Significant Encounters is a place for you if you have experienced drama and trauma in your life.
A place of encouragement for you.
A place where you know that someone is in your corner.
A soft place to land.
Greetings. I’m excited that you came back again.
How many of us have certain songs that play over and over in our heads? I can remember words to certain songs that I have not heard in 50 years or more.
What about those tv commercials? If I say “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz”, how many can finish that jingle? Many songs we sang, became the “Soundtrack of our lives”.
We’re wired to remember that way.
How many of us can remember the phone number we had as a kid? Or our childhood home address? Those things are pretty non-threatening stuff.
But what about that time your dad told you that you were nothing but trouble, and would never be worth anything? Or when that kid at school, said that you were so something; fat, skinny, ugly, dirty, smelly, stupid – You remember those words like it was yesterday.
You remember that those words cut you like a knife. Those words bury themselves in your heart, to be replayed whenever you try to be a friend, a good parent or do something to advance yourself.
That nastiness always comes back.
When we least expect it. When we are beginning to believe something better for our lives.
Can we agree that each one of those negative remarks, flaming arrows, sticks, and stones, is a big fat lie from the enemy of our souls?
Our heavenly Father loves us too much to say those things about us, much less to let them bury themselves in our hearts, and allow them to take root.
The Bible calls that a bitter root. We’ll see what God says about taking an ax to that root. Today, let’s begin to take a look at how God says we can wield that ax, you know, “Get to the ROOT of the problem”.
Matthew 13 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (Unfortunately, weed roots tend to be very strong) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”
What this means to us is that we have to make sure that our soil is good. What is the soil you ask? Good soil is a heart that is ready to receive the words it has heard.
We HEARD the words that were spoken over us. Those words affected us in a damaging way, we ingested them. We received them, and they took root.
In the Hebrew culture, any poisonous plant was called a “bitter” plant. Poison destroys, and the result of ingesting a poisonous plant would be bitter, indeed.
We did not realize that that was an actual choice that we made. That fact was concealed from our eyes. If we make the OPPOSITE choice, then we are on our way to demolishing the root system that has kept us bound for so long.
About choice, I was well out of my teens before I even realized I HAD a choice, that I was not locked into only doing what others decided for me, or living my life like their words said I would.
Now, whatever age you may be, I’m letting you know – You Have a Choice!
Choose wisely, and you will be free!
About that ax. The ax spoken of earlier is the Word of God. The word is God’s truth.
Over many years, after making different attempts at getting myself free, I finally made the choice to use what the word said.
A choice to believe it. Full stop. Believe it no matter what the circumstances were.
That’s two choices really. Follow the word, and CHOOSING not to give up, or back off.
In our narrative, the ax refers to the gospel: the Word of God, the ax is used to hack out the root. This is for our spiritual growth, and to cut out the rotten parts that do not bear good fruit.
In Matthew 4:4 – “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” NOT by what comes out of the mouth of any man.
And John 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Lastly, let me leave you with this. At 9.00 on video, and here in the text –
Please, please, please plant the following in your heart.
Let the roots grow DEEP.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
So your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is the following;
Make a choice
Take up your ax
Identify the root
Apply the ax
Overlay with the truth
Let us renew our minds with these thoughts. We are capable of changing the way we think of ourselves. We are capable of changing the “soundtrack of our lives”’
Join me next time, and we’ll talk more about that thought life. That soundtrack.
I would like to share a few questions come from one of my mentors, Lance.
Lance can be a little crazy.
His ideas, at first blush, can seem a bit outlandish, but for all the years, and twists and turns I have followed him on, I have found him to be quite accurate.
His studies, and his experiences bear him out.
I trust him.
The questions I want to share, I heard from him some time ago.
But as many things we hear that are important, they come back around.
Often at times when we need them most.
Pandemics, lockdowns, governmental upheaval, violence, and just general chaos have made these questions important again.
So, let me ask you;
Who do you serve?
Who do you run with?
Who do you teach?
The answers to these questions are important if we want to be successful in leading ourselves and others through the chaos, and into an open place where we can be free.
You may not consider yourself a leader, or even want to be one, but I can tell you; someone is always watching.
You will lead someone, for good or for not.
So, please consider each question with me, would you?
Who do you serve? (What/who is the most important thing to you?)
Why is this question important?
We were created to serve.
We were created to worship.
Serving the wrong things can take a toll on us; physically, mentally, spiritually.
Who or what we serve can bring us life, or bring us death.
Scripture tells us this; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24.
We can only serve one thing (person, place, thing) fully, at one time.
Serve Somebody – Bob Dylan
Who do you run with? (Who do you spend your social time with?)
Why is this question important?
Foundationally, humans were not created to be alone. (Think Adam and Eve)
Remember the old saying “Birds of a feather flock together”?
Individuals of like character, taste or background tend to hang together.
Affiliations, clubs, or societies; Colleges would call them “Fraternities” or “Sororities”; more urban terms could be our “Posse”, “Tribe”, or “Crew”.
The thing about these groups is that each one has its own world view.
This could be either positive or negative.
Think how you want to be perceived.
Your reputation will always precede you.
Make it what you want it to be by just who you let be your influence.
Another important factor about having a “Clan”, is that when trouble comes our way, because it will, we have someone to hold on to until the darkness passes.
I Just Need U – Toby Mac
Who do you teach? (Remember I said that you will always lead someone?)
People may not say anything, but they ARE watching.
What is your character, your influence, showing them?
Do they want to become like you? (For good or bad)
Do they aspire to be what they see in you?
Many times there is a problem here, because people only see what is directly in front of them.
They have not seen the history behind your choices, or the process that you used to get there.
To my way of thinking, this makes how we act even more important.
Unless we have had a chance to really get to know someone, and their background, the picture we see, can be skewed.
Is He Worthy? Chris Tomlin
Let me summarize the time we spend with others here.
Wherever and whoever you spend time with, should hold these three elements;
There should always be someone that you can show love to by serving. (This shows them who you are)
There should always be someone who is on the same level of process that you are. (You can grow further together)
Then, there should always be someone whom you can teach. (We are here for a reason, right?)
I hope you have found these ideas helpful, and can put the principals here to good use.
I know they have made a profound difference in my own life.
Significant Encounters 
You must be logged in to post a comment.