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GROUNDED

By Stephen Marcano

 

A few days ago I was going over some of the teachings from Rev. Sullivan's class, The Weapons Of Our Warfare. For those who are be thinking of taking this class, don’t wait a day longer. If you are seeking to know the truth of who GOD is and the sacrifice he made for us, and WHY GOD has done the things He has done then, PLEASE don’t hesitate any longer. And if you have already taken it, take it again to establish it in your heart and life.

Genesis 41:32:
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; It is because the thing is established by GOD, and will shortly bring it to pass.

So there I was in lesson 40, “To Heal the Sick,” and these versus describing when Jesus Christ healed a blind man jumped right of the page at me.

Mark 8:22-25:
And he [Jesus] cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him,
23 And besought him to touch him.
24 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought [anything].
25 And he [the blind man] looked up and said, I see men as trees, walking.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Now there is a lot in these verses that we can look at but for this teaching we are looking at men as trees, walking. What does this mean, I thought to myself. Is God describing a future event, a fancy dress party of some sort where we would all be asked to come as trees? I should think not. Or did he mean something else? It was then that my eyes were opened to this truth: trees are not normally walking around but they are fixed to the spot by their roots.

Ephesians 3:17:
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

God wants us rooted and grounded just like a tree, unmovable in the soil of his love.

Colossians 2:6-7:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Anyone who has any agricultural experience will tell you that the soil is one of most important parts of the growing process of any plant. If the soil does not have the essential minerals that the plant needs to grow healthily and strong, that plant will eventually wither and become too weak to survive the harsh weather conditions it will go through.

So where is our soil?

Ephesians 2:19-20:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of GOD;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

I don’t believe you will find a better soil than that which you have just seen in this verse. Reading the Old Testament will show you the love, sacrifice, and indeed the mistakes of others who went before us in the faith. Why do we need to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets? So that we the children of GOD can have the opportunity to grow strong and walk as his children. Preparation of the soil is OUR responsibility.

Matthew 13:23a:
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it....

This word “understandeth” means to “comprehend, to be earnestly occupied with the object, to reflect morally, ponder, lay to heart.” As a people we need to ponder and lay to heart the Word of GOD. Only then can we walk up right, rooted and grounded in Christ, and be as he was - obedient and unmovable.

Ephesians 2:10:
For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which GOD hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Once we decide to walk as God intended us to, then we will know the power that is God Almighty. Once we take that step we will see, as will others around us, the nature of the one we serve.

Psalm 1:3:
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

May God’s love abound in you and may his Word and promises fill your mind with peace. Amen.

 

 


From the March 2002 issue of The Vine & Branches