Divine Strategies for Overcoming Life's Challenges
Summary
In our journey of faith, it's crucial to remember that God is not only able but also willing to intervene in our lives. As we support the ministry and seek God diligently, we are reminded that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. Our God is a divine strategist, capable of turning around even the most challenging situations. Often, we find ourselves in circumstances that seem insurmountable, leading us to believe that we must simply manage or accept them. However, God is not a manager of situations; He is a solution-giver who addresses issues from their root.
The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who faced impossible situations but chose to seek God for solutions. In 2 Kings 6:1-6, the sons of the prophets faced a dilemma when a borrowed axe head fell into the water. Instead of giving up, they sought Elisha, who, through divine intervention, made the iron float. Similarly, in John 6:1-14, Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, demonstrating His ability to provide abundantly in seemingly impossible situations.
These stories remind us that God is both able and willing to help us. We must not let challenges overwhelm us to the point of inaction. Instead, we should seek God's strategy for overcoming obstacles. This involves acknowledging the problem, remaining calm, and listening for God's guidance. Prayer is not just about speaking to God but also about listening for His instructions. God often provides solutions through divine strategies, and it is our responsibility to act on them.
In moments of despair, like David at Ziklag, we must encourage ourselves in the Lord and seek His strategy for restoration. God is ready to guide us, but we must be willing to listen and act. Let us not be overwhelmed by grief or challenges but instead be determined to overcome, knowing that God is with us and willing to help us.
Key Takeaways:
1. God as a Divine Strategist: God is not just a manager of situations but a divine strategist who provides solutions from the root of the problem. He is both able and willing to intervene in our lives, turning around even the most challenging circumstances. [21:59]
2. The Importance of Seeking God: In every situation, we must seek God diligently, knowing that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Our faith journey involves actively pursuing God's presence and guidance in all aspects of life. [29:28]
3. Acknowledging and Addressing Challenges: It's essential to acknowledge the challenges we face and not ignore them. By recognizing the problem, we can seek God's guidance and strategy for overcoming it, rather than being overwhelmed by it. [37:14]
4. Prayer as a Two-Way Communication: Prayer is not just about presenting our requests to God but also about listening for His instructions. God often provides solutions through divine strategies, and we must be attentive to His guidance. [49:32]
5. Determination and Faith in Overcoming Obstacles: We must be determined to overcome challenges, knowing that God is with us. By activating our faith and seeking God's strategy, we can find solutions and experience His intervention in our lives. [01:06:45]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[21:59] - God as a Divine Strategist
[29:28] - Seeking God Diligently
[37:14] - Acknowledging Challenges
[39:49] - Overcoming Perplexity
[40:38] - Responsibility in Faith
[49:32] - Prayer and Listening
[01:06:45] - Determination in Faith
[01:16:25] - Presenting Our Case to God
[01:20:39] - Restoration and Peace
[01:25:43] - Healing and Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Kings 6:1-6
- John 6:1-14
Observation Questions:
1. In 2 Kings 6:1-6, what was the problem faced by the sons of the prophets, and how did Elisha respond to their situation?
2. How did Jesus address the challenge of feeding the 5,000 in John 6:1-14, and what was the outcome of His actions?
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of acknowledging challenges rather than ignoring them? [37:14]
4. How does the sermon describe God’s role as a divine strategist in our lives? [21:59]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the story of the floating axe head in 2 Kings 6:1-6 teach about seeking divine intervention in seemingly impossible situations?
2. How does Jesus’ approach to feeding the 5,000 in John 6:1-14 illustrate the importance of faith and divine strategy in overcoming obstacles?
3. In the sermon, how is prayer described as a two-way communication, and why is listening for God’s instructions emphasized? [49:32]
4. How can the example of David at Ziklag inspire believers to seek God’s strategy for restoration in times of despair? [40:38]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How can you actively seek God’s strategy to address it, rather than just managing the situation? [21:59]
2. In what ways can you diligently seek God in your daily life, and how might this impact your faith journey? [29:28]
3. Think of a time when you felt overwhelmed by a problem. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now to seek God’s guidance? [37:14]
4. How can you incorporate listening into your prayer life to better receive God’s instructions and strategies? [49:32]
5. Identify a situation where you need to encourage yourself in the Lord. What steps can you take to find strength and seek God’s guidance in this area? [40:38]
6. Consider a time when you experienced God’s intervention in your life. How can this testimony encourage you and others to trust in God’s willingness to help?
7. What practical steps can you take this week to activate your faith and seek God’s strategy for overcoming a specific obstacle in your life? [01:06:45]
Devotional
Day 1: God as a Divine Strategist
God is not just a manager of situations but a divine strategist who provides solutions from the root of the problem. He is both able and willing to intervene in our lives, turning around even the most challenging circumstances. In the Bible, we see examples of God's strategic intervention, such as when Elisha made the iron axe head float or when Jesus fed the 5,000 with limited resources. These stories remind us that God is not limited by our circumstances and can provide solutions that we may not even imagine. [21:59]
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: Think of a current challenge in your life. How can you invite God to be the strategist in this situation, trusting His higher ways and thoughts?
Day 2: The Importance of Seeking God
In every situation, we must seek God diligently, knowing that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Our faith journey involves actively pursuing God's presence and guidance in all aspects of life. This means not only turning to God in times of trouble but also seeking Him in our daily routines and decisions. By doing so, we open ourselves to His wisdom and the rewards that come from a close relationship with Him. [29:28]
Jeremiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek God more diligently in your daily life this week?
Day 3: Acknowledging and Addressing Challenges
It's essential to acknowledge the challenges we face and not ignore them. By recognizing the problem, we can seek God's guidance and strategy for overcoming it, rather than being overwhelmed by it. This involves being honest about our struggles and bringing them before God, trusting that He will provide a way through. Acknowledging our challenges is the first step in allowing God to work in our lives. [37:14]
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: Identify a challenge you have been avoiding. How can you bring this before God today and seek His guidance?
Day 4: Prayer as a Two-Way Communication
Prayer is not just about presenting our requests to God but also about listening for His instructions. God often provides solutions through divine strategies, and we must be attentive to His guidance. This means creating space in our prayer life to listen, being open to the ways God might speak to us, whether through Scripture, a still small voice, or the counsel of others. [49:32]
1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV): "And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'"
Reflection: During your next prayer time, spend a few moments in silence. What might God be saying to you in this quiet space?
Day 5: Determination and Faith in Overcoming Obstacles
We must be determined to overcome challenges, knowing that God is with us. By activating our faith and seeking God's strategy, we can find solutions and experience His intervention in our lives. This requires a steadfast commitment to trust in God's presence and power, even when circumstances seem daunting. Our determination, coupled with faith, opens the door for God to work mightily in our lives. [01:06:45]
2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV): "You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."
Reflection: What is one obstacle you are currently facing? How can you stand firm in faith, trusting that God is with you and will provide a way through?
Quotes
"I've come to understand, God, that everything that you do for him and in his name, he is a rewarder. The Bible says that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. You know, when we talk about that, sometimes we may limit it to maybe when we are having our own times of fasting and praying, we're seeking God for an answer. But it's not limited to that. You're coming to church. You're being online. You're supporting the ministry. Continue. Continue to seek the face of God. It's all part of seeking God. And the Bible says that he is not unjust to forget." [00:16:09] (37 seconds)
"There is a tendency, right, you know, when you encounter something that is so dramatic, that is so life-changing, that you come to a point where you accept that, you know what, this is how it's going to be. This is how my life has turned. This is how situations have turned. And so I'm going to manage the situation. But God is here to announce to you the message that God gave me to tell you is that he is a God who is able to turn things around. He is a God who is a solution giver. He does not just manage situations. He fixes situations. He roots out situations. He deals with situations from the root." [00:22:33] (45 seconds)
"Sometimes a situation may come to a person and they get, they get to the point where they give up. And so something that they could have come overcome. Let's say within a couple of months, three months, six months, it can take them years, six years, 10 years for them to overcome it. Why? Because they allow the situation to overwhelm them. It depleted their ability to reason and to find a way out. They became so emotionally bound that they were not able to think their way out of that situation." [00:40:49] (36 seconds)
"but i'm here to remind you god is able and not only is he able he is also willing not only is he able he is also willing to help you but there is a responsibility on our part now let's also look at you know the situation in the new testament the scripture tells us in john chapter 6 verse 1 to 14 that the people were following jesus which was a good thing you and i we are following jesus we are serving god and so that was another thing that they were doing they were not bad people they were not radicals they were not crazy people there were people who were in love with jesus they loved jesus they've seen the work that jesus was doing it was intriguing and it was interesting and so it drew them to him they created a desire for them to get to know god the more they knew about the work that jesus was doing and the more they knew about the work that jesus was doing and as they went you know and jesus was still speaking to them jesus noticed that these people are serving me they are giving me their all they are intrigued by me but there is a need that they have that they are probably not even aware of at the moment i'm here to tell you god knows your needs there are some needs that you are serving god and you don't even know that you need but god knows it and so jesus looked at the people you know i like how you know some of the renderings of scripture you know about um renders the description says that when he saw the people he had compassion on them when jesus saw the people he saw that there were so many his heart was moved that these people have been following me for days they are hungry i need to find a solution and it's interesting that when jesus you know jesus already knew what to do he already you know when you read scripture he's when he gave that he asked philip that question the scripture says that it was not because he did not know what to do but he was testing philip to see what philip would say or what philip would fake and the scripture goes on to say that philip was saying oh jesus this is impossible let's just call it a day you know let's just close things up let them go your way let them go to your homes and find your own meal and take care of them because this is this is just too much and philip was so funny he said that a year and a year and a half or a half of a year's wages is not able to feed these people will not be able to feed them and jesus laughed and he said you know what get them seated and so i want us to take a take note of a few things that jesus did one was that jesus asked questions he asked a question he knew exactly what to do but he asked a question and so when you encounter a challenge by all means you know some challenges come to you and you just for the moment you lose your head you begin to cry you begin to be hysterical you begin to sing to yourself what i mean you get all emotional that's fine it's okay have your moment we will let you have your moment but don't stay there when you have that moment when you weep you know what what when when we look at you know the second is our second sample we look at david after he had gone to war and he's coming home and he thinks he's coming home to just rest you know sometimes after you fought so many battles and you're thinking to yourself yes lord i'm coming to the place of settlement no more battles and then you you get there and another one raises his head and you're like god what did i do like who did i offend i like how that nigerian little kid um what's her name our favor was for whatever her name is she's like who did i offend you know sometimes and you're like man you know you know you're the true king don't you know you beat me man you're a great jail because i don't wanna die and i'm like well you fought so many battles and you're thinking to yourself so finally i am getting to that place of rest financially i'm getting to that place of rest in my business i'm getting to that place of rest in my marriage i'm getting to that place of resting in my ministry that's sweet point where all things are working and suddenly another battle you know raised his head and you're like" [00:41:47] (0 seconds)
"battle weary it's not that you have not been fighting it's not that you have not been pursuing it's like you've been pursuing and you your comments you're just close to that place of rest and another one shows up and this is where if you're not careful you just say you know what enough let me just throw in the towel but the scripture says that David after he had wept you know and man scriptures very vivid he says that all his men or the people that were within a whole wheat they were all weeping like babies they were all weeping like babies man weeping like babies then you know that this was a grievous battle because I believe that there were weeping so much because first of all they're thinking to themselves dad you seem to be disappointed at them disappointed because here we when we just coming from the battle In these battles, you've seen how much toil it is." [00:46:40] (63 seconds)
"it says here how do you overcome what was jesus's approach jesus was first of all calm so when we encounter challenges and after we have you know i always say you know what you're okay you're permitted to have your moment but after you have those moments you need to have a clarity of mind you need to calm yourself it says that jesus i have it here that jesus noticed and acknowledged the challenges don't ignore the challenges and pretend that it's not there if you are having difficulty financially acknowledge that i don't know what is happening suddenly my finances are under attack if you're having difficulties in your health acknowledge it if your child suddenly is beginning to misbehave and rebel don't just say that it is just part of you know of the stages that they go try to find what is happening acknowledge the problem once you acknowledge a problem then you know how to deal with it and the scripture says jesus goes on and say he he was calm in his approach a calm and a peaceful mind you know christianity is not devoid of intelligence praying does not mean that we don't apply intelligence because it is through prayer god gives us solutions when you're praying one thing that sometimes we forget to do is that we we keep on we focus we're praying and we're praying and you're praying but we're not listening but the prayer our prayer is supposed to be a communication where when we present our message we present our case to god that we also hear him he says you know in isaiah 30 20 he says when you turn to the left or to the right you will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way walking it so if you have come to a place where you are and can't to the challenge god wants to give you a solution god wants to speak to you you are saying a lot you are speaking a lot but sometimes you need to be quiet and listen to what god is saying you begin to begin you know get me all overwhelmed and all over the place god you're praying and praying but you're not listening but i have come to understand that everything that god does it comes with instructions our prayer is not answered out of a vacuum if god is going to give you a job he needs you to apply for that job at the right time if god is going to give you a divine connection he needs you to be at a certain place at a certain time so it is also very essential that we know our power participatory actions that we need to take in order to birth the miracle that we are seeking it says that Jesus asked questions he asked for contributions you know I heard Reverend Eastwood say one time says that in the journey of life sometimes your head may not be correct and so sometimes you need to borrow another person's head" [00:49:32] (0 seconds)
"henna but that was not enough you know sometimes the the enemy will give you a little comfort to cushion you to the point that you know because you know he pictures you so hard and then he sort of pampers you a bit and so you get to a point where you're like you know but i'm managing it's okay i mean even if i don't have a child my husband loves me that is fine but the bible says that hannah was so grieved that you know what at some point he said she said enough enough is enough and the scripture goes on to say that you know when she ate after she had eaten he went to the house of god and he said lord today it's me and you god today you will have to give me a solution and bible because i cannot pray so vehemently she prayed to the point that the man of god was thinking this woman is drunk you know sometimes you have to get to a place where you give a situation a timeline you tell yourself that this situation this year you're not going to cross the water into the next year with me and i have a situation that you know last year 2012 what the last 31st december 2021 i said god 2022 is not going to end without me achieving this and because and and throughout the year that was my focus there are some challenges there are some difficulties that if you see that this the enemy wants to make this a permanent thing in your life you need when even if it takes a year or two years give it attention give it all attention and say that if there is one thing that i'm going to focus on there is one that i'm going to achieve this year and it's this particular thing there were so many other things that you know that i knew the lord was also speaking i want you to have like god we can do all of that but for me right now this this is what we need to deal with and i tell you because i stood my ground because i stood my ground the lord is doing wonders and so whatever situation that that is so difficult that that that greets you that brings you pain and shame give it a thought attention give it attention even if it's the only thing that every year every day you want to pray about pray pray until you see that they change as i say you know you daughters of jerusalem who call upon the name of the lord do not rest until he makes jerusalem the priest do not rest do not rest sometimes we get to lackadaisical about things we begin to get to a point where we complain we complain about the situation but we are not moved to seek a solution but i want you to move from the place where you're complaining and in pain to a place where you are you may still be in pain but you're telling yourself i am going to seek the solution and go through the pains of the solution to a place where seeking that solution because it will be worth it and so you see the Hannah she got to a point where she had had enough she said enough is enough I am NOT going to sit in this house for this woman to torment me year after year day after day after day it says that God let's make a deal I need a child if you will give me a child I am going to do this to that I'm going to dedicate that child to you and I love what I was reading it you know what a man of God said a woman are you drunk and he said no no no I'm not drunk but there is something that is person there is something that is after me that I need to lay before God and he says that the man of God said then go in peace and the scripture ends when and Hannah left and she was no longer sad she left and she was no longer sad because she decided that I am going to do something about this I am NOT going to let the situation embarrass me I am NOT going to let my rubber keep on provoking me I am NOT going to let my rubber keep up to keep on bringing me to shame I am going to do something about it and when she stood to want to do something about it God stepped in and God helped her and again I remind you that our God is not only able to do it he is willing to do it as well" [00:58:53] (0 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Nov 21, 2022. Do you have any questions about it?