Desiring God: Embracing His Will Amidst Trials

 

Summary

In my sermon today, I reflected on the profound events surrounding Palm Sunday, drawing parallels between the historical narrative and our contemporary spiritual journey. I began by recounting the Asbury Revival, a modern-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit at a small Christian university in Kentucky. This event, which started with a seemingly insignificant chapel service, sparked a global hunger for God's presence. It reminded us that desire begets desire, and when we surround ourselves with a community that longs for God, our own desire for Him is kindled.

I then shared about our partnership with a church in Haiti, a nation facing turmoil, yet filled with hope because of the transformative power of Jesus. Despite the challenges, this church has seen salvations, deliverances, and a remarkable growth, even planning to rebuild amidst adversity. This testimony serves as a reminder that our hope transcends circumstances and is rooted in Jesus.

As we turned to the Scripture, I explored the narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in Mark 11. The people's response to Jesus, laying down their cloaks and branches, signified their recognition of Him as the Messiah and their submission to His authority. They declared "Hosanna," acknowledging their need for salvation and their belief that Jesus was the one who could save them.

However, I emphasized that while Jesus comes where He is wanted, He does what the Father wants. The people expected a political savior, but Jesus had a different mission—to do the will of His Father. He disrupted the temple courts, not to challenge the selling of goods, but to ensure that all nations could freely worship God. His actions during Holy Week, from the cleansing of the temple to His crucifixion, were not to fulfill our will but the Father's will for ultimate redemption.

In conclusion, I encouraged the congregation to stir desire for God, submit to Jesus as King, stay faithful even when it hurts, and rest in the completed work of Christ. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, we anticipate celebrating the resurrection and the victory Jesus won for us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Asbury Revival serves as a contemporary example of how spiritual hunger can spread and ignite a desire for God's presence. When we witness the move of God in one place, it should stir a holy jealousy within us, prompting us to seek a similar outpouring in our own lives and communities. [54:03]

- Our partnership with the church in Haiti illustrates that the hope of Jesus is not confined by our circumstances. Even in the midst of trials, the church can thrive and expand, demonstrating that our faith is not based on what we see but on the eternal and unchanging nature of God. [32:54]

- Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday reveals that God responds to our desires, but He operates according to His divine plan. While we may have our own expectations of how God should work, His ways are higher, and His purposes are for our ultimate good and His glory. [49:52]

- The cleansing of the temple by Jesus underscores the importance of inclusivity in worship. Jesus' actions were not about the commercial activities per se, but about removing barriers that prevented people from all nations from encountering God. This challenges us to consider how our own practices may hinder or facilitate others' access to God's presence. [01:00:44]

- The paradox of Palm Sunday and the events of Holy Week remind us that Jesus' mission was to fulfill the will of the Father, not to meet our immediate desires. As we submit to His lordship, we must trust that His will is perfect, even when it contradicts our expectations or brings us through seasons of suffering. [01:03:56]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 11:1-11
2. Psalm 118:26
3. Mark 11:15-17

#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the people take to honor Jesus as He entered Jerusalem? ([40:07])
2. How did Jesus respond to the activities in the temple courts upon His arrival in Jerusalem? ([40:42])
3. What was the significance of the word "Hosanna" as used by the crowd during Jesus' entry? ([43:09])
4. How did the Asbury Revival begin, and what was its impact on the community and beyond? ([52:25])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did the people lay down their cloaks and branches for Jesus, and what does this signify about their recognition of Him? ([40:07])
2. How does Jesus' cleansing of the temple challenge our understanding of inclusivity in worship? ([40:42])
3. In what ways does the Asbury Revival illustrate the concept that "desire begets desire"? ([54:03])
4. How does Jesus' mission to fulfill the Father's will, rather than the people's expectations, shape our understanding of His purpose? ([58:23])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a strong desire for God's presence. What circumstances or community influences kindled that desire? How can you recreate or seek out similar influences in your current life? ([54:03])
2. Considering the challenges faced by the church in Haiti, how can you maintain hope and faith in difficult circumstances? What practical steps can you take to support others who are struggling? ([32:54])
3. Jesus' actions in the temple were aimed at removing barriers to worship. Are there any practices or attitudes in your life that might be hindering others from encountering God? How can you address these barriers? ([40:42])
4. The people of Jerusalem had specific expectations of Jesus that He did not fulfill. Have you ever had expectations of God that were unmet? How did you reconcile this with your faith? ([58:23])
5. How can you stir up a desire for God in your daily life? Identify one specific action you can take this week to increase your spiritual hunger. ([54:03])
6. Submitting to Jesus as King means aligning your will with His. What areas of your life are hardest to submit to His authority, and what steps can you take to surrender these areas to Him? ([58:23])
7. Reflect on a season of suffering or challenge in your life. How did you stay faithful during that time, and what did you learn about God's will and purpose through it? ([01:08:20])

Devotional

Day 1: Igniting Spiritual Hunger
Desire for God's presence can be contagious, sparking a spiritual revival that transcends individual experiences. The Asbury Revival serves as a poignant example of this phenomenon. It began as a routine chapel service and unexpectedly transformed into a global movement of spiritual awakening. This revival demonstrates that when a community collectively yearns for a deeper connection with God, it can ignite a similar longing in others. It's a reminder that spiritual hunger is not a solitary endeavor but a communal one, where the fervor of one can fuel the fire in many. The revival is a testament to the power of collective desire for God's presence, and it challenges believers to seek out and foster such environments where this hunger can thrive and spread. [54:03]

Acts 10:44-45 (ESV)
"While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles."

Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a community that actively seeks and welcomes the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Day 2: Hope Beyond Circumstances
The church in Haiti, amidst political and social turmoil, stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that faith in Jesus is not bound by adversity. This church's experience shows that even in the face of significant challenges, the transformative power of Jesus can lead to growth, deliverance, and salvation. Their commitment to rebuild and expand in the midst of trials is a powerful testament to the enduring hope found in Christ. It is a hope that does not rely on favorable conditions but is anchored in the eternal and unchanging nature of God. This narrative encourages believers to look beyond their circumstances and place their trust in the steadfast hope that Jesus provides. [32:54]

Hebrews 6:18-19 (ESV)
"So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate and share the hope of Jesus with others, especially those going through difficult times?

Day 3: Divine Plan Over Personal Expectations
The narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday reveals a profound truth: while God is responsive to our desires, He ultimately acts according to His divine plan. The crowd's actions and cries of "Hosanna" expressed their expectation of a political savior, but Jesus had a different mission aligned with the Father's will. This event teaches us that God's ways are higher than ours, and His purposes, though they may not align with our immediate desires, are always for our ultimate good and His glory. It is a call to trust in God's sovereignty and to align our expectations with His divine plan. [49:52]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you need to relinquish control and trust in God's divine plan, even if it differs from your expectations?

Day 4: Inclusivity in Worship
Jesus' cleansing of the temple was a powerful act that emphasized the importance of inclusivity in worship. His disruption of the temple courts was not a mere challenge to commercial activities but a statement against barriers that prevented people from all nations from encountering God. This act calls believers to examine their own practices and consider how they might be hindering or facilitating others' access to God's presence. It is a reminder that worship should be accessible to all and that the church must be a place where everyone can come to know and experience God. [01:00:44]

Malachi 1:11 (ESV)
"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts."

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your church or community is a place where barriers to worship are removed and all are welcome to encounter God?

Day 5: Trusting in the Father's Will
The paradox of Palm Sunday and the subsequent events of Holy Week highlight the central truth that Jesus' mission was to fulfill the Father's will, not to meet our immediate desires. This calls for a submission to His lordship and a trust that His will is perfect, even when it leads us through seasons of suffering or contradicts our expectations. As believers, we are invited to rest in the completed work of Christ, trusting that His ways, though sometimes mysterious, are always for our redemption and His glory. [01:03:56]

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)
"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when God's will differed from your desires. How did you respond, and how can you better align your will with God's in the future?

Quotes

"When you cry out, when you have desire, and when you express that desire to God, he's ready to run towards you. Can you know that, please, today? Know that when you lean into God, he leans into you. When you seek God, he will come near to you. But he may do, once he comes into the city of your heart, the opposite of what you anticipated." [57:12]( | | )

"God is not interested in my will so much as he's interested in the will of the Father. Here's the thing, number two, this is my second point for you: Jesus comes where he's wanted, but he does what the Father wants. He does not do what I want necessarily, but what the Father wants." [58:23]( | | )

"Jesus did not come to do the will of me. Jesus did not come to do the will of the people. Did he come to fulfill their longing? Yes, but in a way opposite of what they thought it would look like. My will: relief. God's will: resilience. My will: less pain. God's will: total and complete healing." [01:03:10]( | | )

"Stir desire again. If you don't have desire, let this be your invitation to stir it up in your life. Some of us, it's going to take some time and some intentional like, 'God, I want to want you.' Maybe it starts there. 'God, I don't even want you, but I want to want you.' So would you create in me a right spirit and a clean heart?" [01:05:18]( | | )

"Desire stirs desire. Stirs desire. And all of a sudden, we got a community of people who are saying, 'God, we need your presence. We need you to move. We need you to show up. Would you show up here?' Why? Because desire stirs desire. And when we wave the branches, what are we doing? We're saying, 'I've been stirred by desire.'" [55:52]( | | )

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Transcript
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