Our mind is to our being as the root is to the plant. The mind is important. For example, say you are up against the greatest basketball team in the world. Even if they have the best skill in the world, they will not be as effective if their mind is not in the game. Ruin their mindset by getting them frustrated and they will not be so great of a team.

The purpose of a root:

1) Anchors the plant

2) Absorbs nutrients necessary for the growth of the plant

It is God’s design that the good will thrive and that the evil will be uprooted…

Proverbs 10:30

The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. (Observation: Good remains. Bad uprooted.)

Jeremiah 18:5-10

Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. (Observation: God can plant or uproot us.)

Firstly, we must get to the “root of our problems”, which can be attained by capturing our mind for Christ. By being renewed in our mind, we can have the mindset of Christ.

Weeds. Unless uprooted a weed will return. As long as the root exist, so does the weed. Clipping off the vines will not be enough. The weed must be uprooted. Likewise, if you sin must be dealt with in the same way. If someone has a problem with another person. Unless they address the source of the problem, the problem will still remain.

Romans 8:5-8

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Observation: By having a godly mind we can obtain life and peace.)

2 Corinthians 10:5-6

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (Observation: In this same way, take captive every thought. Get rid of every evil thought. Dwell only on good thoughts.)

Matthew 23:25-26

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. (Observation: Cleaned from inside out. Our mind must first be clean. Only after can we proceed.)

Luke 17:6

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. (Observation: You can say to any sin in your life, be uprooted and come out of me.)

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, 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. (Observation: Good thoughts should be planted.)

Colossians 3:1-2

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Observation: Heavenly not earthly thoughts.)

Colossians 3:5-10

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Observation: Putting away the old ways and being made whole.)

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Observation: After your mind is renewed, then you will be able to agree with God’s will.)

What is God’s will for us?

God wants us to grow deep in our walk and to bear good fruit.

What does it mean to bear good “fruit”?

Galatians 5:22-23a

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. (Observation: Fruits of the spirit. It means to have these characteristics.)

Psalms 1:1-3

Blessed is the man {who delights} in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Observation: In the word, we will be blessed by being planted, nourished, fruit bearing, and successful.)

John 15:1-8

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Observation: Apart from Christ, our root, we cannot obtain the nutrients we need to remain. Christ makes us clean. Apart from him we will wither. As we remain, his will for us to be given what we request will be expressed. Our fruit will bring the Father glory and will be what distinguishes us from others.)

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (Observation: Fruit is made and we will be given what we ask.)

Matthew 7:16-20

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Observation: Good trees bear only good fruit. We can recognize true believers by the fruit they bear.)

Matthew 13: 3-9

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."

Matthew 13:18-23

"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 his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Observation: We must dig our roots deep to remain. Then we will be able to bear fruit.)

Summary:

First, our minds need to be cleansed by uprooting the sinful things in our life and replanting good things. Secondly, God desires not only for us to grow deep roots that will withstand the storms of life, but also to produce godly fruit.