Compassion, Trust, and Faith in God's Promises
Summary
The sermon begins with the speaker recounting a recent mission trip to India, where he met a man named Kenny who was moving from North Carolina to India to open a restaurant. The speaker also visited a jewelry shop owned by a Muslim family, recommended by Kenny. The speaker then shifts to discuss the biblical story of Hagar and her son, emphasizing the compassion Hagar had for her child who was dying of thirst. He draws a parallel between this compassion and the responsibility Christians have towards those who are spiritually lost. The speaker also discusses the story of Jesus encountering a rich, young ruler who believed in his own religious standing, emphasizing the importance of showing love and compassion even to those who reject Him.
The speaker then recounts another mission trip where they shared the gospel through basketball, music, and nursing. He emphasizes the importance of using the gifts and passions God has given each individual to glorify His name and share the message of Jesus Christ. The sermon then transitions to the reading of Genesis 21, where Sarah becomes jealous of Hagar and her son, Ishmael. God reassures Abraham, who is displeased with Sarah's request to cast out Hagar and Ishmael, promising to make a nation out of Ishmael.
The speaker then reflects on the game of Connect the Dots and how it relates to our faith journey with God. He shares his personal experience of wanting instant gratification and not wanting to wait for all the steps in the game. He draws a parallel to how we often approach our faith, wanting to know the end result before taking the necessary steps. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting God's plan and not trying to connect the dots ourselves. He highlights the faith of Abraham and how God always fulfills His promises.
The speaker shares two stories of encounters with individuals in Jaipur, India. The first story is about a Muslim man named Oslam and his wife who own a shop. The speaker and his group meet them, make purchases, and build a relationship with them. When the speaker asks if they can pray for Oslam before leaving, he requests a prayer for God's blessing. The second story is about a man named Coach V, who the speaker's group teaches basketball to. Despite not being a Christian, Coach V has a conversation with one of the group members that has a profound impact on him. The speaker emphasizes the importance of praying for the salvation of these individuals and believes that God is at work in their lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Christians have a responsibility to show compassion towards those who are spiritually lost, just as Hagar had compassion for her dying child. This compassion can lead to opportunities for growth and deeper faith. [32:20]
- Using the gifts and passions God has given us can be a powerful way to share the message of Jesus Christ and bring glory to His name. [12:39]
- Trusting God's plan is crucial in our faith journey. We should not seek instant gratification or try to connect the dots ourselves, but instead trust that God always fulfills His promises. [24:52]
- Building relationships with others, regardless of their faith, can lead to profound impacts and open doors for sharing the gospel. Praying for the salvation of these individuals is important, as God is at work in their lives. [06:40]
- The biblical story of Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael is significant in understanding historical and present-day conflicts. Despite these conflicts, God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises remains. [19:22]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Genesis 21:8-21
### Observation Questions
1. What was the reason for the conflict between Sarah and Hagar in Genesis 21? [17:33]
2. How did God reassure Abraham regarding the future of Ishmael? [17:33]
3. What was Hagar's reaction when she thought her son was going to die, and how did God respond to her cries? [19:22]
4. What did the speaker emphasize about the importance of using our gifts and passions for God's glory? [12:39]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Hagar and Ishmael illustrate God's faithfulness to His promises, even in difficult circumstances? [17:33]
2. In what ways can the compassion Hagar had for her son be compared to the compassion Christians should have for those who are spiritually lost? [32:20]
3. How does the speaker's experience with Coach V in India demonstrate the impact of building relationships with non-believers? [11:01]
4. What does the speaker mean by "connecting the dots" in our faith journey, and how does this concept relate to trusting God's plan? [24:52]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like Hagar, lost and desperate. How did you see God's faithfulness in that situation? [19:22]
2. The speaker mentioned using our gifts and passions to glorify God. What are some specific gifts or passions you have, and how can you use them to share the message of Jesus Christ? [12:39]
3. Think about someone in your life who is spiritually lost. How can you show them compassion and build a relationship that opens doors for sharing the gospel? [32:20]
4. The speaker shared about praying for the salvation of individuals he met in India. Who is someone in your life you can commit to praying for regularly? [08:16]
5. The concept of "connecting the dots" was discussed in the sermon. Are there areas in your life where you are trying to see the end result instead of trusting God's plan? How can you take the next step in faith? [24:52]
6. The speaker emphasized the importance of not letting hate fill our hearts, even in difficult situations. Is there a specific person or group you struggle to love? How can you ask God to change your heart towards them? [39:40]
7. How can you actively participate in building relationships with people of different faiths or backgrounds in your community, similar to the speaker's experiences in India? [11:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Compassion as a Pathway to Spiritual Growth
Compassion is not just an emotion, but a responsibility for Christians. Just as Hagar showed compassion for her dying child, Christians are called to show compassion towards those who are spiritually lost. This compassion can lead to opportunities for growth and deeper faith. [32:20]
Isaiah 49:15 - "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"
Reflection: Who in your life is spiritually lost? How can you show them compassion and guide them towards spiritual growth?
Day 2: Utilizing Our Gifts for God's Glory
God has bestowed each of us with unique gifts and passions. These are not just for our own enjoyment, but are tools we can use to glorify His name and share the message of Jesus Christ. [12:39]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What are the gifts and passions God has given you? How can you use them to glorify His name and share His message?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Plan
In our faith journey, it's easy to seek instant gratification and try to connect the dots ourselves. However, it's crucial to trust in God's plan and remember that He always fulfills His promises, just as He did with Abraham. [24:52]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you're trying to connect the dots yourself? How can you surrender this to God and trust in His plan?
Day 4: Building Relationships for Gospel Sharing
Building relationships with others, regardless of their faith, can lead to profound impacts and open doors for sharing the gospel. Praying for the salvation of these individuals is important, as God is at work in their lives. [06:40]
Colossians 4:5-6 - "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
Reflection: Who are the 'outsiders' in your life? How can you build a relationship with them and pray for their salvation?
Day 5: Understanding God's Faithfulness Amidst Conflict
The biblical story of Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael is significant in understanding historical and present-day conflicts. Despite these conflicts, God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises remains. [19:22]
Numbers 23:19 - "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
Reflection: What conflicts are you currently facing? How can you trust in God's faithfulness amidst these conflicts?
Quotes
"There is not a single lost person in this world that deserves Jesus. But there's not a single saved person in this room who deserved him either. But God is good and he is faithful." [45:00]
"Would you pray that God would bless me?... I'm not talking, though, about the blessing of finances. I'm talking about the blessing that can only come from God." [08:16]
"God telling Abraham, trust me. Stop trying to connect the dots yourself. Trust me." [27:15]
"Every single time that God gives a promise, God fulfills what God says he's going to do. And that's what we can hold to. That's what we can trust. That's what we can see." [28:47]
"Behold the compassion of a mother for her child expiring with thirst. And remember that such a compassion ought all Christians feel towards souls that are perishing for lack of Christ. Perishing eternally perishing without hope of salvation." #!!32:20!!#
"There's a terrorist in scripture. His name was Saul. Everybody hated him. Everybody hated him. And God captured his heart and he saved him and he sent him to the people whose families he would have killed. All for his name and for his glory." #!!41:17!!#
"But I can say that there were men and women that God allowed for. Us to meet that were able to. Hear about who Jesus is, were told. About who Jesus is, and whatever their thoughts were about. Christians were able to be loved." #!!12:39!!#
"And this is the reason why we partner, so that as we continue to go, as we continue to do what. God has for us right, that there'll be more and more opportunities to sow. Seeds, more and more opportunities to build relationships. Not so that we can have more. Friends, but so that we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ and men and women and children can place their faith in Him and him alone." #!!14:07!!#
"God said he'd make a great nation, and he did. From these people will come the Islamic faith, the direct descendants of Ishmael. And what we see from the direct descendants of Isaac will be the Jewish people." #!!22:35!!#
"And Sarah says something to Abraham. She doesn't say, Tell them to stop. She doesn't say, Tell them to leave. She says cast them out. Remove them from this place. They're not welcome here." #!!24:01!!#
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