Building Life on God's Promises and Guidance

Devotional

Day 1: Building on God's Promises

Our lives must be anchored in the promises and guidance of God. The sacrifice of Jesus assures us of God's faithfulness, and as we remember His body and blood, we are reminded of the new covenant established through Christ. This foundation is essential for true success and fulfillment. By acknowledging Jesus' sacrifice, we are reminded of the profound truth that our endeavors must be built upon the foundation of God's promises. This act of remembrance is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the new covenant established through Christ. [24:58]

Hebrews 6:18-19 (ESV): "So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."

Reflection: What specific promise of God do you need to anchor your life on today, and how can you remind yourself of this promise throughout your day?

Day 2: Relying on God's Strength

Psalm 127 teaches us that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. We must examine who is truly leading our lives and ensure that we are not attempting to build and guard our lives independently. True strength comes from relying on God. This passage challenges us to examine who is truly at the helm of our lives. Are we attempting to build and guard our lives independently, or are we allowing God to lead and guide us? [43:38]

Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you relying on your own strength instead of God's? How can you begin to trust Him more in this area today?

Day 3: The Dangers of Self-Sufficiency

Like a two-year-old insisting on doing things alone, we often try to navigate life without seeking God's help. However, true strength and success come from dependence on God and obedience to His commands. We are not meant to live in isolation. This highlights the importance of community and the dangers of self-sufficiency. True strength and success come from dependence on God and obedience to His commands. [44:50]

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'"

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you acted independently without seeking God's guidance. How might the outcome have been different if you had relied on Him?

Day 4: Obedience as True Success

David's advice to Solomon highlights the need to walk in God's ways, keep His statutes, and remember His testimonies. In God's eyes, success is measured by obedience to His commands, not by worldly standards. This obedience is the measure of true success in God's eyes. It is a reminder that our lives are not meant to be lived in isolation, but with God as the foundation. [54:43]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to obey God's commands? What steps can you take to align your actions with His will?

Day 5: Community and Dependence

We are called to build and guard our lives with God as the foundation. As we surrender our efforts to Him, we can trust that He will lead us to true success and fulfillment. Let us commit to seeking God's guidance and allowing Him to build our lives. This emphasizes the importance of community and dependence on God. We are not meant to live in isolation, but to build and guard our lives with God as the foundation. [50:23]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support and accountability in your spiritual journey? How can you also be a source of encouragement to them?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the profound truth that our lives and endeavors must be built upon the foundation of God's promises and guidance. We began by expressing gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus, acknowledging that His death and resurrection provide us with the assurance of God's promises. As we partook in communion, we remembered the significance of Jesus' body and blood, which were given for our redemption and healing. This act of remembrance is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the new covenant established through Christ.

We explored the importance of relying on God rather than our own strength. Psalm 127 served as a central scripture, emphasizing that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. This passage challenges us to examine who is truly at the helm of our lives. Are we attempting to build and guard our lives independently, or are we allowing God to lead and guide us? The story of Solomon, chosen by God to build the temple, illustrates the necessity of following God's instructions and relying on His strength.

We also discussed the dangers of self-sufficiency and the importance of community. Just as a two-year-old insists on doing things alone, we often try to navigate life without seeking God's help. However, true strength and success come from dependence on God and obedience to His commands. David's advice to Solomon highlights the need to walk in God's ways, keep His statutes, and remember His testimonies. This obedience is the measure of true success in God's eyes.

In conclusion, we are reminded that our lives are not meant to be lived in isolation. We are called to build and guard our lives with God as the foundation. As we surrender our efforts to Him, we can trust that He will lead us to true success and fulfillment. Let us commit to seeking God's guidance, obeying His commands, and allowing Him to build our lives according to His perfect plan.

Key Takeaways

1. Sufficiency:** Like a two-year-old insisting on doing things alone, we often try to navigate life without seeking God's help. However, true strength and success come from dependence on God and obedience to His commands. We are not meant to live in isolation. [44:50]
4. Obedience as Success: David's advice to Solomon highlights the need to walk in God's ways, keep His statutes, and remember His testimonies. In God's eyes, success is measured by obedience to His commands, not by worldly standards.

5. Community and Dependence: We are called to build and guard our lives with God as the foundation. As we surrender our efforts to Him, we can trust that He will lead us to true success and fulfillment. Let us commit to seeking God's guidance and allowing Him to build our lives.

** [44:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:58] - Gratitude for Jesus' Sacrifice
[25:44] - Communion and Remembrance
[26:47] - The Body and Blood of Christ
[27:40] - New Covenant in His Blood
[28:28] - God as Our Provider and Healer
[28:56] - Standing on God's Promises
[29:40] - Faith Stirred to Believe
[35:19] - Grabbing Hold of God's Promises
[36:21] - God's Faithfulness and Our Identity
[39:58] - Intentional Time with God
[41:36] - Living in Tumultuous Times
[42:30] - Building with God's Guidance
[43:38] - Psalm 127: Building in Vain
[44:50] - The Danger of Self-Sufficiency
[45:48] - The Importance of Community
[47:43] - Following God's Instructions
[48:47] - Solomon's Lesson on Building
[50:23] - God's Role in Our Lives
[51:37] - Trusting God with Our Concerns
[53:15] - David's Preparation for Solomon
[54:43] - Obedience as True Success
[56:27] - Walking in God's Ways
[57:01] - Knowing God's Ways
[58:04] - Spiritual Telephone Game
[59:05] - Keeping God's Statutes
[60:00] - God's Unchanging Commands
[61:27] - Trusting God's Heart
[62:24] - Keeping God's Commandments
[63:03] - Ignorance is Not an Excuse
[64:27] - Obeying God's Commands
[65:39] - Living by God's Standards
[66:46] - The Principle of Rest
[67:38] - Keeping God's Judgments
[69:22] - Remembering God's Testimonies
[70:09] - Israel's Forgetfulness
[71:35] - Obedience as Success
[72:59] - Abraham's Obedience
[74:04] - Success Measured by Obedience
[74:51] - Building with God's Involvement
[75:35] - Solomon's Success and Failure
[78:44] - The Importance of God's Guidance
[79:59] - Surrendering to God's Will

Sermon Clips

We thank you, God, for sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins and for unrighteousness. And God, this morning we thank you because we know that if you say it, we believe it and we can trust it. For you are not a man that he would lie. God, we thank you. And this morning as we get ready to participate, participate in communion, God, we thank you for all that you have done. [00:24:52] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Right there where you are, can you just get right with God? Just tell him, God, I'm sorry. And repent, knowing that his faithfulness, his mercy, his grace extends to us this morning. And God, we thank you for we are washed and made white as snow because of the blood of Jesus. [00:26:13] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

God, we thank you for you, our Jehovah Rapha, our healer. Jehovah Shalom, our peace. Jehovah Sitkinu, our righteousness. God, we thank you for you are the most high God. God, we thank you for you are God Almighty. [00:28:42] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Father, this morning I pray that our faith be stirred to believe once again. God, to believe for those promises that you have said. God, to believe that they are yes and amen. And Father, this morning, Lord, if there's anyone here in this sanctuary or perhaps at home, Father, that has given up or quit, unbelieving, [00:35:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

God, that we will grab a hold of those promises that you never leave us or forsake us. Father, right now in my spirit as I'm stirred for those that perhaps think that they were a mistake, that they have nothing to live for. God, that they have nothing to live for. God, that they be reminded that you said that you formed our innermost parts. [00:36:18] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And God, we thank you for you are the God that sees us. God, this morning, we thank you for you're faithful. And Father, we stand on those promises that you have said. Father, we believe them in Jesus' name. [00:36:40] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And we began to talk about what it is that we're supposed to do and how we are supposed to live our lives as a believer. And so I encourage you to be intentional on setting aside time to spend it with God. Because if you don't intentionally set aside time to be with God, it will not happen. [00:39:58] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And God will answer, and God will be there with us. Amen. Before I jump into the message, I do want to encourage you. I know most of you, everybody must have seen that big old giant red bus that's downstairs. And so we have a blood drive going on today. And if you're able to donate blood, we encourage you after service, just make your way down there. [00:40:47] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And what we need to do is release it to God. God, you're in control. God, you're the one that's protecting my spouse. God, you're the one that's protecting my children. God, you're the one that's in control of my finances. God, it's you. The report that I was given from the doctors, I'm going to believe what you said that you guard me and you protect me and you're the one doing the building. [00:51:37] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And so church, I need us to understand something. We live in a different or higher standard. We live by what God says, regardless of which way the pendulum shifts in our government, in our policies, or in our laws. What has God said? And we obey that. We obey that. [01:05:06] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And so church, we want to build and expand and guard. But we can't do it on our own strength or on our own ability. Because as Solomon learned. If God's not building the house, they who labor, labor in vain. If God's not building the house, they who labor, labor in vain. [01:14:59] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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