“The Bonsai Tree – Remove the Restraints”

Ephesians 4

I was driving home last night from the deer woods, and I noticed on our church billboard “It’s not all about you.”  It really got me to reflecting about this morning’s sermon.

And the truth of the matter, to sum it all up, it isn’t all about us, but it is about loving God, and loving others – as taught in the book of Matthew chapter 22 on the great commandments.

However, I want us to looker deeper into how to remove the restraints in our lives that are stunting our spiritual growth and producing this self-centered attitude that it is all about me.

I want to use a bonsai tree as our illustration for today.

By selecting a young Japanese maple tree, the Japanese will use a technique called air layering to produce Bonsai trees.   Wire restraints along with technical pruning to develop these trees.  Prior to restraints and pruning these trees would grow to standard heights of 50-60 feet tall or more.  However, due to this technique a tree could be 100’s of years old, and only be between 6”inches and 3’feet tall.

These wire restraints – produce what you and I would call a stunt in growth.  They simply hinder any further growth.  Eventually they are capable of being removed, and the tree will stay at that size permanently until death.

It is this very stunt in growth that the Church and Christians are facing today.

Fortunately here at Bethel Baptist Church, I believe we are about to experience a growth spurt.

What are some signs of a growth spurt? Anyone?

Sign/ indicator of a (Spiritual) Growth Spurt – (Spiritual) Hunger.

Here at Bethel we just had a Revival, and I don’t know about you, but that simple wet my appetite.  I hope that you, like I am, are hungry for more.  Hungry to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord. Hungry to reach out into this community, and meet the needs of hurting people.

Unfortunately, failure to meet that need will also result in a stunt growth.

Life Experience with Kaleb and one of His Growth Spurts.

Let us read in Ephesians Chapter 4:1-6 and discover how we can remove the restraints that are stunting our growth.                               >>>PRAY<<<

In order to prevent our growth from being stunt, and in order to produce a growth spurt we must remove the restraints.

1.     Restraint of Separation / Division

A tree that is not equally united eventually perishes. Either half of it will die, or the whole tree.

Unity MUST take place!

Each of the branches must be willing to except the nutrients and growth from the trunk, roots, and soil.

Mental Picture: Soil being God the Father | Roots = Jesus Christ | Trunk = Holy Spirit | Branches = Christians/ Church | Blossoms=produce | Produce=Spiritual Growth Spurt

Unity doesn’t just take place, however it is something that the branches produce.

It takes three things to produce Unity:

•  Christ Like Attitude and Lifestyle vs.1
• Humility vs.2
• Intentionality vs.3 – endeavoring (Greek: Spoo-dad-zo – to make an effort)

A stunt in growth often times is also a result in how we think.

2.     Restraint of Stubbornness or Failure to Change

A tree that fails to adapt to its climate and conditions will perish.

Society is changing all around us.  We must continue to change the way we think, and minister.

“Take a stand on biblical issues, not on matters of personal preference or methods” – Crawford Loritz

It is not a matter of Theology that is at stake, but methodology.

We must change our methods, and that starts with a “Renewing of the Mind”

We must change the way we think.

We see that starting with:

Vs. 17 Ends with the mind         |  Vs. 18 the understanding      |  Vs. 18 ignorance

Vs. 20 learned                                |  Vs. 21 taught                              |  Vs. 23 mind

Each of these correlate to the thinking process.

Restraints from failing to renew our minds:

• Vain Thinking / Self Centeredness vs. 17
• Darkened understanding / Close minded vs.18
• Ignorant alienation / Blindness of the Heart=Pride vs.18
• Past feelings / apathy / un-forgiveness / Stuck in the past / failure to move forward vs.19

These restraints tend to always produce corruption and deceitful lust and mind frames. Vs.22

READ – Eph.2:3

Each branch will function based upon their own precepts or preferences, but in return will hinder and stunt the growth of the church or the individual as a whole.

Apostle Paul is not only speaking to the Church of Ephesus as the body as a whole, but also individually on a personal level.

The fact of the matter is:

We must Renew our minds: vs.23

• Putting away lying / Being honest in all aspects of your life vs.25
• Be Angry and Do Not Sin / Control our tempers vs.26
• Work Hard, and be generous to others vs.28
• Don’t speak corrupt words / Speak words of encouragement (Edify = to build up) vs.29
• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit / Refusal to change our old ways vs.30

3.     Restraint of Strife

Strife Produces: vs.31

• Bitterness
• Wrath
• Anger
• Clamor
• Evil Speaking
• Malice / Hatred / Wickedness
• Un-forgiveness

We must love one another: vs.32

• Be kind one to another
• Be tenderhearted / compassionate
• Forgive one another

Results from Removing the Restraints vs. 15-16

Recap –

Restraints of Separation, Stubbornness, & Strife – Result in Stunt Growth

Removal of the Restraints – Result in Growth Spurt

What restraints do you have in your life?