Rooted

Introduction

Pastor Orr’s 32nd anniversary

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Reset: Out with the Old, In with the New!!!!

The thankful heart: walking and rooted in Christ

Walking in Him-verse 6

we must continue to live in manner that honors Christ.

Paul refers to Jesus as the Messiah. . Christ Jesus the Lord- the wording and “phraseology” … strengthens the fact that Jesus is not just some good dude. Jesus is not just some good teacher, Jesus is not just some good physician. He is not just my Homeboy. No Jesus is Lord, He is Messiah!!!

This is what Paul is stressing in this entire letter Jesus is the Messiah!!!

I don’t have time to get into the syntax of this phrase being used by Paul time and time again; However I do have time to stress the importance of realizing in 2021- that Jesus is the Messiah.

When we truly realize Jesus is Messiah; it changes our perspective in life. It shatters the status quo Church member thinking about what’s happening around us. Jesus as Messiah helps us navigate through uncertainty. If Jesus is Messiah, He then is in control. If He is in control, I don’t have to fear. If I don’t Have to fear, I now have confidence. If I now have confidence, then the saying is more realized in my life: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!!

Paul uses some the best writing to describe The Lordship of Jesus in Colossians. . . see how he thinks of Jesus.

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Some of you have been knocked off kilter a bit, due to the Coronavirus, Financial imbalances, Family issues, stressful political season, Tensions in our society. . . but let me tell you. .. when we have the proper understanding of Who Jesus is. . it may not take the Pain away; but it will allow you to get through it.

So. . . . . . Walk in Him

live in a manner worthy of the High calling in Christ Jesus. where elsewhere paul says

Romans 11:36 ESV

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Walk in Him; Love, Joy Peace -the other fruit of the spirit. Walk in that!! We don’t need any new tactics, philosophies. . walk in Him.

This walk is a journey, not a sprint. This walk is focused on Glorifying God. Living in Obedience to God

Walk Walk in Him

Are you walking in Him? Does your life have evidence of you walking in HIM.

Any evidence?

Most watches, phones have trackers on it for health. They can check your heart rate, miles walked, inclines and and all sorts of things.

If you have been inactive or sitting for awhile it will alert you to stand up and move around. At the end of the week it will show you how active or inactive you have been.

what evidence from last week shows you walking with God?

Rooted in Him-verse7

Paul uses these metaphors to describe how we should walk. Rooted and built up

as believers in Jesus Christ- we are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus...

Agricultural terms used here; the illustration is that of a a garden. Famers or people who grow their own veggies know the importance of crops being rooted.

My then 2 year old daughter decided that the pandemic was not going to stop here from living her best life. She tells me she wanted a garden. Not a dog, but a garden. I’m a city boy, although i have been family roots in COldWater,MS.. . i know nothing about gardening.

I could not get any tutorials from Bro. Stewart. . . I did not know what to do. What to purchase, tools needed and etc.

Evie was smarter than I, she talked to her grandmother and they had already order the supplies.

After building inground structure, i realize that just throwing seeds out would not yield success. Placing the plants on top of the ground would not either. We had to bury the roots into the ground to grow DEEP. . .

Growing deep was beneficial for many reasons. . primarily what i realized was that when the storms came and the winds blew . . . the plants Rooted would stay in place. SOme of the furniture would be knocked over but the plants were still in place.

Growing DEEP and being rooted helps us when the storms rage in our lives. Being Rooted strengthens us when new philosophies are developed in society

We are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus. . he is a firm foundation. He is our sure foundation and we are rooted in Him

but also Build on the firm foundations of the Gospel.

as Paul calls upon the believers to be “established” or “strengthened in the faith.” This continues the imagery of a church that is grounded in Christ and stable; stemming from the world of ideas, it depicts a well-grounded insight or established

Thankfulness for Him- verse 7

a sign of a true believer - THANKfulNess

The third statement describing Colossian Christians is that they were “overflowing with thankfulness.” Paul frequently employed thankfulness as one of the litmus tests of Christian health. He assumed that Christians would live in an attitude of thankfulness for the many blessings bestowed upon them. By contrast, one of the first indicators of departure from God is a lack of thanksgiving

Having faith is Invisible.... Thankfulness is visible

thankfulness is visibly responding to God for all He has done.

Illustration on leaving tips

In the midst of life’s difficulties believers are to be aware of the sovereign God, who guides and empowers them. While that does not remove their pain (Heb 12:11), it does provide a new perspective, along with a heightened awareness of God even in “the valley of the shadow of death”