The Good News, everyone, is that you can make it through anything you are facing or will face if you draw up nourishment from Christ because Christ is the source of all life, of all strength and of all truth. So as you place your footing in him, you will not be moved by the winds that blow against you because CHRIST can not be shaken by them. As you let your roots grow down into him, you allow Christ to accomplish his plan for you, in you, and through you. He builds you up in strength. Psalm 33:11 says that “the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” Well, when you faithfully live in Christ you become one of his plans! You become his intention! And as his plan, as his intention, you will stand firm! As you live in Christ, he shapes you by his hands and builds you up for his purpose and for his glory. As you grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, he enables you to stand strong in his power. And his power is the strongest power! No wind can shake the foundations of heaven let alone rattle God. No economic crisis can unnerve him or cause him worry about his retirement account. No storm can cause him fear. No illness can wreck God. No enemy can surprise him. No situation is too stressful for him to handle. So cast your burdens upon him. Lean into him. Christ cannot be shaken… so let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him so that you can stand firm in his truth.
------
Full audio version of this sermon. 2009-06-14 Rooted Faith - Draw Up - Ken Castor
------
Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”
Psalm 93, says, (from memory NIV) The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea - the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
If you are being blown about today, let your roots grow down into Christ. The unshakable God is here today for you to draw up the nourishment and strength that you need. You might be realizing today that you need Jesus… that you really can’t stand forever on your own… that you really don’t want to be like a tumbleweed and you really do need to put down some roots into something and you really do need to stand tall and strong and you really need to stop getting blown about by the things that hit your life. You can do this by inviting him into your life and receiving him as your Source for living. As we pray in a minute, just ask him to make your life secure in his. The Good News is that as Jesus comes into your life you will begin to draw up everything you need to stand passionately and powerfully. And as you grow down more and more into him, you will be filled from the fullness of God and you will overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.
Let’s pray: Dear Lord, let us live in obedience to you. Forgive us for standing on any other ground than the truth of your foundation. Lord, let us put ourselves down deeply into you, more and more, and seek after all we need to truly live by growing deeply into you. Lord, for those who need to accept you as Lord, we pray that you would help them to trust you now. Let them put their roots down into you. Let them pray: “Lord, sorry I have been living my life on my own and in my own power and not focused on you. Forgive me. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for absorbing my fallenness and brokenness on the cross. Thank you for letting me lean all of myself on you. Your scars are beautiful… and I accept you as my Lord. Please, Jesus, come into my life and let me grow down into you more and more from this day forward. Help me to draw up from you all that I need at all times. Fill me now and forever, Lord, to overflow with thanksgiving for all you’ve done.” Amen.
BENEDICTION – Philippians 4:19-20 says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.”
