Building on Christ: Embracing God's Surprising Plans
Summary
In my sermon today, I explored the profound truth that God's plans are often surprising and beyond our understanding, yet they are always rooted in His steadfast love and faithfulness. I began by emphasizing the importance of building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, as opposed to the temporal and unstable foundations of personal success, accolades, or abilities. Drawing from Matthew 7:24-27, I highlighted the contrast between the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built on the sand, illustrating the necessity of obedience to Christ's teachings.
I shared my personal journey of transformation from a self-made man concerned with public perception to a servant of God, unconcerned with the opinions of others and focused on walking in obedience to the Lord. This transformation underscores the call to humble surrender to God's will, even when it defies our expectations or understanding.
Reflecting on the life of the prophet Jeremiah, I pointed to his example of obedience without worldly success, as seen in Lamentations 3:22-23, where the Lord's mercies and compassions are celebrated as new every morning. This serves as a reminder that our true success lies in our faithfulness to God, not in worldly achievements.
I then turned to the events of Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, an act that defied the expectations of a conquering king. This moment in history, while unexpected, was part of God's redemptive plan. I challenged the congregation to consider how they would live if they knew they had only a week to live, just as Jesus did during that final week of His earthly life.
I also addressed the importance of obedience in our personal relationships, particularly in marriage, and how following God's instructions leads to blessings and restoration. I cautioned against imposing our subjective expectations on God, which can lead to disappointment and a loss of faith. Instead, I encouraged a surrendered life to Jesus, which is marked by trust and dependence on Him, even in difficult times.
Finally, I highlighted the prophetic precision of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy given to Daniel and the decree in Nehemiah, showcasing Jesus as the Messiah who fulfilled over 300 prophecies, defying the laws of probability and confirming the supernatural nature of the Bible.
Key Takeaways:
- Building our lives on anything other than Jesus Christ is like constructing a house of cards. When we anchor ourselves in Him, we can withstand life's storms, secure in the knowledge that our foundation is unshakable. This is a call to examine what truly underpins our existence and to ensure that Christ is at the core of our being. [01:31:02]
- True success is not measured by worldly standards but by our obedience to God. Jeremiah's life exemplifies this, as he remained faithful despite the lack of converts. Our obedience is a daily act of surrender, trusting in God's mercies that are new every morning, and finding our portion and hope in Him. [01:34:08]
- God's ways are often surprising and counter to our expectations. The triumphal entry of Jesus on a donkey, rather than a warhorse, serves as a reminder that God's plans are higher than ours. We must be open to the unexpected ways God works in our lives and the world around us. [36:22]
- The power of prophecy in Jesus' life demonstrates the divine authorship of Scripture and the certainty of God's promises. The fulfillment of over 300 prophecies by Jesus is statistically impossible by human standards, pointing to His divine nature and the reliability of the Bible as God's Word. [01:23:24]
- Worship is the proper response to Jesus, and it should be characterized by childlike faith and uninhibited praise. We must ask ourselves what hinders our worship and seek to remove those barriers, embracing a posture of humility and dependence on God as our loving Father. [01:13:46]
In conclusion, my sermon today was an invitation to embrace the surprising nature of God's work in our lives, to build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, and to live in obedience and worship, trusting in His perfect plan and timing.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 7:24-27 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 - "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
3. Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two foundations mentioned in Matthew 7:24-27, and what do they represent?
2. According to Lamentations 3:22-23, what is the source of our hope and why are we not consumed?
3. How does Zechariah 9:9 describe the coming of the king, and how was this prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament? ([36:22])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ rather than on personal success or abilities? ([31:02])
2. How does the life of the prophet Jeremiah, as described in Lamentations 3:22-23, illustrate the concept of true success in God's eyes? ([34:08])
3. In what ways does Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey challenge our expectations of how God works in our lives? ([36:22])
4. How does the fulfillment of over 300 prophecies by Jesus demonstrate the divine nature of the Bible? ([23:24])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you have built on unstable foundations like personal success or abilities? How can you begin to rebuild those areas on the foundation of Jesus Christ? ([31:02])
2. Jeremiah remained faithful despite not seeing worldly success. How can you apply this principle of faithfulness in your daily life, especially when you don't see immediate results? ([34:08])
3. Think about a time when God's plans for you were surprising or counter to your expectations. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([36:22])
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of obedience in personal relationships, particularly in marriage. How can you practice obedience to God's instructions in your relationships this week? ([03:32])
5. Jesus' entry into Jerusalem fulfilled specific prophecies, showcasing the reliability of the Bible. How does this knowledge impact your trust in God's Word and His promises? ([23:24])
6. Worship is described as the proper response to Jesus, characterized by childlike faith and uninhibited praise. What hinders your worship, and how can you remove those barriers to embrace a posture of humility and dependence on God? ([13:46])
7. If you knew you had only a week to live, how would that change the way you live your life now? What steps can you take to live with that sense of urgency and purpose? ([37:06])
Devotional
Day 1: Christ, Our Unshakable Foundation
The wise man builds his life upon the rock, not the shifting sands of personal achievement or societal accolades. This rock is Jesus Christ, whose teachings and example provide a steadfast foundation that can withstand any storm life may bring. When one's existence is anchored in Him, the winds and waves of change, challenge, and even personal failure cannot topple the structure of one's life. This anchoring in Christ calls for a deep examination of what truly underpins one's existence, ensuring that it is not the fleeting and unstable elements of this world, but the eternal and unchanging Son of God.
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." - Matthew 7:24-25 ESV
Reflection: What aspects of your life are currently built on unstable foundations, and how can you begin to shift them onto the solid rock of Jesus Christ? [01:31:02]
Day 2: Obedience Over Worldly Success
True success in the eyes of God is not quantified by the number of achievements or the applause of the masses but by steadfast obedience and surrender to His will. Like the prophet Jeremiah, who remained faithful without seeing the fruits of his labor, believers are called to trust in the Lord's mercies, which are new every morning. This daily act of surrender, finding hope and portion in God, is the true measure of success. It is a journey of faithfulness, where the outcome is left in God's hands, and the process of walking with Him is valued above all else.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Reflection: How can you redefine success in your life to align with God's perspective, and what is one step you can take today to practice obedience to Him? [01:34:08]
Day 3: Embracing God's Unexpected Ways
God's ways often defy human expectations, as demonstrated by Jesus' humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. This event, while surprising to those who expected a conquering king, was part of a greater, divine narrative. Believers are encouraged to remain open to the unexpected ways God moves, trusting that His plans are higher and His purposes more profound than anything one could anticipate. This openness requires a heart willing to embrace the surprising turns of God's redemptive story in one's own life and in the world.
"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" - Matthew 21:5 ESV
Reflection: Can you identify a recent situation where God's plan differed from your expectations, and how can you cultivate a heart that embraces His unexpected ways? [36:22]
Day 4: The Certainty of God's Promises
The life of Jesus Christ is a testament to the divine authorship of Scripture, with over 300 prophecies fulfilled against all odds. These fulfilled prophecies, including the precise details of His triumphal entry, affirm the supernatural nature of the Bible and the reliability of God's promises. The statistical improbability of these events occurring by chance points to a divine orchestration and provides believers with a firm assurance in the truth of God's Word and the certainty of His promises.
"This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 'Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" - Matthew 21:4-5 ESV
Reflection: How does the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' life strengthen your trust in the reliability of Scripture and the certainty of God's promises in your own life? [01:23:24]
Day 5: Worship in Humble Surrender
Worship is the natural response to the revelation of Jesus Christ, characterized by a childlike faith and uninhibited praise. It is a posture of humility and dependence on God, recognizing Him as a loving Father. Believers are called to examine their hearts for any barriers to true worship and to remove them, embracing a life of worship that is not hindered by pride, fear, or worldly concerns but is freely given in awe of who God is and what He has done.
"Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger." - Psalm 8:2 ESV
Reflection: What barriers are currently hindering your worship, and how can you take steps to remove them and enter into a deeper, more authentic worship experience? [01:13:46]
Quotes
1) "If we build our lives on anything else other than Jesus, if you build your life on your success, on your accolades, on your abilities, it's a house of cards; it's temporal. Matthew 7:24 says therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock." [01:31:02]
2) "Jeremiah was a prophet of no success; his success was obedience though, which is greater than anything monetarily tracked or anything that somebody could identify as successful. Lamentations 3:22 says through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because his compassions fail not; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." [01:34:08]
3) "The Lord says, go do something, and then you know when they say this or when they say this and you say this and you show up and it's there, and they said this and I said this, and I see the donkey. I guarantee you, husbands, if you started loving your wife... God has taken a broken marriage and restored it." [01:04:10]
4) "The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him... You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart... Every sunrise brings new mercy... It's a daily reminder of God's unfailing love." [01:35:38]
5) "The triumphal entry of Jesus on a donkey, rather than a warhorse, serves as a reminder that God's plans are higher than ours. We must be open to the unexpected ways God works in our lives and the world around us." [36:22]
6) "The chance of Jesus fulfilling only eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 28th power... The chance of Jesus fulfilling over 300 prophecies breaks the laws of probability, showing that He is who He says He is and the word of God is a supernatural book." [01:23:24]
7) "Worship is the proper response to Jesus. It is just surrender, giving up to the rightful King... We are children of God; we are to come in a childlike faith... What inhibits you from worshiping as a child dependent upon a father?" [01:13:46]
8) "Life is full of surprises, right? Things don't always turn out as we thought. Sometimes we put too much hope and expectation and we come out disappointed. The work of God is full of surprises not because He's sitting there trying to trick us, but because His ways are not our ways." [35:33]
9) "Jesus, the chances of Him fulfilling only 48 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power... He fulfilled over 300. A leading authority on probability said when you reach one chance out of 10 to the 50th power, it is statistically an impossible event." [01:24:15]
10) "Jesus rode in on the donkey, he rides into Jerusalem as king of the Jews. After Nissan 10, for 4 days, the Jews would inspect their lamb to be sacrificed, looking for any fault. After Jesus rides in, he goes on trial and they could not find any fault in him." [58:46]
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