PLANTED
In Order for You to be BF&M, You Must First be PLANTED
Genesis 2:15-18 New King James Version
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
The Lord wants to PLANT You in the ONLY Environment in which His Blessing can take Root and Grow
The Importance of Being Planted in the Right Environment
Pineapples and Papayas in Pennsylvania
You can plant the seeds in the spring, but the plant will grow SLOWLY and die in the winter
You can transplant an adult plant in the spring, but it will never BEAR FRUIT naturally
You can spend a TON of time and resources in greenhouses with heaters, but it the fruit will never be as SWEET, nor as BIG
His Fruit in Your Heart
If you want God’s work in your life to THRIVE for more than a season, plant yourself in in the RIGHT place
If you want God’s work to bear FRUIT in your life, plant yourself in the RIGHT place
If you want God to find your fruit SWEET, plant yourself in the RIGHT place
His Child in His Garden
Before God began working in, and with, Adam, He changed Adam’s location
His blessings take root and grow best in His garden
His blessings last for more than a season or two in His garden
His blessings will only bear fruit and multiply in your life if YOU are planted in His garden
You MUST be Planted in God’s Garden
Genesis 2:15a New King James Version
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden…
Planted in His Presence
The SECRET PLACE || Five More Minutes
Any time or place we set apart to meet with Holy Spirit, expecting to encounter Him
Matthew 6:6 New King James Version
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
FOUR WAYS to begin and/or improve your secret place encounters with God
1. Schedule a time and a place
2. Believe that He wants to encounter you
Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
3. Thank and praise Him
Psalm 100:4 New King James Version
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
4. Talk to Him and wait patiently for His response
The secret place is where your GROWTH and TRANSFORMATION take place
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 New King James Version
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Nothing will give you joy like hearing His voice in your daily secret place
Nothing will heal your soul like weeping in His presence in your daily secret place
Nothing will give you courage like revelation jumping out of His word in your daily secret place
Nothing will deliver you from temptation and the demonic like worshiping His holy presence in your daily secret place
Nothing will touch your marriage and family like you repenting, praying, and talking to your Father in your daily secret place
His Presence is the ONLY spiritual environment set apart specifically for your salvation, transformation, and spiritual growth
Being PLANTED in His Presence Is More than Just Experiencing His Manifest Presence
You MUST Plant YOURSELF in God’s Commands
Genesis 2:16-17 New King James Version
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Planted in God’s Word
We are PEOPLE OF THE WORD
The foundation of our faith is the Holy Bible. We hold fast to the inerrant and timeless Word of God. We believe the Holy Scriptures are to be read individually, read and discussed corporately, and walked out as a community.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New King James Version
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Four things you should understand about the bible
The bible is THE WORD OF GOD
It reveals God’s definitions of GOOD and EVIL
It is the standard by which we test EVERYTHING
It trains, instructs, corrects, and equips US
Planted in God’s Will for Your Life
Genesis 2:15 New King James Version
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
God placed Adam on Earth to tend and keep the garden
Tend - abad (G5647)
To labor, work, and serve
The Lord FIRST, and THEN His people
Keep - samar (G8104)
Keep, guard, observe, give heed
The resources, authority, relationships, and people He has entrusted you with
Do you know why God has placed you here on Earth?
Four ways to discover God’s calling over your life:
Ask your parents if He ever revealed it to them
Noah, Isaac, Jesus and more
Ask Him to speak to you in the Secret Place
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and more
Ask Him to reveal/confirm it in His word and through His people
Samuel and David, Paul and Timothy and more
Show up to work and work with excellence
Joseph, Elisha, many of the disciples and more (even Matthew the tax collector)
Submitting (Obedience) to God’s word and will for your life will accelerate your spiritual growth
You MUST Pant YOURSELF Among God’s People
Genesis 2:18 New King James Version
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Planted in the FELLOWSHIP || Assembly Required
We are united by our pursuit of the Lord. We come together to discover His heart and partner with His will. Breaking bread is optional, but strongly encouraged.
Fellowship is joint participation
Fellowship requires assembly
Hebrews 10:25 New King James Version
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Peter 2:5 New King James Version
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Planted in HONOR || Through His Eyes
Relationships are protected when we ascribe heaven’s value to the people around us. Like Jesus, we choose to interact with people, not as they deserve, but according to their God given value.
If they are in your life, God allowed them to be PLANTED there, ask Him to see them like He does
Community is a byproduct of fellowship and honor
How do you become planted among the people at East Gate?
Attend - Witness what God is doing at East Gate and be counted among us
Connect - Experience what God is doing at East Gate and be planted among us
Tithe - Sow into what God is doing at East Gate and give with us
Serve - Be a part of what God is doing at East Gate and serve with us
Psalm 1:1-3 New King James Version
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
