Embracing Change: Turning Again to God's Joy

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Change and Turn Again

When we become comfortable in our routines, we often resist change, even when it is necessary for our spiritual growth. God calls us to be adaptable and responsive to His guidance. The Holy Spirit may prompt us to change our direction or mindset, and it is crucial that we are willing to "turn again" and align our actions with God's will. This willingness to change is a sign of our trust in God's plan and our desire to follow His path, even when it leads us out of our comfort zones. [03:05]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to change? How can you take a step today to align with God's guidance in that area?

Day 2: Discern God's Voice Amidst Confusion

In a world filled with noise and misleading traditions, it is essential to discern God's voice. Many teachings and traditions are not rooted in the Bible, and it is crucial to verify everything against the Word of God. By staying grounded in Scripture, we can turn again towards the truth and avoid being misled. This discernment requires a deep and ongoing relationship with God, cultivated through prayer, study, and reflection. [04:39]

1 John 4:1 (ESV): "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Reflection: Think about a recent teaching or tradition you have encountered. How can you verify its truthfulness against the Word of God today?

Day 3: Trust in God's Power to Deliver and Protect

The story of one angel defeating 185,000 Assyrian troops illustrates God's immense power and His ability to protect and deliver His people. This serves as a reminder that no situation is too difficult for God to handle. Trusting in His power means believing that He can intervene in miraculous ways and deliver us from any challenge we face. This trust is built on the foundation of knowing God's character and His promises to us. [07:34]

2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV): "And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.’"

Reflection: What is a current challenge or fear you are facing? How can you trust in God's power to deliver and protect you in this situation?

Day 4: Embrace Joy and Laughter

Believers are encouraged to embrace joy and laughter, recognizing that God has done great things for us. It is not a sin to laugh; in fact, it is a reflection of the joy that God brings into our lives. Embracing laughter and singing as expressions of gratitude helps us to focus on God's blessings and maintain a positive outlook, even in difficult times. This joy is a testament to our faith and trust in God's goodness. [11:33]

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’"

Reflection: How can you incorporate more joy and laughter into your daily life as a reflection of God's blessings? What is one thing you can do today to express gratitude and joy?

Day 5: Your Tears Will Lead to Joy

Our tears and struggles are not in vain; they will eventually lead to joy and a bountiful harvest. Every tear we shed is known to Jesus, and they are producing something valuable in our lives. Trusting that our sorrows will turn into joy as we continue to walk in faith is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His promise to bring beauty from our pain. [23:50]

Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV): "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent struggle or sorrow you have experienced. How can you trust that God is using this time to produce something valuable in your life? What steps can you take to walk in faith and anticipate the joy that is to come?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today's message, titled "Turn Again," draws from Psalms 126, which speaks of the Lord turning the captivity of Zion and filling the people with joy and laughter. The central theme is the necessity of being able to "turn again" in our lives, especially when the Holy Spirit moves us. We often get comfortable in our routines and resist change, but God calls us to be adaptable and responsive to His guidance. The sermon emphasizes that our thinking is not always aligned with God's will, and we must be willing to change direction when He speaks to us.

The message also highlights the importance of discerning God's voice amidst the noise and confusion of the world. Many people have been misled by traditions and teachings that are not rooted in the Bible. It's crucial to verify everything against the Word of God and be willing to turn again towards the truth. The sermon recounts the story from 2 Kings 19, where one angel defeated 185,000 Assyrian troops, illustrating God's immense power and His ability to protect and deliver His people.

Furthermore, the message encourages believers to embrace joy and laughter, recognizing that God has done great things for us. It’s not enough to merely attend church; we must live out our faith daily, being mindful of our actions and words. The sermon also touches on the importance of not being controlled by others but trusting in God and each other. Finally, it reassures us that our tears and struggles are not in vain; they will eventually lead to joy and a bountiful harvest.

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Key Takeaways

1. Be Willing to Change and Turn Again: We often get comfortable in our routines and resist change, but God calls us to be adaptable and responsive to His guidance. When the Holy Spirit moves in our minds, we must be willing to turn again and align our actions with God's will. [03:05]
2. Discern God's Voice Amidst Confusion: In a world full of noise and misleading traditions, it's crucial to discern God's voice. Verify everything against the Word of God and be willing to turn again towards the truth. Many have been misled by teachings not rooted in the Bible, and it's essential to stay grounded in Scripture. [04:39]
3. God's Power to Deliver and Protect: The story of one angel defeating 185,000 Assyrian troops illustrates God's immense power. This serves as a reminder that God can protect and deliver us from any situation. Trust in His power and know that He can intervene in miraculous ways. [07:34]
4. Embrace Joy and Laughter: Believers need to know how to laugh and find joy in God's blessings. It's not a sin to laugh; in fact, it’s a reflection of the joy that God brings into our lives. Embrace laughter and singing as expressions of gratitude for the great things God has done for us. [11:33]
5. Your Tears Will Lead to Joy: Our tears and struggles are not in vain; they will eventually lead to joy and a bountiful harvest. Every tear we shed is known to Jesus, and they are producing something valuable in our lives. Trust that your sorrows will turn into joy as you continue to walk in faith. [23:50]
### [23:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Introduction to Psalms 126
[02:13] - The Necessity of Turning Again
[03:05] - Responding to the Holy Spirit
[03:49] - Discerning God's Voice
[04:39] - Misleading Traditions in the Church
[05:50] - The Story of 2 Kings 19
[07:34] - God's Power to Deliver
[08:42] - Imagining God's Intervention
[09:45] - Living Out Our Faith Daily
[10:20] - God is a God of Judgment
[11:33] - Embracing Joy and Laughter
[13:47] - The Importance of Singing
[16:22] - God's Protection Through Angels
[17:22] - Recognizing God's Greatness
[19:59] - Adapting to Today's Challenges
[21:04] - Streams of Living Water
[23:50] - Tears Leading to Joy
[26:00] - The Harvest from Our Tears
[27:32] - Trusting God with Our Problems
[28:26] - Final Encouragement to Turn Again

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Psalms 126:1-3 describe about the state of the people when the Lord turned their captivity? How did they react? [01:06]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "turn again" in our daily lives? [02:13]
How does the story from 2 Kings 19 illustrate God's power to deliver and protect His people? [07:34]
What are the two main emotions or actions that Psalms 126 encourages believers to embrace? [11:33]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important for believers to be willing to "turn again" when the Holy Spirit moves in their minds? How does this align with God's will? [03:05]
In what ways can believers discern God's voice amidst the noise and confusion of the world? How can they verify teachings against the Word of God? [04:39]
How does the story of one angel defeating 185,000 Assyrian troops serve as a reminder of God's immense power? What does this tell us about God's ability to intervene in our lives? [07:34]
What role do joy and laughter play in the life of a believer according to the sermon? How can these emotions reflect our gratitude for God's blessings? [11:33]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to change direction. How did you respond? What can you do to be more adaptable to God's guidance in the future? [03:05]
Think about the various voices and influences in your life. How can you ensure that you are discerning God's voice and not being misled by traditions or teachings not rooted in the Bible? [04:39]
Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt God's protection or deliverance in a miraculous way? Share your experience and how it strengthened your faith. [07:34]
How can you incorporate more joy and laughter into your daily life as a reflection of God's blessings? Identify specific actions or practices that can help you embrace these emotions. [11:33]
Consider the struggles and tears you have faced recently. How can you trust that these will lead to joy and a bountiful harvest? What steps can you take to maintain faith during difficult times? [23:50]
In what ways can you live out your faith daily, being mindful of your actions and words? How can you ensure that you are not merely attending church but actively living out your beliefs? [09:45]
How can you build a supportive community within your small group or church that encourages trust in God and each other? What practical steps can you take to foster this environment? [12:42]

Sermon Clips

1. "We get so comfortable in where we're at in our lives, and I'm speaking to myself too, we get so comfortable where we're at in our lives that we have a problem when we have to make a change. We need to be people. We need to be people. We need to be people that are able to make a change and turn again. Our thinking is not always the right thinking. My thinking is not always the right thinking. And definitely, all of us together, we don't think right all the time. But we've got to be people in God when the Holy Spirit starts to move in our minds that we're able to turn again." [02:13] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Some people practice confusing you. Some people practice trying to keep you all tore up in your brain. But as children of God, we must hear the voice of God. We must hear the voice of God. And be able to turn again. Because I've noticed that many people have come to me since they've been in this ministry, since we've been here in Lewiston with Bill, and they were doing it totally wrong, been doing it for years, and now God has turned them again to the Bible." [03:49] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Because a lot of things that go on in church are not of God. They're not even of the Bible. Amen. Because it's true. It's a tradition. It's called tradition. Because so many folks kept talking about it every week, every month. You started, it brained. It brained in you. This is the way it's done. And we trusted people that weren't even in the Word of God. And so then, when it's time to turn again, we either run from the church or we run to the church. Most folks run from the church, blame God, blame the preachers, blame people in the church for telling them the truth. But we need to be people that we get into the Word of God and not get into what man or woman is saying." [04:39] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them who dreamed. This refers back, and I'm not going to go there today, but to 2 Kings chapter 19, 2 Kings chapter 19, verses 35, 36, and 37. Sucribus, Sucribus, which was the Assyrian king. This refers that he came up against the children of Israel. You've had things come up against you today. You've yesterday. But, so, when the children of Israel is the believer, when I say the children of Israel, I'm referring to the believers. The Assyrians were the enemy they were the forces of darkness." [06:29] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The hand of God is on those people that believe and trust in God. The hand of God is on us. If we trust God and if we don't trust God we can be murdered. I believe in the Old Testament. That is the reason why I have referred to that this morning in this passage. Things can go astray in our lives. It's not enough to come to church. We must live the life every minute of every hour of every day because someone is listening to your conversation and somebody is reading your text and that goes for me also. We've got to be very careful what we're doing and we've got to be able when the Spirit of God moves in our life to turn again." [09:12] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "You know, most ministries now want to portray God as merciful. Loving, do whatever you want to do. But God is a God of judgment. God is a God of judgment. Well, that doesn't get many people coming to a lot of churches but you must speak the whole Word of God. He loves you if you're not living in sin. But if you're living in sin it's over for you. If you're practicing sin and you're coming into the house of God be careful that something bad doesn't happen to your body because it could." [10:20] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We need to learn to laugh. And our tongue with what? Singing. I'm a terrible singer. You don't want to hear me sing. But I got a sister back there looking beautiful today and I know I'm live. But I'm going to tell it like it is. That woman can sing, sing. And I won't mention your name because I've tried to make a practice. We don't mention names from this pulpit. You can sing, sing. And you're not singing from the outside. You sing from the inside. You can tell when someone is singing from the outside and when they're singing from the inside. That word God gave me earlier I'm just moving on with it. When you sing from the inside people feel it. But when you're singing from the outside you're looking for a show. Folks want to feel what they're involved in. We need to start singing. We need to start singing and laughing more." [14:16] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Your tears count something this morning. Your crying counts something. Receive that. Because joy is coming into your life. I'm giving you meat this morning. I'm not up here trying to impress you and I'll never give you milk. I'm past that. Let your tears they will blossom and flourish one day in your life. You've cried so much. And you know what? Jesus has all your tears of your individual life in his hand. Receive that. Every tear you've cried over your hurt feelings or you thought it was hurt feelings or whatever was going on in your life Jesus has your tears in his hand right now." [23:50] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Turn again. We've got to recognize the spirit of the living God from the spirit of our flesh. Because you know many times our flesh controls us when we thought it was the spirit of God. And we need to be mindful of that. Including me. Oh Lord as the streams in the south you know the streams the river. There is a river flowing on the inside of you right now because you saved me. There is a stream it's running and you receive it right now. There's running streams of living water on the inside of you. I want to see you right now. I want to see some smiling faces." [21:04] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "They who sow in tears shall reap in what? Joy. I've cried a lot this past week. I've cried by myself over some things. God I've run my mouth so much and it looks like nothing's happening. But what does he say? They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Your tears count something this morning. Your crying counts something. Receive that. Because joy is coming into your life. I'm giving you meat this morning. I'm not up here trying to impress you and I'll never give you milk. I'm past that. Let your tears they will blossom and flourish one day in your life. You've cried so much. And you know what? Jesus has all your tears of your individual life in his hand. Receive that. Every tear you've cried over your hurt feelings or you thought it was hurt feelings or whatever was going on in your life Jesus has your tears in his hand right now." [23:19] (88 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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