"No Roots - part 2"

"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke 8:13

Yesterday we talked about having full churches but many of the individuals who sit in the pews don't have a spiritual root system. They are "surface" Christians. There is no evidence of the born-again, surrender life. This morning I want to talk about developing a strong root system.

Temptations, offenses, trials and persecution will come and if we don't have a root system, if it is not a strong one, if we do not protect it, we will fall.

We have planted a garden again this year so I would like to use it as an analogy for what I am saying. Every plant has some sort of root but it won't thrive and grow if it is not planted in the right soil. Our lives are already "planted" in the soil of sin when we are born, but that soil will bring death. We have to be planted in "life". We must be born-again and planted in Jesus. When we are, He gives us a new root system.

We have to have a strong root system. In my garden I give the plants water and fertilizer (plant food) to help make them strong and healthy. We have to feed and water our spirits if we are going to have strong, healthy roots. We feed and water them through God's word. This is done by hiding it in our hearts, by meditating on it, by being a doer and not hearer only.

In our garden we have to protect not only the plant but the roots also. We are experiencing something this year that we have never had happen before. Healthy looking plants are just dying. We are watering, fertilizing and keeping plenty of dirt around them. We discovered after pulling a few of the dead ones up that they have no roots. We also discovered a little bug that is going in the ground and eating the roots. So we are on the attack against it. We have an enemy (the devil) who is out to destroy our root system. If he can weaken us in our faith he can destroy our lives. Through times of testing, temptation and tribulation he is working at destroying your roots so that you have nothing to hold you up and keep you alive. We have discovered a product that will kill these insects that are attacking our garden. There is something that will defeat the enemy that is attacking our lives-- it is the Blood of Jesus and the power of His Word. When satan attacks, you have to continually apply the Word of God to the situation. You have to pull out your weapon-- the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God- and combat him with it. It will defeat him and protect your roots at the same time.

Are your roots planted in Jesus the life giver? Are you feeding and watering them with His Word? Are you protecting those roots by using the weapon of God's word against the enemy that is trying to destroy them?

Have a great day. How is your root system?

For further reading:

Romans 3:23; 6:23
John 3:3-5
Revelation 12:11
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 6:17

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from

About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.

Please feel free to

call (601) 833-5278 or

Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net

Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org

You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.

You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.