Embracing Donkey Missions: Seeking God's Guidance Daily

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the concept of "Donkey Missions," which are everyday life situations where we invite God to guide us. These missions are about seeking divine direction in our daily walk, rather than relying solely on our own efforts. Through a personal testimony, I shared how God revealed the need for connection within our church community, emphasizing the importance of unity in the body of Christ. This revelation came during a period of prayer and fasting, where God impressed upon my heart the necessity of building strong men's and women's ministries, consistent prayer gatherings, and opportunities for fellowship.

We also delved into the metaphor of "foxes" in our lives, representing hidden sins and distractions that can spoil our spiritual harvest. These foxes, such as sin, guilt, and shame, operate in the darkness, undermining our growth and relationship with God. I shared a personal struggle with pornography, illustrating how these foxes can silently destroy our future if left unchecked. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in inviting God into our struggles, finding scripture that speaks to our situation, and persistently declaring His promises over our lives.

The sermon concluded with a call to action, encouraging everyone to identify and confront the foxes in their lives. We must have the courage to surrender these issues to God, repent, confess, and seek accountability within our community. By doing so, we can experience true freedom and live out our God-given identity. The message was a reminder that God's word is powerful and transformative, capable of breaking any chain when we trust in His promises and walk in faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. Inviting God into Our Daily Lives: Donkey missions teach us to invite God into our everyday situations, seeking His guidance rather than relying solely on our own understanding. This approach allows us to align our actions with His will and experience His direction in our lives. [23:06]

2. The Importance of Connection: God revealed the need for connection within the church, emphasizing unity in the body of Christ. By building strong ministries and consistent prayer gatherings, we create opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth. [26:32]

3. Identifying and Confronting Foxes: Foxes represent hidden sins and distractions that can spoil our spiritual harvest. We must have the courage to identify these foxes, such as sin, guilt, and shame, and surrender them to God for true freedom. [39:43]

4. The Power of Scripture: Overcoming personal struggles requires finding scripture that speaks to our situation and persistently declaring God's promises over our lives. This practice strengthens our faith and helps us align with our God-given identity. [48:00]

5. The Role of Accountability: Accountability within the church community is crucial for spiritual growth. By confessing our struggles and seeking support from fellow believers, we can overcome challenges and walk in the freedom God intends for us. [01:08:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [19:41] - Celebrating Jesus
- [20:28] - Community Outreach and Candy Drop
- [21:16] - Night of Light and Chili Event
- [22:23] - Introduction to Donkey Missions
- [23:06] - Inviting God into Daily Life
- [24:01] - Seeking God's Direction
- [26:32] - The Need for Connection
- [27:57] - Launching Men's Ministry
- [29:17] - Tuesday Night Prayer
- [30:42] - First Wednesday Testimonies
- [33:13] - Listening to God's Guidance
- [35:55] - Saul's Donkey Mission
- [39:43] - Identifying Foxes in Our Lives
- [48:00] - The Power of Scripture
- [01:08:47] - The Role of Accountability
- [01:17:26] - Closing Prayer and Celebration

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Samuel 9:4 - "They passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them."
2. Song of Solomon 2:15 - "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."
3. Job 31:1 - "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman."

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of Saul's journey through the land of Shalem, and how does it relate to the concept of "foxes" in our lives? [38:02]

2. How did the pastor describe the role of "Donkey Missions" in our daily lives, and what personal example did he share to illustrate this concept? [23:06]

3. What are the three specific "foxes" mentioned in the sermon that can spoil our spiritual harvest, and how do they operate in our lives? [40:17]

4. How did the pastor use Job 31:1 in his personal struggle, and what was the outcome of applying this scripture to his life? [48:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways can the metaphor of "foxes" from Song of Solomon 2:15 be applied to modern-day distractions and hidden sins? How might these "foxes" affect one's spiritual growth? [39:05]

2. How does the pastor's testimony about overcoming pornography illustrate the power of scripture in personal transformation? What role did accountability play in his journey? [49:58]

3. What does the pastor mean by "Donkey Missions," and how can inviting God into everyday situations change the outcome of our daily lives? [23:06]

4. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of community and connection within the church, and what steps were suggested to foster this unity? [26:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "foxes" or hidden sins that you need to confront and surrender to God? What steps can you take this week to address them? [39:43]

2. How can you incorporate the practice of finding and declaring scripture over your life to overcome personal struggles? Identify a specific struggle and a corresponding scripture to focus on this week. [48:00]

3. In what ways can you actively seek God's guidance in your daily "Donkey Missions"? Consider a current situation where you need divine direction and plan how you will invite God into it. [23:06]

4. How can you contribute to building a stronger sense of community and connection within your church? What specific actions can you take to support men's or women's ministries or prayer gatherings? [26:32]

5. Accountability is crucial for spiritual growth. Who can you reach out to for support and accountability in your spiritual journey? How can you be an accountability partner for someone else? [01:08:47]

6. Reflect on the pastor's story about overcoming pornography. How can you apply the lessons of persistence and faith in scripture to a personal challenge you are facing? [49:58]

7. Consider the role of prayer in your life. How can you improve your consistency in prayer, and what specific prayer points can you focus on this week to align with God's will? [29:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Inviting God into Our Daily Lives
In our daily lives, we often rely on our own understanding and efforts to navigate through challenges and decisions. However, the concept of "Donkey Missions" encourages us to invite God into these everyday situations, seeking His guidance and direction. By doing so, we align our actions with His will and open ourselves to experiencing His divine intervention. This approach requires humility and a willingness to trust in God's wisdom over our own. As we practice inviting God into our daily lives, we begin to see His hand at work in ways we might not have imagined. [23:06]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision or challenge you are currently facing where you can invite God to guide you today?

Day 2: The Importance of Connection
Connection within the church community is vital for spiritual growth and unity in the body of Christ. God emphasizes the need for building strong ministries and consistent prayer gatherings to foster fellowship and spiritual development. By creating opportunities for connection, we strengthen the bonds within our community and support one another in our faith journeys. This unity not only enriches our personal spiritual lives but also enhances the collective strength of the church. As we prioritize connection, we fulfill God's desire for a united and thriving body of believers. [26:32]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to fostering connection and unity within your church community this week?

Day 3: Identifying and Confronting Foxes
In our spiritual lives, "foxes" represent hidden sins and distractions that can undermine our growth and relationship with God. These foxes, such as sin, guilt, and shame, often operate in the darkness, silently affecting our spiritual harvest. To overcome these challenges, we must have the courage to identify and confront them, surrendering them to God for true freedom. This process involves repentance, confession, and seeking accountability within our community. By addressing these foxes, we can experience the fullness of our God-given identity and live in the freedom He intends for us. [39:43]

"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom." (Song of Solomon 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one "fox" in your life that you need to confront and surrender to God today?

Day 4: The Power of Scripture
Overcoming personal struggles requires finding scripture that speaks to our situation and persistently declaring God's promises over our lives. This practice strengthens our faith and helps us align with our God-given identity. Scripture serves as a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal, providing guidance, encouragement, and truth. By immersing ourselves in God's word, we equip ourselves to face challenges with confidence and trust in His promises. As we declare scripture over our lives, we invite God's transformative power to work within us, breaking chains and renewing our minds. [48:00]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific scripture can you declare over a current struggle in your life, and how can you incorporate it into your daily routine?

Day 5: The Role of Accountability
Accountability within the church community is crucial for spiritual growth and overcoming challenges. By confessing our struggles and seeking support from fellow believers, we create an environment of trust and encouragement. This accountability helps us stay on track in our faith journey and provides a network of support when facing difficulties. As we open up to others, we allow God to work through our community, bringing healing and strength. Embracing accountability is a step towards living in the freedom and identity God has designed for us. [01:08:47]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to for accountability and support in your spiritual journey today?

Quotes

1) "And as I pressed into the Lord, as I went through 21 days of prayer and fasting, God, what do you want us to do? Where do you want us to go? I want to know. Church, I want you to know something. I want to know what the Lord has to say. I want to know. I care about all those people I talked about, and they are welcome to give me words, and I communicate with them on this level all the time. I want to know what God wants to do. Amen? And as I press into that, the Lord revealed to me connection. We need connection. That's what he said to me. We need to unite the body of Christ. We need to come together, especially in a time like this, with everything that's going on outside of these four walls right now. Amen? We need to connect together as the body of Christ. That's what the Lord put on my heart." [26:32] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And the reason why we keep stumbling and falling down is because sometimes you don't believe that God's word is powerful enough to actually break those things off of you. You don't believe it. You want to believe it, but you don't believe it. Because if you believed it, you would stand stronger in it and it would start fleeting away from you. And see, I didn't have faith in the word I was proclaiming over my life until I started allowing it to change who I was and my faith grew. You know what faith is? I'm going to give you a very simple example of faith. Faith is trusting that God's promises are for you. And the key word in that is trusting. You got to trust that the promises in the word are for you even if you aren't receiving it in the moment. You got to trust it. That's faith. Faith is blind, but it sees." [51:12] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "And what's going to happen when you invite God into your donkey missions that he's going to reveal the foxes that are in the field, in the forest, in the darkness. He's going to reveal them to you. And you're going to be able to start calling those things out and surrender them to the Lord. And the Lord's going to help you destroy them. Destroy them. And so I have a question for you today. Do you want to destroy them? Are you going to choose to continue to live with it? Because today, God's going to take everything that he's revealed to you that you want destroyed. I believe it with all my heart that he's going to do it." [53:23] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And church, I want you to know, our God is radically generous. He is full of grace. And you can have all the grace and it's completely free. You can have it. It's been paid for. But our God is also just. And he wants to make sure that we're understanding and learning from him so we grow and mature in what he's called us to, amen? And so I'm gonna show you four things that are gonna help you with this today. Four things. Number one is courage. You gotta have courage. You gotta be okay with just going, I'm tired of this. I have courage to respond to the Holy Spirit today to surrender this thing over. I don't want it to be part of my life anymore. I wanna receive my healing today." [57:21] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "These four things will help you identify those foxes that are going on in your life so you can surrender to the Lord. One of the greatest things you can do on your donkey mission is learn accountability be willing to be accountable to somebody else. It's one of the greatest things you can learn to have a brother or a sister where you can confess anything and they will love you and pray for you and help you find direction out. Every single person in this room wants that. I don't care if you want to argue with me about it. I'm still going to tell you you want it. You know why? Because the Bible says that's how you were created. To walk in fellowship. Rejecting fellowship is you just rejecting the call that God has for you on your life. To be together and be free." [01:08:09] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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