Building Stronger: Faith, Trials, and God's Will

Devotional

Day 1: Full Commitment to Jesus

Description: The scene of Jesus walking on water and Peter stepping out of the boat is a powerful illustration of the necessity of full commitment to Jesus. Unlike the crowd that followed Jesus for miracles and food, Peter's declaration of faith shows that true discipleship requires recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and giving our lives fully to Him. This commitment is not about convenience but about a deep, unwavering faith. Peter's willingness to step out of the boat, despite the storm, demonstrates a profound trust in Jesus' power and identity.

In our own lives, we are often faced with the choice of following Jesus out of convenience or out of genuine faith. True commitment to Jesus means stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting Him completely, even when circumstances are challenging. It involves recognizing Jesus as Lord and Savior and allowing Him to guide every aspect of our lives. This kind of faith requires courage and a willingness to surrender our own desires and plans to follow His will. [34:58]

Matthew 14:28-29 (ESV): "And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Trials Fortify Our Faith

Description: Just as trees in Biosphere 2 failed to develop strong wood due to the lack of wind, our faith requires trials and challenges to grow stronger. James 1:2-3 teaches us to consider it joy when we face trials because they produce endurance. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our spiritual journey, marriages, and family dynamics. Embracing challenges helps us develop resilience and maturity.

In our spiritual lives, trials are not meant to break us but to build us up. They are opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. When we face difficulties, we are forced to depend on God's strength rather than our own. This process of enduring and overcoming trials strengthens our faith and prepares us for greater challenges ahead. It is through these experiences that we learn to trust God's faithfulness and develop a more mature and resilient faith. [37:52]

James 1:2-3 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

Reflection: Think of a recent trial or challenge you have faced. How did it impact your faith, and what did you learn about God's faithfulness through that experience?

Day 3: Stewardship of God's Blessings

Description: Luke 12:48 reminds us that "To whom much is given, much is required." We are responsible for how we use the blessings God has entrusted to us, whether they are time, talents, or resources. Building stronger in our personal lives and as a church involves intentional efforts to enhance and fortify these blessings for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

Stewardship is about recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God and using it wisely for His purposes. It involves being intentional about how we invest our time, talents, and resources to serve others and further God's kingdom. This requires a mindset of gratitude and responsibility, understanding that we are caretakers of God's blessings and will be held accountable for how we use them. By being good stewards, we honor God and contribute to the growth and strength of His church. [40:23]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: Reflect on the blessings and resources God has entrusted to you. How can you use them more effectively to serve others and advance God's kingdom?

Day 4: Understanding God's Will

Description: God's will is multifaceted, including His providential, prescriptive, and personal will. While His providential and prescriptive wills are unchanging, His personal will involves the specific details of our lives. Discovering God's will requires surrender, immersion in His Word, and understanding how He has uniquely wired us. This journey involves seeking godly counsel, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and awaiting God's peace as confirmation.

Understanding God's will is a process that involves both seeking and surrendering. It requires us to be in constant communication with God through prayer and the study of His Word. By aligning our hearts and minds with His truth, we become more attuned to His guidance. Additionally, seeking counsel from mature believers and being open to the Holy Spirit's promptings help us discern God's specific direction for our lives. Ultimately, God's peace serves as a confirmation that we are walking in His will. [46:32]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to better align yourself with God's will? Consider your prayer life, time in the Word, and seeking godly counsel.

Day 5: Daily Surrender and Commitment

Description: Living in God's perfect will requires daily surrender and commitment. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation involves rejecting the patterns of the world and embracing God's Word. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will, experiencing His peace and direction in our lives.

Daily surrender is about making a conscious decision each day to follow Jesus and submit to His authority. It involves letting go of our own desires and plans and allowing God to lead us. This process of transformation is ongoing and requires a commitment to spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and worship. By renewing our minds with God's truth, we are better equipped to discern His will and live in a way that honors Him. [53:20]

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What daily habits or practices can you implement to help you surrender more fully to God's will and experience His transformation in your life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound scene where Jesus walks on water and Peter steps out of the boat, leading to a pivotal moment where the disciples recognize Jesus as God. This event underscores the necessity of full commitment to Jesus, contrasting the crowd's superficial following with Peter's deep, unwavering faith. We then transitioned to the concept of building stronger, using the analogy of trees in Biosphere 2 to illustrate how stress and trials are essential for growth and maturity. This principle applies to our spiritual lives, marriages, and families, emphasizing that challenges fortify us.

We delved into the church's six-year strategy, focusing this year on "Build Stronger." This involves intentional efforts to enhance our physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational strength. We reflected on the biblical principle from Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much is required," highlighting our responsibility to steward God's blessings effectively.

The sermon then shifted to understanding God's will, starting with the providential, prescriptive, and personal aspects of His will. We discussed the importance of surrendering to God's plan, allowing His Word to guide us, and discovering how God has uniquely wired us. Practical steps were provided, including seeking godly counsel, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and awaiting God's peace as confirmation of His will.

Finally, we emphasized the importance of daily surrender and commitment to God's will, encouraging the congregation to actively seek and follow God's direction in their lives. The sermon concluded with a call to participate in the church's upcoming Engage Weekend and a reminder to live out the gospel boldly.

###

Key Takeaways

1. 3 teaches us to consider it joy when we face trials because they produce endurance. This principle applies to all areas of life, including our spiritual journey, marriages, and family dynamics. Embracing challenges helps us develop resilience and maturity. [37:52]
3. Stewardship of God's Blessings: Luke 12:48 reminds us that "To whom much is given, much is required." We are responsible for how we use the blessings God has entrusted to us, whether they are time, talents, or resources. Building stronger in our personal lives and as a church involves intentional efforts to enhance and fortify these blessings for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

4. Understanding God's Will: God's will is multifaceted, including His providential, prescriptive, and personal will. While His providential and prescriptive wills are unchanging, His personal will involves the specific details of our lives. Discovering God's will requires surrender, immersion in His Word, and understanding how He has uniquely wired us. This journey involves seeking godly counsel, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and awaiting God's peace as confirmation.

5. Daily Surrender and Commitment: Living in God's perfect will requires daily surrender and commitment. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation involves rejecting the patterns of the world and embracing God's Word. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will, experiencing His peace and direction in our lives.

### [37:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:00] - Jesus Walks on Water
[34:28] - The Crowd's Reaction
[34:58] - Choices in Following Jesus
[35:25] - Peter's Declaration of Faith
[36:15] - Prayer for Open Hearts
[36:38] - Biosphere 2 Analogy
[37:52] - Trials Fortify Our Faith
[38:52] - Church Strategy: Build Stronger
[39:53] - Stewardship of God's Blessings
[41:25] - Be All You Can Be
[43:03] - Understanding God's Will
[44:36] - Providential, Prescriptive, and Personal Will
[46:32] - Discovering God's Personal Will
[50:14] - Daily Surrender and Commitment
[52:17] - Six Principles for Discovering God's Will
[55:32] - Allowing God's Word to Guide Us
[57:29] - Understanding How God Has Wired Us
[62:49] - Seeking Godly Counsel
[64:20] - Anticipating the Holy Spirit's Promptings
[65:50] - Awaiting God's Peace
[67:25] - Building the Kingdom Stronger
[69:09] - Decision to Follow Jesus
[70:47] - Engage Weekend Announcement
[72:18] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Peter's response when Jesus walked on water, and how did it differ from the crowd's reaction? [34:58]
According to James 1:2-3, what is the purpose of trials in a believer's life? [37:52]
How does Luke 12:48 relate to the concept of stewardship mentioned in the sermon? [40:23]

Interpretation Questions

What does Peter's declaration of faith in Matthew 14:22-33 reveal about the nature of true discipleship? [35:25]
How can the analogy of trees in Biosphere 2 help us understand the role of trials in our spiritual growth? [37:52]
In what ways does the principle "To whom much is given, much is required" challenge us to rethink our use of time, talents, and resources? [40:23]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you faced a significant trial. How did it impact your faith and spiritual growth? How can you view future challenges as opportunities for growth? [37:52]
Peter's full commitment to Jesus was evident when he stepped out of the boat. What areas of your life require a deeper commitment to Jesus? How can you take a step of faith this week? [34:58]
Stewardship is about using God's blessings effectively. Identify one talent or resource you have been given. How can you use it more intentionally for God's glory this week? [40:23]
Understanding God's will involves surrender and seeking His guidance. What practical steps can you take to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings in your daily life? [46:32]
Daily surrender is crucial for living in God's will. What specific habit or practice can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you surrender to God's will more consistently? [53:20]
The sermon emphasized the importance of godly counsel. Who in your life can you turn to for godly advice, and how can you make it a point to seek their counsel this week? [52:17]
The Engage Weekend is an opportunity to live out the gospel boldly. How can you participate in this event, and what steps can you take to engage more actively in your church community? [01:10:47]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We have one of three choices when it comes to following Jesus. We can do like that crowd that says, nope, the cost is too high, I'm not going to follow. Or you can be that group of people that wants to follow from a distance. You want enough of Jesus to think that you're saved but not enough that it requires any commitment on your behalf. The problem is you can't follow Jesus from a distance." [35:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "To be all you can be means to push yourselves every day to be the best that you can be by leveraging your gifts, your talents, your abilities, every resource. It's to leverage them to their fullest extent. It means to be, all in and to give all out effort to maximize these resources. And you're doing it for something greater than yourself." [42:33] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The simple truth is that God wants you to know His will more than you want to know His will. And He wants you to experience your life in the center of His will all the time. All the time." [50:48] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The key is when God prompts you to obey. The more you obey when God prompts you, the more He's going to speak to you to prompt you." [01:05:20] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When we connect with God's will, when we discover who God's called us to be and we begin to participate, God begins to link our lives together. For something greater than ourselves. And He strengthens not just each of us, He strengthens His church and it strengthens the kingdom as we go into the world." [01:07:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "If you're going to build stronger, you have to do things to create stress. You have to do things to create a resistance. It's kind of like if you want to build muscle, you've got to lift weights." [38:22] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "To whom much is given, much is required. See, if we're to build stronger individually in our families, as a church, for the Great Commission of God, then we have to understand that we will be held responsible with what we've done with what we have. With what we've done with what we've had. Whether it's a little or a lot, God will hold each of us responsible for how we put into use the blessings in our life, the blessings of time, our talents, our treasures, our abilities, you name it." [40:23] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The key in the Christian life is as we spend more time with God, as we're with more time with God's people, the more frequent we are with God, we get on the correct frequency with God. And what should happen is our Christian lives are looked more like this. We're getting closer and closer and living longer times inside of His will." [49:08] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The simple truth is that God wants you to know His will more than you want to know His will. And He wants you to experience your life in the center of His will all the time. All the time." [50:48] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The definitive explanation point for God with His will as He gives you a peace that passes understanding. It doesn't matter how much turmoil is going on around you. God gives you a peace in the midst of that storm. He gives you a peace in the midst of that decision." [01:06:20] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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