Aligning Decisions with God's Will and Word
Summary
### Summary
Glory to God! Today, we delved into the importance of making right decisions by aligning ourselves with God's Word and His will. We began by acknowledging the faithfulness of God and the importance of agreement in the Word. Our foundational scripture was Luke 2:41-49, where we explored the story of young Jesus staying behind in the temple, engaging with the teachers, and astonishing them with His understanding. This passage underscores the importance of being about our Father's business and making decisions that align with His will.
We discussed the significance of knowing who we are in Christ, as highlighted in Genesis 1:26, where God grants us dominion and authority. This dominion empowers us to make decisions confidently, knowing that we are created in His image. We also emphasized the necessity of prayer, as seen in Mark 1:35, where Jesus rises early to pray, setting a priority on hearing from God before making decisions.
The sermon also touched on the importance of being vigilant and watchful, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:8, to avoid the enemy's traps. We must be spiritually aware and guided by the Holy Spirit. Additionally, we explored the concept of being anchored in the Word, using the analogy of a boat's anchor to illustrate how the Word of God stabilizes us amidst life's challenges.
Finally, we looked at the story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34, emphasizing faith as the key to making right decisions. Jesus' response to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," serves as a powerful reminder to trust God fully.
### Key Takeaways
1. Be About the Father's Business: Just as Jesus stayed behind in the temple to engage with the teachers, we must prioritize being about our Father's business. This means making decisions that align with God's will and purpose for our lives. It requires a deep understanding of our identity in Christ and the authority He has given us. [46:13]
2. The Power of Prayer: Jesus exemplified the importance of prayer by rising early to seek God's guidance. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about aligning our hearts with God's will. It is through prayer that we gain clarity and direction for the decisions we need to make. [57:08]
3. Vigilance and Spiritual Awareness: 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us to be sober and vigilant because our adversary, the devil, seeks to devour us. Being spiritually aware means being in tune with the Holy Spirit, who guides us in making right decisions and avoiding the enemy's traps. [01:04:08]
4. Anchored in the Word: The Word of God acts as an anchor, stabilizing us amidst life's challenges. Just as a boat's anchor holds it steady, the Word keeps us grounded and prevents us from being tossed around by circumstances. It is essential to immerse ourselves in the Word to make sound decisions. [01:23:12]
5. Faith as the Foundation: The story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood highlights the importance of faith. Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," remind us that faith is the foundation of all our decisions. Trusting God fully, even when circumstances seem dire, is crucial for making right choices. [01:27:28]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [38:29] - Honoring Pastor Mario
3. [39:09] - Agreement on the Word
4. [40:16] - Opening Prayer
5. [40:48] - Foundational Scripture: Luke 2:41-49
6. [42:41] - Jesus' Parents Searching for Him
7. [43:23] - Never Stop Seeking Jesus
8. [44:03] - Jesus Found in the Temple
9. [45:23] - Where Are You?
10. [46:13] - About the Father's Business
11. [47:25] - Making Right Decisions
12. [49:11] - Dominion and Authority
13. [51:03] - Taking the First Step
14. [57:08] - The Power of Prayer
15. [01:04:08] - Vigilance and Spiritual Awareness
16. [01:23:12] - Anchored in the Word
17. [01:27:28] - Faith as the Foundation
18. [01:29:05] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
May this word guide you in making decisions that honor God and align with His will. Be blessed!
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 2:41-49 - The story of young Jesus staying behind in the temple, engaging with the teachers, and astonishing them with His understanding.
2. Genesis 1:26 - God grants us dominion and authority, empowering us to make decisions confidently.
3. Mark 1:35 - Jesus rises early to pray, setting a priority on hearing from God before making decisions.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jesus doing in the temple when His parents found Him in Luke 2:41-49? [44:03]
2. According to Genesis 1:26, what authority has God given to mankind? [49:11]
3. In Mark 1:35, what did Jesus do early in the morning, and why is this significant? [57:08]
4. How does 1 Peter 5:8 instruct us to be vigilant and watchful? [01:04:08]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for us to be about our Father's business, as Jesus was in Luke 2:49? How does this relate to our daily decision-making? [46:13]
2. How does understanding our dominion and authority in Genesis 1:26 affect our confidence in making decisions? [49:11]
3. What can we learn from Jesus' example of rising early to pray in Mark 1:35 about prioritizing our time with God? [57:08]
4. How does being vigilant and spiritually aware, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:8, help us avoid the enemy's traps? [01:04:08]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you ensure it aligned with God's will and purpose for your life? What steps can you take to improve this alignment in future decisions? [46:13]
2. How can you incorporate a consistent prayer routine into your daily life to seek God's guidance, similar to Jesus rising early to pray? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them? [57:08]
3. Think of a time when you were not spiritually vigilant and fell into a trap. What did you learn from that experience, and how can you apply 1 Peter 5:8 to avoid similar situations in the future? [01:04:08]
4. In what ways can you immerse yourself more deeply in the Word of God to ensure it acts as an anchor in your life? Identify specific actions you can take this week to strengthen your foundation in the Word. [01:23:12]
5. Reflect on a situation where you had to rely on faith to make a decision. How did Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," resonate with you? How can you apply this principle to current or future decisions? [01:27:28]
6. Identify one area of your life where you need to exercise more dominion and authority as described in Genesis 1:26. What practical steps can you take to assert this dominion in a way that honors God? [49:11]
7. How can you be more spiritually aware and guided by the Holy Spirit in your daily life? Share a specific instance where you felt the Holy Spirit's guidance and how it impacted your decision-making. [01:04:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing the Father's Business
Description: In Luke 2:41-49, we see young Jesus staying behind in the temple, engaging with the teachers, and astonishing them with His understanding. This passage underscores the importance of being about our Father's business and making decisions that align with His will. As believers, we are called to prioritize God's purpose for our lives, just as Jesus did. Understanding our identity in Christ and the authority He has given us is crucial in making decisions that honor Him. Reflect on how you can align your daily actions with God's will and purpose, ensuring that you are always about the Father's business. [46:13]
Luke 2:41-49 (ESV): "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your decisions and actions are aligned with God's will and purpose for your life?
Day 2: The Power of Prayer
Description: Jesus exemplified the importance of prayer by rising early to seek God's guidance, as seen in Mark 1:35. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about aligning our hearts with God's will. It is through prayer that we gain clarity and direction for the decisions we need to make. By prioritizing prayer, we open ourselves to divine guidance and wisdom, ensuring that our choices reflect God's desires for us. Consider how you can make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine, seeking God's guidance in all your decisions. [57:08]
Mark 1:35 (ESV): "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."
Reflection: How can you create a consistent prayer routine that allows you to seek God's guidance and align your heart with His will every day?
Day 3: Vigilance and Spiritual Awareness
Description: 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us to be sober and vigilant because our adversary, the devil, seeks to devour us. Being spiritually aware means being in tune with the Holy Spirit, who guides us in making right decisions and avoiding the enemy's traps. Vigilance requires us to be alert and discerning, recognizing the spiritual battles we face and relying on God's strength to overcome them. Reflect on how you can cultivate spiritual awareness in your life, staying vigilant against the enemy's schemes and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all your decisions. [01:04:08]
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to increase your spiritual awareness and vigilance against the enemy's traps in your daily life?
Day 4: Anchored in the Word
Description: The Word of God acts as an anchor, stabilizing us amidst life's challenges. Just as a boat's anchor holds it steady, the Word keeps us grounded and prevents us from being tossed around by circumstances. Immersing ourselves in the Word is essential for making sound decisions and staying firm in our faith. By regularly studying and meditating on Scripture, we can ensure that our lives are rooted in God's truth, providing us with the stability and guidance we need. Reflect on how you can deepen your engagement with the Word of God, allowing it to anchor you in all aspects of your life. [01:23:12]
Hebrews 6:19 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for studying and meditating on God's Word in your daily routine to ensure that it anchors you amidst life's challenges?
Day 5: Faith as the Foundation
Description: The story of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34 highlights the importance of faith. Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," remind us that faith is the foundation of all our decisions. Trusting God fully, even when circumstances seem dire, is crucial for making right choices. Faith allows us to rely on God's promises and His faithfulness, giving us the confidence to move forward in alignment with His will. Reflect on how you can strengthen your faith, trusting God more deeply in every decision you make. [01:27:28]
Mark 5:36 (ESV): "But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not fear, only believe.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully? How can you actively strengthen your faith in this area today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Come on, that's a word for somebody already. You got dressed up, came to church. You already got a word. It's going to be all right. Come on. It's going to be all right. Amen. It is going to be all right." [39:39] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So when we're talking about having dominion and authority, it takes action. It takes the five, you know, the five elements of faith. It takes us walking out what God has for you. You've got to take the first step. Go ahead and put your foot on out there. Go ahead. Go ahead. I see. Put your foot on out there. Take the first step." [51:03] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith is trust and an action and confidence in God. In order to have faith, you have to take the first step. You have to take the first step based on the word of God." [51:44] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So the first principle is spending time knowing who you are. The second thing is spending time with God. The second principle to make your right decisions is prayer." [01:09:01] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So the first thing is we need to pray, right? That prayer sharpens us and make us aware of his presence." [01:14:47] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So when we got here, we we kind of went around. Pastor Mario got a job. We were like, OK, we may we start cleaning people houses. Now, come on. Now, you can put your hands to something. Amen. And God will produce when you operate and move out of faith." [53:22] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So the second part of this question is to you, is this the right decision? Is this the right decision? I think that the Lord is saying this morning that a lot of you are in moments right now where you have to make major decisions. Like, I don't know. I don't know what it may be. It may be on your job, maybe with some family members, maybe with your health, maybe with different circumstances. The question on the table is, is this the right decision?" [47:25] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So here Jesus is picking his ministry team. And how does he do that? Just like when I told you spending time with the right people are important. Having the right people in the right position is important. So here he's picking his ministry team. The very, the most significant decision that he can make. Why? Because people, these men are going to carry out the gospel for him." [01:11:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So the first thing is we need to pray, right? That prayer sharpens us and make us aware of his presence. I had this thing. I don't know. I know there's a lot of things going on with the Olympics, whatever, but I'm just talking about teams in particular. When I look at the teams, they have swim teams. They have track teams. They have all these type of teams. I noticed when they went back to get their strategy on what they should do for the next play, whether it's baseball or basketball, whatever team you on. You don't go to the fans, do you? You don't go to the people in the crowd. Be like, what's my next play?" [01:15:31] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So the third point is making sure you keep on your full armor. That is so important. One of the things I'm going to drop down, when we talk about our full armor, I will be remiss if I didn't talk about verse 14. It says, stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth. The loins here in the armor, and this is not a teaching on the armor, but just know you need to have your full armor. It's a great teaching to go through, but the loins is here like a belt. So the belt, the truth. If I didn't have a belt on, or most people didn't have a belt on, their pants will fall down. You will be exposed." [01:19:48] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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