Active Faith: Preparing for God's Transformative Blessings
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of faith and its transformative power in our lives. We began by examining the metaphor of hunger, not just physical hunger, but a deep spiritual yearning for God's presence and action in our lives. This hunger should drive us to act in faith, much like the farmer who prepares his fields in anticipation of rain. True faith is not passive; it compels us to move, to act, and to prepare for the blessings we believe God will provide.
We delved into the story of the fig tree in Mark 11, where Jesus curses a fruitless tree, symbolizing Israel's failure to bear spiritual fruit. This narrative challenges us to examine our own lives and question whether we are truly living out our faith or merely going through the motions. Jesus calls us to have faith that can move mountains, a faith that is active and transformative.
We also discussed the importance of having a mission and vision, as highlighted by an inspiring young influencer. Without a clear direction, we risk drifting aimlessly, mistaking movement for progress. Ambition without action leads to anxiety, but when we align our actions with God's plans, we find purpose and fulfillment.
The sermon also touched on the significance of forgiveness and repentance. Unforgiveness and sin can hinder our faith and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's promises. We must let go of bitterness and judgment to step into the mountain-moving faith that Jesus calls us to.
Finally, we were reminded of the spiritual battles we face and the need to stand firm in our faith. The story of St. Patrick, who boldly confronted the powers of darkness, serves as a powerful example of faith in action. We are called to believe in a God who does the impossible and to trust that He is working in and through us to accomplish His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
- True faith is active and requires us to prepare for God's blessings, much like the farmer who prepares his fields for rain. We must act as though we have already received what we are praying for, demonstrating our trust in God's promises. [58:04]
- Having a mission and vision is crucial for spiritual growth. Without it, we risk drifting aimlessly, mistaking movement for progress. Ambition without action leads to anxiety, but aligning our actions with God's plans brings purpose and fulfillment. [01:01:18]
- The story of the fig tree in Mark 11 challenges us to examine our own lives and question whether we are truly living out our faith. Jesus calls us to have faith that can move mountains, a faith that is active and transformative. [01:08:29]
- Unforgiveness and sin can hinder our faith and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's promises. We must let go of bitterness and judgment to step into the mountain-moving faith that Jesus calls us to. [01:15:10]
- We are engaged in spiritual battles and must stand firm in our faith. The story of St. Patrick, who boldly confronted the powers of darkness, serves as a powerful example of faith in action. We are called to believe in a God who does the impossible and to trust that He is working in and through us. [01:23:36]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction and Worship
- [00:45] - The Hunger Metaphor
- [01:30] - Faith and Action
- [02:15] - The Story of Two Farmers
- [03:00] - Mark 11 and the Fig Tree
- [04:00] - The Importance of Vision
- [05:00] - Ambition Without Action
- [06:00] - Forgiveness and Repentance
- [07:00] - Spiritual Battles and St. Patrick
- [08:00] - God's Promises and Protection
- [09:00] - Ephesians 3: More Than We Can Imagine
- [10:00] - Aligning with God's Vision
- [11:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Mark 11:12-25
- Ephesians 3:14-21
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of the two farmers, what distinguished the farmer who truly had faith from the one who did not? [58:04]
2. How does the story of the fig tree in Mark 11 illustrate the concept of faith and fruitfulness? [01:08:29]
3. What role does forgiveness play in the context of faith, according to Jesus' teaching in Mark 11? [01:15:10]
4. How did St. Patrick demonstrate faith in action, and what was the outcome of his confrontation with the powers of darkness? [01:23:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to have a "mountain-moving" faith, and how does this concept challenge our current understanding of faith? [01:11:53]
2. How can the metaphor of hunger be applied to our spiritual lives, and what does it reveal about our relationship with God? [58:04]
3. In what ways can ambition without action lead to anxiety, and how does aligning our actions with God's plans bring fulfillment? [01:01:18]
4. How does the story of the fig tree serve as a warning to believers about the importance of bearing spiritual fruit? [01:08:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you prayed for something but did not prepare for its arrival. How can you change your approach to prayer to demonstrate true faith? [58:04]
2. Identify an area in your life where you feel spiritually fruitless. What steps can you take to cultivate fruitfulness in that area? [01:08:29]
3. Consider a situation where unforgiveness is hindering your faith. What practical steps can you take to forgive and move forward? [01:15:10]
4. How can you develop a clear mission and vision for your spiritual journey to avoid drifting aimlessly? What specific goals can you set to align with God's plans? [01:01:18]
5. Think of a spiritual battle you are currently facing. How can you stand firm in your faith and trust in God's power to overcome it? [01:23:36]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt hopeless or doubted God's promises. How can you reignite your faith and trust in God's ability to do more than you can ask or imagine? [01:33:07]
7. Identify one specific way you can act on your faith this week, whether it's through prayer, service, or sharing your faith with others. How will you hold yourself accountable to this action? [01:11:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Active Faith Prepares for God's Blessings
True faith is not passive; it requires action and preparation, much like a farmer who prepares his fields in anticipation of rain. This kind of faith demonstrates trust in God's promises by acting as though the blessings we are praying for have already been received. When we actively prepare for God's blessings, we align ourselves with His will and open our lives to His transformative power. This active faith is a testament to our belief in God's ability to provide and fulfill His promises. [58:04]
Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prepare for the blessings you are praying for, demonstrating your trust in God's promises?
Day 2: Vision and Mission Prevent Aimless Drifting
Having a clear mission and vision is crucial for spiritual growth and prevents us from mistaking movement for progress. Without direction, we risk drifting aimlessly, which can lead to anxiety and a lack of fulfillment. When we align our actions with God's plans, we find purpose and fulfillment. This alignment requires us to seek God's guidance and be intentional about our spiritual journey, ensuring that our ambitions are coupled with action. [01:01:18]
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you are drifting aimlessly? How can you seek God's guidance to establish a clear mission and vision for this area?
Day 3: Examining Our Lives for Spiritual Fruit
The story of the fig tree in Mark 11 challenges us to examine our own lives and question whether we are truly living out our faith. Jesus calls us to have faith that can move mountains, a faith that is active and transformative. This narrative encourages us to reflect on our spiritual fruitfulness and to ensure that our faith is not just a routine but a dynamic force that impacts our lives and the lives of others. [01:08:29]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively demonstrate your faith today to ensure it is not just a routine but a transformative force in your life?
Day 4: Letting Go of Unforgiveness and Sin
Unforgiveness and sin can hinder our faith and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's promises. To step into the mountain-moving faith that Jesus calls us to, we must let go of bitterness and judgment. This requires a heart of repentance and a willingness to forgive others as we have been forgiven. By releasing these burdens, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's grace and love. [01:15:10]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or an area of sin you need to repent of today? How can you take a step towards releasing these burdens and experiencing God's fullness?
Day 5: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battles
We are engaged in spiritual battles and must stand firm in our faith. The story of St. Patrick, who boldly confronted the powers of darkness, serves as a powerful example of faith in action. We are called to believe in a God who does the impossible and to trust that He is working in and through us to accomplish His purposes. This requires courage and a steadfast belief in God's power and protection. [01:23:36]
Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Reflection: What spiritual battle are you currently facing, and how can you stand firm in your faith, trusting in God's power and protection?
Quotes
"Both farmers knew they needed rain. And they knew to pray to God. They obviously had enough faiths to say, okay, God, you can do this. But there was only one who really didn't just believe enough to pray, but actually believed enough to act. And this morning, this week, that's what I feel like God has had on my heart, is that it's time for us to believe again." [00:58:17] (27 seconds)
"This thought of the idea that true faith, really believing in God, actually causes us to get up and move, to get up and act, to start to believe. And it reminded me of a scripture that I've probably set up here two dozen times or more. Mark 11, 24, that says, Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it." [00:59:48] (30 seconds)
"remember this he said you need a mission a vision a meaningful project to pull you forward without it you're just drifting like a jellyfish at the mercy of the current life will toss you wherever it pleases and you'll mistake movement for progress catch this next line ambition without action leads to anxiety when we know the bigger plans that god has for us but we don't move we pray but we sit back and wait that actually leads us to anxiety because we're not actually fulfilling we're not actually stepping out in the faith that we say that we have ambition without action leads to anxiety restlessness the gnawing feeling that you're meant for doing that you're meant for more but doing nothing about it so pick a direction build something chase something give yourself a reason to wake up hungry because without a mission the world will decide your path for you as far as i can tell this guy's not even a believer and yet he's grabbed hold of something that a lot of christians miss is that we actually need a vision with god we need to dream we need to believe we need to step out in bigger faith there was a book written probably 20 30 years ago by a pastor named craig rochelle called the practical atheist and he spoke about how most christians just live they say they believe but they live like they're atheists" [01:01:09] (97 seconds)
"most christians we say we believe but does it change anything this same guy jay yang he he speaks about if you knew that the next book you were to write or the first book you were to write was to become a bestseller how fast would you start writing if you knew that your soul mate was 20 dates away 20 bad dates away how fast would you go on those bad dates but i want to ask you as believers if you really believe that god heals when are you going to start praying for people to be healed if we really believe that we can change our city when are we going to go out and start changing it what what what does it take for us to actually go yes i believe that i believe god can but when are we going to step into he will and i'm going to start acting like it" [01:03:55] (58 seconds)
"And then Jesus, after this, he, you know, just flippantly throws a tantrum, curses the fig tree, and then walks into the temple. And this is when he gets real angry, because the people are taking advantage. There's money changers there. There's people selling in the temple. And while they're supposed to be, you know, giving sacrifices, they've turned it in, what Jesus calls, into a den of thieves. And they've taken what is supposed to be a place where people can come and pray and receive forgiveness and give sacrifice and make themselves right before God. They've turned it into something that is manipulating people." [01:07:32] (34 seconds)
"They've turned it into something that is, that is basically they're taking people's money, and they're especially oppressing the poor who are coming and wanting to do the right thing before God. But they're taking advantage of them. And so Jesus goes in, and he has authority, because, like, all these people there don't stop him. He stops them. And it literally says he stops them from even walking through anymore." [01:08:04] (23 seconds)
"And so he goes, he flips the tables, and he says, my father's house is supposed to be a house of prayer for the nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves. And then he goes out, and it says the next morning, Peter notices the withered fig tree. And he's like, Jesus, it's withered down to its roots. Cool, what's up?" [01:08:18] (24 seconds)
"And Jesus, it says, so Peter notices this fig tree, and then Jesus, I wasn't, okay, I was originally planning on reading all of this, and now I'm just skimming through it. So Peter, in Mark 11, sees this. He says, Rabbi, look, the fig tree that you curse has withered. And then it says, and then Jesus answered him. Now, normally when somebody says, like, hey, the fig tree withered, and he's asking, like, basically asking a question, like, why did this happen? Why did you do that? What's wrong with the poor fig tree?" [01:08:44] (35 seconds)
"Normally, Jesus would give, you know, an answer. And it says he answered him. But this is his answer. Have faith in God. I don't think Jesus is trying to say, have faith that you too can wither a tree. So what is he saying? He says, truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." [01:09:12] (33 seconds)
"And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you as you forgive, and may forgive you your trespasses. I was going to go into a whole explanation of why Jesus withered the fig tree, but I'm just going to really briefly summarize, and it's in your notes, so if you want to go look up these scriptures. But there are actually several scriptures in the Old Testament that bring up fig trees not bearing fruit. And all of them in Jeremiah, in Micah, in Hosea, and was there another one?" [01:10:07] (43 seconds)
"There's another one in Isaiah that actually talks about how the Israelites are supposed to bear fruit. Now, this is why Jesus is so mad when he gets to the fig tree, because this fig tree represents Israel. It represents the chosen people who are supposed to be bearing fruit that would nourish all the nations. But instead, they are fruitless." [01:10:51] (21 seconds)
"And you see through all these other scriptures in Hosea, Micah, Jeremiah, where it brings up these fig trees, and it brings up these fig trees that don't have fruit. Every single time, it was in the context of the Israelites who were supposed to be God's chosen people, but they had gone away into idolatry, and they had gone off into, and the more I read into the Old Testament, it's not just like, I used to just think as a kid, it was like, oh yeah, they would follow God, and then they wouldn't, and then they would follow God, and then they wouldn't. And it was like, yeah, they were rebellious. But in realizing more and more, I dive into it. It's like they were not just walking away from God. They were walking towards the devil. Like there was pure evil, and there still is today." [01:11:11] (41 seconds)
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