worship. [Music] Oh mighty God, [Music] there is none like you. [Music] There is none like you. [Music] No one else can touch my heart like you do. I can search for all eternity long and find there is none like you. [Music] There is none like you. [Music] No one else can touch my heart like you do. I could search. I could search for all eternity long and find. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none. There is none like you. [Music] Oh, searched all over. [Music] Not a mother, not a father, not my sister, nor my brother. Oh, no. I know my name. We exalt thee. [Music] We exalt thee. We exalt thee. We exalt thee. [Music] Oh Lord, [Music] we exalt thee. We exalt thee. [Music] We exalt thee. We exalt thee. Yeah. [Applause] We exalt thee, [Music] oh Lord. Oh Lord, [Music] we adore thee. We exalt thee. Lord, we exalt thee. We exalt thee. We exalt. We exalt thee. We exalt thee. [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] [Music] Hallelujah. We exalt you. Hallelujah. Lord, hallelujah. Bless the Lord. Bless the Lord. Bless the Lord. Glory to God. This is the day that the Lord has lived. Yes, it is. Yes, we are glad. Hallelujah. And rejoice in it. Hallelujah. Y'all give me just a moment to put my sea lookers on. It's something when you I had cataract surgery. So now I have to have glasses on when I'm looking at my Bible or when I'm looking at my phone or when I'm looking at anything. Praise God. So, I'm grateful though and I'm thankful. I'm grateful and thankful for insurance to be able to go and get the things done that I need to get done because everybody does not have um what we think that they have. So, we bless the Lord on today. I'm going to actually be reading in your hearing on today. I could just get to where I want to get to. I'm going to take you to Isaiah chapter, excuse me, Colossians chapter 2. Let's go there. Colossians chapter 2 verse 6-7. I have several verses of scripture for that. Um, and then I'll go back I'll go back. Give me just a moment. Let's see. Now, let's go to Isaiah 37:31-32. First, Isaiah chapter 37 verse 31 through 32. And then we'll go to Colossians chapter 2 6-7. Amen. Amen. If I can just get through here. Of course, we do ask that you do stand as we enter in with the word of God, which we recognize as the presence of God. Amen. Amen. And so here we are reading we are hearing first Isaiah chapter 37 verse 31 and 32. And this is what the word of God reads. And I'm going to be reading the King James version in your hearing. It says, "And the remnant that is escaped out of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion, the zeal of the Lord of host of hosts shall do this. And then we're going to turn our attention, praise God, to Colossians. It's in the New Testament chapter 2 and we're going to read in your hearing verses 6 and seven only. Amen. And so this is what the word of God reads. It says, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving, and the word is blessing." You may be seated in the presence of our lifechanging king. And so, Father, as we come, oh God, as we distinctly hear, oh God, from you on today, Holy Spirit, we ask you, who is the teacher of the church to bring back to our remembrance that which we have studied. And not only that which we have studied, but even now if you desire and if the father speaks to give us a revelatory word, even now speak, oh God, to us that we may hear and that we will speak only the word of truth to your people on today. We ask that you would arrest our attention and corner our conscience. allow us to be receptive to hear what you have to say to us on today. For we are prepared hearers and we're grateful and thankful for your holy word. For it is by your word that we will grow up into Christ Jesus in all things. Lord, we thank you and we praise you. It's in the matchless name of Jesus the Christ we pray. And I ask that the people of God in the house will say amen and amen. Amen. So we greet you and we salute those of you in the house on today. We thank God for everyone that is present on today. We also thank and praise God for our online partners. Glory to God and members. Oh God, we thank God for you. We welcome you as you sit in your several places as we minister to you the word of God on today. And so if I was to give a message title, it would be take root downward, bear fruit upward. take root downward, bear fruit upward. You know, a lot of times, praise God, when we pray, and I don't know why Holy Spirit should take me away, but they ain't there, but a lot of times when we go before the Lord in prayer, and of course, we know that there are of course many ways to pray. You know, some of us, you know, of course, the the the the the best way and and the way that we have all been taught is to get down on our knees. That's called humbling ourselves. So that means that we're getting down. We're going downward. Praise God. Why? Because the Lord sits high. Am I right? And here's the one that looks low. He is the one that is beh he's he's beholding the good and the evil. The Bible tells us that is his eyes that go to and from. Am I right? And because he is an allseeing and an all knowing God, it's a wonderful thing when we can recognize who he is. Yes. And also recognize who's we are. See, he is the master. He is the almighty God. Am I right? Amen. He is the creator and we are the created thing. Sometimes we have a way of how we deal with God. We get too familiar with him. And so a lot of times because we take for granted who he is because we recognize that Jesus loves me what this I know what for the Bible what tells me so. We know that emphatically without a doubt. Am I right? Everybody knew that. Even a baby was saying it. Amen. So we know that Jesus loves us. We know this and so we don't have to wonder. We don't have to guess. But how many of you know sometimes God wonders, do we love him? God wants to know on today, do you love him? And if you love him, in the first place you're going to do is you're going to get down. You're going to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that he might exalt you in due season. We will reap if we faint not. The problem is is that too many of us are fainting. We're not humbling ourselves. We're not exalting him. We're not lifting him high. And we sit low. Too many of us are exalting ourselves. We're setting ourselves up on the pedestal. We have decided that we are the great I am that I am. But God said that he is what I am. Amen. Amen. And you remember one of the years I believe was 2019. Does anybody remember what our mantra was that year? It's above me. It's above me. Was 2018 2020. Amen. 2019 2020. It's above me. I am. I am is above you and I. And we So, we've got to recognize who he is. We're talking about taking root downward and bearing fruit upward. We got to know when to get down. Too many of us are too puffed up. Too many of us want to stay up instead of getting down, instead of humbling ourselves, instead of recognizing who he is, instead of acknowledging who he is, you know. Um, as I was studying, I was going back in my mind thinking about the saints of old. You know, we're in a new dispensation of time now. We're living in a different time. Many of us are old enough to remember the old the older saints, the generations past. They truly understood faith. They understood faith. There is a there is a significant distinction between how past generations understood faith and how we modern believers interpret it today. Amen. While the earlier Christians, people of God, they focused on what I refer to as the foundational root of faith. And what the the contemporary believers believers today, they're more concerned with immediate fruits or immediate results. They were focused on the root who is God. They were focused on the root who was Jesus is Jesus Christ. They were focused on the root which is the Holy Spirit. They were focused on the root of faith which is the word of God. So this shift emphasizes, if you would allow me to say that word, a superficial engagement with spirituality. And what happens is that people are often neglecting the depth and the seriousness that is characterized in the faith of God. Now Isaiah in the book of Isaiah in chapter 11 we didn't go there verses 1-2 but in the book of Isaiah the entire book of Isaiah when you read it it foretells of the kingdom of Judah and it tells you that Judah would be like a tree cut down to a stone. up, but there would be a remnant that would make roots and branches again and bear fruit. And so this is what the word says in Isaiah 11 verse 1-2 to qualify what I just said to you. It says, "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge." Glory to God. and the fear of the Lord. So here they foretell what about Jesus Christ. Let's go to Isaiah chapter 27 verse 6. And this is what the word of God says in Isaiah chapter 27 verse 6. It says, "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root, and Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit." Now, of course, we understand here that God is saying, he's talking about Jesus Christ. This is a foretelling of Jesus Christ in Isaiah chapter 37 and verses 31-32. This is what the word of God says. It says again, and we read it when we opened up, that the remnant that is escaped out of the house of Judah shall again take root downward. And bear fruit what? Upward. They're going to what? Take root where? Downward. And bear fruit what? Upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth what? A remnant. Not everybody. Now, let me go ahead and just say that that everybody that says that they're saved is not going to make it in. Everybody that says, "Lord, Lord," is not going to make it in. Everybody that says that I did greater works in your name is not going to make it in. So scripture tells us in Isaiah 37 and 31 that there's going to be a remnant. And then in second Kings 2 Kings chapter 19 verse 30. This is what the word of God says to us. I want to take my time here for a moment because and read the scriptures in your hearing because it says here again what and the remnant that is escaped where out of the house of Judah shall yet again what take root downward and bear fruit what upward. Now this is a repeat in the word of God. Anytime something is repeated in the word of God is important. That means stop, look, and listen. That means hope. Who goes there? I need you to take notice. God is telling us as people of God, if we want to see Jesus, if we truly truly want to make our home in heaven, if we want to have eternal life, then what we're going to have to do is that we are going to have to take root downward and bear fruit. What? Upward. Upward. And he let us know what there's going to be a remnant. Everybody is not going in. Every church almost is filled there. Most churches have people the seats are filled in every service running over. But everybody is not going to make it in to the kingdom of heaven. Why? Cuz they will not get down. Come on. So they can go up. Yeah. Too many are trying to go up and won't go down. Hallelujah. And so it's let us know in these two passages of scripture that the remnant of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. So God is letting them know it ain't always be like this. Amen. But you got to do something. See, there got to be some repentance. There got to be some turning away from our wicked ways. Yeah. Huh? Amen. There's got to be some breaking. Huh? And so the Lord is letting us know it is God, the father's desire that his children, that his people take root, that we read earlier, and blossom, right? And bud and bear what? Much fruit for the kingdom. That's what God wants us to do. When we go downward and take root upward, what happens is that we as the children of God, we take root, we blossom, we bud, and then we what? We bear much fruit. Sounds like a a flower, right? Those of you that are gardeners, I don't really have a green thumb. I try. But when you break the earth, when you break up what the foul ground, that's right. Cuz that's what God is calling us to do. To break up what the foul ground of our hearts, to chisel up those things, those hard and stony places in us. So that when he sws the seed, that's right, of his word. Hallelujah. Because he sws the seed what of his son Jesus Christ Amen. into our lives. And so what he desires is that his word what takes root. Go down. What? Go down and take root. Come up and bring about what? Much fruit. Y'all hear me say that a lot, right? Well, y'all know where I got it from now. That's scripture. That's the word. Not just saying something to just say it. Not just udly praying something to pray it. I'm praying and saying the word of God. We have been taught to what Christian speak the word only with Jehovah Lo say what God says say the same thing that's in the Bible why because God is accountable and responsible for responding to his word amen. But when sin enters the picture, people of God, whether we sin once or whether we sin many times, whether it's out of rebellion or out of ignorance, it does not matter. Sin is what? Sin. And what sin does is what? It separates us from God. And it will continue to separate you and I from God until we one repent. Repent because what? The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Right now, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Somebody did not wake up this morning. Guess what? The kingdom of heaven was at hand. Now, whether they made it in or not, only God knows and they know now. But so number one, in order for us to not be separated from the love of God, because the Lord said nothing will separate us from the love of God. But that's if what we repent, right? So first we've got to repent and or God forgives us. and or God forgives us and removes the sin from our lives. And God wants to remove the sin, but are you willing to give it up? Are you willing to give it to him? Are you even ready and willing and able? You are able, but are you willing and able? Are you willing and able? You're able, but are you willing and able to give up the seed to get out of the sin business? We understand that there are sins of omission and commission. We understand that there are some things that we just do because we do them because we want to do them. And we understand that there are just some things that we do and because we just did not acknowledge or obey God or do what he told us to do. And you say, "Now, what does that mean? Because there are some things that God tell us to do and we just ignore it. But then there are some things that we just blatantly outright say, "I'm not going to do it." That's right. So where we blatantly say, "Lord, I'm not going to obey you." That's a sin of what? Commission. That means I committed myself to doing what I want to do and I don't care what God thinks or feels about it. But when it's a sin of omission, God may tell you to do something, but for whatever reason, whether it's out of fear of rejection or fear of people or fear of death, y'all remember that sunship? we just don't do. And as Sister Kroom said, what happens is you miss out on the resurrection of life. And you bought a ticket to the resurrection of damnation. Because when we are disobedient to God, that makes us unjust. When we decide that we are going to blatantly sin against the Lord, when we're going to disobey and we're going to dismiss what he says do, then we become the unjust. Which means that we don't have an opportunity to make it even. But those of us that are saved, those of us that live our lives to be obedient to God, and those of us, praise God, that when we're wrong, we acknowledge that we're wrong and we get it right with the Lord, then that means that we are just, and we have an opportunity to make it in to the kingdom of heaven. Amen. So sin is a spiritual disease. Sin is a spiritual disease and it causes many complications which if not cured by salvation will kill the human heart. It will kill the human mind. It will kill the human body. It will kill the human spirit and it will kill the human soul. Hear what I'm saying to you on today. Sin is a spiritual disease. That means that our heart is sick, our mind is sick, our body is sick, our spirit is sick, our soul is sick, our our whole being is diseased and is dying. Sin causes people to miss the mark for the prize of the high calling of God which is in Christ Jesus. I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss Jesus. Amen. Amen. I don't want to miss Jesus because I want you to know to die and not be in Christ Jesus which is to die out of Christ and be spiritually disconnected for eternity. And that is a tragic loss and it is a misappropriation of salvation. Remember I told you salvation is what is Jesus? Jesus is our salvation. When we're talking about salvation, you're talking about Jesus. You're talking about being separated and you you you've lost and misappropriated, praise God, his mercy, his grace, his truth and life. Why? Because he is what? The way, the truth, and the life. That's right. So when you lose out and you misappropriate salvation or you misappropriate Jesus, then guess what? You tragically lose out on the way, the truth, and the lies. Cuz then you decided that I would rather believe a lie over the truth and I would rather do it my way instead of his way. Amen. Amen. So, how foolish is it to waste that precious time? The precious time that this life offers you and I to go from root to fruit. When we talk about going from root to fruit, we're talking about the righteousness in Christ. because he said that we are the righteousness what? Of Christ. Those of us that are saved, we are what? The righteousness of Christ. But when we decide to get into the sin business, then what happens is that we lose out on going from root to fruit. We lose out on being the righteousness of God in and through Christ Jesus. Amen. And we lose life. We lose our souls. We lose joy. We lose peace. Guess what? We lose forever. This is serious. This is serious. I know y'all say every time she get up here, she like, "Get right, church, and let's go home." Yes. Get right, church, and let's go home. That's right. Amen. Let's not lose out on eternity. Amen. Don't miss out on your forever treasure of eternity in the Lord. Do you know that you have a forever treasure waiting for you in the Lord? The Bible says that he is seated what? He's in heaven. Where is he? He's seated on the right hand of the father making intercession for you and I. The Bible tells us also that where he is that we are there also. So those of us that are saved, those of us that are living holy, those of us that are living right, and it doesn't mean that we don't make mistakes and we don't error. Don't get me don't don't hear what I'm not saying to you. But when you recognize that you are at a caught in a fault, repent. Amen. The Bible says that when we find ourselves overtaking what? In a fault. Then those of us that are spiritual should go and restore. today. That's what I'm trying to do as I share this word about going downward [Music] going. So, we don't want to miss out because God desires that we remain spiritually connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. M the Bible lets us know in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God exchanged our sin for his righteousness. See, it's already a done deal. And see, the devil is got us bamboozled and hoodwinkedked. Uhhuh. Thinking like acting like that we've got to fix ourselves up, that we got to do something. Well, the Lord has already done it. Yes, it's a gift. It's freely he has given. But why are we not free to deceive me? The devil got us thinking that God is never going to forgive me. The devil is a liar and the truth is not in him. Amen. All you got to do is say, "Lord, I'm sorry." Tell him what you did and that Lord, with the help, with your help and that of the Holy Spirit, I will not do it again. And if you don't have the Holy Spirit, then ask the Lord to fill you. It's just that simple. It's a gift. How many of y'all in here like receiving gifts? How many of y'all online like receiving gifts? I love receiving gifts. Amen. I love receiving gifts, but I also love giving gifts. And when I give gifts, I give like the father does. I give good gifts. So when he gave us the gift of salvation, that was a what? A good gift. When he gave us his son Jesus Christ, that was what? A good gift. Come on, somebody. When he gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost, what was that? A good gift. Amen. So God gives good gifts. So why are we not receiving the good gift? God traded his righteousness, y'all, for our sin. Something that of immeasurable worth for something that was completely worthless. We were worthless. When God allowed Jesus to go into become a sin propitiation, standing in the gap, becoming stinking sin for you and I. He gave up something of great worth total that so valuable you can't even put a price on it. When Jesus gave his life for you and I for something completely worthless, talking about you and I, but he did it. And I want you to know that righteousness is correlated or is a correlated standard of rightness especially in relation to God. Especially when it pertains to God. Righteousness is right living and living right. So when somebody says that you are the righteousness of God, that means that you are a person that is what? Living right or right living. And that's only because of Jesus Christ. It ain't nothing that you and I did. Ain't nothing that we can do. We already paid the price. Right is correct and morally proper. Righteousness in accord with justice to become justified in a genuine and intimate relationship with God. God wants to have an intimate and a genuine relationship with you and I. Amen. Some of us are living falsehoods. We're hoodwinking. the Lord. We pretend like we love him. We pretend like we're with him, but it's only when we need him. It's only when we want something. It's almost like the kids with the parents or we're good mas and daddies, huh? When they want something or you get all the hugs and the kisses. Come on here. You get all the compliments. Oh, mama, you look so pretty today. Oh, daddy, you looking handsome today. Son, daughter, what do you want? Cuz we already know you saying that cuz you want something. What is it that you want? And that's how God is like, Lord, here she come get what girl, what you want? Why you playing? Why you lying? What is it that I can do for you today? [Music] The Bible tells us in Colossians chapter 2 verse 6 through7. It says, "As ye have therefore received Christ as the Lord, the Bible told us what?" So walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. How many of you know that new life in Christ starts and continues when we acknowledge him as the leader over all we are and all we do? Y'all remember the old song we say he's a mighty great leader. He's a mighty great leader leading us all the way. It's a little song but we used to sing that he's a mighty good leader. He's a mighty good leader. He's a mighty good leader [Music] leading you all the way. Y'all remember that old song. Remember that. But then we must accept his leadership daily by being rooted, built up and strengthened as the scripture just told us in the faith. See, God has given us some prerequisites. He's given us directions, but we got to read his word. If we read his word, we'll know what to do. If we read his word, we'll know what to say. If we read his word, we'll know how to obey. The problem is is we don't read the script. We don't read the script. The Lord wants to guide us and he wants to help us with all of our decisions and all of our challenges. Some of us are going through unnecessary roughness because we're trying to take the lead. That's right. Instead of allowing the Lord preeminence in our lives instead of allowing him to be the head. And when we allow him to be the head, guess what? Because he's the head, then guess what? We're the head and not what? The tail. and what the word say. So we let Jesus lead wherever Jesus is. That's where we ought to be also, right? If the word said where he is, then there we are also. So if Jesus is leading, then guess what? We right there with the leader. We follow the leader. We follow hard after him. Amen. Amen. So you can live life for Christ by number one committing your life and submitting your will to him. That's what Romans 12:es 1-2 the CED. And of course you know our mantra is of course Romans 12:2 in the CED. But in Romans chapter 12 verse 1-2 in the contain the uh uh CED version it says dear friends God is good so I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice pure and pleasing that's the most sensible way to serve God don't be like the people of this world but Let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. Number two, seek to learn from him and more about him and more about his life and more about his teachings. The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:16 in the CEV version, it says, "Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other with thankful hearts. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God." In other words, praise him. In other words, worship him. And then when you do that, he going to download something in you. He going to download something in you. He's going to give you his wisdom so that you will have all wisdom to be able to teach. Remember, one of our spiritual levels of maturity is to teach what we what we've been taught. I believe it's spiritual level number five is to teach what you have been taught. So when the Lord downloads and teaches us in his word, then we ought to also teach by wisdom of God what we have been taught and instruct each other. Why? Because iron sharpens iron. Yeah. Just because we may be the need servants of the house, we're not too wrong that we can't learn. We're not too holy that we can't learn from somebody else here. Amen. Because Holy Spirit may drop something down in you from the greatest to the least. God may tell you something to come and tell the pastor and of course all myself or some of the leaders here. And guess what? We know how to try the spirit by the spirit. And if it be of God, we're expecting it to happen. We're expecting it to come to pass. We're expecting what? Manifested fruit. And then number three, recognizing and allowing the Holy Spirit's power to operate with you. The Bible tells us in Acts chapter 1 verse 8, and I'm reading the CEV version. It says, "But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Clarksville, in Hopkinsville, in Fort Campbell, and everywhere in the world. I'm bringing it home. Amen. The Bible says in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and everywhere in the world. But I want to bring it home on today. in Clarksville, in Hopkinsville, in Oak Grove, on Fort Campbell, and any of the surrounding areas near you and I, we ought to be telling somebody about Jesus. The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, So we have we see as we talk to you on today that the principle of root and fruit is that you have to take fruit take root excuse me downward before you can bear fruit upward. Amen. Amen. You have to take root downward before you can take fruit upward. Too many of us are trying to go up before we grow up. We got to grow up. We got to mature. Some of us may seem physically and naturally mature or feel that we are physically and naturally mature and we're and we're continuing to grow and evolve every day cuz we're aging every day. Right? So as we grow older we ought to be growing what? Wiser. As we grow older, we are to be maturing. And so that means in order to grow wiser and to mature it is necessary we have to take root downward before we can take and bear fruit upward. You know when we observe nature we observe nature. Trees are known by what? Their fruit. They are known by and for their fruit. Somebody, let's say for instance, you buy a tree. You buy a fruit tree and you plant the fruit tree and for a long period of time, nothing seems to happen. Don't look like the tree is is doing nothing. It barely sprouting up. We don't see no fruit. Maybe got a leaf or two may show up on it. But under the ground, unseen by us. How do you know that that plant is making root? It's making root and you've got to nurture it. You've got to nurture it. So, you may be planting a seed. You may be believing God for something. And so you seated your the word of your mouth into the ethos into the atmosphere. You seated the word or you seated the word of God or you spoken something to God in prayer. That that right there is is is your your tree that you're planting. That's your tree. And so now you've planted it, right? even told the Lord, "Lord, I I I want to go to school." This is cool cuz I have decided I'm going to retire, but I want to go to school. So, you see, you sold that right into the ears of God. You told God what you wanted and God made a way, did he not? He made a way because he heard what you said. He He looked at what? Your heart. He knew the desire what of your heart. So he honors what? The desires of our hearts. And so as long as we are asking what he desires, [Music] it's got to be what he desires. See the problem is that we are asking for his permissive will. We say, "Give me God. Give me God. God, give it to me. Give it to me. Give it to me." But we have not counted up the cost. But when sister co decided to retire and decide, well, I was going to sit around home. So I'm going to go and I'm going get some more learning. But then opportunity came cuz God said, not yet. I have much work for you to do. I have greater works for you what to do. So God planted her into another job. Gave her some more responsibility. gave her some other something else that there would be accountability and responsibility on her part. So when we ask God for things and then God gives it to us, how many of you know there is an accountability and a responsibility for what you've asked God for? You've got to be able to maintain and you've got to be able to retain. You've got to be able to maintain and retain that which you have asked God for. God, we don't want God to just waste his good gifts, right? So, we want to be able to store it and not only store it, but store it well. So, what happens is that we know that something's going on. The plant is taking root. So, you give the tree a season to make root what? Der. And then it will grow what? Upward. And then it'll bring about what? Much fruit. Apple trees produce what, y'all? Apples. Cherry trees produce what? Cherries. So when you put that tree, whatever that tree that you're planting, whatever it is that you ask God for, you're expecting for it to sprout up a light fruit of what you asked God for. Amen. Now, if you ask God for a truck, you don't expect God to give you a bike, do you? Amen. But that might be what you get. And if that's what you get, what do you do? You do the sham god princip. Start where you are. Use what you got. do what you can and then that what happens is as you show God that you're thankful and you're grateful. See God want to know are you going to be thankful and grateful. So when I do drop that F-150 when I do drop that Escalade on you or whatever it is that you have asked God for then I know that you're going to be grateful and thankful. Because what? He's made you what? Ruler over a few things. He's giving you something small. Now I can trust you to rule over greater. And we practice this every day in our lives, y'all. Sometimes we don't realize this very principle. We practice it in our lives every day. And guess what? We should practice it spiritually. We should practice it spiritually because as Christians we are known by and for the good fruit that we produce for his kingdom. And before we can produce fruit or the fruit of the spirit, we must put down roots in the spirit. See, there's too many things we're trying to do in the natural. When are we ever going to get in the spirit? When are we ought to ever allow Holy Spirit to do his office work in our lives? It's got to be exhausting trying to do God's job. It's got to be exhausting trying to be the creator and the created thing. It's got to be exhausting holding on to those cares. And because we're holding on to the cares, the devil is sewing tears. Amen. So, not only do we have cares, but now we've got tears. And God says, "Let the wheat and the tears grow what?" Together. And he'll do the separating. Jesus teaches us the parable of the swer in Matthew chapter 13 3-9. A farmer planted a seed y'all and he scattered the seed. And the Bible says that some of it fell on the road and birds ate. Some of us are sewing seeds and our seeds are get eaten up before they can even get planted or take root. The Bible goes on to tell us that some fell in the gravel and it sprouted quickly but did not put down roots. And because it didn't put down roots, the Bible tells us that the sun came up and withered it just as quickly. In other words, the sun burned it up. as soon as you were able to get it and and and put it in the gravel cuz some people after that's where they sew. They they sew anywhere everywhere. They don't care. They just want to sew. But he sold in gravel and they did not take root. Did not put down roots. So when the sun came up, it burned it. It scorched it. And then some fell in the weeds. Cuz sometime we just throwing our seeds anyway. just throwing our seeds anywhere. I want to put the men on fire. Some men are just sewing their seeds anyway. And they're sewing their seeds in weeds. Some of us got children scattered about cuz we done sold our seeds in some weeds. And the Bible says some fell in the weeds and as it came up it said it was strangled by the weeds. And when I listen to testimonies of many people that have, you know, had other relationships and things didn't work out for whatever reason. But now this seed has fallen in the weeds. And now the the the weed is trying to strangle the seed. You got to be careful young men when you sew your seeds, where you sew your oats. Don't just throw them everywhere. 36 24 36 that ain't enough. Are you saved? Do you love God? Young ladies, too. Amen. Are you saved? Not just cuz you're blessed. Not cuz you're handsome. That's right. Not even because they got a job. Not because they got some money in the bank. Not even just because they got a nice car. They may even have a house. But are you saved? Do you love God? Can we build together? Cuz I don't want to build on no stony ground. Come on. I don't want to build on sinking sand. Y'all understand what I'm saying on today? Amen. Cannot sew your seeds just any old place. But then the Bible goes on and tells us that some fell on good ground. Some fell on good ground. Some fell on good ground. Some fell on good earth and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. That's where you want to sew your seed. That's where you want to not only sew your seeds, but that's where you also want to sew your deeds. Amen. Pastor says you got to know your ground. You got to know your ground. I know I'm saying something. I I I know that resonated with somebody. You can tell me later cuz I know God spoke to you. You got your answer. You got your answer. So, a person with shallow roots will not bear fruit. When a person is shallow, they're not going to bear fruit with you. Amen. They're not going to bear fruit. They're not going to bear some fruit and they're certainly not going to bear much fruit. The parable lets us know that and encourages us. Praise God. That if we sow good seeds like this farmer did in the latter that not all the seeds are going to sprout up, y'all. And that's got that we got to be okay. But we got to make sure that we don't sew those seeds. Go back and do that on repeat. Don't make that mistake or make that error again. Because even the plant that grew, they had different sizes and they yielded varying fruit. The Bible says in verse 9 that some 100fold, some what? 60fold, and some 30fold. And you got to decide what kind of yield or harvest you want. Do you want just a 30fold harvest? Do you want a 60fold harvest or do you want a 100fold harvest? It depends on where you sow your seed. We got to be careful because evil rottens root and then it leads to fruitless blossoms. Hear what I'm saying to you on today because the Bible says in verse n who has ears to hear what? Let him hear. So hear what I'm saying. Evils and I say evils plural. Evil's rotten root and fruitless blossom. Evil will produce rotten roots, y'all. and it will produce fruitless blossom. So that's the reason why we have to we have to love God with all of our hearts, with all of our mind, with all of our soul, and with all of our might. Praise God. Cuz God wants us to bear fruit. He don't want us to bear bad fruit. God wants you and I to bear good fruit. Not only good fruit, but much fruit. We've got to understand that the Bible tells us that by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7 verse 20 tells us that by our fruit they will know us. So what he is saying is to examine your fruit. Examine your fruit. How do you examine your fruit? By looking at how you treat other people. in both your words and in your actions. Is your fruit good or is your fruit bad? Is your fruit godly or is your fruit ungodly? Is your fruit holy or is your fruit unholy? Is your fruit righteous or is your fruit unrighteous? How many you know without a root there can be no fruit? Amen. Without a root there can be no fruit. And no fruit exists without a root. The Lord desires that we have root. And now we have root but have what? Lasting root. strong roots. God wants you and I to have strong roots. So the Bible lets us know that and I'm going to close that just like a tree planted by the rivers of living water. Isn't that what Psalm chapter one tell us? that we are to be planted like a tree by the rivers of water. But a tree can weather almost any storm if they have sound roots. I'm from New Orleans. When the hurricanes blow, Paul Morton has talked about this in one of his songs, but it's true that a pine tree is nimler than an oak tree. They're pretty, they smell good, they're fragrant, but when a hurricane comes, baby, let me tell you, that tree beat until eventually what? It'll break. But that good old oak tree standing tall, standing firm, standing its ground, saying present and accounted for. God wants to know today, are you present and are you accounted for? Are you present and are you accounted for? Proverbs 12:3 says, "A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of righteousness shall not be moved." Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Praise God. We're standing here and we're praying. Father God, you are a great and a good God. Truly, you do do miracles. So great God. There is truly none like you. Lord, your word tells us that you have loved us with an everlasting love. So help us all right now to know and to believe that your word is truth. Let your word not fall upon deaf ears and hearts, Lord God. But God, everything that you have spoken to us even right now, let it go into open and willing hearts on today. But today is the day of salvation. and deliverance is come unto them that will re receive you. But they only first have to believe and then receive because we say C plus B equals S. Confession plus belief equals what? Salvation. So on today, we're asking Lord God that your people will eat the whole message like Ezekiel ate the whole scroll and that they will find this word was a spiritual food not only for them but that it was good to them. is as revelation 10 8-10 says sweet as honey. So on today if you are not saved after having heard the word on today is your day today you have the opportunity to take root downward and to bear fruit upward. So if you are not saved, but you want to take root downward and you truly want to bear fruit upward, I want you to know today is the day of salvation. So if you desire to be saved and you're in the house, all I want you to do is raise your hand. If you desire to be saved on today and you know that you are not saved, all you got to do is raise your hand. If you're online and you're not saved and you're hearing this word and you want to take root downward so that you can bear fruit upward, I want you to smash there in the comments. I want to be saved. And I know that the Lord is ready, willing, and able to save you on today. If you have stepped away from the Lord, but you want to rededicate your life, you want to get back in right standing, you want to get back in right relationship with the Lord, I want you to take this opportunity right now to raise your hand because this is between you and God. Ain't got nothing to do with me or nobody else in here cuz everybody's eyes ought to be closed anyway. But if you want to make a new and a fresh start with the Lord today. If you want to rededicate your life, just raise your hand. If you're online and you want to rededicate your life back to the Lord, put in that comment box, Pastor Angie, I want to rededicate my life back to the Lord. I want to be saved or I want to rededicate my life. If you need and desire the indwelling of the Holy Ghost and or the Holy Spirit, I want you to know that the Holy Ghost came from Jesus. And the Holy Spirit is a comforter who will lead and guide you and I in all truth. If you want to be led and guided in all truth on today, raise your hand. If you don't want to believe a lie, if you don't want to continue receiving a lie, but you want to receive and believe the truth today, you can raise your hands for the Holy Ghost cuz the Holy Ghost comes from God and he is what? The spirit of truth. If it's church membership or you want to partner with us and you're looking for a church home, just put in there today, I want to be I want to partner with you. I want to connect with you. And you can actually go on chalkit.org/connect [Music] and you can connect with us. You can partner with us. you can become a member or if you simply just want prayer cuz Jesus says in Matthew 18 verse 20 he says for where two or three are gathered together in my name I am there in the midst of them. So if you just want prayer raise your hand. If you need prayer, raise your hand and the Lord praise God. We'll pray with you. We'll believe. We'll touch and decree and believe God for what you desire from the Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I want you to know that Jesus is in the midst on today. So, if you any of these appeals that have been made, if any of those appeals apply to you, like I said, raise your hand or put it in the comment box. And whatever it is, we're going to touch and agree and believe God with you. Amen. Amen. Father God, in the name of Jesus, for the request for prayer, Lord God, we know, oh God, that you're well able to do all things but fail. So now, Father God, we pray, oh God, that you, oh God, would look upon that request, Lord God, and if it be according to your perfect will, let thy holy will be done in the name of Jesus. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Father, as we prepare to leave this place but not your presence, we ask that you would encap your angels around us. Keep us, oh Lord God, as we go to our several destinations. Oh God, do not allow the enemy to pluck the word out from our hearts that we receive. But God, let it go deep down into the inner tes of our soul. Let it take root and pick up about much fruit in our lives, oh God. Oh God, allow us to go safely and travel to our several destinations. When we get there, allow everything to be as we left it, decent and in order. Lord, we love you and we praise you. We ask, oh God, that you will bless us as we leave this place, but not your presence bring us back at the appointed time. We continue to give your name glory, honor, and praise. It's in Jesus name that we praise. The people of God say amen and amen. Glory to God. We'll see you on Tuesday for a transformational Tuesday night teaching so you can hear a word that you have never heard. Amen. And we are dismissed. [Music] You know Lord. [Music]