Tell them: "I see your faithfulness. It matters. Keep going."

7. ALTAR CALL: The Waiting Room

(Soft music begins)

The Bridge: "Maybe you feel like John today. Faithful, but forgotten. You are tempted to ask, 'Jesus, did I waste my time?'"

The Invitation: "If you are tired of waiting... if you are offended by God's timing... come forward. Come settle the issue of the timeline. Come say, 'Lord, I will trust You in the dark.'"

8. CLOSING PRAYER (The 6 P's)

PRAISE

Father, You are the Lord of the Harvest and the Master of the seasons.

We praise You that You are working in the deep places, establishing roots even when we cannot see activity on the surface.

PURPOSE

We acknowledge that we are called to endure, not just to escape; we are Watchmen who stay at our posts.

We confess that our purpose is to be faithful gardeners, doing the work of watering while trusting You for the growth.

PROVISION

Thank You for the evidence of Your work—the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the Gospel being preached in our midst.

Thank You for the "early and late rains"—the provision of Your Spirit to sustain us in the dry seasons.

PARDON

Forgive us for despising the days of small beginnings and demanding the harvest before the roots were ready.

Forgive us for being "offended" by Your timing, and for demanding the Axe when You were offering us the Seed.

PROTECTION

Protect us from the despair that says "nothing is happening" and the lie that our labor is in vain.

Guard our hearts against the temptation to stop watering the soil or to dig up the seed in our impatience.

PRAISE

We glorify You, the Coming King; we look for no other, for You alone are the One.

We wait for You with hope and active trust, believing that the harvest is coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.