I have often had people say to me,  “Preacher you need to preach a sermon on ___________ .” Most of the time people fill in that blank with something they think others are doing wrong, or something right that others aren’t doing and need to get busy doing.

Two kinds of issues are at play in every person’s life – fruit issues and root issues.  Fruit issues are the visible evidences of root issues. Most of the time, people suggest preachers preach about fruit issues. Sure, I could preach about tithing, alcohol, church attendance and involvement, etc.; but the best that kind of preaching accomplishes is temporary, guilt-induced behavior modification.  As soon as the next temptation comes, the guilt subsides and the fruit issues re-emerge.

If we properly address the root issues, however, then we will see different and more permanently positive fruit.  We don’t have tithing, attendance, involvement, alcohol, or other fruit problems.  We have LORDSHIP and OBEDIENCE root problems.  The key is to get right at the heart level and the behavior level will naturally improve. That was the whole point of Jesus’ comment in the Sermon on the Mount, “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) Their piety was mere outward show, but Jesus calls us to a genuine heart.

I encourage you to ask God to work on you from the inside out.  Ask yourself why you exhibit some of the fruit issues in your life.  Ask God to set your heart right and watch the fruit issues take care of themselves.  Watch how God, as you submit to His Word, brings about genuine and permanent change in your life.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23