Introduction
As believers, we face challenges, temptations and persecutions that aim to shake our faith and cause us to fall. The Lord cares and He can keep us from falling. He has promised to preserve us and He has also provided instructions in His word that will help us to grow our roots deep and stand firmly in Christ.
We need to stay deeply rooted in Christ so that we can continue to live a triumphant life over sin. Even after our salvation experience, the enemy will still want to tempt us and thus bring us back into the things that we have repented from. Staying deeply rooted in Christ will keep us from backsliding. The Bible says, “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” Colossians 2:7.
Walking in obedience to God is imperative to preserving our relationship with Him. Therefore, we must come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain help to live in daily victory over the desires of the flesh.
The world system is at variance with Christ. The word of God affirms that friendship with the world is enmity with God. We are instructed to say no to the world. “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you” 1 John 2:5. The world system promotes the agenda of the devil in different strata of social life. The world constantly tries to lure the believer into conforming to its values. The Bible says, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2.
The world system promotes nudity in fashion and gives a wrong perception of sex in entertainment and movies. If we are not on guard, it is very easy to fit into the mold of the world. In speech and conduct, we must not align with the world.
We are in constant battle with the devil and his cohorts. Their aim is to launch attacks against the believer. These attacks include afflictions, persecutions and discouragement. This is the reason we are enjoined to take up the whole armour of God. If we are well spiritually enamoured, we will be able to overcome all the wiles of the enemy that are targeted at causing us to fall.
We are the planting of the Lord (Psalm 144:12; Psalm 1:3; 128:13; 61:3) and we grow through the word of God. We must take root or else we cannot stand the test of time. In the parable of the sower, our Lord vividly described the plant without root as that which receives the word on a stony ground and because of lack of depth (earth) springs up (grows out) initially but since there was no root, it withered away.
In this article, we shall examine scriptural instructions that will help us to be deeply rooted in Christ.
Assurance of salvation
The first step in being rooted in Christ is to have an assurance of your salvation. Lack of this assurance can make an individual have doubts about the truth that God has accepted them into the kingdom. We need that assurance to follow Christ. Someone once said, ‘His blood makes you safe and His word makes you sure‘. Some believers want to base their salvation experience on feelings but there is nowhere in the scriptures that states we are saved by feelings or kept by how we feel. Rather, the Bible affirms that we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8) and we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our feelings come and go but the word of God does not change. Our assurance is based on the word of God, the witness of the Spirit of God and our evidently changed life. (Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). So, this means that the word of God will give you assurance. If you have truly repented and given your life to Christ, you are saved.
The word of God
The Bible is the word of God. Every part of the scriptures is God-breathed. It is God’s revelation to the human race and its core message is God’s plan of redemption through Christ.
The word of God helps us to stay rooted. Obedience to the word of God can make our roots grow deeper. It is the believer’s source of strength. It is food for the soul. The word keeps us from sin and guides our path. The word of God is life. Studying it and gaining understanding through the help of the Holy Spirit will help us as believers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.
Study the Bible meditatively and always pray for divine illumination. Take note of promises, instructions and warnings as you study. Also, make sure you apply the word of God in your daily life and every aspect of your life.
Prayer
Prayer is essential in walking with God and staying rooted in Christ. Prayer simply means communicating with God. Praying will bring a lot of spiritual strength into the life of a believer. In prayer, we share our heartfelt needs with God and we get refreshed and renewed in His presence. In prayer, God lifts away every burden that might have been bothering our hearts. In prayer, we share our struggles with the Lord and He grants us grace to lead a victorious Christian life.
Before going to God in prayer, ensure that you have a heart free of bitterness or unforgiveness towards anyone. Be importunate in prayer and you will have answers.
Sharing your faith
Sharing your faith entails reaching out to souls with the gospel to see them converted and standing in Christ. Acts 20:20. After our conversion, it is very important to confess Christ before men. We must deliberately identify with Christ. We must also be intentional about sharing our faith with others.
There are many opportunities to share Christ around us. We can begin with our family members and friends. You can also decide to share the good news of Christ with your coworkers and even random people you encounter daily.
Evangelism will help to deepen your roots because you will see the power of God at work. Signs and wonders only follow those who go out and preach the gospel (Mark 15:16). This will stir your faith and strengthen your convictions about the gospel.
Furthermore, it will help you to be more conscious of the need to be an example of the believers in word, faith and conduct. This is because you will understand that you cannot live contrary to what you have preached.
The act of sharing your faith is an act of obedience and it brings joy into the heart of God. The interesting thing is that as you bring souls to the Lord, you will feel the joy and the sense of fulfillment in doing it.
Fellowship
Jesus Christ instituted the church and it was to be a frontier to wage war against the power of hell. Christian fellowship is a place of shelter from all the vicissitudes of life. It is the pillar and the ground of truth. It is where we get warmth, encouragement and strength from other believers.
Our fellowship is an atmosphere for experiencing spiritual revival. This is where we experience spiritual sharpening. Iron sharpeneth iron
The process of our conformity to the image of Christ is not complete without being in fellowship. God has given ministry gifts for the purpose of our building and edification so that we may come to the measure of the stature of Christ’s fullness.
Also, fellowship affords us the platform to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. In Heb. 10:25, we are enjoined not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as we see the Day approaching.
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