Where is Jesus right now and what is he saying to you? I was sitting in a 10×10 office on a cream colored chair with a small green pillow in my hands across from a small middle-aged woman sitting in a rocking chair. She asked me this question after I’d explained some of the events of my childhood and some of the events of the last few years of my life.
She was my counselor for a year and her name was Julie. I sought her out after three years of planting The Well because I was honestly a living mess. I had visited my doctor here in Hastings not long before that because I thought I was becoming physically sick. I had a lack of appetite, I couldn’t sleep, my anxiety levels were through the roof, I was working 60 – 70 hours per week, the things I used to love to do I had no interest in and I didn’t have the energy to preach another sermon.
After asking a few questions and doing the normal physical checkup my doctor looked at me and he said “well the good news is besides being a few pounds overweight you are physically healthy for the most part. But the bad news is you are emotionally and spiritually sick. Your family needs you healthy and your church needs you healthy. So go see a good counselor, change your diet, get on an exercise program, stop answering your phone every time it rings, work fewer hours and start taking these sleeping pills so you can get some rest.”
That day in the doctor’s office lead to a lot of change in my life. In particular it lead to the day in my counselor’s office where she asked me that question. “Where is Jesus right now and what is he saying to you?” She actually had me sit in a chair and pretend that Jesus was in another chair and she had me explain to invisible Jesus some of the difficult things that had happened in my life. Then she prayed that the Spirit of God would reveal to me where Jesus was when these things happened and she asked him to speak to me and tell me what Jesus would say to me.
After she prayed she instructed me to get out of my seat and move into the other seat where Jesus had been invisibly sitting and she asked me again: “Where is Jesus right now and what is he saying to you?” And then she instructed me to answer the question as though Jesus was speaking. And I broke. I barely got the words out “I am here with you and I love you.” I barely got those words out of my mouth before I broke down crying like a baby.
What drove my counselor to ask that question and to have me role-play that way and to pray that the Spirit of God would reveal Christ to me was her deep desire to see me experience the love of Christ in a life giving way. It’s the same desire that drives the Apostle Paul to pray the way he does in our passage today.
Look at Ephesians 3:14 – 21…
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in Heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Let’s review where we’ve been…
As we’ve studied these verses over the last few weeks we’ve learned that our posture in prayer is rooted in the reasons we pray and the person we pray to. (14 – 15) We’ve also learned that our power comes from the riches of God’s glory, it is granted to us by God, it comes to us through God’s Spirit and it comes out from the Spirit within us in a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. (16) Then last week we learned to pray that Christ would settle down in our thoughts, our desires and our behaviors as we ask him to deepen our belief and trust in him as we take the journey up that mountain in relationship with him. (17)
In these verses Paul is praying passionately for the Ephesian believers. He is on his knees in a surrendered posture before the Lord. He’s praying in light of who he knows the Ephesian believers are in Christ. He’s praying to the Father of every family in Heaven and on Earth. He’s asking the Father to reach into his vast riches of never-ending wealth. He’s asking the Father to freely grant power to the Ephesian believers through the Holy Spirit. He’s begging the Father for the Spirit’s power to be manifested in the lives of the Ephesian believers from deep within their inner beings. He’s praying that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith.
But, why is Paul praying this way? Why is Paul’s pastoral heart for the Ephesian believers so passionately exposed in this prayer? We noted last week that this prayer from the Apostle Paul is much like climbing a mountain. The journey up that mountain is very hard. Sometimes you want to quit because it feels like the end of the journey is never going to come. Truthfully, there are mountains in our lives that we never climb because the journey becomes too much for us to bear. Too painful. Too hard. Too costly.
This week…
As we continue to examine verse 17 we see two new pictures of what is driving Paul in prayer. He says he is praying that the Spirit would give us power “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” The two pictures Paul introduces here in verse 17 are the pictures of someone who is rooted like a tree and someone who is grounded like a building on a rock. “Rooted and grounded in love.”
For the sake of time today, I’m only going to deal with the first picture of someone who is rooted like a tree in the love of Christ. What does it look for me to be rooted in the love of Christ? Think about a tree for a minute. Working from top to bottom on the picture. You have branches with leaves and fruit telling you what kind of tree it is. The trunk tells you what kind of character the tree has. Then you have the roots growing deep into the soil telling you what kind of nutrients and health the tree is getting.
Now imagine that your life is this tree. And ask yourself these three questions. What kind of fruit do you see in the branches of your life? What kind of character do you see in the trunk of your life? What kind of soil are the roots of your life growing in? Let’s take those questions one at a time.
#1: What kind of fruit do you see in the branches of your life?
When I was a kid we had mulberry trees on our farm. Sometimes the mulberries were ripe and soft and tasty and they provided a nice snack. Sometimes the mulberries were green, unripened, and bitter to the taste and they would give you a stomachache. Other times the mulberries were rotten, mushy, moldy and would make you terribly sick if you ate them. Sometimes the fruit of our lives is similar. Our lives, like trees, produce fruit. Sometimes the fruit is good. Sometimes the fruit is bitter and sometimes the fruit is rotten. When Christ isn’t dwelling or settled down in your heart then your life will not be rooted in the love of Christ and the fruit of your life will be bitter and rotten.
But what do I mean when I say that? What does it look like for me to bear fruit that is not growing out of the love of Christ? Ephesians 4:17 – 19 and 5:3 – 18 paints a great picture for us here. If my life is not rooted in the love of Christ and if Christ is not dwelling inside my heart through faith I will walk in foolishness. I will be darkened in my understanding or alienated from the life of God because of my ignorance and my hardness of heart. I will become callous to the gospel. I will give myself up to sensuality or greed or impure behavior. Sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking, deception, disobedience and drunkenness will be a normal part of my life if my heart is not rooted in the love of Christ dwelling deep within me.
Colossians 3:5 – 9 paints a good picture too. If my life is not rooted in the love of Christ and if Christ is not dwelling in my heart through faith then I will not put to death sinful, earthly desires and behavior. I will not actively seek to kill that which is killing me. I will not chase the fruit down to the root and I will not murder it. I will not viciously put to death sexual immorality, impurity, sexual passion, evil desire, covetousness (idolatry), anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk or dishonesty. If Christ does not dwell within me then my life will not be rooted in the love of Christ and my life will be characterized by all of the bitter and rotten fruit I’ve just described.
But, if my life is rooted in the love of Christ and if Christ is dwelling in my heart through faith, then there will be godly fruit in my life. I am chosen by God. I am made holy by God. I am God’s beloved child. Therefore my life will be clothed in the fruit of a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if I have a complaint against a brother or sister, I will forgive them as the Lord has forgiven me. Above all that I will put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. The peace of God will rule in my heart and I will be thankful. Whatever I do in word or in deed I will do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who saved me and has forgiven me. This is the fruit that adorns the branches of the life of a Christian. (Col. 3:12-17)
If my life is rooted in the love of Christ and if Christ is dwelling in my heart through faith then my life will exhibit the love of Christ. I will put off my old self and I will be renewed in the spirit of my mind and I will become more and more like Jesus. I will become more and more righteous and holy in my day-to-day life. I will speak the truth in love and I will not be controlled by anger. I will work hard to be honest and I will become a generous person who is ready to share with others in need. I will speak words that build others up instead of tearing them down. I will speak words that fit the occasion so that I may give grace to people who hear me speak. I will give the Spirit of God full access to my life and I will be kind to others, tenderhearted in my care for others and forgiving towards those who hurt me. (Eph. 4:22-32)
I will imitate God in everything I do. I will walk in love as Christ has loved me. I will walk as a child of the light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and I will discern what is pleasing to the Lord. I will walk in the wisdom and understanding of the will of God. I will speak and sing the Word of God to others with thankfulness to God. I will submit to others out of respect and reverence for Christ who dwells within me. (Eph. 5:1-21)
I need to point out one final fruit comparison that I think would be unfaithful to leave out. Galatians 5:19 – 21 teaches me that if my life is not rooted in the love of Christ dwelling within me then my life will be characterized by the works of the flesh, which are obvious. Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the junk drawer of any other sin I can create. If this is the fruit of my life, I am not part of the Kingdom of God. Christ is not dwelling in me. My life is not rooted in the love of Christ.
But according to Galatians 5:22 – 26 if my life is rooted in the love of Christ and if Christ is dwelling within me then my life will be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I will crucify my sinful desires and behaviors to the cross of Christ where he died in love to put my sin to death. I will live and walk under the control of the Holy Spirit. I will not be conceited. I will not provoke others to hurt or anger and I will not be envious of others. This is the fruit of someone whose life is rooted in the love of Christ. This is the fruit of someone whom Christ is dwelling in. This is the fruit of someone who is a part of the kingdom of God.
What kind of fruit do you see in the tree of your life? Is it bitter and rotten fruit or is it godly and healthy fruit? Is your fruit rooted in the love of Christ? If your life is rooted in the love of Christ then your life will produce fruit that is in keeping with the love of Christ.
#2: What kind of character do you see in the trunk of your life?
Character has to do with maturity and strength. Small saplings are young and weak. Large trees are typically mature and strong. Growing up on my mom’s farm there was a stand of trees along the East side of our farmhouse. When a storm would roll through the young saplings would bend and often times break in the wind because they were weak. But the mature trees would stand firm and barely move because they were strong.
So what does the Bible teach me about being a person of strong or weak character? According to Ephesians 4:14 and Colossians 2:8 if I am a young sapling with weak character then I will be like a child who is immature. I will be like a boat that is tossed back and forth by every strong wind and wave of false teaching. I will be controlled by deceitful or dishonest schemes. I will be taken captive by human philosophy and empty dishonesty. I will be trapped in human tradition. I will live my life according to childish and worldly fantasies and I will ignore the instructions and commands of Christ.
But if I am a mature tree with strong character then I will be trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. I will have nothing to do with useless and silly myths but instead I will train myself for godliness. I will be an example in godly speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity and I will be devoted to the Scriptures. I will practice these things and immerse myself in them so that everyone would see my progress and I will keep a close watch on myself. (1 Tim. 4:6-7; 12-16)
If I am a mature tree with strong character I will be blessed. I will not listen to the counsel of the wicked. I won’t be counted among the sinners. I will not be a scoffer. I will delight in the law of the Lord. I will meditate on God’s Word daily. I will be like a tree that is planted by streams of water that yields it fruit in its season and my leaf will not wither up and die. In everything I do I will prosper. (Psalm. 1)
How about Psalm 119:9 – 16? According to this Psalm if I am a mature tree with strong character I will live a life of purity. I will guard my heart by filling it with the Word of God. I will seek God with my entire being. I will not wander from the safety of God’s commands. I will treasure God’s Word and store it in my heart. I will protect myself from sin. I will bless God and ask him to teach me his laws. I will declare God’s rules because I delight in them. I will find joy in Gods commands and I will meditate on them daily and fix the eyes of my heart on them. I will be overjoyed to read and to learn God’s Word and I will not forget it. This is the character of a man or woman who is like a mature and strong tree who is rooted in the love of Christ.
And what about Romans 12:9 – 21? According to this passage, if I am a mature tree with strong character my love will be genuine. I will abhor evil. I will hold fast to that which is good. I will love others with brotherly affection. I will seek to outdo others in showing honor to each other. I will not be lazy in serving the Lord energetically. I will rejoice with hope. I will be patient in suffering. I will be constant in my prayers. I will contribute to the needs of the body of Christ and the church. I will be hospitable and welcome guests into my circles of friendship. I will bless my enemies instead of cursing them. I will rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. I will live in harmony with others. I will not be proud and arrogant but I will hang out with the outcast. I will not think I am very wise. I will not seek vengeance against others but instead I will seek to do good to everyone, especially my enemies. I will do everything in my power to live at peace with everyone. I will trust God to act justly and I will feed and clothe my enemies. I will not be overcome by evil but I will overcome evil by doing good. I will do all of this because of the mercy of God that has been extended towards me in the love of Christ, which dwells inside my heart through faith.
What kind of character do you see in the trunk of your life? Is the character of your life young and weak or mature and strong? Is your character rooted in the love of Christ? If your life is rooted in the love of Christ then your life will be like a strong tree with unbreakable and immovable character.
#3: What kind of soil are the roots of your life growing in?
The soil is really important for healthy roots to grow in. When the soil is lacking nutrients the roots shrivel up and produce weak trees with little to no fruit or bitter and rotten fruit. When the soil is rich with nutrients the roots are bursting with health and they produce strong mature trees with good healthy fruit.
I am convinced that the soil of our hearts must be filled with the love of Christ. This is what Paul is praying for in Ephesians 3:17 when he prays that the Spirit of God would strengthen us so that Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith and that our hearts would be rooted in the love of Christ.
When the soil of your life is filled with the love of Christ then you are more than a conqueror through him who loves you. You are sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus who is your Lord. (Rom. 8:37-39)
When the soil of your life is filled to the brim with the love of Christ then you will rest assured that God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved you, even when you were dead in your sin made you alive together with Christ so that you would know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you would be filled with the presence of the love of God. (Eph. 2:4-5; 3:19)
If the soil of your life is nurtured by the love of Christ then you will be controlled and compelled by the love of Christ because you know that Christ died for you therefore you are dead to sin. You are alive now and you no longer live for yourself but instead you live for Christ who died and rose from the dead in victory over Satan, sin and the grave. Therefore you no longer relate to people according to your sinful desires. Even though you once related to Christ as his enemy you don’t anymore because you are a new person. There’s new soil in your heart. The old soil has been replaced. If you’ve trusted in Christ you are rooted and becoming more rooted in the love of Christ each day. (2 Cor. 5:14 – 17)
What kind of soil are the roots of your life growing in? Is your life rooted in the soil of the love of Christ? If your life is rooted in the love of Christ then the soil of your life will strengthen and nurture the roots of your life and strong mature character will produce healthy and godly fruit in you.
Conclusion…
So where is Jesus right now and what is he saying to you? I don’t know what storms are rolling through your life right now but I remember the storms I was facing when my counselor asked me that question. I remember describing what it was like to look back at my childhood and the previous three years of planting a church. It was like looking back at a battlefield with mushroom clouds still lingering in the sky.
Whether you are looking back at mushroom clouds or standing right in the middle of a battlefield right now, the only way you will come out the other side of this battle we call life, unbroken and in one piece, is if you are rooted in the love of Christ.
What kind of fruit do you see in your life? What kind of character do you see in your life? What kind of soil are the roots of your life growing in? Is your life rooted in the love of Christ?
If your life is rooted in the love of Christ you will see healthy fruit in your life, you will see strong character in your life and the soil of your heart will be strengthened and nurtured by the love of Christ.
I am praying that the Spirit of God would strengthen you so that Christ would dwell in your hearts through faith and that your hearts would be rooted in the love of Christ.