The Root Cause of a Lazy Prayer Life...

Maybe the root cause of a lax prayer life is deception.  Maybe we don't get down on our knees and pray over our kids because we forget that their enemy is full time on thinking of ways to cloud their thoughts with junk so that they cannot hear the voice of God.

I've been so convicted lately.  I am comfortable with praying with people in any setting.  A restaurant, a coffee shop, in the middle of campus; thats easy.

But why do I feel awkward when my wife asks me to pray with her?

When I traced this feeling back to a root cause, I ended up at self-deception.  I chose to believe that the enemy is on the move everywhere else besides in my home.  But I think the opposite is true.

I think this is a huge tests for spiritual maturity.  Here's a question for all those (married folk) who think they're spiritually mature.  Do you pray with your spouse?

On top of that, I'm feeling the conviction I heard during one of Professor Howard Hendricks' class: "Gentlemen, if it doesn't work in your house, DONT export it."

Last week, I prayed with my spouse.  Holding hands.  On the floor.  In all seriousness.  On top of that, she was the one that initiated.  Before, I would have chosen to be offended (i.e. how dare a woman take the lead, etc... a bunch of junk like that).  Now, I'm thanking God that he has changed my heart.  Now, I know where those thoughts come from and I have all the means and ways to take those thoughts captive and expose them.  Now, I'm not afraid to tell the world of the thoughts I had yesterday.  I'm free.

This is the kind of change that the Gospel has brought in my life.  I know the enemy is after my kids.  So, I spend time on my knees praying over them.

I sent a text to my buddy Sean a few days ago.  It was about hate and pride in my heart.  He shot back right away, "humble yourself bro.  Die to yourself...prayers being sent your way."  THAT is the kind of prayer coverage I need.  There is power in prayer.  Prayer is our way to ask God for stuff.  And I can't think of anything better to ask for than HIS perspective on my situation.  HIS eyes for the world.  HIS thoughts.

Men, go grab your wife and pray for God's thoughts to be yours...Let God love your wife through you today.

Fruits vs. Roots

Let's think about our top 3-5 "struggles".  Let's call those "bad fruit" on the "tree."  Whether the fruit is mental (i.e. anger, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame), overt (i.e. fighting, stealing, domestic violence, sexual assault), or verbal (i.e. cursing, a critical spirit, complaining, arguing, bickering, whining), they are a present reality in our life. 

The only reason why the fruit exists is because of the root the hides underground in a dark place. The fruit does not exist apart from the root. The fruit is the symptom and the the root is the cause. The symptom is only an expression of the cause. The expression is the outworking of a hidden evil that remains in the dark. enough said.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NASB).

To put it roughly, Paul is telling the Ephesian believers that their struggle is NOT with the "fruit" (things seen in the physical world), but rather with the "roots" (things unseen in the spiritual world).  The enemy wants us to believe that our struggle with with our spouse, children, co-workers, etc. whereas God wants to to see that our struggle is actually in an unseen spiritual world in our hearts.  The heart of every issue is an issue of the heart. 

When we are wronged by somone, the struggle is not the hurtful words that that person spoke to us, but rather us choosing to forgive or not to forgive.  To choose not to forgive bears fruit in many ways that turn mental sins to overt and verbal ones.  All fruit on a tree is linked to roots, whic lay underground and continue to gain strength the longer they remain in the dark.  We need never to focus on the fruit (symptom), but to uproot the roots (cause).

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:11 NIV).

Paul had just told the Ephesians to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness because the enemy loses power over the sins/evil that is exposed to the light.  If we want to eradicate the fruit of evil in our lives we dig up the roots, expose them to the light and then watch the fruits shrivel up and die.  Whats amazing is that the fruit will dissapear without ever having to touch it.

Religion offers fruit/symptom management.  Christ brings the gospel, which has the power to deliver the Believer from the power of sin in their lives without ever touching the fruit.

To those of us who have symtoms of evil in our lives (irritability, anger, rage, frustration, dissapointment, etc.), we can be assured that those fruits are directly linked to roots of evil.  Those roots of evil must be confessed/exposed through the body that God provided; namely, the body of Believers.  It is inconcevable that God would have us as part of a body and not include that body in the process of confessing and renouncing sin. 

How many of us can testify that the sins we confessed "to God" but kept a secret from the body still maintained power in our lives whereas the sins that were confessed to God trough the body released us from the shame and guilt that used to weigh us down daily prior to it being exposed?

May we, believers, all be in the gracious ongoing process of sanctification that involves community, the uprooting of evil in our lives (before the body) and passing of love (from God the Father to the body through the body).
 

Know Your Roots

Last night I saw a shirt that had the words "KNOW YOUR ROOTS" in large letters. I assume this shirt referred to ethnic roots, but the word "roots" immediately reminded me of what God has been revealing to me concerning my "struggles" and what causes them. It has become clear to me that struggles with anger, rage, negative thoughts, addictions and all habitual sinful behavior is only there because those fruits are being fed by a root that lies underground in a dark place (i.e. kept a secret).

Roots gain power in the dark - and they die when exposed to the light. After a root dies, the fruit eventually dissapears - everytime!  So, once our sin is exposed to the light, the struggles dissapear as well. Confession precedes repentance and is accomplished in community that is rooted in the Gospel.  May we all be challenged to consistently uproot and expose evil in our lives rather than try to manage sin.  As we draw near to God may the light expose the disease that feeds our symptoms...

1Timothy 6:11: For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith.

Below is a Word study on the Greek work for "root" (from preceptaustin.org):

Root (4491) (rhiza) is used to describe a literal root

Rhiza is used as a negative metaphor here in 1Ti 6:10 and again in Hebrews 12:15-note., where it is a "root of bitterness." The NT uses rhiza as a metaphorical description of the Messiah three times (Ro 15:12-note, Rev 5:5-note, Rev 22:16-note).

A root - Most of our English translations place "root" later in the passage, whereas Paul placed it first in the Greek text for emphasis! The "root" is vitally important! One cannot help but think of weeds like crabgrass that begin to grow in our beautiful manicured lawns and which is extremely difficult to eradicate. Furthermore, the root is that part of the plant that is unseen, laying under the grown where it functions as the plant's organ of adsorption, aeration, food supply, anchorage and support! Remember that the root differs from the stem, the buds and the fruit, all of which are intimately dependent on the integrity of the root. Now parlay that picture into this passage by Paul for a powerful picture!

Rhiza - 17x in 16v in the NT and always translated "root" or "roots."

Matthew 3:10 "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 13:6 "But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Comment: Used metaphorically of the seed that brings salvation. No root. No fruit. No salvation!

Matthew 13:21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but (contrast) is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word (Dearly reader, have you ever been persecuted because of your stand on the Word of God? Beloved of God, rejoice because [1] it is evidence of genuine salvation and [2] be glad [agalliao = jump for joy!] for your reward will be great [Mt 5:11, 12-note]), immediately he falls away (Ed: Compare "falls away" to "wandered away" here in 1Ti 6:10).

Mark 4:6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mark 4:17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.

Mark 11:20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.

Luke 3:9 "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Luke 8:13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

Romans 11:16-note If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. (For one of the best discussions of Romans 9-11 see Dr Anthony Garland's in depth answer to the question What Will Happen to Israel?)

Romans 15:12-note Again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."

Comment: Paul is quoting from Isaiah 11:1-note and Isaiah 11:10-note!

Lenski writes that: Rhiza refers to a live root that sends up a sprout, hence “the root-sprout,” the article designates the one person referred to. Jesse was David’s father; in Rev. 5:5, and 22:16 we have “root-sprout of David.” The royal house that sprang from Jesse was cut down; from the root Jesse (appositional genitive) only a tender young sprout would grow up, so tiny and apparently so weak compared with the old royal tree.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Hebrews 12:15-note See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Revelation 5:5-note and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

Revelation 22:16-note "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Descendant of David, the bright morning Star."