Challenging Negativity: Embracing God's Promises and Hope
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of challenging the negative things that have been spoken over our lives and turning to God in times of pain and despair. I encouraged the congregation to remember the truth of who God is, even in their tears, and to believe in His promises. I stressed that God is for us, not against us, and that He will never leave or forsake us. I also highlighted the importance of not accepting the shadows and pain in our lives, but instead challenging them and taking them to God. I reminded the congregation that what we often perceive as an ending is often just a beginning, and that God is not done with us yet.
Key Takeaways:
- We must challenge the negative things that have been spoken over our lives and turn to God in our pain [ 01:01:03]
- God is for us, not against us, and He will never leave or forsake us [ 01:01:39]
- What we often perceive as an ending is often just a beginning [ 01:02:13]
- We should not accept the shadows and pain in our lives, but instead challenge them and take them to God [ 01:02:54]
- God is not done with us yet, and He has great things in store for us [ 01:11:27]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Kings 20:1 [33:52]
2. Job 14:2 [48:40]
3. Psalm 23:4 [49:16]
Observation Questions:
1. What is the relationship between Isaiah and King Hezekiah as described in 2 Kings 20:1?
2. How does Job 14:2 describe the concept of a shadow?
3. In Psalm 23:4, how does David respond to walking through the valley of the shadow of death?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the relationship between Isaiah and King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1 reflect our relationship with God?
2. What does the shadow symbolize in Job 14:2 and how does it relate to our understanding of life's challenges?
3. How can we apply David's response in Psalm 23:4 to our own experiences of fear and uncertainty?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt like you were walking through the valley of the shadow of death like David in Psalm 23:4? How did you respond?
2. What are some shadows (challenges or fears) in your life right now that you need to challenge or confront?
3. How can you apply the concept of weeping bitterly yet praying faithfully in your current situation?
4. What are some practical steps you can take this week to prioritize your relationship with God, similar to how King Hezekiah sought God in 2 Kings 20:1?
5. Can you identify a situation in your life where you've accepted the announcement of pain but neglected the presence of the source of that pain? How can you address this moving forward?
Devotional
Day 1: Challenging the Shadow
We often complain about what we don't have, but this is often a product of our perspective. We need to challenge the shadows in our lives, the things that we perceive as negative or lacking. This could be as simple as reevaluating how we spend our time and prioritizing our lives better. [01:04:37]
Bible Passage: Ephesians 5:15-16 - "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What is one shadow in your life that you can challenge this week? How can you change your perspective on this issue?
Day 2: Seek First the Kingdom of God
Sometimes, we need to take a step back and prioritize our spiritual lives. This could mean spending the first 15 minutes of your day reading the Word of God or praying. When we seek first the Kingdom of God, everything else will fall into place. [01:05:54]
Bible Passage: Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: How can you prioritize seeking the Kingdom of God in your daily routine?
Day 3: Rehearse the Truth
In times of pain and sorrow, we need to rehearse the truth of who God is. He is for us, not against us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even when all we have are tears, we can still speak the truth of God's love and faithfulness. [01:02:13]
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Reflection: What truths about God can you rehearse in times of pain or sorrow?
Day 4: The Shadow is Not the Source
The shadow in our lives is not the source of our problems. It may seem like it's consuming us, but the true source, God, is going to bring back what's been taken from us. We need to remember that what we perceive as an ending could just be a new beginning. [01:02:54]
Bible Passage: Job 42:10 - "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from the shadow to the source, God, in your current situation?
Day 5: Community is Crucial
In times of pain and difficulty, it's important to be connected to a community. This could be a church, a small group, or a group of close friends. Having people to share our burdens with can make the journey easier. [33:52]
Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Reflection: How can you deepen your connections within your community this week?
Quotes
1. "Things change, people do live after tragedy, people do after being depressed or depressed that they couldn't even get out of bed. I'm a living testimony to that. People who couldn't even pull themselves out of bed even thought about ending what they had. There's life after depression, things change, things can get better." - 55:13
2. "Some of us believe that we're Beyond hope but things change. Man, there was a time, see sometimes it's not about boils sometimes it's about our..." - 57:46
3. "Help each of us to find those things that we've just learned to accept that have caused us to fall into apathy and complacency and help us Lord to challenge some things this week. Help us to push back on the Shadows that are trying to swallow us up." - 01:11:27
4. "I am full of love and at peace for the first time in my life. My marriage has never been better. I have the best friends ever. God is not done with me. I am on a spiritual journey deepening my love with him and serving his kingdom." - 30:38
5. "When that inflicts us we inevitably are going to ask the question why. Why is this happening? And so if you did not listen to part one and two you can download our church app, you could watch on YouTube, you can do all kinds of things, go to our website, listen to those because it'll help." - 33:14
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