Celebrating God's Faithfulness: A Legacy of Grace
Summary
For 35 years, God’s faithfulness has been the foundation and story of this church and its people. Through seasons of joy and hardship, through leadership transitions and community challenges, the Lord has continually shown Himself to be our help and our keeper. As we prepare to celebrate this milestone, we remember not just the years, but the countless moments when God’s grace intervened—when things could have gone much worse, but didn’t, because He was on our side.
Reflecting on Psalm 124, we are invited to look back and recognize that our survival, both as individuals and as a community, is not the result of luck or our own strength, but the direct result of God’s intervention. Like David, we can say, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…” and fill in the blank with our own stories of near-misses, heartbreaks, and miraculous escapes. Whether it’s personal pain, family loss, or threats to our community, God’s presence has been the deciding factor. The enemy’s intent may have been to destroy, but God’s grace has always set a limit, blocking what we could not see coming and breaking the snares that were meant to trap us.
This is not just a poetic reflection, but a call to live with deep awareness of God’s ongoing deliverance. We are not merely survivors; we are recipients of a legacy of grace, passed down through generations of prayer and faithfulness. Our help is not in our resources, our hustle, or our wisdom, but in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The challenge is to remember, to praise, and to walk in the freedom that God has given—not returning to old traps, but living as those who have truly been kept.
To live like someone who has been kept by God means practicing pre-decided praise, staying vigilant against the snares of the enemy, and regularly reminding ourselves of the escapes God has given us. It means turning our escapes into testimonies, and our memories of deliverance into fuel for faith. And above all, it means responding to the grace that has carried us, by surrendering our lives to the One who saves, keeps, and leads us forward.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Grace Is the Deciding Factor
No matter how fierce the opposition or how dire the circumstances, it is God’s presence that makes the difference. Our survival is not an exaggeration of God’s power, but an explanation of His grace—He steps in when we would otherwise be lost, and His intervention is the reason we are still here. Reflecting on our lives through the lens of God’s covering, rather than our losses, transforms our perspective and deepens our gratitude. [51:25]
- Divine Protection Sets Boundaries Even in Battle
God not only delivers us after the fact, but often blocks harm before it can reach us. There are invisible fences—divine boundaries—that the enemy cannot cross, no matter how close danger seems. Sometimes, the greatest miracles are the attacks we never even knew about, because God rerouted the harm before it arrived. [01:02:53]
- Freedom Is a Gift, Not an Achievement
Like a bird escaping a snare, our deliverance is not the result of our own cleverness or strength, but because God broke the trap. True freedom is a miraculous escape, and the source of our help is not in ourselves, but in the Lord who made heaven and earth. Remembering this keeps us humble and dependent on God, rather than falling into the illusion of self-sufficiency. [01:09:52]
- Remembering Past Escapes Fuels Present Faith
Spiritual amnesia can cause us to forget the miracles we’ve experienced, making us vulnerable to old traps. Regularly recalling and sharing our stories of deliverance—through writing, singing, or testimony—keeps our faith alive and helps us live as true survivors. When we remember what God has done, we are less likely to fall back into what He has freed us from. [01:22:46]
- Living Kept Requires Intentional Practices
To walk as someone who has been kept by God, we must practice pre-decided praise, stay vigilant against spiritual snares, and set reminders of our escapes. Growth is not just about getting out of traps, but about learning to avoid them altogether. Grace gets us out, but growth keeps us out, and both are necessary for a life that honors the legacy of God’s faithfulness. [01:21:45]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[30:47] - Honoring Our Founders and 35th Anniversary Plans
[36:25] - Community Prayer Walks and City Transformation
[38:34] - Prayer for Stephen Street and Highland Park
[42:29] - Reading Psalm 124: “If It Had Not Been”
[44:37] - Personal Testimony: God’s Grace in Family Crisis
[45:45] - “It Wasn’t Luck, It Was the Lord”
[48:24] - The Survivor’s Song: Grace That Holds Us Together
[51:25] - Corporate Reflection: God’s Presence in Our Survival
[55:48] - The Oil Rises: Illustration of God’s Anointing
[57:30] - Seasons of Loss and God’s Sustaining Power
[59:41] - God Blocks What We Can’t See Coming
[01:02:53] - Divine Boundaries: The Invisible Fence
[01:08:35] - Escaping the Snare: Freedom by God’s Hand
[01:17:04] - Living Like You’ve Been Kept: Three Spiritual Hacks
[01:24:28] - Responding to Grace: Salvation and Community
[01:27:29] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “If It Had Not Been”
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### Bible Reading
Psalm 124 (ESV)
1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 124, what are some of the dangers and threats that David says Israel faced? How does he describe what would have happened “if it had not been the Lord who was on our side”?
2. According to the sermon, what are some real-life examples the pastor gave of God’s intervention in his own family and in the church’s history? [[45:45]]
3. What does the image of a bird escaping from a snare (verse 7) communicate about the way God delivers us?
4. The pastor mentioned “invisible fences” and boundaries God sets for our protection. What does this mean, and how is it reflected in the Psalm? [[01:02:53]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does David invite all of Israel to say together, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side”? What is the importance of remembering and sharing these stories as a community? [[51:25]]
2. The sermon says, “Our survival is not an exaggeration of God’s power, but an explanation of His grace.” What does this mean for how we view our own stories of survival and deliverance? [[51:25]]
3. The pastor talked about “spiritual amnesia”—forgetting what God has done for us. Why is it dangerous to forget our past escapes and deliverances? [[01:22:46]]
4. What does it look like to “walk as someone who has been kept by God” instead of just being a survivor? [[01:17:04]]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor challenged us to “practice pre-decided praise”—to praise God before we see the outcome. What would it look like for you to do this in your daily life? Can you name three ways God has kept you this week, big or small? [[01:18:11]]
2. Are there any “invisible fences” or boundaries you can look back on in your life—times when you realize now that God blocked something harmful before it reached you? How can you thank God for those unseen protections? [[01:02:53]]
3. The sermon encouraged us to “stay snare aware”—to be alert to patterns or traps that keep tripping us up. What are some recurring patterns or situations in your life where you tend to get stuck? How can you ask God for wisdom to avoid those traps? [[01:19:20]]
4. The pastor said, “Grace gets you out, but growth keeps you out.” What is one area where you need to move from just escaping a trap to growing so you don’t fall back in? [[01:21:45]]
5. How can you turn your escapes into testimonies? Is there a specific story of God’s deliverance in your life that you need to write down, share, or sing about this week? [[01:22:46]]
6. The sermon talked about a “legacy of grace” passed down through generations. Who in your life has modeled faithfulness and prayer for you? How can you honor or continue that legacy? [[01:14:18]]
7. The pastor gave a simple ABCs of responding to God’s grace: Admit, Believe, Confess. Is there an area of your life where you need to surrender more fully to God’s keeping and leadership? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area this week? [[01:24:28]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for His faithfulness and protection over your life and your community. Ask Him to help you remember His deliverance, to walk in freedom, and to share your testimony with others. Invite Him to show you any areas where you need to grow or surrender more fully to His grace.
Devotional
Day 1: If God Had Not Been on Our Side, We Would Be Gone
Reflecting on the journey of life, it becomes clear that there have been countless moments when things could have gone terribly wrong—times when opposition, hardship, or even despair threatened to overwhelm us. Yet, through it all, God’s presence has been the deciding factor, not our own strength or strategy. The psalmist calls us to a corporate memory, to remember not just our personal survival but the collective deliverance of God’s people. Even when the enemy’s intent was to erase every trace of hope, God stepped in and kept us afloat, like oil rising above water in the midst of chaos. The only reason we are still here is because God was on our side, turning what could have been our end into a testimony of His grace. [51:25]
Psalm 124:1-3 (ESV)
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us.
Reflection: Think back on a specific moment when you felt completely overwhelmed or outnumbered—how can you see now that God’s presence was the deciding factor in your survival or breakthrough?
Day 2: God Blocked What We Couldn’t See Coming
There are dangers and snares in life that we never even see—attacks that never reach us because God’s hand of protection sets boundaries the enemy cannot cross. Sometimes, we only realize in hindsight that a delay, a detour, or a closed door was actually God rerouting us away from harm. Just as God set an invisible fence around His people, He continues to block what we cannot see coming, keeping us from dangers both seen and unseen. Divine detours are often deliverance in disguise, and God’s restraint is the reason we are not torn apart by the enemy’s schemes. [01:02:53]
Psalm 124:6 (ESV)
Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
Reflection: Recall a time when your plans were unexpectedly changed or delayed—can you now recognize how God might have been protecting you from something you never saw coming?
Day 3: We Escaped, But Not By Ourselves
Freedom and deliverance are not the result of our own cleverness or strength, but of God’s miraculous intervention. Like a bird set free from a snare, we did not simply wiggle our way out or outsmart the trap—the snare was broken by God Himself. Our help is not in our resources, our hustle, or our connections, but in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. When God breaks the trap, it is a complete and final deliverance, and we are called not just to walk out, but to fly out, living in the fullness of the freedom He has given us. [01:09:52]
Psalm 124:7-8 (ESV)
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are still sitting by an open door, hesitant to step into the freedom God has already provided? What would it look like to “fly out” today?
Day 4: Practice Pre-Decided Praise
Praise is not just a reaction to perfect circumstances, but a reflex to God’s preservation and grace. By choosing to praise God in advance—before the battle is over—we train our hearts to recognize His faithfulness in every season. Keeping a “grace log” of the ways God has kept you, big or small, helps you cultivate gratitude and resilience. Pre-decided praise shifts your focus from what’s missing to what God has already done, anchoring you in His goodness even when chaos surrounds you. [01:18:11]
Psalm 34:1 (ESV)
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Reflection: At the start or end of today, write down three specific ways God has kept you recently—how does this practice change your perspective on your current challenges?
Day 5: Stay Snare Aware and Remember Your Escape
The enemy is always setting traps, but God gives us wisdom to recognize patterns and avoid spiritual blind spots. Staying “snare aware” means living on high alert, auditing the patterns in your life that lead to repeated struggles, and asking God for discernment to break free from cycles that keep you stuck. Just as important is remembering your escapes—turning your deliverance into a testimony. When you forget what God has brought you out of, you risk falling back into old traps. Let your story of survival become a source of encouragement and a reminder of God’s ongoing faithfulness. [01:20:43]
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: Identify one recurring pattern or “trap” in your life—what practical step can you take this week to break the cycle and turn your escape into a testimony of God’s grace?
Quotes
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