ROOTED
W.F.Flowerdew
The burden of what I have to say lies in our having root in divine things. The divine intent when the word of God comes to us is that it should take root in us, as it says in Isaiah 37 v 31, taking root downward and bearing fruit upward. We are often made to feel in circumstances that arise in relation to ourselves and to others too, how shallow our roots have been and it would be a test as to what has been the effect of the reception of the word of God as it comes to us - and it has come in this place from week to week on many occasions. What capacity have we to receive the word, and allow it to take root in us so that when the time of trial comes we do not fall away. Of some it says they "believe for a time". How often we have seen that; some have gone along for a time, a short time or a longer time, but a time of trial comes and they fall away. I think what our brother has said and what has been said previously too, as our knowledge of God would bear on this, where our roots are, whether the word is going to stand by us in a time of trial so that we do not fall away, but are preserved in the testimony. The Lord has need of all of us, every one in this city is needed in the testimony. So we could well afford to look at our roots and see where we are founded, and the word of God would come and quicken us in that relation. There are the thorns here, and many things may come in to choke the word. One of the things which we know has come in and been a great test to the saints has been the question of natural relationships. The word of God is something that comes from God Himself; it tests us out very much, even the closest natural link is tested. God may allow the trial that way. Through God's mercy some of us have not had to face it so much, but God's word is to have its way with us, and thoroughly too, so that when the time of trial comes, we are able to go through, taking root downward. If we are taking root downward we shall not fall away, and there will be evidence of fruit upward for God. We need to be preserved from allowing damaging things to come in, but to take account of the roots and the fruit too, so that the ground is right and our hearts are right to hear the word and keep it and "bring forth fruit with patience". That will always be needed while we are here in the testimony, to take account of the patient working of God, how He goes on patiently with us. But the fruit comes in season and we can take encouragement from that. We can afford to wait. Our brother has referred to the early and the latter rain. James refers to that in connection with fruit-bearing too, so we can afford to be patient and wait on God and be with God that our roots might be such as can stand and we be here in the face of test and trial, whatever it may be. How closely it may touch us we do not know but we need just to be kept in faith God, kept too in the sense that God has everything hand. "All things work together for good to those who love God", Rom 8: 28. Mr Taylor said very beautifully that any one circumstance might overcome us, but God works all things together for our preservation. It would help us, I think, to allow the word of God to have its effect with us so that we might be rooted firmly. It speaks in Ephesians of "being rooted and founded in love", Eph 3: 17. What fruitfulness there is on that line as we are found in that sphere, but my burden particularly was in relation to the matter of responsibility as the word comes to us, that we might not allow other things to come in, but that we might allow it to take root, so that our links with God are strengthened and we are preserved in the testimony. We are getting near the end of the period of testimony; the Lord's coming is very near and we want each other to be preserved, that the enemy may not get in and divert us. Perhaps the Lord would use the word and what we have had this evening to help us to be more firmly rooted and founded in divine things; above all to be rooted and founded in love. What a glorious expression that is! "rooted and founded in love". What a great expanse we can go into, what fruitfulness God will get in His service too as the warmth and blessedness of divine love finds its response in our hearts. May the Lord preserve us as in being rooted in the things of God, for His Name's sake.
LONDON
8 August 1972