Rooted and Established in Christ – Live Each Day in Christ, part 5
What are you facing today? Understand how to be strengthened in your spirit and withstand attacks from the enemy with this message. You’ll learn what it means to be rooted and established in Christ, and how to walk in it daily.
What have you experienced this past week? Know you are not alone. God loves you and he can speak peace, deliverance from bondage, and healing to your heart and situation. Paul desired that you, the believer, be strengthened in your spirit; that Christ would dwell in your heart through faith and be rooted and grounded in love; that you would be able to grasp the deep riches of the love of God and the surpassing knowledge of Christ. Paul wanted you to become all that God has for you; to be redeemed and renewed in fellowship with God and each other in Christ Jesus.
This series asks and answers life questions such as: Who am I? How do I get past my past and embrace my future? How can I have peace? Learn how to live in Christ every day and in the hope you have in Christ, both now in the present and in the future. As a believer, God is with you, and your past is forgiven. God chose to love you and extend his grace to you in Christ. It is my hope that you are spiritually encouraged. No matter what you are facing, living in Christ, you can face anything, even death. God has a plan for your life. He loves you and you can trust him.
Live and Walk Rooted and Established in Christ
We have been looking at the epistle Paul wrote to the Ephesians for several weeks now. Paul wanted the Gentile believers in Ephesus to realize who they were in Christ. Paul wanted the believers to know that their past sins did not need to define who they were once they placed their faith in Christ. Paul wanted believers, including you, to know in your heart:
God is with you, and you are never alone.
Your past is forgiven.
You were freely loved by God, chosen, and predestined in Christ even before the creation of the world.
Paul wanted the believers to grasp the depths of Christ’s love and for them to be filled with the fullness of God. Paul emphasized that God chose to love both Jew and Gentile and that God extended his grace to them and to everyone who are in Christ.
All that Paul wrote to the Ephesians is for you today as well.
In Ephesians 3 we find Paul tells us that the gospel was revealed to him by revelation from God. Paul’s rigorous religious training and learning under his rabbi teacher was tainted by the traditions of man and with the thinking that salvation comes through strictly following the commandments. Paul’s passion and what he thought was true was only a shadow of the truth, and the Spirit of God revealed the truth of the gospel to Paul by revelation. God’s plan of redemption and reconciliation of mankind was being revealed through the gospel; Gentiles were heirs together with the Jews.
The promise of a savior was not limited to the Israelite only but for all creation, the whole world. This included the spiritual outcast of society and even the uncircumcised Gentiles. The promise of a savior was not to be limited to the Jew only, but in the their religious pride and sinful nature the Jew believed the Gentiles, or non-Jews, were excluded from the promise of God.
The mystery of the gospel, and that whosoever believes would be saved, had been hidden for generations until now.
Paul tells the Ephesians that the mystery of Christ is now being revealed to the apostles and prophets by the spirit. And Paul is given the opportunity to preach the truth to the Gentiles regarding the boundless riches of Christ and make plain to everyone that the true gospel in Christ is for whosoever would believe. The spiritually lost and uncircumcised Gentiles would have rejoiced and been filled with hope at the news that they too could approach God with freedom and confidence. That hope in God is possible. The truth of God’s Word proclaims spiritual freedom from sin and death for even the outcast of society, all made possible in Christ. The Jews taught that Gentiles could never approach God; but now it is made possible in Christ. Paul expressed that his privilege and joy was to preach the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles and make known the unsearchable riches of Christ.
“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:8-12, NIV).
Paul makes known to the Gentiles the news of God regarding the riches of Christ that is now available to them, that which was once hidden is now being made known in the heavenly realms. The manifold wisdom of God regarding the mystery of Christ is now being revealed through you and the church. The mystery that, through the gospel, gentiles are also heirs together with Israel. Together the Gentile will share in the promise in Christ Jesus and together are one body. One new body in Christ Jesus. The word mystery is not that the truth of God is not known by anyone, rather the knowledge was only made known to those whom it is revealed.
The redemptive plan of God was hidden in the Old Testament until the proper time, where it is now being revealed to all through the church.
The gospel, the unsearchable riches of Christ, is being made known to the world, to all creation through you.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).
Church, know the truth of the gospel is greater than the enemy’s lie that he spoke to Eve in the garden of Eden. The enemy twisted God’s words when he spoke to Eve, and he continues to lie and twist the Word of God still today. However, God’s Word still stands strong today and never changes.
‘Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman’ (Genesis 3:1, 4).
Satan did not know the plan of God and as he twisted God’s word that he spoke to Eve; he unknowingly spoke a word of true hope when he told her, “You will not surely die”. The mystery of Christ was not known in the garden or by the serpent and was hidden for generations until the appointed time.
The promise of a savior is foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The unsearchable riches of Christ were not made known and the manifold wisdom of God would not be made fully known until generations later. The promise of a savior was fulfilled at the birth of Christ (see Matthew 1:23) and revealed in Christ at his death and resurrection.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11).
Paul makes it clear that the revelation God gave him regarding the mystery of Christ was not for him alone but for all, and that the person of faith (generations of believers including you) would grow in the knowledge of Christ to the fullest measure.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).
Paul’s prayer for the believer, verses 14-21, is what I want to focus on. Paul desired that you, the believer, would be strengthened in your spirit. That Christ would dwell in your heart through faith and, in doing so, be rooted and grounded in love, that you would be able to grasp the deep riches of the love of God and the surpassing knowledge of Christ and to know the fullness of God in your heart. Paul wanted you to become all that God has for you. To be redeemed and renewed in fellowship with God and each other in Christ Jesus. In doing so, God receives all the glory. It is only possible by the power of God at work both in the church and you, the believer.
Paul knew the promise of a savior was in the Old Testament scriptures but until this point it had not yet been clearly seen.
“Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).
Paul prayed for the believers to be rooted and established in love and to fully know and understand the mystery of Christ and to experience the power of God in their lives.
Last week Pastor Apollo spoke on a passage from 1 Samuel 14 where Saul’s son Jonathan and his armor bearer acted in faith as they stepped out in an uncertain situation. Jonathan and his armor bearer were unsure God would give them victory, but acted in faith, trusting God with each step. In faith Jonathan proclaimed 1 Samuel 14:6, “perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.”
Often, uncertain situations are where your faith is tested. Uncertain situations are times where the Lord can reveal himself in a way that reinforces your faith and for you to develop even greater faith and love for God.
Paul wanted the Ephesian believers to have the faith to believe in seemingly impossible circumstances. That faith to believe in trying situations comes with being rooted and established in his love and being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Paul desired that the believer understand and believe that the Lord can do immeasurably more that they could even imagine, according to his (the Lord’s) power in them for the glory of God and according to God’s glorious riches. In other words, Paul wanted the believer to know that it is out of God’s own abundance and riches of who he is that they be strengthened in their inner being. Paul prays for the believers to be strengthened in their inner being through the Spirit of God and be rooted and established in love.
As you grow in the knowledge of God and are filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, you will be able to stand firm in faith. Your faith and love for Christ will deepen and will be seen by those around you.
So, pray expectantly. Pray knowing God is able no matter how things might appear. Pray without ceasing and in the Spirit.
Church, to have faith in uncertain situations we need to believe and understand the power and presence of God and that the spirit of God dwells in our hearts, in our inner being.
You will need to grasp, that is understand, for yourselves the length, depth, and height of God’s love for you. That you will be filled to the complete measure of the fullness of God and lack nothing. That you will be firmly rooted and established in the love of God, and in his ability to do more than we ask or imagine.
Jonathan believed God could deliver the Philistines into his hands and, in faith, he proclaimed to his armor bearer “perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.” I believe Jonathan could only say these words because he was rooted and established in his love for God. Jonathan acted in faith in this uncertain situation because he believed in his heart that God was able to bring them victory and, perhaps, overcome the enemy.
What does it mean to be rooted and established in love?
Remember, Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus to be rooted and established in love and that they fully grasp the love of God for them that surpasses knowledge and be filled to the full measure of the fullness of God. The meaning to this is that Paul desired the believers to be fully persuaded in their hearts of God’s love for them. That they be strengthened with power through the spirit in their inner being. Paul knew this would only happen as they become rooted and established in Christ.
The word rooted is an agricultural term and the word established is an architectural term meaning stability and provision. The idea is that the Spirit’s indwelling will provide spiritual stability and provision for the believer. The Spirit’s indwelling will provide spiritual strength and nourishment to the believer to grow strong in the Lord, in every area of life and for all occasions, even in uncertain times.
The Spirit’s presence in a person’s life will provide all a person needs to have faith for uncertain situations when they focus on the love of God for them and as they draw strength from the knowledge of the fullness of God’s love that he has for them.
Plants draw nourishment through their roots 24/7. The plant’s roots take in what they need from the soil to grow to be a healthy plant or tree. The roots grow deep into the soil and as they do, they also provide stability and strength to withstand outside forces such as winds, dry periods, and other such circumstances. The same is true spiritually for you.
Paul knew that the believers needed to be rooted and established in the knowledge and love of God if they were to withstand spiritual trials, worldly attacks, and uncertain circumstances. The believer, you, must know in your inner being, in your heart, that God loves you and he will never leave you. You need to know the power of God, and the presence of God always, even in uncertain times. You need to know the surpassing knowledge of God, and for that knowledge to undergird your faith in seemingly impossible times.
As a person of faith, you:
Know the truth of the gospel.
Know Jesus as your savior.
Have the Spirit of God in your inner being.
Have experienced the love of God.
Have experienced the grace and mercy of God.
Have been made aware of the boundless riches and blessing of Christ that is yours.
Now walk in it.
Being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, allow your faith to grow and give no room to fear in your heart. This is not a one-time filling of the fullness of God, but a continual filling of his grace, love, and his presence, his Spirit in our lives.
Church, this happens as you are rooted and established in Christ and the Word of God. It happens as you pray in the Spirit, as you focus on Christ and walk in faith.
Stand firm:
On the promises of God.
In the power of God.
In the provision of God.
In the presence of God.
Being rooted and established in the love and knowledge of God will strengthen you to withstand the attacks of the enemy. You can say no to temptation as you focus on Christ and draw spiritual strength from the Spirit of God deep within you. Pray in the Spirit. Know that when you do yield to temptation, and you will at times, you can seek the Lord with all your heart and be forgiven.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Trusting in the Lord with all your heart is being rooted and established in his love. It is being filled with the measure of all the fullness of God. It is experiencing and knowing the glorious riches you have in Christ and allowing them to strengthen you in your inner being.
The apostle Paul experienced times of suffering, and persecution. He faced some trying times but, being rooted and established in Christ, Paul was well grounded spiritually. He was firm in his faith because he knew that he knew the power and presence of Christ and the love of God for him would deliver him, and God would receive all the glory.
What have you experienced this past week? What are you facing today? Know you are not alone. God loves you and he can speak peace, deliverance from bondage, and healing to your heart and situation.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).
Thank the Lord for his love that surpasses knowledge and for his continual filling and overflowing presence of the fullness of God in your heart and life. Be filled with his presence and walk by faith each day. Know the Holy Spirit, the indwelling spirit in you, will guide you into the full measure of the fullness of God as you remain rooted and established in Christ.
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Ephesians 4: Are you living according to your calling in Christ? This message offers practical ways to live in love and unity, plus 5 things people should see in you as a believer.