Discernment and Purpose: Signs of God's Kingdom
Summary
### Summary
In Luke 21:29-38, Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to teach about discernment and the importance of recognizing the signs of the times. Just as the blooming of the fig tree indicates the arrival of summer, the signs around us point to the nearness of God's kingdom. Jesus emphasizes the need for discernment, which is not mere suspicion but a careful understanding based on facts. He warns against the dangers of spiritual complacency and distractions that can weigh down our hearts and lead us away from our purpose.
Jesus also underscores the eternal nature of His words, contrasting them with the temporal nature of the world. His words are everlasting and provide a foundation of hope and trust. In practical terms, Jesus advises His followers to stay vigilant, avoid distractions, and remain focused on their spiritual purpose. He highlights the importance of prayer and watching, which together help us stay aligned with God's will and prepared for His return.
The sermon also delves into the practical aspects of maintaining focus and avoiding unnecessary confrontations. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose and staying in one's lane, avoiding the distractions and burdens that can lead to spiritual complacency. The message concludes with a call to realign with our God-given purpose, stay focused, and be a sign to others through our vigilant and prayerful lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Discernment vs. Suspicion: Discernment requires facts and understanding, while suspicion is baseless and often leads to fear. True discernment helps us recognize the signs of the times and stay aligned with God's will. Without facts, discernment turns into mere suspicion, which can lead us astray. [06:06]
2. Eternal Nature of God's Word: Unlike the temporal world, Jesus' words are everlasting. This provides a foundation of hope and trust, especially in times of uncertainty. When everything else is shaken, His word remains steadfast and unmovable. [16:19]
3. Avoiding Distractions: Spiritual distractions lead to complacency and can weigh down our hearts. Jesus advises us to stay vigilant, avoid unnecessary burdens, and focus on our spiritual purpose. This helps us remain prepared for His return and avoid the pitfalls of spiritual complacency. [22:46]
4. Focused Faith: Only focused faith can produce miracles from the hand of God. Broken focus leads to insecurity and instability, while focused faith aligns us with God's will and enables us to receive His blessings. [42:10]
5. Purpose and Vision: Without a clear purpose, our lives can become chaotic and directionless. Focus and purpose help us stay on track and avoid unnecessary confrontations. This alignment with God's purpose for our lives brings fulfillment and keeps us spiritually nimble. [32:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[03:20] - Opening Prayer
[04:09] - The Parable of the Fig Tree
[06:06] - Discernment vs. Suspicion
[09:04] - Signs and Their Purpose
[14:17] - The Kingdom of God is Near
[16:19] - Eternal Nature of God's Word
[19:22] - Staying Vigilant
[22:46] - Avoiding Distractions
[28:06] - Spiritual Complacency
[32:43] - Focus and Purpose
[42:10] - Focused Faith
[49:32] - Avoiding Unnecessary Confrontations
[55:22] - Realigning with Purpose
[01:01:15] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 21:29-38
#### Observation Questions
1. What analogy does Jesus use in Luke 21:29-31 to teach about discernment? How does this analogy help us understand the importance of recognizing the signs of the times? [04:09]
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between discernment and suspicion? Why is it important to base discernment on facts? [06:06]
3. What does Jesus say about the eternal nature of His words in Luke 21:33? How does this contrast with the temporal nature of the world? [16:19]
4. What practical advice does Jesus give in Luke 21:34-36 to help His followers stay vigilant and avoid distractions? [22:46]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the analogy of the fig tree in Luke 21:29-31 help believers understand the importance of being spiritually alert? What are some modern-day "signs" that might indicate the nearness of God's kingdom? [04:09]
2. Why is it crucial for believers to distinguish between discernment and suspicion? How can baseless suspicion lead us astray in our spiritual journey? [06:06]
3. In what ways does the eternal nature of Jesus' words provide hope and stability for believers, especially during uncertain times? [16:19]
4. How can the practical advice given by Jesus in Luke 21:34-36 help believers maintain their spiritual focus and avoid complacency? What are some specific distractions that can weigh down our hearts today? [22:46]
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus emphasizes the need for discernment based on facts. Reflect on a recent situation where you had to discern God's will. How did you ensure your discernment was based on facts and not mere suspicion? [06:06]
2. The sermon highlights the eternal nature of God's word. How can you make God's word a more central part of your daily life to provide hope and stability? [16:19]
3. Jesus advises His followers to stay vigilant and avoid distractions. Identify one specific distraction in your life that is leading to spiritual complacency. What steps can you take this week to minimize or eliminate this distraction? [22:46]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of having a clear purpose and staying in one's lane. What is your God-given purpose, and how can you stay focused on it amidst daily distractions? [32:43]
5. Reflect on a time when you allowed spiritual distractions to lead to complacency. What changes can you make to ensure you remain vigilant and prayerful in your spiritual journey? [28:06]
6. The sermon discusses the importance of focused faith in receiving God's blessings. How can you cultivate a more focused faith in your daily walk with God? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your faith? [42:10]
7. Jesus calls us to be a sign to others through our vigilant and prayerful lives. How can you be a sign of God's love and purpose to those around you this week? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate this? [55:22]
Devotional
### Day 1: Discernment Requires Understanding
Description: Discernment is a vital skill for every believer, enabling us to recognize the signs of the times and stay aligned with God's will. Unlike suspicion, which is baseless and often leads to fear, true discernment is grounded in facts and understanding. Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to illustrate this point, showing that just as the blooming of the fig tree indicates the arrival of summer, the signs around us point to the nearness of God's kingdom. This discernment helps us avoid spiritual complacency and stay focused on our purpose. [06:06]
Bible Passage: "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you had to make a decision. Did you rely on facts and understanding, or did you act out of suspicion? How can you practice discernment in your daily life to stay aligned with God's will?
### Day 2: The Everlasting Word of God
Description: In a world that is constantly changing and often unstable, the words of Jesus remain eternal and unchanging. This provides a foundation of hope and trust, especially in times of uncertainty. Jesus emphasizes that while the world may pass away, His words will never pass away. This eternal nature of God's word offers us a steadfast anchor, helping us to remain grounded and hopeful even when everything else is shaken. [16:19]
Bible Passage: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt uncertain or shaken. How did the eternal nature of God's word provide you with hope and stability? How can you make God's word a more central part of your daily life?
### Day 3: Staying Vigilant and Avoiding Distractions
Description: Spiritual distractions can lead to complacency and weigh down our hearts, diverting us from our true purpose. Jesus advises us to stay vigilant, avoid unnecessary burdens, and focus on our spiritual purpose. By doing so, we remain prepared for His return and avoid the pitfalls of spiritual complacency. Vigilance and focus help us stay aligned with God's will and keep our hearts and minds clear of distractions that can lead us astray. [22:46]
Bible Passage: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one distraction in your life that often leads you away from your spiritual purpose. What steps can you take today to minimize or eliminate this distraction and stay vigilant in your walk with God?
### Day 4: The Power of Focused Faith
Description: Only focused faith can produce miracles from the hand of God. When our focus is broken, it leads to insecurity and instability. However, when we maintain a focused faith, we align ourselves with God's will and open ourselves up to receive His blessings. This focused faith is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's power and presence in our lives. [42:10]
Bible Passage: "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you need a miracle. How can you practice focused faith in this area? What specific steps can you take to eliminate doubt and align yourself with God's will?
### Day 5: Living with Purpose and Vision
Description: Without a clear purpose, our lives can become chaotic and directionless. Having a focused purpose helps us stay on track and avoid unnecessary confrontations. This alignment with God's purpose for our lives brings fulfillment and keeps us spiritually nimble. Jesus calls us to realign with our God-given purpose, stay focused, and be a sign to others through our vigilant and prayerful lives. [32:43]
Bible Passage: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current life purpose. Are you aligned with God's vision for your life? What changes can you make to ensure that you are living with purpose and vision, staying focused on what God has called you to do?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The Bible talks about going from glory to glory. The Lord never leaves you where he finds you. And that's good news. How many can attest to that? Just when you're like, Lord, I'm good for right now. Can you just leave me be? How many know he don't leave you be? Amen. He constantly wants to bring you up to be more like him." [01:20] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Discernment without facts is simply suspicion. Too many people right now are suspicious because they don't want to spend the time to get the facts. This can apply. This can apply to every area of your life. Amen. Smile at somebody. Praise the name of Jesus. Hallelujah. It's going to be a good day." [07:09] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words. See, unlike the temporal, which is our world we live in. This is why I tell people, things that happen to you are temporal. The things that happen in you are eternal. Pay attention to the things that are trying to distract you from the things that happen in you. Because he's saying, unlike the temporal, the nature, the world, the things that happen, he says, my words, his words, Jesus' words are everlasting." [16:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When I see the times, and the seasons, and things are happening, and all these tumultuous things that are happening, I don't have to fear. It's pointing to the kingdom of God. with me? So this implies that we must be ready. And when we're walking in true discernment, discernment will give you a readiness. Suspicion will give you an ulcer. That's not in my notes. That was free." [09:04] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Signs and wonders. How many has ever had God use signs in your life? And some of us that are like me, that are more hard-headed, he has to use more signs. None of you like me on that? God can just, you know, speak to you. And you're like, I got it. For me, he has to kind of help me out with some signs that make me wonder." [10:23] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Discernment without facts is simply suspicion. A lot of people, especially in the church world, we spiritualize suspicion. Oh, I have a bad feeling about that person. What's the facts? Well, I don't know. I just have a bad feeling. You just probably had bad broccoli. Isn't it funny that we have bad feelings about people that maybe don't look like us or think like us? That's not discernment. That's suspicion." [07:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If the person, you or I, is not looking and thinking about the facts, they will miss the truth. You can apply that in everyday life. There's so much going on that we repeat that's not truth. Why? Because you don't have facts. If we're not students and we're not studying facts, we miss the truth. It's the same in the Bible. This is how come bad theology gets out there. Someone hears it, someone twists it, and they don't study for themselves. And they don't get facts on the matter, and they end up missing the truth." [06:06] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus said, I say to this generation. What was he saying there? The word there is, he's talking about Jesus' contemporaries, those that were in the earth at that moment. He was saying that they, while they were in the earth, will witness significant events, and they did. That while his contemporaries were in the earth, they would witness major moments, significant moments, fulfilling prophecies, and they did." [15:34] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Avoid distractions. Don't weigh somebody down. Don't let yourself get weighed down. If He is our source, you should sleep great at night. No matter what happens around us, He's got you. Don't let what's coming across that television weigh you down. Let me give you a little heads up. Everything, the way our world is wired, especially through social media and on the television, is wired to make you feel like everybody else's problem is your problem." [27:19] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus is saying, you got to stay ready, and then he says to watch and pray. I love this. If you don't pray, you don't know what to watch. Many of you struggle with what to watch because you don't pray, because when you pray, you'll know what to watch. He says to watch and pray. He's exhorting his followers to always be a person of prayer. Prayer is what moves the will of God in the earth. That is the only way the will of God transfers in the earth." [31:02] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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