Embracing Failure: God's Purpose and Guidance in Life

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Stability Through God's Presence

Setting the Lord continually before us is a practice that anchors us in spiritual stability. When we face trials, this habit reminds us of God's unwavering presence and strength, enabling us to stand firm against the enemy's attempts to shake us. By keeping God at our right hand, we cultivate a resilience that is not easily moved by life's challenges. This practice is not just a defensive measure but a proactive way to live in constant awareness of God's guidance and support. [01:05]

Psalm 62:5-6 (ESV): "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can set the Lord continually before you today, especially in moments of stress or uncertainty?

Day 2: Transforming Failures into Growth

Our failures are not the end but can be used by God to fulfill His purpose. By trusting Him now, we can transform our past mistakes into opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. This perspective shifts our view of failure from a source of shame to a stepping stone toward a more profound relationship with Him. God is not counting our past mistakes; rather, He invites us to begin anew each day, using our failures as building blocks for His greater plan. [05:11]

Micah 7:8-9 (ESV): "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent failure. How can you invite God to use this experience as a stepping stone for growth and deeper trust in Him?

Day 3: Attuning to God's Guidance

Isaiah 30:21 assures us that we can hear God's guidance in our lives. This requires repentance and rest, as we let go of our own control and trust in God's perfect timing and plans. Hearing God's voice is not limited to major life decisions but is available for every moment, guiding us in the way we should walk. This assurance invites us to cultivate a posture of listening and obedience, trusting that God's voice will lead us in paths of righteousness. [21:07]

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

Reflection: In what ways can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice and guidance?

Day 4: Living with Expectant Faith

Living with expectant faith means actively seeking to hear God's voice and see His hand in every situation. This involves a deep repentance that recognizes the gravity of our sins and a rest that comes from trusting in God's sovereignty. As we embrace this posture, we find that God is eager to lead us, and our lives begin to bear the fruit of His Spirit. Expectant faith is not passive but involves a dynamic engagement with God's promises and a readiness to respond to His leading. [25:53]

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of expectant faith today, actively looking for God's hand in your circumstances?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Timing

When prayers seem unanswered, it's an invitation to trust God's timing and seek a deeper relationship with Him. God desires for us to see Jesus and hear His voice, which is far greater than any temporary solution. Patience in unanswered prayers teaches us to rely on God's wisdom and timing, knowing that His plans are far greater than we can imagine. This trust transforms our waiting into a time of growth and intimacy with God, as we learn to rest in His sovereignty. [58:45]

Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV): "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: Think of a prayer that seems unanswered. How can you use this time of waiting to deepen your trust in God's perfect timing and plans?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound truth that God can use our failures to fulfill His glorious purpose. As we listened to the children recite Psalm 16, we were reminded of the importance of setting the Lord continually before us, a practice that will sustain us when trials come. The devil will attempt to shake us, but with God at our right hand, we will not be moved. This is a lesson not just for the children but for all of us, as we navigate life's challenges.

We also discussed the book "The Purpose of Failure," which emphasizes that our failures do not disqualify us from God's plan. Instead, they can be stepping stones to a deeper relationship with Him. God is not counting our past mistakes; rather, He invites us to trust Him now. Even if we've failed a thousand times, we can begin anew today. This perspective transforms our view of failure from a source of shame to an opportunity for growth and reliance on God's strength.

Moreover, we explored the concept of hearing God's voice in our lives. Isaiah 30:21 promises that we will hear a voice behind us saying, "This is the way, walk in it." This assurance is not just for the big decisions but for every moment of our lives. It requires repentance, rest, and a willingness to let go of our own control. We must learn to trust God, even when our prayers seem unanswered, knowing that His timing is perfect and His plans are far greater than we can imagine.

Finally, we were encouraged to embrace a life of expectant faith, where we actively seek to hear God's voice and see His hand in every situation. This involves a deep repentance that recognizes the gravity of our sins and a rest that comes from trusting in God's sovereignty. As we do this, we will find that God is eager to lead us, and our lives will bear the fruit of His Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Setting the Lord Before Us: The practice of continually setting the Lord before us is crucial for spiritual stability. When trials come, this habit will remind us of God's presence and strength, enabling us to stand firm against the enemy's attempts to shake us. [01:05]
2. Failures as Stepping Stones: Our failures are not the end but can be used by God to fulfill His purpose. By trusting Him now, we can transform our past mistakes into opportunities for growth and deeper reliance on God. [05:11]
3. Hearing God's Voice: Isaiah 30:21 assures us that we can hear God's guidance in our lives. This requires repentance and rest, as we let go of our own control and trust in God's perfect timing and plans. [21:07]
4. Expectant Faith: Living with expectant faith means actively seeking to hear God's voice and see His hand in every situation. This involves a deep repentance and a rest that comes from trusting in God's sovereignty. [25:53]
5. Patience in Unanswered Prayers: When prayers seem unanswered, it's an invitation to trust God's timing and seek a deeper relationship with Him. God desires for us to see Jesus and hear His voice, which is far greater than any temporary solution. [58:45]
** [58:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Children Reciting Psalm 16
[01:05] - Setting the Lord Continually Before Us
[03:14] - Importance of Knowing God's Word
[04:13] - Introduction to "The Purpose of Failure"
[05:11] - God's Purpose Through Our Failures
[06:56] - Stumbling Blocks as Building Blocks
[08:24] - Glory in Weakness
[10:26] - Remaining in the Vine
[12:36] - Faith Like Sparrows
[16:06] - Hearing God's Voice
[20:22] - Repentance and Rest
[27:40] - Spirit of Adoption
[33:53] - Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body
[37:23] - True Repentance
[47:19] - Genuine Repentance
[58:45] - Patience in Unanswered Prayers
[63:10] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken."
Isaiah 30:21 - "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."
Romans 8:14-15 - "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'"

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Observation Questions:

What does Psalm 16:8 suggest about the importance of setting the Lord continually before us, and how does this relate to spiritual stability? [00:36]
According to the sermon, how does God use our failures to fulfill His purpose, and what is the significance of this perspective? [05:11]
In Isaiah 30:21, what assurance do we have about hearing God's guidance, and what conditions are necessary for this to happen? [16:06]
How does the sermon describe the role of expectant faith in our relationship with God, and what does it mean to live with this kind of faith? [25:53]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might setting the Lord continually before us, as mentioned in Psalm 16:8, change the way we respond to life's challenges and temptations? [00:36]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our failures and God's purpose, and how can this understanding transform our view of past mistakes? [05:11]
How does the promise in Isaiah 30:21 of hearing God's voice impact our decision-making process, especially in times of uncertainty? [16:06]
What does it mean to live with expectant faith, and how can this attitude influence our daily walk with God? [25:53]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did setting the Lord before you, or failing to do so, affect your response to that situation? [00:36]
Think of a past failure that still weighs on you. How can you begin to see it as a stepping stone for growth and deeper reliance on God? [05:11]
In what areas of your life do you struggle to hear God's voice? What steps can you take to cultivate a heart of repentance and rest to better discern His guidance? [16:06]
Identify a situation where you need to exercise expectant faith. What practical steps can you take to actively seek God's voice and see His hand at work? [25:53]
Consider a prayer that seems unanswered. How can you shift your focus from the desired outcome to seeking a deeper relationship with God through this experience? [58:45]
How can you incorporate the practice of setting the Lord continually before you into your daily routine to enhance your spiritual stability? [00:36]
What is one specific way you can demonstrate trust in God's perfect timing and plans, even when your own plans seem to be failing? [16:06]

Sermon Clips

It is an amazing truth that God has a glorious purpose to fulfill even through the failure of his children. Whatever blunders you have made in the past, you can make a new beginning with God today. Even if you have made a thousand New Beginnings in the past and have failed, you can make the one thousand and first New Beginning today. [00:04:59]

I remember when the picture that I got in the light of this was that things that I saw as stumbling blocks that caused me to stumble, specifically periods in my life, weeks or months or years even that I'd wasted or backslid, they're like stumbling blocks. And I looked back and saw them as things that I've fallen over, tripped over, and gotten hurt by. [00:06:56]

The grace of God is even greater than that, and the grace of God says pick up that same Stone, pick up those years, that period of your life that you're embarrassed about or that you wish you had never even done and completely wasted. Bring that to God and see if he won't use that to further his glory and to finish the work in your life. [00:07:47]

I will that God will finish his plan for my life despite my failures to saying that God will finish his plan in my life because of my failures. And then I could say thank you, Lord. I'm not proud of my failures. Sin is never honoring to God, and it's why Jesus had to die. [00:08:13]

When you can, when God can break you through that and allow you to fail even, and you come to the place where you realize I can't do it, Lord, I want to be dependent on you. I want to be crying out to you to hold me up 10 years down the road like I am now and like I was when I first came to you. [00:10:00]

The secret to the branch remaining full of fruit is that the vine remains full of fruit, and if I'm in the vine as a branch, I will bear fruit as long as Jesus bears fruit, and he will bear fruit for all eternity. He's the Alpha and Omega, so not despite my failures but because of it. [00:10:54]

And like Paul, I can say therefore I will rather glory in my weakness. I'm not ashamed. I am ashamed of it, but I have glory in it, and I'll give that glory to God and say thank you, Lord, that you took my failures and turned it into something beautiful. He brings Beauty out of Ashes. [00:11:21]

Isaiah 30 verse 21. It says your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. So this is a promise you will see and hear Jesus himself. It's not a voice; it's not just a voice through a megaphone. [00:21:07]

If you are a son of God, you have a privilege, you have a right to hear his voice as much as every one of my children has a right to hear my voice. If one of my children came to me and said, "Dad, you're my dad, but you never talk to me," I never hear you speaking to me. [00:22:03]

If you find that you call yourself a son or God or a daughter of God, but you're not being led by God, he's not leading you in specific situations, you're just perplexed, I don't know what to do, like okay, I guess I'll do this, it seems like the best option, but you're sort of there. [00:31:37]

If God delays in answering a prayer in your life, it's because you're looking to an angel for an answer. You look into something else, some other temporary solution. God wants you to meet with Jesus himself. He wants your eye to behold your teacher, behold your bridegroom. [00:58:45]

God wants to speak to us. Jesus wants you to hear his voice. He wants you to see him in every situation. He wants you to know him, dear children, dear brothers, dear sisters. This week, in every situation that you face, I hope the cry from our hearts will be, "Lord, I want to hear your voice." [01:02:10]

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Embracing Failure: God's Purpose and Guidance in Life

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Stability Through God's Presence

Day 2: Transforming Failures into Growth

Day 3: Attuning to God's Guidance

Day 4: Living with Expectant Faith

Day 5: Trusting in God's Timing

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Failure: God's Purpose and Guidance in Life

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