Embracing Change for Spiritual Growth and Healing
Summary
In today's sermon, I emphasized the importance of not just hearing the Word of God but also acting upon it to grow in our relationship with Him. I drew parallels to the story of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda from John 5, who had been in the same place for 38 years until Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. His initial excuses eventually gave way to a desire for healing, and as a result, he experienced the blessings of Jesus. This story serves as a reminder that desiring a closer relationship with God is the first step toward experiencing His blessings.
I also spoke about the concept of "breaking camp," which involves making changes in our lives. Over the past weeks, we've discussed various aspects of our faith, such as communion, giving, baptism, service, praise, and listening to the Word of God. These messages were intended to motivate us to become excellent at loving God. However, it's crucial to evaluate our lives and determine what changes we need to make to move forward in our spiritual journey.
Furthermore, I challenged the congregation to consider whether they have been spiritually stagnant and encouraged them to take the next step in their faith. This could involve letting go of certain habits or priorities that no longer serve us and embracing new challenges that will help us grow. I reassured everyone that God never calls us to something without also providing the means to achieve it, and that what He wants for us is always better than what we want for ourselves.
I concluded the sermon by inviting those who have not yet made a decision to follow Christ to take that step and join us on this journey of faith. I assured them that they would never regret getting closer to God and that a life with Him is filled with hope, peace, joy, purpose, and eternal life.
Key Takeaways:
- Desiring a closer relationship with God is essential for spiritual growth. Like the paralytic at Bethesda, we must recognize our need for God's healing and blessings in our lives. It's not enough to hear about God; we must actively seek Him and be open to the transformation He offers. [46:45]
- Breaking camp signifies the willingness to make changes in our lives. As we've learned from the messages this year, each of us should have identified areas in our lives that require change. It's important to evaluate our spiritual condition and be ready to leave behind what hinders us and embrace what propels us toward God. [48:41]
- Advancing to the Hill Country represents moving forward in our faith journey. God calls us to progress and not remain comfortable in our current spiritual state. This advancement requires us to grow in virtues such as patience, forgiveness, truthfulness, and generosity, continually seeking to align our lives more closely with God's will. [54:12]
- Overcoming fear is a necessary part of following God's call. Fear can paralyze us and prevent us from stepping into the fullness of what God has for us. Remember that courage is not the absence of fear but moving forward despite it. Trust in God's promises and His ability to lead us into His best for our lives. [59:49]
- Taking possession of what God has set before us means actively pursuing the life He has promised. God has provided everything we need for a godly life, but we must be willing to take hold of it. A closer relationship with God and the blessings that come with it are within reach if we choose to embrace them. [01:01:02]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 5:1-9 - The story of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda.
2. Deuteronomy 1:6-8 - God's command to the Israelites to break camp and advance.
3. 2 Peter 1:3 - God's provision for a godly life.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the paralytic's initial response when Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed? How did his response change? ([47:22])
2. What does "breaking camp" signify in the context of the sermon? ([48:41])
3. According to the sermon, what are some virtues we need to keep moving towards in our faith journey? ([54:12])
4. How does the pastor describe the concept of taking possession of what God has set before us? ([01:01:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the paralytic at Bethesda initially made excuses instead of immediately expressing his desire to be healed? ([47:22])
2. What might "breaking camp" look like in a modern Christian's life? How does this concept challenge us to evaluate our current spiritual state? ([48:41])
3. How can fear prevent us from advancing in our faith journey, and what does the sermon suggest about overcoming it? ([59:49])
4. What does it mean to take possession of the life God has promised us, and how can we actively pursue it? ([01:01:02])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any areas where you feel spiritually stagnant? What steps can you take to "break camp" and move forward in your faith? ([48:41])
2. The sermon mentioned virtues like patience, forgiveness, and generosity. Which of these virtues do you feel you need to grow in, and what practical steps can you take this week to develop it? ([54:12])
3. Fear can be a significant barrier to following God's call. Identify a specific fear that is holding you back. How can you confront this fear with faith and trust in God's promises? ([59:49])
4. Think about a habit or priority in your life that no longer serves you. What is one concrete action you can take to let go of it and embrace a new challenge that will help you grow spiritually? ([48:41])
5. The pastor emphasized the importance of actively pursuing the life God has promised. What is one specific way you can take possession of God's promises in your life this week? ([01:01:02])
6. Have you ever felt like the paralytic, making excuses for not moving forward in your faith? What can you learn from his story about the importance of desiring and seeking God's healing and blessings? ([47:22])
7. The sermon concluded with an invitation to follow Christ. If you haven't made that decision yet, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you encourage someone else to take that step? ([01:09:02])
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Desire for Divine Transformation
Desiring a closer relationship with God is not merely about acknowledging His presence but actively seeking to be transformed by His grace. Like the paralytic at Bethesda, one must recognize the stagnation in their spiritual life and the deep need for God's intervention. It is a journey from passive listening to active engagement, where one's heart is open to the transformative work that God wants to perform. This transformation is not instantaneous; it requires patience, humility, and a willingness to let go of old ways to embrace the new life God offers. It is about moving beyond the comfort of familiar excuses and stepping into the healing waters of faith and obedience [46:45].
James 1:22-24 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: What specific area in your life is God calling you to transform, and what practical step can you take today to begin that transformation?
Day 2: Commit to Spiritual Progression
Breaking camp signifies a commitment to leave behind what is comfortable and familiar in order to progress spiritually. It involves a thorough self-evaluation and a readiness to abandon habits, thoughts, or relationships that hinder one's relationship with God. This step is about embracing change and trusting that God's plan for growth is far better than remaining in a stagnant state. It is a call to be excellent in loving God, which may require making difficult decisions and stepping out in faith to follow where He leads [48:41].
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..."
Reflection: Identify one thing that you need to 'break camp' from in order to grow closer to God. How can you begin to make that change this week?
Day 3: Advance in Faith with Courage
Advancing to the Hill Country in our spiritual journey means actively moving forward in faith, growing in virtues such as patience, forgiveness, truthfulness, and generosity. It is about not settling for mediocrity but striving for a deeper communion with God. This advancement often requires overcoming fears and doubts that can paralyze and keep one from experiencing the fullness of God's plan. It is a call to courageous living, trusting that God equips and leads those He calls to higher ground [54:12].
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."
Reflection: What fear is holding you back from advancing in your faith, and how can you trust God to help you overcome it today?
Day 4: Overcome Fear to Follow God's Call
Overcoming fear is an essential step in following God's call. Fear can be a significant barrier to stepping into the life God has for us. However, courage is not the absence of fear but the determination to move forward in spite of it. This day's focus is on recognizing the fears that hinder spiritual growth and trusting in God's promises to lead us into His best. It is about taking bold steps, knowing that God is with us and for us, and that His perfect love casts out fear [59:49].
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What is one fear you need to overcome to be obedient to God's call, and what is one action you can take today to confront that fear?
Day 5: Actively Pursue God's Promises
Taking possession of what God has set before us means actively pursuing the life He has promised. It is not a passive waiting for blessings to fall into our laps but a vigorous pursuit of God's will and the life of holiness He calls us to. This pursuit is about seizing the opportunities God provides and engaging with the spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to Him. It is a reminder that God has given us everything we need for a godly life, but we must choose to take hold of it with both hands [01:01:02].
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV)
"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Reflection: What is one promise of God you need to actively pursue, and what can you do today to take a step toward that promise?
Quotes
1) "You're going to stay right where you are, you have to want to encounter God more deeply in order to do so. It reminds me of the paralytic in John 5... he'd been sitting by the pool for 38 years... till ultimately he told Jesus yes I want to be healed and guess what happened, he experienced the blessings of Jesus." [48:01]
2) "Breaking Camp involves making some changes... we've talked about several things so far in 2024 that could improve our relationship with God but what changes have you made? You got to make changes, you got to break camp... each of us should have heard something from the Lord that required change." [48:41]
3) "It's time to move towards what God wants for us individually as a church, we got to keep moving towards what God wants for us in our lives. We got to keep moving on that means we got to keep growing. God never wants us to stay where we are, he wants us to keep growing." [54:12]
4) "See the Lord your God has set the land before you, go up take possession as the Lord, the god of your fathers has told you, do not fear and do not be discouraged... moving from what is familiar, moving from what is comfortable is scary, it requires Faith but every time God calls us to move, it's going to require Faith." [56:10]
5) "You are as close to God as you want to be. He's not running from you, he's not hiding from you, he's there with open arms saying yeah I want to be close with you... so how much do you want that and will you take hold of it? It's right in front of us, we got to grab hold of it." [01:02:32]
6) "A closer relationship with God is right there in front of you, a blessed life that God wants for you with all the hope and peace and joy and purpose is right there in front of you but do you want it? Do you want it? If so, will you take hold of it, will you grab hold of it?" [01:01:02]
7) "Sometimes we need to let some things go because they don't have any place in our in where God's taking us. So we may need to let go of some things but we also may need to take hold of some new things, grab a hold of something new that he has for us." [53:04]
8) "He went home and he was a farmer, he took his plows and he burned them and he took his oxen and he killed them so now there's no going back... he went all in, he broke Camp. That's breaking Camp, you know and I think back to to My Life..." [51:12]
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