Breaking Free: Embracing God's Limitless Power
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the theme of breaking free from the constraints we often place on God and ourselves. We began by celebrating the mission work of William and Debbie Johnson, who are heading to Cambodia, and prayed for their journey and impact. We also lifted up Paul and Joyce Shin in prayer as Paul faces a liver transplant, asking for a smooth procedure and quick recovery so they can continue their work in Burundi.
The core of our time together was a reflection on how we often live life in a box, seeking comfort and control, and how we sometimes try to keep God in a box as well. This metaphor of the box represents the limitations we impose on ourselves and on God, often out of fear or a desire for control. We explored how God is far greater than any box we could construct, and how His power and plans for us exceed our expectations.
We delved into Ephesians 3:20-21, which reminds us of God's ability to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to His power at work within us. This passage challenges us to recognize the dynamite power of God that resides in us and to expect more from our relationship with Him. We shared personal stories of how God has shown up in unexpected ways, demonstrating His ability to exceed our expectations and provide for our needs.
The message concluded with a call to action: to take God out of the box and allow Him to work powerfully in and through us. We were reminded that expecting more from God is not a one-way street; it requires us to live in relationship with Him, aligning our lives with His will. By doing so, we open ourselves to experiencing His immeasurable goodness and power.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Beyond the Box: We often confine ourselves and God to a box of comfort and control, limiting what we believe is possible. God calls us to step out of this box, embracing the discomfort of the unknown, to experience His greater plans for our lives. [43:10]
2. God's Immeasurable Power: Ephesians 3:20-21 reminds us that God's power is beyond our comprehension, capable of doing far more than we can ask or imagine. This power is at work within us, inviting us to dream bigger and expect more from our relationship with Him. [48:16]
3. Expecting More from God: Our expectations of God should be high, as He is able to exceed them in ways we cannot foresee. This requires us to trust in His power and goodness, even when circumstances seem daunting or impossible. [51:22]
4. God's Power in Us: The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work within us, enabling us to overcome challenges and fulfill our God-given potential. This power is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with the world through our actions and testimony. [54:51]
5. Living in Relationship with God: To experience God's full blessings and power, we must live in relationship with Him, aligning our lives with His will. This involves trusting Him with our decisions, priorities, and relationships, allowing Him to guide us beyond our comfort zones. [01:03:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [34:26] - Sending Off William and Debbie Johnson
- [37:16] - Praying for Paul and Joyce Shin
- [40:16] - Fire Relief Efforts
- [41:53] - Celebrating Mikey's Basketball Team
- [42:36] - The Purpose of a Box
- [43:10] - Living Life in a Box
- [44:44] - Treating God Like a Decoration
- [45:16] - God's Greatness Beyond Our Box
- [46:18] - Reminding Ourselves of God's Bigness
- [47:31] - Ephesians 3:20-21: God's Power
- [48:16] - God is Powerful
- [51:22] - Expecting More from God
- [54:51] - God's Power in Us
- [59:04] - God's Power Through Us
- [01:03:41] - Living in Relationship with God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 3:20-21
Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 3:20-21 say about God's power and its work within us? How does this passage challenge our understanding of God's capabilities?
2. In the sermon, the pastor mentioned living life in a box. What does this metaphor represent, and how does it relate to our relationship with God? [43:10]
3. How did the pastor describe the way people often treat God like a Christmas decoration? What does this analogy suggest about our engagement with God? [45:01]
4. What examples did the pastor give of God exceeding expectations in his personal life? How do these stories illustrate the sermon's message? [57:08]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God's "immeasurable power" in Ephesians 3:20-21 influence our expectations of what God can do in our lives? [48:16]
2. The sermon emphasized the need to take God out of the box. What might this look like in practical terms for a believer's daily life? [52:59]
3. How does the pastor's story about praying for a teacher's pregnancy illustrate the idea of expecting more from God? What does this teach us about faith and prayer? [57:08]
4. The pastor mentioned that expecting more from God is not a one-way street. What does it mean to live in relationship with God, and how does this affect our expectations of Him? [01:03:41]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you might have put God in a box. What steps can you take to allow God to work more freely in your life? [43:10]
2. Ephesians 3:20-21 speaks of God's power at work within us. How can you become more aware of this power in your daily life, and what changes might you make to align with it?
3. The pastor shared personal stories of God exceeding expectations. Can you recall a moment when God surprised you with His provision or guidance? How did it impact your faith? [57:08]
4. Consider the metaphor of treating God like a Christmas decoration. How can you ensure that your relationship with God is consistent and not just for special occasions? [45:01]
5. The sermon called for living beyond the box of comfort and control. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How will you respond? [43:10]
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of living in relationship with God. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him and align your life with His will? [01:03:41]
7. How can you share the power of God at work in your life with others, as the pastor encouraged? Identify one person you can share your testimony with this week. [59:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Unknown Beyond Our Comfort Zones
We often confine ourselves and God to a box of comfort and control, limiting what we believe is possible. God calls us to step out of this box, embracing the discomfort of the unknown, to experience His greater plans for our lives. This involves recognizing the metaphorical boxes we construct around our lives and faith, often driven by fear or a desire for control. By stepping out of these self-imposed limitations, we open ourselves to the vastness of God's plans, which are far greater than we can imagine. [43:10]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel confined by comfort or control? How can you take a step of faith to embrace the unknown today?
Day 2: Recognizing God's Limitless Power
Ephesians 3:20-21 reminds us that God's power is beyond our comprehension, capable of doing far more than we can ask or imagine. This power is at work within us, inviting us to dream bigger and expect more from our relationship with Him. By acknowledging the dynamite power of God, we are encouraged to expand our vision and trust in His ability to work beyond our limitations. This realization challenges us to let go of our limited expectations and embrace the fullness of His power. [48:16]
Job 26:14 (ESV): "Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"
Reflection: In what ways have you limited your expectations of what God can do in your life? How can you begin to trust in His limitless power today?
Day 3: Trusting God to Exceed Our Expectations
Our expectations of God should be high, as He is able to exceed them in ways we cannot foresee. This requires us to trust in His power and goodness, even when circumstances seem daunting or impossible. By placing our trust in God, we allow Him to work in unexpected ways, often providing for our needs in ways we never imagined. This trust is not passive but involves actively seeking His will and aligning our lives with His purposes. [51:22]
Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV): "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems impossible. How can you actively trust God to work beyond your expectations in this area?
Day 4: Experiencing God's Power Within Us
The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work within us, enabling us to overcome challenges and fulfill our God-given potential. This power is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with the world through our actions and testimony. By recognizing and embracing this power, we are empowered to live out our faith boldly and impact those around us. [54:51]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: How can you use the power of God within you to impact someone else's life today? What specific action can you take to share His love and power?
Day 5: Living in Relationship with God
To experience God's full blessings and power, we must live in relationship with Him, aligning our lives with His will. This involves trusting Him with our decisions, priorities, and relationships, allowing Him to guide us beyond our comfort zones. By cultivating a deep and personal relationship with God, we open ourselves to His guidance and the fullness of His blessings. [01:03:41]
John 15:5 (ESV): "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to align more closely with God's will? How can you take a step today to deepen your relationship with Him?
Quotes
I think many times we like to live our life in a box, don't we? I mean, when you think about it, um, you know, we, we, we, we Life In The Box is it's confined, but it's, but it's comfortable. It seems safe. We can control it, right? Life In The Box, you can control it, um, and, and it seems normal. Life in the box, if you live your life in a box, it seems like this is the way it's supposed to be. [00:43:10]
Many times we also like to put God in our box. We like to keep God in a box. I, I know I've done that. I've done that in my life. I mean, I even just early on, you know, in my life, you know, my, my family, uh, we, they came to this church when I was about 5 years old when it was over in Roland Heights, but I didn't get baptized until my 15th birthday when I decided, um, it was time, you know, to do that. [00:43:59]
I prefer to keep God packed away where I could, he could be contained, he can be controlled, but I could take him out if I needed him. I think many times people treat Jesus like a Christmas decoration. Think about that. He's kept in a box most of the time because he just doesn't fit in with our everyday Decor, but then on a special occasion, we bring him out, we put him on display. [00:45:16]
God is so much bigger than our box, and over the years, God has shown Kathy and I just how big he is, how big he is in our lives, and he's shown up big in so many situations. But I got to be honest, in some of those situations, I'm tempted to always want to put him back in the Box because the things that God wants to do in our lives is often saying, hey, but my what I want you to do is outside your box. [00:45:59]
When we are mindful of just how big God is, that changes everything. It changes the way we approach our struggles. It changes the way we handle our problems. It changes our priorities. It changes our attitudes. It changes the way we worship him. I mean, isn't that true? So my hope and my desire is when we come together and we worship God and we open God's word together that you are going to be, you are going to leave reminded of just how good and how big our God is. [00:47:31]
God is powerful. He's more powerful than we can understand, and with God, you always get more. You always get more. If you've been around the church while you remember this song is a kids song. I don't know if they still sing it in kid men, but uh, here it goes. It says my God is I won't try to sing it. I'm gonna wrap it for you so my god is so big so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do. [00:48:16]
God is able to do so much more than we can ask or even think of. In the NIV, it says that he, uh, it says immeasurably more, immeasurably more. We can't even measure what God is able to do. This verse, it's a fun phrase in the original language. Okay, in the original language, um, Paul uses it like some double compound words and he really makes up his own phrase. [00:51:22]
God's power is in us. Let me give you one example of how, uh, uh, God, God's worked in our lives in, in this way. So, um, when, when we, we got out to, we went out to Mar, we Ed a planta Church, um, back in in 2003 and, uh, we, um, um, our kids were little and, uh, you know, we were just starting for the church from scratch and so, you know, it was, it was a pretty, pretty daunting T. [00:54:51]
God is able to help you in your situation. He's able to make a way. He's able to help you overcome your struggle. He's able to help you overcome your addiction. He's able to help you work through your failure. God is able to help you conquer your fears and your insecurities. God is able to provide for your needs. God's a able to to to to help make possible what seems impossible. [00:58:04]
We need to take God out of our box and allow him to be Lord and be savior of our lives, and if we choose, if we choose to be in relationship with him, if we choose to to to follow him and to live our Li lives the way he wants us to, we can expect him to blow us away with his goodness. You hear me today? He will blow us away with his goodness because he is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or even even think. [01:03:41]
God, you know us and you love us and you've chosen to put that power in us through your Holy Spirit, and not only that, God, you, you not only want to do powerful things in US, you want to do powerful things through us, and so Lord forgive us when we when we try to keep you in a in in a box neatly packed away so we can go live life the way we want but we'll we'll break you out whenever we need you. [01:05:18]
Instead of just saying, okay God, I want to, I want to do what you want me to do. I want to live life your way. I'm going to trust you with my decisions. I'm going to trust you with my priorities. I'm going to trust you with my relationships. I'm going to trust you with my life. [01:06:49]
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