Divine Disruption: Turning Distress into Spiritual Renewal

 

Summary

In these challenging times, it's crucial to recognize that the current global crisis is more than just a health issue; it's a divine disruption. This pandemic has affected every aspect of life, from politics and economics to social structures and personal relationships. It's a wake-up call to examine the spiritual realities behind the visible chaos. As 2 Chronicles 15:5-6 illustrates, God sometimes allows distress to draw us back to Him. The absence of peace in our lives, communities, and nations is a reflection of our departure from God.

The root of the problem lies in idolatry, where we've replaced the true God with false idols—anything we prioritize over Him. This idolatry is compounded by the lack of teaching priests who fail to convey God's truth. When the pulpit is unclear, the congregation becomes confused, leading to a culture that strays from God's standards. The absence of God's law results in chaos, as everyone follows their own "truth," disregarding divine guidance.

However, there is hope. In our distress, we are called to turn back to God, seeking a genuine relationship with Him and submitting to His authority. This involves pursuing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who offers us reconciliation and peace. By aligning our lives with His Word, we can experience the peace and order that only He can provide.

God uses distress to draw us closer to Him, much like a roller coaster ride that brings us closer to our companion. In these times, we must run to God, seek Him passionately, and submit to His will, allowing Him to guide us through the chaos. As we do so, we can trust that He will alleviate our distress and bring us back into alignment with His purpose.

Key Takeaways:

1. Divine Disruption: The current crisis is a divine disruption, revealing the spiritual realities behind the visible chaos. God allows distress to draw us back to Him, as seen in 2 Chronicles 15:5-6, where He takes responsibility for the lack of peace to prompt a return to Him. [03:39]

2. Idolatry and Its Consequences: Idolatry, the replacement of the true God with false idols, is the root of our problems. Anything we prioritize over God becomes an idol, leading to a spiritual vacuum filled with chaos and distress. [07:26]

3. The Role of Teaching Priests: The absence of teaching priests who convey God's truth results in confusion and a culture that strays from divine standards. When the pulpit fails, the congregation lacks guidance, leading to societal chaos. [09:35]

4. Returning to God: In our distress, we are called to turn back to God, seeking a genuine relationship with Him and submitting to His authority. This involves pursuing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who offers reconciliation and peace. [16:54]

5. God's Purpose in Distress: God uses distress to draw us closer to Him, much like a roller coaster ride that brings us closer to our companion. In these times, we must run to God, seek Him passionately, and submit to His will, allowing Him to guide us through the chaos. [22:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction from Home
- [01:00] - The Global Crisis
- [01:41] - A Divine Disruption
- [02:31] - Chaos in the World
- [03:39] - God’s Role in Distress
- [04:18] - The Passive Wrath of God
- [05:30] - The Vacuum of Idolatry
- [06:05] - Worldwide Message
- [07:26] - The Sin of Idolatry
- [09:35] - The Void of Teaching Priests
- [11:00] - God’s Standards
- [12:35] - The Role of the Church
- [16:54] - Turning Back to God
- [22:21] - God’s Purpose in Distress
- [23:34] - Conclusion and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Chronicles 15:5-6
- Romans 1:24-28
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 2 Chronicles 15:5-6, what were the conditions of the land and its people during the time of distress? How does this relate to the current global crisis? [02:31]

2. In the sermon, what does the pastor identify as the root cause of the chaos and lack of peace in the world? [06:44]

3. How does the pastor describe the role of teaching priests, and what happens when they fail to convey God's truth? [09:35]

4. What analogy does the pastor use to explain how God uses distress to draw us closer to Him? [22:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "divine disruption" challenge the way we typically view crises and distress in our lives? [01:41]

2. What are the implications of idolatry in our personal lives, and how might it manifest in modern contexts? [07:26]

3. In what ways does the absence of teaching priests contribute to societal chaos, according to the sermon? [09:35]

4. How does the pastor suggest we should respond to distress in order to realign ourselves with God's purpose? [16:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "idols" that you have placed before God? How can you begin to reprioritize your relationship with Him? [07:26]

2. The pastor mentions the importance of teaching priests. How can you support your church leaders in conveying God's truth more effectively? [09:35]

3. In times of distress, what practical steps can you take to seek a genuine relationship with God and submit to His authority? [16:54]

4. Consider the analogy of the roller coaster used in the sermon. How can you use moments of distress to draw closer to God rather than pulling away? [22:21]

5. How can you actively pursue a relationship with God through Jesus Christ in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this relationship? [20:14]

6. The sermon suggests that God uses distress to get our attention. What is one area of your life where you feel God might be trying to get your attention, and how will you respond? [17:33]

7. How can you encourage others in your community to turn back to God during these challenging times? What role can you play in fostering a supportive and faith-driven environment? [18:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Disruption as a Call to Return
In times of global crisis, it's essential to recognize that these events can serve as divine disruptions, urging us to examine the spiritual realities behind the visible chaos. The current pandemic has affected every aspect of life, from politics and economics to personal relationships, and it serves as a wake-up call to return to God. As illustrated in 2 Chronicles 15:5-6, God sometimes allows distress to draw us back to Him, taking responsibility for the lack of peace to prompt a return to His presence. This divine disruption is an opportunity to realign our lives with God's purpose and seek His guidance in the midst of chaos. [03:39]

2 Chronicles 15:5-6 (ESV): "In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress."

Reflection: What areas of your life feel disrupted right now, and how might God be using this disruption to draw you closer to Him?


Day 2: The Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry, the act of replacing the true God with false idols, is at the root of many of our problems. Anything we prioritize over God becomes an idol, leading to a spiritual vacuum filled with chaos and distress. This idolatry is not just about worshiping physical idols but also about placing our trust and hope in things like wealth, power, or relationships instead of God. The absence of God's presence in our lives results in chaos, as everyone follows their own "truth," disregarding divine guidance. Recognizing and addressing idolatry in our lives is crucial for restoring peace and order. [07:26]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: Identify one thing in your life that you may have placed above God. How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him today?


Day 3: The Importance of Teaching Priests
The absence of teaching priests who convey God's truth results in confusion and a culture that strays from divine standards. When the pulpit fails to provide clear guidance, the congregation becomes confused, leading to societal chaos. It's essential for spiritual leaders to teach and uphold God's truth, providing a foundation for individuals and communities to align their lives with His standards. Without this guidance, people are left to follow their own paths, often leading to further chaos and distress. [09:35]

Hosea 4:6 (ESV): "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

Reflection: How can you support and encourage the spiritual leaders in your community to continue teaching and upholding God's truth?


Day 4: Turning Back to God
In our distress, we are called to turn back to God, seeking a genuine relationship with Him and submitting to His authority. This involves pursuing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who offers reconciliation and peace. By aligning our lives with His Word, we can experience the peace and order that only He can provide. Turning back to God requires humility and a willingness to submit to His will, trusting that He will guide us through the chaos and bring us back into alignment with His purpose. [16:54]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to draw closer to God and deepen your relationship with Him?


Day 5: Finding Purpose in Distress
God uses distress to draw us closer to Him, much like a roller coaster ride that brings us closer to our companion. In these times, we must run to God, seek Him passionately, and submit to His will, allowing Him to guide us through the chaos. By doing so, we can trust that He will alleviate our distress and bring us back into alignment with His purpose. This journey requires faith and perseverance, but it ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of God's love and a stronger relationship with Him. [22:21]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek God's presence and guidance during times of distress?

Quotes


In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the land's nation was crushed by nation and city by city for God troubled them with every kind of distress here you have described a world in chaos individual lives worth without peace. [00:02:39]

God took the blame for what was happening for God troubled them God is saying I'm behind your lack of peace and your disturbances in the Old Testament when God wanted to address the fact that people had departed from him that would be judgment with the death of Jesus Christ in history God recast his relationship to the world. [00:03:43]

What Romans 1 is describing is what happens when an individual a family a church or a nation departs from him it creates a vacuum and we know nature abhors a vacuum but it will be filled with something and the something that it is filled with when God is not filling it isn't too pleasant. [00:05:10]

There was no true God he didn't say there was no belief in God he said it was false no true God they had replaced the true God with idols and called it God what is an idol and Idol is any noun person placed thing of thought that you look to as your source independently of the true God. [00:06:44]

The greatest sin in all the Bible is idolatry because what you've done is remove God's exclusivity clause no competitors allowed when we adopt idols and they can be sophisticated they can be technology money people relationships they can be religion all of those can be idols your career can be your idol. [00:07:26]

A mist in the pulpit is gonna be a fog in the Pew when the pulpits fail and the pew becomes confused because of the pulpits family then the culture is not gonna be led in the right direction the problem is the failure of the church our churches have failed with thus saith the Lord. [00:09:35]

We're not teaching what God says we're teaching what we think well we're teaching people what feels good for them and to them we're teaching what is preferred and what is popular we're not teaching us how God thinks and what God says and how God feels on every subject. [00:10:05]

There are two answers to every question God's answer and everybody else's and everybody else is wrong God has spoken and he has not stuttered he's done that in his word he's an arrant errorless book to speak to all issues for all of life and he's wrong about none of them. [00:10:22]

In their distress they turn to the Lord God of Israel and they sought him and he let them find him did you see that did you hear that in their distress well that's the same thing that was spoken up in verse 6 God caused their distress then it says in their distress. [00:16:54]

God will let things get as chaotic as they need to get until he gets our undivided tension not because he wants to be mean but he wants our attention we do that with our children right we make things inconvenient until they pay attention this virus it's a health crisis. [00:17:27]

Now is the time to run to him seek Him pursue him be passionate afters after him to come to know his son and through his son come to know him to get into his word and grow in your commitment to him and then to submit to whatever he says whether you feel it or not. [00:22:41]

May God bless you as you pursue him and as our culture learns that the God who causes the distress also alleviates the distress when we return to Him. [00:23:34]

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Transcript
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