John Gray - Rooted
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Who’s ready for the word of the Lord today? For those who are visitors here, I want to thank you again for being here. It is our custom that we stand for the reading of the Word. We honor God by standing for the reading of the Word. If you would do me this kindness, please stand for just a moment while I read the Word of the Lord. I have to say this because I need you to hear me with all sobriety: if you tap into the word that I’m about to preach over the next 40 minutes, your life will never be the same. I’m going to come over here because I need to set the edges for what’s about to happen. If you tap into this word today, I assure you that your entire life will change. It’s almost like I was born for this one.
Isaiah 61, Isaiah 61. I’m reading from the New King James: «The Spirit of the Living God is upon me. The Spirit of the Living God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. You’re in the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. For anybody that’s been crying at night, your comfort is coming today. To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.»
Some of you have been going through seasons of mourning, attacks that make no sense. You don’t even understand where it came from. You’re almost like, «Am I being punished for stuff I did years ago?» But you need to know that God is about to console you and give you new oil of joy you could have never experienced, instead of the sadness and the weight and the mourning that has covered you like a blanket, and He’s going to give you a new garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Why? Everything you went through is because God wants to make you a tree, not a potted plant-a tree of righteousness, right living in right standing with the Living God.
Trees of righteousness. God’s not just doing it for you; He’s doing it for the people next to you and the ones behind you. You should look around and see that there’s a forest of believers. You are not by yourself. Trees of righteousness; watch this-the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. God planted you. Some of you are saying, «God, did You plant me in the right place? Did You plant me in the right relationship? Am I in the right soil?» The first thing I want to ask you to do is to tell your neighbor, «God knows what He’s doing.» Help me, Holy Ghost.
Can you suffer one more scripture? Ephesians chapter 3, starting at the 14th verse: «For this reason, I bow my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted -He’s trying to build trees-but you have to be rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.»
Do you have time for one more scripture? Colossians chapter 2, verse 6: «As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted"-there that word is again -» rooted and built up in Him and established.» I need you to know that the Lord is building you up and establishing you. Say it out loud: «He’s establishing me.» Put it in the chat feed: «The pain that you’ve been going through is the pain of establishment.» It feels like discipline, but it’s establishment.
So God’s got to get in the ground and get some stuff out of the way because He needs to establish you. He needs to make sure that your mind is still, and that your feet are like concrete-that you won’t move when things happen, when people leave. You won’t move when they talk about you; you won’t move. You are established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. If you’re going to be rooted, you must be rooted in Jesus Christ. You cannot be rooted in Allah, in Buddha, in Krishna, in Muhammad. There is no other way to be saved but by the name of Jesus Christ. This is not a political statement; it is a spiritual truth. Jesus Christ is the door of the sheep; He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and He is alive and well, and the tomb is empty, but the throne is occupied.
Watch the throne! Give Him a great praise in this place! Give Him a great shout in this place! And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Can you go for one more scripture? Psalm 92:12– 15: «The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.» I need you to just wave your hands and look at somebody and say, «Baby, I’m flourishing!» Put it in the chat feed: «Baby, I’m flourishing!» There are people that don’t like you because no matter what happens, you just flourish through everything that comes. I said, «Baby, I’m flourishing.» Tell somebody, «I’m flourishing.»
«He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.» Tell somebody, «Stay planted.» «They shall still bear fruit in old age.» I need you to know I might have gray hair, but baby, I got green fruit! That’s good! Tim, give me another one of them threes! Yay! Tell them, «I still bear fruit! I’m going to be bearing fruit as an older person!» Do you hear me? Wave them! «I’m flourishing, baby! Go ahead! I' m flourishing, baby! I' m flourishing, baby! Go ahead! You shall still bear fruit in old age.»
80 years old, looking like you’re 50, looking like you’re 45-eyes bright, back straight, money tight, house paid, grandkids' college paid for, money in the bank, able to sew into other people, and still have some left over. No retirement home for you; you’re going to live in your house till the Lord calls you home. «You shall still bear fruit in old age! You shall still bear fruit! You shall still bear much fruit-30, 60, 100-fold! They shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is upright! He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!»
You got time for one more scripture? Revelation 22 and 16-the red letters. The red letters are the words of Jesus Christ: «I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.»
I am the root and the offspring of David. The title of my message is «Rooted.» Can you bless the Lord the way He is deserving of? Lift your hands. Father, the ground has been properly tilled with the Word. Now let the seed of the Word be planted in the hearts of Your people, and may it bear fruit for generations to come. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen, amen, and amen. You may be seated.
Somebody say, «Rooted.» I’m going to do my best to get through this with minimal tears, but you’re going to have to bear with your pastor today because God is doing something in our midst. So I’m going to communicate, but I’m going to need you-when that thing hits you, just let it out. Because there are some people that are getting ready to bear some new fruit. There it is, there’s the first piece of fruit, and I can’t judge her fruit because I don’t know her root. I don’t know what God did, but apparently, he did something that she doesn’t care what you think while she shouts.
There’s somebody else in here that does not care what anyone thinks because you don’t know what God did in planting me, in protecting me, in keeping me. So don’t mind if my leaves and my limbs sway because the wind of the Holy Ghost is on me. And even if I’m rooted, I can still pray. And because I’m rooted, I’m going to praise.
Some of us have children that have been in the school play. Has anyone either been in a school play or your children have been or grandchildren? Let me see. Has anybody in here ever played the role of a tree? You, sir, you were a tree! Stand up! If you ever played a tree in the school play, what was your job? Just like that! I hope the camera is on you-his posture. Now, everybody else had the dialogue. His whole job was to stand on stage and be still.
The hardest thing to do in this season, when everybody else is talking and moving, looks like they’re progressing, is to be still. I could say those lines; I could wear that costume, but I have been cast as a tree, so my job is to be still. Because even while everybody else is moving, somebody needs to be planted. Did you have any lines? No lines, but you were on stage! Sometimes the most important people in the room are the ones that say the least.
I need you to know in this season God ain’t going to do no talking; He’s going to do some demonstrating! Uh-oh, something! Rashad, don’t do it! I told you this word is for you. There’s no more talking; God is about to demonstrate. I need you to tap three people-tell them, «God’s about to demonstrate!» He’s about to! The Spirit of God is about to hit you. Just let God do His work. I just need you to watch it happen.
Man of God, I just need everybody to be a tree real quick. Just go ahead. Isn’t it funny that the posture of a tree looks eerily similar to the posture of worship? Are there any trees in here? But Pastor, I got too many gifts. I don’t want to be a tree. I think that is an ineffective use of my gifts. I’m amazing! You might be amazing, but God needs you to be planted and rooted and to be still and be quiet until He’s ready to use you.
It didn’t say He’s looking for plants of righteousness-trees. That means mature, rooted, grounded. I’m not moving because I’ve got my roots in the ground. What’s my foundation? The word of God! But the Bible says in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Another scripture says, «Behold, I come in the volume of the book; it is written of Me to do Your will, O God.» Jesus is the Firm Foundation! Somebody say, «Jesus is my foundation!»
Trees of righteousness mean God wants you to be so firmly rooted in the word that no matter what happens, you are not going to be moved. Tell somebody, «I ain’t moving!» Let me tell you why I love Love Story Church. Let me tell you why I love Love Story Church. I love my church. Like, I’m violently protective of my church. I’m not just a pastor; I’m a member of this church. I will drop this mic and join this church right now. Dare me! I promise you, I will go to new members class like I don’t even know me!
That boy’s good! I like him! And he alright, man! He keeps it real! Let me tell you something. There are people who started on this journey who are not here now. And here’s why: you have free will, but also, as I keep speaking the Word, the seed of the Word, it’s clear that some soil couldn’t receive the seed. Because every tree doesn’t grow in every climate. Gossip doesn’t grow here; insecurity doesn’t grow here; haters don’t grow here. You want foolishness? Go to another garden down the street. But in here, we want to be better. We want to grow. We want to go higher. We want more anointing. We want power over devils. I don’t have time for games!
And so if you’re in here and you’re serious about the things of God, go ahead and elbow somebody. Tell them, «You’re planted in the right place! You’re planted in the right place!» Put it in the chat feed. Do it now! Don’t make me come into the internet. You’re planted in the right place! You’re here because you’ve made a decision, even though your cousins are like, «You still go over there? Why you over there with him?» He got the word of the Lord for my life, and the Lord didn’t tell me to leave, and also, it’s none of your business!
Well, what y’all got going over there? Come see! Well, I heard -doesn’t matter what you heard! I’m planted! But didn’t he? I don’t know; maybe he did! But I’m PLANTED! I didn’t plant me; God did! So woe unto me if I leave where He planted me and think I’m going to be blessed! If you are a planting of the Lord, then only the Lord can move you.
Watch this; not your offense. People leave when they get offended. They leave 'cause they don’t like somebody. That’s a really unwise reason to leave. You’re messing up your own development, your own blessing. Where are my trees at? Help me, Holy Ghost! You know how many times I tried to get out of this garden? How many times I was offered opportunities to go into other gardens? Other opportunities! This past weekend, I saw a man of God, and I had been offered an opportunity. It looked like the opportunity of a lifetime.
The people who were in charge came to me quietly and said, «If you take this position, we will fire the other person and put you in, but you would need to leave.» Relentless? I wish I would give God two weeks' notice! This is not a job; it’s a planting! I saw that man that they wanted me to backstab to get that position, and I whispered in his ear, «The greatest decision I ever made was not to dishonor you for the opportunity of stepping into an illusion.»
It looked good, but the devil was all over it. I’m not the only person that was offered something that looked good, but the devil was all over it. It looked good, but the devil was all over him. She looked good, but the devil was all over it. Stay planted! And when in doubt, worship! Because when you worship, He shows up. And when He shows up, His wisdom shows up. And when His wisdom shows up, His favor shows up, His protection shows up. Is there anybody grateful that they’re rooted?
Find seven people and tell them, «Stay rooted! Stay rooted! Stay rooted! Stay rooted!» Put it in the chat feed as many times as you can type it-stay rooted! Make sure you put two o’s because all it takes is one missing o to go from rooted to rotted! You didn’t hear what I said, Ron! I said make sure you spell it right 'cause all it means- you can mess up one letter and go from rooted to rotted! There are some people that look rooted, but all you got to do is just move a little bit of the bark and see that they’re rotted. God’s trying to find those who are willing to be planted.
Who wants to be a tree of righteousness? Stand up! If you want to be a tree. Watch this! If you want to be a tree, I got something to tell you, man of God. You want to be a tree? You got your hands lifted. I went and studied about trees in preparation for this message. Do you know how long it takes for a tree to mature? 20 to 30 years! You still want to be a tree?
'Cause it’s a whole lot of plants that look like trees! But the thing about a plant is all you got to do is grab it and pick it up 'cause it’s not rooted. Here’s what’s funny: 30 years of maturity before you can even produce fruit. That sounds like a long time! Jesus was how old? No, no, no! He was 30 when he started ministry! He was a tree when he started! 30 years before he started!
Could it be that next week is not a culmination but a beginning? Maybe these 30 years were not ministry; maybe it was preparation! Maybe my ministry is not yet? Maybe the next three years are going to tell the tale of the first 30! Could it be that it took 30 years for God to prune me, prepare me, spank me, develop me, whoop me, change me, challenge me, and make sure that the foolishness that I grew up in and the things that I did wrong were no longer there? Did it take God 30 years to get to me so that I could begin next week?
You’re telling me I produced fruit even while I was in process? See, 'cause there are some people that want to throw you in hell because of something you did, not knowing that you were still planted while it was happening. Oh my God! Help me, Holy Ghost! Throw your hands up if you want to be a tree! 30 years, baby! 30 years! You got to walk with Him. 30! You got to stay in that dirt! 30 years! You got to stay in the manure! 30 years! 20 to 30 years! You got to walk in this thing!
I don’t need no two-year-old trees 'cause all it takes is a little storm and you’re done! But catch me with a 30- year- old! Somebody that’s been walking with Him for some time! It doesn’t matter what anybody says; I’m not moving! I believe that word! I’m standing on that word! Is there anybody that says, «I’m going to stand on that word?»
Do not beat yourself up because you are not yet at full maturity! Encourage your soul and say, «As long as I stay planted, I will mature.» Trees don’t grow themselves. All they do is stay planted and grow organically, trusting the seed, the sun, the soil, and the manure that God will provide them in necessary portions for them to grow.
Help me! Trees don’t say, «I want to be a little taller; let me get a little wider.» No! The trees say, «I trust the Gardener.» Here’s what you need to know: if you want to be a tree, you’re in good company because the first garden was planted by God Himself. «And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden.»
Be seated, trees with your tree-looking self! Who was here weeks ago when Hurricane Helen left the Gulf of Mexico and traveled north to this region? Where were you? Were you here? Did you see what I saw? Trees on Woodruff Road! I’m talking about huge oaks toppled over-trees that knocked out transformers and power lines-not little trees! Big trees! Old trees!
But if you looked, when you saw them leaning over, did you notice they were big but they had little roots? Here’s the thing you need to know about a tree: a tree has four parts. It’s got the root, the trunk, the stems, the leaves-the roots, the trunk, the stems, the leaves. 15% is the stems, the branches-uh-uh-uh! 60% is the trunk; 20% is the roots; the rest are leaves.
Most of us get caught up with leaves, and you have trouble with leaves, which is why there are some folk in your garden that don’t belong 'cause you wouldn’t let them leave. I’m preaching, Pastor Robert! I don’t know if they see- I didn’t know if they picked up what I’m putting down, but they’re called leaves for a reason. Stop having toxic loyalty to folk who are supposed to-I heard Dr. Darius Daniels say that yesterday-"toxic loyalty.»
There are some people you’ve been loyal to that don’t mean you any good; you need to let them leave. Why? 'Cause it’s fall! It’s the season for them to LEAP! The relationship didn’t work? Let’em leave! Watch this, and don’t let’em back in in winter when you’re cold and want to be booed up! He made them leave for a reason! Stay rooted and let God bring spring and fresh fruit!
I need a 10-second praise break! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Yes! You sweet girl! Tell somebody, «Let them leave!» You didn’t say it like you meant it 'cause some y’all are next to the one you let her leave. But I invested so much time! More leaves are coming!
Some fruit will remain! Trust the Gardener! We got to get that song out! We got to get that «Trust the Gardener!» Put it in the chat feed! Tap somebody on the shoulder real gentle and tell them, «Trust the Gardener!»
So Jesus, 30 years in ministry. What was strange to me is these big trees look real nice in these nice neighborhoods. It took one storm with wind that you couldn’t see to knock over something that you could see. Be careful! Make sure you’re planted because storms will come-invisible wind that you can’t see can knock over everything that you do see.
That’s why you got to stay rooted! 'Cause some devils don’t present themselves as devils; they come in invisible. They look like a breath of fresh air, but they’re a hurricane in the sky! Stay rooted! Don’t make that decision! There’s something in your spirit that says, «I don’t know about this. I don’t feel peace about this.» Then end it right now! It ain’t God! This is your confirmation! You’re like, «Lord, I need a word.» Here’s your word: «The answer is no! Stay rooted!»
Some of you single people or dating folk are like, «Well, I’m saved, but you know he still got questions about God. He believes in the universe.» How you going to believe in a universe that has no consciousness that can create order and art and beauty and philosophy and structure and reason? How can nothing create something without a cause? I’m trying to help you in here.
There’s got to be a God somewhere! Stay rooted! Why would you date somebody that’s going to pull you out of the garden you were planted in? Your mama prayed for you; your father prayed for you; your grandmother prayed for you, and now all of a sudden you’re going to leave 'cause you’re lonely? Are you crazy?! You better order Uber Eats and watch TV!
I just need somebody-let the Holy Ghost hold you! His breath don’t stink! He don’t fart! He clips His toenails! Can I preach a little while longer? I’m looking for somebody that’s been through some storms! This portion of the sermon is only for those who have been through storms! Just throw a hand up! Throw a limb up if you’ve been through a storm! Auntie, throw a limb up!
You got you a whole niece, a whole gyra! Um, only for storms! Only for people who’ve been through storms! I ain’t talking about no little storm! I’m not talking about no-I’m talking about taking off roofs, taking out houses! It took out people in your family. Some of your friends didn’t make it, but yet and still, you’re here! You might want to wave a limb! You might want to wave a hand and tell the Lord thank you!
I only want to see the people who have been through a storm and you still have your praise! You’ve been through a storm and you still have your Hallelujah! You’ve been through abuse and you still have your Thank you, Jesus! You’ve been through rejection and you still have a «I bless you, God!»
I don’t know, Angela, if you can tell them. I want him to play my video. Play the video! I need y’all to watch this video and listen to me! I need y’all to keep looking to the left of the video-it’s three trees! I want you to see-this was Hurricane Ian! This was a 15 to 20-foot storm surge! This is Fort Myers, Florida! You see them three trees? Keep watching them trees!
I’mma talk while y’all are watching these trees. This is over eight hours; this is over nine hours. Look at the water! It hit the-look at this! Watch the house! Watch the house! The house could not stay because the house had a foundation, but it had no root! The water moved the house! A whole ocean moved the house!!! You still see them three trees?
See them three trees, holding on like a weave and three bobby pins? Do you understand? Look at the water! It hit the-look at this! Watch the house! Watch the house! The house could not stay because the house had a foundation, but it had no root!
The water moved the house! A whole ocean moved the house! You still see them three trees? See them three trees holding on like a weave and three bobby pins? Do you understand? Look at the water! It hit the-look at this! Watch the house!
The house could not stay because the house had a foundation, but it had no root! The water moved the house! A whole ocean moved the house! You still see them three trees? See them three trees, holding on like a weave and three bobby pins?
Do you understand? Look at the water! Is it hitting them? No! They' re trying to hold on and stay rooted! I need every tree in here! You' re holding on! You’re still going to thrive!
It’s taking out houses, but I’m still going to bless Him! The power is out, but I’m still going to bless Him! Excuse me! The electricity is out, but I’m still going to bless Him! This storm is whooping up on my head, but I’m not going nowhere!
The wires might go; the building might go; there’s a house in the middle of a highway, but I’m still holding on! Tell somebody, «Hold on! The storm can’t last forever! Tell them, 'Hold on! ' Because no matter how big and bad the storm is, eventually, no matter how bad the storm is, it has to end!» I’m here to announce that The Storm Is Passing Over!
I’m here to announce that if you can survive what you survived, you can go ahead and expect a harvest for your tears! Now the storm is over and those trees are still standing! The trunk is in place because the roots are in place! And I need a whole church to lift up a praise right now because God kept you through the storm, through the rain, through the wind, through rejection, through the loss of a job, loss of loved ones, loss of friends!
They came and got your car, but they didn’t get your praise! They might take your stuff, but they didn’t take your Hallelujah! Is there anybody in here that says, «As long as I got breath in my lungs, I will bless the Lord at all times! And His praise shall continually be in my mouth!»
No, I need you to give God a praise right now! What you waiting on? This is what makes me love Jesus so much! Does anybody love Jesus? You going to sit there like that? Does anybody love Jesus?
You and your ponytails better get up! Let me tell you something: God has been too good for you to sit on Him today! I love Jesus because the scripture I gave you in Isaiah 61: «The Spirit of the Living God is upon me!»
What was the scripture that Jesus declared when He announced Himself in public ministry? «The Spirit of the Living God is upon me because He’s anointed me to preach the good news to the poor, the recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty the captives, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.» After 30 years of development, He didn’t start public ministry until He had private development!
Sir, sir, there should be no public ministry without private development! Watch this! And for three years, He told them the kingdom is at hand. The Kingdom of Heaven-the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Repent! Turn!
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! He would always talk to them about gardens and about agricultural things because they understood what He was talking about. But then He would tell His disciples, «Listen, I got to die, but in three days, I’m going to get up! I got to die for the sins of the world, but in three days, I’m gonna get up!»
Are you hearing what I’m saying? He kept saying, «I gotta die!» But then in Matthew 26, right about that 36th verse, He said, «Sit here while I go pray over there.» He went to a place called what? Gethsemane! It is the place of pressing-the olive press!
It was an olive grove! I need you to hear me real quick. I’m getting ready to go somewhere, and some of y’all going to shout, and some of y’all are going to cry, but all of us are going to worship! The olive press, hear me! He was always at the Mount of Olives! What’s so big about the Mount of Olives?
Olive trees have a strange property — they can withstand fire, wind, drought, extreme temperatures. An olive tree can live literally a thousand years! And the strange thing about it is that even if you chop it down-give me an axe! Give me some wood! Pastor Charles, come here please! Come on, bring me this wood! Put that wood right here! Put it right there!
Now step back! I’m just saying funny thing about olive trees. They can literally be decimated! This is Bible! You need to study the archaeological finds about olive trees — they can look completely dead. Matter of fact, let you do this, you got it. I’m going to tell you when!
Yeah, let me chop it out of the way! Stay right there Charles! This is what the enemy has been doing to some of y’all! Do it again! See, this is what the enemy doesn’t know! He can hit you, but he can’t kill you!
Watch this, freeze for a second! Now here’s what you need to know: olive trees can withstand total destruction and grow back again! Why was Jesus always in an olive grove at the Mount of Olives-in the Garden of Gethsemane? Because He was around the very trees that He was representing-those of us who have been decimated, chopped down, beaten up, and left for dead! And He was in that garden to remind us that no matter how bad it looks for you, you will rise again!
I’m trying to help you now! I’m going to take it a step further. This is going to mess some of you up! If you study the wood used in Roman crucifixions, they used olive wood! But Jesus prayed in Gethsemane-in God’s garden- where it’s possible that the very wood used to crucify Him was taken from!
But Jesus is the anointing, and the olive garden represents the anointing! So when they took wood-olive wood-to make the crucifixion cross, they literally nailed the anointing to the anointing! They nailed Him to the thing He was!
It’s double anointing! I’m not done because you’re going to need to chop some more! See, here’s the thing: some of us have been hit by devils. Go ahead, chop! Some of y’all have been attacked! Boom! By devils! Hit! Boom!
And the enemy just keeps hitting you! Now freeze right there! Some of us have done self- inflicted wounds because everything that happened to you wasn’t the devil; some of it was you! John Gray and here’s the thing: when people see that you’re planted, they G to come after you with their axes!
They going to try to kill your heart, kill your spirit! They going to come after you, and some of us gave them the tools! That’s John Gray down there! Go ahead and hit it! Go ahead and hit it! Look at that! John Gray! Wasn’t he unfaithful in his marriage? Kill him! Look at that! Didn’t he mess up? Messed up again?
Look at him-just always struggling-can’t get it together! Why y’all go to that church? That don’t make no sense! And while you’re chopping-some of the stuff you said might be true, but what you don’t know is that the One who planted me saw what I would be, saw what I would do, saw what I would go through, and while you were chopping, you only chopped the trunk; you never touched the root!
Because my root is in Him! So you can chop all you want, but I’m not going to die in this place! You can chop me straight to the ground, but as long as that root is in the ground, I can rise again! I need some help in here! I said I need some help in here! Tell somebody, «I’m going to rise again! I’m going to rise again! You can chop me all you want, you can say what you want, and it might be true, but I got a word from the Lord, and I’mma stay rooted! I’mma stay planted!»
I’mma lift my hands up, yeah! Somebody shout! And I mean shout, «Rooted!» Grab somebody by the elbows! Rock back and forth!
I see what you’re doing! I see what you’re doing, young king! I see what you’re doing! I like how you’re moving right now because we don’t move alone; we move together! Did you hear what I said? It’s one thing to go through a storm by yourself! Get his elbow real good! You don’t hear me in here! You don’t hear me in here!
Stay connected! Because sometimes I’m going to need your strength when I’m not strong! See, here’s the thing: people want to throw you away for a bad season! If 30 years, 30 years, it took to develop me, 30 years it takes to mature a tree!
Some trees don’t always bear fruit in every season! Even trees can have a bad season! But it doesn’t mean the tree is bad; it just means it had a bad season! Some people threw you away because of a bad season! But the tree is rooted in Christ Jesus, which means at some point, I’m going to bear fruit!
So whether you have struggled with pornography or addiction, or you’ve struggled in a marriage with mental or emotional or conversational infidelity or physical infidelity or whatever it is that you’ve walked through, or you’re a liar or you talk too much, and you gossip, and all you do is get on the phone and talk about people or if you’re just mean and just ready to cuss somebody out, and you’re always smiling.
Here’s the thing about trees: a tree doesn’t have to tell me what it is; I know what a tree is by what it produces! Did you hear what I said? An orange tree can’t tell me it’s an apple tree 'cause it’s producing oranges!
You didn’t hear what I said! I need you to get this in your spirit! Ain’t no more talking! Don’t tell me you’re a Christian! Let your fruit speak for itself! Let somebody’s elbow go! Throw your hands up, trees! I said throw your hands up, trees! You don’t hear me in here!
I’m a living witness! People will chop you down and set you on fire, but they didn’t get the root! All the trees, lift your hands! Bring that baby boy up here with his mic! Come here, man! Come here, baby! Come here, boy!
This baby comes here! Come with Pastor John! He brings his own microphone to church, and he’s always on the side preaching when I’m preaching! I’m a mature tree; he’s just been planted! My job is to make sure that I provide shade for him so that he can grow up tall and strong!
See, here’s the thing about trees: what you don’t know is trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The reason why people keep coming to you is because you’re fresh oxygen! You bring life! That’s why everybody calls you! That’s why everybody asks you to pray! That’s why everybody tells you their problems because you’re a tree!
But you won’t be able to be everything you’re called to be if you don’t stay rooted! And what we don’t need is big trunks and little roots! That’s surface Christianity! That’s a Sunday Christianity, and all it takes is a Monday storm, and I can’t tell if you’re saved or ever even heard of Jesus!
Stay rooted! Stay faithful! Stay committed! Y’all don’t hear me! I was planted here; that’s why nobody can take me out of here! And they’ve tried, but I’m here! For whoever’s coming up next behind me, lift your microphone up, baby boy! Show them your mic! Show them your mic-just do this! Show them your mic! Show them your mic, boy!
This is God; He wants the trees that are mature to provide shade for those who are coming up next! Because one day, he’s going to preach the gospel. It didn’t start with me; it won’t end with me! My son will have my mic; he’ll have his mic! James' son will have his mic!
But you got the mic right now 'cause you’re planted, and there are people that need the fruit of your life! Don’t just tell them the good part of your story; tell them about the manure! Tell them about the mess so they can have some hope that no matter what season they’re in, God’s still going to produce fruit out of their lives.
Lord, seal this word and get the glory in Jesus' name! Now, there are people in this room and those online who need to make a decision to give their lives to Jesus today! Listen to me; you need to get planted! The man who was blind, Jesus had to take him out of the town he was in, and He touched him and said, «What do you see?»
He said, «I see men like trees walking.» The problem is trees don’t walk, and if there’s a tree walking, it’s going to die because trees are supposed to stay rooted! Today, you need to put down your roots, come to this altar and make Love Story the next chapter of your planting!
If you’re here, come down to the front! I said, «Come on down!» Walk with Him! I need some men of God to walk with Him! Oh, y’all not clapping enough! Y’all don’t know why this is blessing me! It’s men that are coming to the altar today! It’s some men of God-somebody else needs to make a move! I said, «Somebody else needs to make a move!»
Who else? There he is! My guy! My dude! Oh, y’all got to do better than that! My God! Hold on, we got to finish it! Here she comes! Here comes another! You don’t understand; there are men joining-men of God are joining! Here comes a woman of God! Here comes another man of God!
Hey fellas! This is a safe place for you to get planted! I don’t care what you’ve been through; I’m with it! Hey, bring your weed, bring your tats, bring your gat, bring your gold fronts. You’re welcome in here! You’re welcome in here! This is your father’s house!
Anybody else want to come on down here and quit playing with God? Stop playing in God’s face! I’m going to give you 10 seconds! 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4! Anybody else? You coming? Y’all coming? Welcome! Y’all come right, right here!
Hey, welcome! My guy J is fresh! We’re going to hold them! No, here she come! This is a lot of brothers down here with hoodies! Y’all don’t understand how much that means to me! Because they say that when our young men wear hoodies, they’re somehow a threat! Trayvon, you are a threat, but not the way they think!
You are a threat when you walk in the authority of the God who made you! You a threat when you walk in the power of the God who spoke you! So you rock your hoodie and your Js! Rock your swag and rock your locks and rock them braids because your God made you!
With all of that swagtastic flavor, you’re going to reach people that nobody else can reach because He planted you in a garden! And everybody’s going to be looking at you and seeing how you produce fruit, and they’re going to say, «What did you do?» And you’ll be like, «Come to Love Story! Come check out what God is doing!»
For the real brothers, it’s real men up here! Ladies, y’all need to clap 'cause y’all like, «Ain’t no good men!» It’s some men of God up here! Some of them single! Y’all about to have yourselves a save thug! Ain’t you glad you wanted a save thug? You wanted that?! They’re not thugs! They are not that!
Let me change my words! I was joking! But they are NOT that! They are men of God who have been misunderstood by society! But you are safe here! Last call for free salvation! We got free hot food up the street, but we got free heaven right here!
Everybody at the altar, repeat after me! And I welcome the women of God who have come as well! I am grateful for the harvest today! Online, if you want to be a part of Love Story Church, text «SAVED» to 95555! Text «MEMBER» to 95555!
Is he coming? Oh, I saw him in the black and white! He was walking! Stop walking unless you’re going to come down here! Unless you’re going to do it, he’s already a member! Everybody here, repeat after me!
Lord Jesus, it’s me! I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord! Thank You for the blood that was shed for me! I receive the free gift of salvation! Not through my works, but the finished work of the cross! The blood is enough to pay for all my sins!
Now, Holy Spirit, come live inside and teach me how to be more like Jesus each and every day! You are my Savior and my Lord! In Jesus' name, amen! Let’s celebrate our brothers and sisters here and around the world who call this place home! Welcome to your next chapter!
Hey, hold on! Y’all always trying to scooch out of here! Now look here, up the hill, groceries if you need them! Hot food if you want it! Go up there and get what you need! Get some diapers for your kids, canned goods, get you some water, get you some chicken wings, get you some brisket! It’s free!
Y’all don’t you know what? If it was some mess, it would be all over the news! But when you give out tens of thousands of dollars, you never hear nothing! Love Story Church is going to be the hand, the feet of Jesus!
Whether you’re a member or not, anything you want to say before — we love you! Get you some of them baby wipes; they are very refreshing! You got something else? Hurry up!
Next week we’re celebrating 30 years of ministry for Pastor John Gray! If you want to bless him and you’re not able to come, there’s already a drop-down menu for 30 years of ministry to sow into the man of God for Pastor’s Appreciation Month, as well as 30 years of ministry! Amen!
I want to tell you how much we love you, and we thank God for you! We thank God for our partners! Harvest Hope came this week, and we are so grateful that we were able to give away boxes of food to people who were in need as well, so God is so good, and He continues to bless this house! Hallelujah! We’re so grateful!
We’re so grateful! It’s my turn! Lift your hands, trees! Now, unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask, think, or imagine according to the power that’s already working in you!
Now, to Him who is able to keep you from falling! Ah! 'Cause you’re rooted! Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before His presence with exceeding joy! To the only wise God, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power both now and forevermore! Amen! Amen and amen!