Shoots, We Grow - Part 1: The Word as Lord

A Quick Recap:

• If we aren’t growing, we are dying or already dead

• The Bible speaks about Jesus, God’s people and His church like plants & vines - the planting of the Lord.

• We need Roots that go down deep & the right environment to become fruitful

• God expects us to be fruitful

• Environmentally, we need:

Word - Light (Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130)

Spirit - Water (Ephesians 5:26)

Good Ground - Soil Quality (Matthew 13:8)

Fertilizer - Dung (Luke 13:8)

What is Lordship:

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 2962. κύριος

2962. κύριος kuriŏs, koo´-ree-os; from κῦρος kurŏs (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by impl. Mr. (as a respectful title):—

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

When we give the Bible absolute supreme authority in our life, we will have made the Word of God Lord of our life.

John 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Word of God (Bible) = Jesus Himself

If the word isn’t Lord, Jesus isn’t Lord!

The word is supposed to LEAD us and LORD us, not be a tool for us to use against one another or for our own purposes.

We cannot be Lord (Supreme Ruler) of our own life & simply use the Bible for counsel or suggestions - The Word must be Lord

If we can say, “No.” The one we are saying, “No” to is not Lord - We Are.

How can I trust the Bible?

Apologetics

Apologetics is the study of the scientific defense of the Bible as absolute truth

We don’t have time to go into all of it today, but you should look it up - here are just a few cool statistics about the Bible:

Even though working through about 40 authors that lived in different cultures and countries from each other, over a span of 1600 years, and writing in 3 different languages, God protected the accuracy and validity of the Bible

The Bible gave 35 prophecies talking about the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every one of those.

The Bible gave 300 prophecies about various things; each of which have been fulfilled perfectly according to what the prophecy said would occur.

The likelihood of that happening is less than 2.0 x 10^90 to 1.

Experiential Knowledge:

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

If you do what the Bible says to do, you will get what the Bible says you’ll get - It Works!!!

However:

Results take time & effort.

Sowing and reaping take time

If we don’t commit & submit or if we “fall off the wagon” it takes longer

It’s very similar to having a personal trainer

Anyone else eat right and do a sit up & look in the mirror for dramatic change?

Eating right and exercising ABSOLUTELY works but it takes time to see results.

Practical Life Application:

So which scriptures do I have to do?

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

We should want to do & become every single scripture.

But understand that you will never be able to do every commandment of scripture. Every one of us will fail.

Romans 3:23 NLT -

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

2 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV

12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Everyone around you may see you failing to meet God’s standard, but God sees when your heart is perfect towards Him.

Just One Thing:

Without the Lordship of the Word, we will not grow to our full potential - Let the Word be Lord in your life.

Discussion Questions:

What habit do you have now that you wish you started much earlier?

What does Lordship of the Word of God look like practically in your life?

Please read 1 Samuel 16:7 and share what this scripture means to you personally.

On a scale from 0 (not at all) - 10 (total and complete), what number would you rate yourself in the Lordship of Jesus & His word in your life? Please share a little bit about how you arrived at your number then share how you can move at least 1 number higher starting today.