Teachings – Plants which God hath not Planted

PLANTS WHICH GOD HATH NOT PLANTED

UNFOLDING THIRTY-EIGHT

WHERE WE ARE

In the previous discourses, we learned of the Sun of Righteousness, and how our heavenly Father has preserved His elect through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Sun of Righteousness, whose righteousness we own if we are His own. We, ourselves, face times of darkness. Some of us do not fully enjoy the fulness of His glorious light, but that does not mean that we are not His, but let us be awakened and let us cry out to Him! With that, we press on now to learn about those which God did not plant. 

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 13:15

“But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father had not planted, shall be rooted up.” 

PLANTS WHICH GOD HATH NOT PLANTED
UNFOLDING THIRTY-EIGHT

Pastor opened his discourse by pointing out – 

“Jesus Christ had spoken certain truths which were highly objectionable to the Pharisees. Some of His disciples were in great fright, and they came to Him and said, ‘Knowest Thou not that the Pharisees are offended?'” 

Jesus did not apologize.

Pastor went on to explain,

“Now, we have oftentimes, as Matthew Henry very tritely remarks, a number of good and affectionate but very weak hearers. They are always afraid that we shall offend other hearers. Hence, if the truth be spoken in a plain and pointed manner, and seems to come close home to the conscience, they think that surely it ought not to have been spoken, because so-in-so, and So-in-so, and So-in-so took offense to it.”

Indeed, he further pointed out –

“Our Saviour was thus led from the remark of His disciples to utter this memorable proverbial saying. If we understand it aright, it applies to every doctrine and to every false system of religion.”

Such false systems include:

• every hoary system of superstition,
• every ancient form of idolatry, and
• every venerable species of will-worship.

With respect to will-worship it is ‘doing that which is right in one’s own eyes.’ Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Pastor goes on to say that the plants which God hath not planted include very beautiful plants. Many in our congregations appear quite beautiful. Some even bring forth fruit! Indeed, by all appearances, but if God did not plant them, they shall be rooted up.

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

There is a saying in gardening that whatever plant is unwanted in your garden, that is a weed. It is pulled up. Now, you may want to transplant it elsewhere, and it may beautify the world at large, but that is not the issue. There are many who are more attractive, more moral and ethical… intelligent and able to support the church in financial giving more than you or me. That is not God’s way. The value that we have is in Christ, and Christ alone. To suggest that you belong in Christ’s garden based on any merit you are among the will-worshippers. Now, isn’t that humbling? It should be. We should be.

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RYHMES

A rose can be an unwanted tare,
if not planted where it’s meant.
A briar placed within its patch,
can as much be heaven sent.