Revelation: Church of Philadelphia, Root Deep | June 5, 2023

6.5.23

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In yesterday's message on Revelation 3:7-13, Pastor Andrew talked about the devastating realities the Philadelphians faced with earthquake after earthquake leveling their city and having to rebuild again and again. In addition, they faced famine and drought. Maybe you have been through a devastating season of loss or are in one now, where a metaphorical earthquake leveled your life. And just when you were getting your bearings, another devastation hit. Tragedy and loss come for us all. None of us is spared.

When it happens, where do we have our hope? In whom do we trust? Our American culture tells us to trust insurance companies, 401k plans, or the government to bail us out, but none of these are trustworthy. Only God is trustworthy. Christ is our firm foundation.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
⁸He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Our spiritual roots need to grow deep like those of a tree if we are to withstand the storms of life. “The roots of a tree will never go through the pain and effort of digging deeper until there isn’t enough water from the surface to satisfy it. There’s water to be found in the deeper places … we are much the same … Deep seeking will produce deep believing and equip us to stand firm, no matter what may catch us off guard.”¹

The next time we face devastation, may our deep roots in Christ hold us firm to withstand the storm.

Christ is my firm foundation

The Rock on which I stand

When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't

—Cody Carnes

¹Lysa TerKeurst, You’re Going to Make It, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2023), p.164.

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