PLANTED, NOT POTTED!
Theme: STEADFASTNESS
Theme Scripture — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Main Text — Psalm 1:1–3 (KJV)
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Supporting Scripture — Psalm 92:13–14
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”
INTRODUCTION — ARE YOU PLANTED OR JUST POTTED?
There is something interesting about a potted plant.
A potted plant can be beautiful.
It can have green leaves.
It can produce flowers.
It can even produce some fruit.
But there's one thing about a potted plant:
IT CAN EASILY BE MOVED!
If I don't like where the pot is sitting—
I move it.
If the weather changes—
I move it.
If I rearrange the room—
I move it.
If it gets too hot—
I move it.
If it gets too cold—
I move it.
And unfortunately, there are some Christians who are spiritually potted instead of planted.
Now understand: “potted” isn't a biblical term. I'm using it as an illustration.
A potted Christian is someone who is easily moved from his or her spiritual convictions.
If somebody hurts their feelings—
they move.
If somebody doesn't recognize them—
they move.
If they don't get the position they wanted—
they move.
If the preacher corrects them—
they move.
If God doesn't answer their prayer quickly enough—
they move.
If trouble comes—
they move.
If culture changes—
they move with the culture.
But Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:58:
“BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE!”
God is looking for some believers who will declare:
“I'M PLANTED, NOT POTTED!”
You can't pick me up every time circumstances change.
You can't move me every time somebody talks about me.
You can't move me every time trouble comes.
You can't move me every time I get disappointed.
You can't move me every time I don't understand what God is doing.
Why?
BECAUSE I'VE GOT ROOTS!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PLANTED?
Psalm 1 doesn't merely say:
“He shall be like a tree.”
It says:
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”
The word picture is one of stability, nourishment, growth, fruitfulness, and endurance.
When you look at a large tree, most of what impresses you is above the ground.
You see the trunk.
You see the branches.
You see the leaves.
You see the fruit.
But what keeps everything above ground standing is what has developed beneath the ground.
ROOTS!
People may see your ministry.
But they don't see your roots.
They see you preaching.
They don't see your roots.
They see you singing.
They don't see your roots.
They see you serving.
They don't see your roots.
They see your public worship.
But they don't know about your private prayers.
They don't know about the nights you cried.
They don't know about the times you fasted.
They don't know about the Scriptures you held onto when everything was falling apart.
That's your root system.
And when the storm comes, your leaves won't keep you standing.
Your title won't keep you standing.
Your position won't keep you standing.
Your popularity won't keep you standing.
YOUR ROOTS WILL!
1. PLANTED PEOPLE DEVELOP DEEP ROOTS
Colossians 2:6–7
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith…”
Before a tree can stand tall, it needs roots.
Before a Christian can stand publicly, there must be something happening privately.
We need roots in:
Prayer.
The Word of God.
Worship.
Faith.
Sound doctrine.
Holiness.
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Don't spend your entire Christian life developing leaves while neglecting your roots.
DANIEL WAS PLANTED
Daniel is one of our greatest examples.
Daniel 6:10 tells us that when Daniel knew the decree had been signed forbidding prayer to anyone other than the king:
“…he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
I love those words:
“AS HE DID AFORETIME.”
The law changed.
Daniel didn't.
The government changed the rules.
Daniel didn't change his prayer life.
The lions' den threatened him.
Daniel didn't move.
Babylon had changed Daniel's location, but Babylon couldn't change Daniel's devotion.
Why?
DANIEL WAS PLANTED!
CONTRAST — KING SAUL WAS POTTED
Saul admitted in 1 Samuel 15:24:
“I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”
Daniel was pressured and stood.
Saul was pressured and moved.
So here's the question:
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN PRESSURE COMES?
Pressure reveals roots.
2. PLANTED PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEIR WATER COMES FROM
Psalm 1:3 says:
“…a tree planted by the rivers of water…”
Jeremiah 17:7–8 says:
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters…”
A planted believer knows:
My job is not my ultimate source.
My money is not my ultimate source.
People are not my source.
My position is not my source.
The government isn't my ultimate source.
GOD IS MY SOURCE!
JOSEPH WAS PLANTED
Look at Joseph.
His brothers betrayed him.
But he stayed planted.
They sold him into slavery.
He stayed planted.
Potiphar's wife tempted him.
He stayed planted.
She lied on him.
He stayed planted.
He was thrown into prison.
He stayed planted.
In Genesis 39:9, Joseph said concerning Potiphar's wife:
“…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Joseph essentially said:
“You can change my address, but you can't change my roots.”
From his father's house—
to the pit—
to Potiphar's house—
to prison—
to the palace—
Joseph's circumstances kept changing.
BUT HIS GOD DIDN'T!
That's planted!
ILLUSTRATION — THE DROUGHT
Imagine two trees during a drought.
One has shallow roots.
The other has roots reaching deep underground toward moisture.
At first, they may look alike.
But when the dry season continues, the difference begins to show.
Anybody can shout when it's raining.
Anybody can praise when everything is going well.
But what happens during your dry season?
When money gets tight—
Are you still planted?
When prayers seem unanswered—
Are you still planted?
When friends disappear—
Are you still planted?
When you can't feel God—
Are you still planted?
A planted Christian says:
“MY SOURCE IS DEEPER THAN MY SITUATION!”
3. PLANTED PEOPLE DON'T MOVE EVERY TIME THE WEATHER CHANGES
Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To every thing there is a season…”
Trees experience seasons.
Spring.
Summer.
Fall.
Winter.
But a planted tree doesn't say:
“I don't like winter. I'm leaving.”
It stays planted.
JOB WAS PLANTED
Think about Job.
In one season, Job was prosperous.
Then suddenly the weather changed.
He lost possessions.
He lost his children.
He lost his health.
His wife told him:
“Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” — Job 2:9
But Job answered:
“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” — Job 2:10
Job essentially said:
“MY SEASON CHANGED, BUT MY GOD DIDN'T!”
CONTRAST — ESAU WAS POTTED
Esau came in hungry.
One temporary appetite moved him to make a permanent decision.
He traded his birthright for food.
Genesis 25:34
“…thus Esau despised his birthright.”
Don't trade something eternal because of something temporary.
Don't let a temporary appetite move you from a permanent blessing.
ILLUSTRATION — WINTER TREE
Look at a tree during winter.
No leaves.
No fruit.
No blo
