The Answer

Matthew 15:12, 13

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. NKJV

Many people have different questions about different topics and issues in their lives; the lives of others, some have been asked loudly, silently while others have kept them in their own hearts. The Pharisees had many questions about the reason why Jesus had said what He had said to them or about them, they didn’t want to ask Him directly but He answered them all the same. This is to say that Jesus answers all questions whether asked or not.

My prayer for everyone who has questions about my life or ministry is that Jesus answers them in due time. The same thing I pray for you that those who are asking many things about you, whether voiced or not may the good Lord answer them as well. Jesus answers questions for those who are troubled. The disciples were unable to answer the questions that the Pharisees had, in the same way I cannot answer your questions you have but Jesus can. The disciples also came to Jesus to ask Him, the answer they received might not have been what they expected but they were answered all the same.

I know that many people are very disturbed or irritated today by the ministry that is in you and me while others are irritated by the way God has been blessing your life; some are disturbed by the way your children are progressing in schools or colleges; your ability to pay their fees is a big thorn in somebody’s flesh; your recent promotion is a bother to someone somewhere, many people are bothered and questioning how and why you have peace in your marriages. Yes, they have interpreted things around you in many ways, I say don’t be worried, the Lord will answer them on your behalf as they deserve to be answered; it is not for you to answer them. The answers will be forthcoming so do not worry about them at all.

While the answers are being sought and received I also want to bring this to your attention, that every plant that God has not planted will be uprooted. Jesus was talking about all things that we have acquired in this life that do not glorify God, such thing must be uprooted in due time. God created in each and every human being a heart to worship Him but we have planted other things in our hearts that do not glorify God. We have prioritized other issues rather godly issues as well. Such things are going to be uprooted whether we want it or not. As long as we associate ourselves with God, such should be uprooted.

Nobody will stand before God with any ungodly attachments unto themselves; anything and I mean anything, as Jesus said every plant that the Lord has not planted must be uprooted. I don’t know how you will receive this message but I want you to understand that if by any chance you’ve acquired for yourself things like properties in any ungodly way, the same will depart from you because God didn’t give it to you. Many people have acquired much wealth through evil ways; others have cheated someone to be wealthy or promoted.

This is an unfortunate situation because we still have such people in churches and tragically some of them are even leaders in such churches. What Jesus was saying was not intended to target the Pharisees only but even those who would follow Him without adhering to His standards. Some people have gained wealth through devious means; others have been elevated in their positions using devious methods. Jesus was and still saying that such plants must be uprooted, only those God has planted will remain standing.

In Kenya we have witnessed people going to extreme ends to amass wealth at the expense of their kith and kin and such people are serving in churches. Other leaders are not quick to rebuke them because they too are beneficiaries of such evil proceeds; the time is up for such people to realize that anything they possess that God didn’t give them will have to be taken away from them, period! Others have bewitched their entire families to gain wealth; others have been noted to kill for wealth, Jesus is saying that such riches will not last before they are exposed and punished for their evil deeds.

What the Lord has planted in our lives will always prosper without much effort on our part because it is God who has given us such blessings. Remember what David said about the blessings God has given to His people? Psalm 37:16, 17 - A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. NKJV.  It is a matter of time before God rewards all people according to their doings; whether god or bad there is a reward.

Again God has said every man shall be rewarded according to their deeds; those who wait upon the Lord shall have blessings that will outlast them, but those who acquire such things through devious means will be ruined. Proverbs 10:22 – The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. NKJV. This is what Jesus meant when said that every plant that God has not planted will be uprooted, while every plant that God planted will prosper.

Many people have plants that were not planted by God in their lives and they have continued bearing such and watering them through complacency. Some people have illnesses that have come as a result of satanic covenants and attacks; we have surrendered to such and have made them part of us without knowing it. You might wonder what I am talking about but some chronic illnesses are not Godly at but are a result of devilish covenants made by some members of our families or societies. Unwittingly we have carried them along because we are complacent enough not to query the source of such diseases.

Today I want each born again Christian who has or is undergoing such conditions to query to the genuineness of such situations. Jesus is saying that every plant that God has not planted shall be uprooted, sickness is not your portion as a born again Christian. The opposite is true, good health is your portion in Christ Jesus, let’s all learn and start to query every condition and situation that we are going through, is it Godly planted or enemy planted? We must rise up to anything that is not reflecting God’s glory in our lives.

Somebody might be tempted to say that Paul had a thorn in his flesh, yes, that is true and God had this confirmed to him; but has God confirmed to you also if what you are experiencing is from Him? Paul had that assurance from Christ, how about you? Many people have issues of health; unexplained sickness; abject poverty; children who do not finish school; several pregnancies terminating before maturity; some children under drug influence and additions; unusual rebellion of children; promiscuous behaviors in spouses or family members; constant loss of job or business opportunities. All these are plants that God has not planted in your life.  Jesus said that He has come so that we can have life and life in abundance and not the other way round.

God said this in Isaiah 1:19 – If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; NKJV. This means that all that is good is for those who are obedient; once we accept Jesus Christ in our lives we have become obedient so good health, good children, and good returns from our labors is not something that we should struggle about but should be automatically ours. God has commanded this because He has planted such in us. Anything different has been introduced by the enemy just as Jesus had spoken earlier in a parable to the people.

Matthew 13:24-28

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ NKJV

The kingdom of God is about being healthy physically, spiritually, financially; being fruitful in all facets of our lives. The seeds planted by the owner of the field as described above are good seeds however weeds were found among them. This is because the enemy waited until the owner slept and planted the bad seeds. It is such plants that Jesus was talking about; they will be uprooted when the time is right. Jesus had earlier given a solution to everything that was not Godly initiated in the lives of His people.

Many times we struggle to uproot such unwanted plants in our lives, sometimes quite forcefully but without success because we are doing what we shouldn’t be doing. When the servants asked the owner of the field if they should go and uproot the weeds from among the crops, he said no, the time was not right. He gave them his plan that such weeds will uprooted at the appropriate time, before the time of harvest. So every time we try to uproot such things in our midst we inflict pain on ourselves or our loved ones, we should trust God to remove such plants from our lives. In fact He knows them better than we do so we should trust Him to remove them from our midst at His own timing.

In as much we are hurting badly; we should also trust God to remove all the unwanted plants in our lives because He knows the plans He has for us. He does it in a way that He ensures that no loopholes are left behind for the enemy to sneak in and plant some more weeds in our lives. This is expressly explained by the owner of the field, the servants were quick to point out their thoughts and solution to the problem at hand but that was not the thoughts of the owner. So in such a way we see that our solutions and thoughts about what afflicts us are not the same with those of God. The enemy might plant as many weeds as he will but God will surely have the last laugh in this matter.

Knowing that the enemy is responsible for planting evil plants in our lives and that of our loved ones is the first step; knowing that God intends to uproot such at His own timing is the second step; while believing such is possible and true is the third and most important step. The servants did not question the timing for uprooting of the weeds prescribed by the field owner but they only believed that the field owner was right about everything and they waited for his approved time. How comes that we are always anxious whenever we have asked God to correct the wrongs things in our lives?

Jesus said that every plant that the Father had not planted will be uprooted; this was to done at the Planter’s own timing. We should believe that He knew what He was talking about; nothing is impossible with God. What we need to do is have faith that He knows all there is to know about us and our lives; surrender your will to the will of Jesus Christ and all the weeds in your life will be uprooted once and for all. All the weaknesses in your family lineage will be corrected in the fullness of time. Are you willing to let Him do what He says He will do in your life? The answer is yours, whatever the Pharisees say about your life is not important and whatever troubles them about you is also not important to you anymore.

I know that even right now people still have questions about me and everything I do; I cannot however provide them with sufficient answers but only God can and will answer them. Are you sure that God will answer questions about your life, family, business, job, ministry, finances, children and spouses? Then let Him uproot all the weeds from your life at His own perfect timing, all you only need to do is agree with His word about your life and it will be done.

It is my sincere hope that you do agree with me in this matter, let us pray together and God will bless you for it. Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for Your word today that every plant that You have not planted will be uprooted. Let my reader and I now open our whole hearts that You may uproot every resistance to Your word that might be hidden in our consciousness today. May You answer all those who ask questions about our lives, Lord may Your power move mightily among all who have received and believed this word today in Your Holy Name I pray and do believe AMEN.

This devotional was written by Bishop Joseph Koburu Mukiira of Maximum Victory and Joy Worship Centre Nairobi, Kenya and brought to you Courtesy of Journey 2 Joy International Ministries Inc. USA