Embracing God's Design: Overcoming Life's Obstacles
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the theme of living according to God's design and overcoming the obstacles that prevent us from doing so. We began with a personal story about assembling a stool, which served as a metaphor for how we are uniquely designed by God for specific purposes. Just as the stool had specific screws for specific parts, we too are made with unique attributes and purposes. We delved into Psalm 139 and Ecclesiastes to understand that we are wonderfully complex and have eternity planted in our hearts.
We then discussed the concept of dysfunction, using the example of a broken sink that was never properly fixed. This illustrated how we often settle for less than God's best for us, using makeshift solutions instead of living in the fullness of His design. The question posed was, "What's stopping you?" We identified three main obstacles: fear, limitations, and past mistakes.
Fear often paralyzes us, making us more guided by our anxieties than by faith in Christ. We looked at the contrasting responses of King Saul and David to fear, emphasizing the importance of inquiring of the Lord and trusting His guidance. Limitations, whether they are perceived or real, can also hinder us. We examined the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 to show that even our limited resources can be multiplied when we bring them to God.
Past mistakes are perhaps the most tangible obstacles, as they come with "receipts" or evidence of our failures. We reflected on the Apostle Paul's transformation and his confidence that God can use even our mistakes for His glory. The key to overcoming these obstacles lies in trusting God, trusting others, and giving God the glory.
Finally, we invited those who do not yet know Jesus to accept Him into their hearts, emphasizing that a relationship with Him is the key to overcoming fears, limitations, and past mistakes. We concluded with a call to worship and magnify God, reminding everyone that He is bigger than any problem we face.
### Key Takeaways
1. Unique Design and Purpose: Just as a stool has specific screws for specific parts, we are uniquely designed by God with specific attributes and purposes. Psalm 139 and Ecclesiastes remind us that we are wonderfully complex and have eternity planted in our hearts. Understanding this helps us live in alignment with God's design. [05:41]
2. Dysfunction vs. God's Design: Settling for less than God's best is like using a broken sink with makeshift solutions. Dysfunction occurs when we don't live according to God's design. A victorious life is one that follows God's blueprint, allowing His free-flowing power to work through us. [10:01]
3. Overcoming Fear: Fear often paralyzes us, making us more guided by our anxieties than by faith in Christ. The contrasting responses of King Saul and David to fear teach us the importance of inquiring of the Lord and trusting His guidance. Trusting God helps us step into His strength and purpose. [14:59]
4. Multiplying Limited Resources: Our limitations, whether perceived or real, can hinder us. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 shows that even our limited resources can be multiplied when we bring them to God. Trusting God and giving thanks can turn our limitations into opportunities for His glory. [20:58]
5. Transforming Past Mistakes: Past mistakes are tangible obstacles that come with evidence of our failures. The Apostle Paul's transformation teaches us that God can use even our mistakes for His glory. Trusting God, trusting others, and giving God the glory are key to overcoming these past mistakes and living in His victory. [30:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:50] - Introduction: Love for Fixing Things
[03:13] - The IKEA Stool Story
[05:41] - Unique Design and Purpose
[08:07] - Dysfunction vs. God's Design
[10:01] - What’s Stopping You?
[11:01] - Overcoming Fear
[14:59] - King Saul vs. David
[17:06] - Trusting God
[18:50] - Overcoming Limitations
[20:58] - Multiplying Limited Resources
[22:55] - Trusting Others
[25:50] - Knowing Your Limitations
[27:30] - Overcoming Past Mistakes
[30:26] - Apostle Paul’s Transformation
[33:33] - Magnifying God Over Problems
[35:49] - God’s Support for the Faithful
[37:28] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[41:11] - Prayer for New Believers
[42:55] - Closing Worship and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV): "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
3. Romans 8:28 (NIV): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 139, how does David describe God's creation of human beings? What does this imply about our uniqueness? [05:41]
2. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, what does it mean that God has "set eternity in the human heart"? How does this shape our understanding of our purpose? [06:34]
3. How did the sermon illustrate the concept of dysfunction using the example of a broken sink? What point was being made about living according to God's design? [08:07]
4. What were the three main obstacles identified in the sermon that prevent us from living according to God's design? [11:01]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) impact our view of ourselves and our purpose in life? [05:41]
2. What does it mean to have "eternity planted in our hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and how should this influence our daily decisions and long-term goals? [06:34]
3. Reflecting on Romans 8:28, how can we trust that God will use our past mistakes for His glory? What does this trust look like in practical terms? [30:26]
4. How did the contrasting responses of King Saul and David to fear illustrate the importance of inquiring of the Lord and trusting His guidance? [14:59]
### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you felt paralyzed by fear. How did it affect your ability to live according to God's design? What steps can you take to trust God more in similar situations? [11:01]
2. Identify a limitation you currently face, whether perceived or real. How can you bring this limitation to God and trust Him to multiply your resources, as illustrated in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000? [20:58]
3. Reflect on a past mistake that still affects you today. How can you begin to see this mistake as an opportunity for God to work for good in your life? What practical steps can you take to give God the glory in this area? [30:26]
4. How can you actively seek to live in alignment with God's design for your life? What specific actions can you take this week to move closer to this goal? [10:01]
5. In what ways can you trust others more in your faith journey? Identify one person you can reach out to for support or accountability this week. [22:55]
6. How can you magnify God over your problems, especially when facing significant challenges? What practical steps can you take to focus more on God’s greatness rather than your issues? [33:33]
7. If you do not yet have a relationship with Jesus, what is stopping you from accepting Him into your heart? How can you take a step towards this relationship today? [37:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Uniquely Designed for a Purpose
We are uniquely designed by God with specific attributes and purposes. Just as a stool has specific screws for specific parts, we too have been crafted with intentionality. Psalm 139 and Ecclesiastes remind us that we are wonderfully complex and have eternity planted in our hearts. Understanding this helps us live in alignment with God's design. When we recognize our unique design, we can better understand our role in God's grand plan and live out our purpose with confidence and joy. [05:41]
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: What unique attributes or talents has God given you? How can you use them to serve others and fulfill your purpose in His design?
Day 2: Embracing God's Design Over Dysfunction
Settling for less than God's best is like using a broken sink with makeshift solutions. Dysfunction occurs when we don't live according to God's design. A victorious life is one that follows God's blueprint, allowing His free-flowing power to work through us. When we embrace God's design, we experience His fullness and power in our lives, leading to a more fulfilling and effective walk with Him. [10:01]
"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you been settling for less than God's best? What steps can you take to align more closely with His design and experience His fullness?
Day 3: Overcoming Fear with Faith
Fear often paralyzes us, making us more guided by our anxieties than by faith in Christ. The contrasting responses of King Saul and David to fear teach us the importance of inquiring of the Lord and trusting His guidance. Trusting God helps us step into His strength and purpose, overcoming the paralyzing effects of fear. By seeking God's direction and relying on His strength, we can face our fears with confidence and courage. [14:59]
"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." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
Reflection: What specific fears are holding you back from fully trusting God? How can you actively seek His guidance and strength to overcome these fears today?
Day 4: Trusting God with Limited Resources
Our limitations, whether perceived or real, can hinder us. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 shows that even our limited resources can be multiplied when we bring them to God. Trusting God and giving thanks can turn our limitations into opportunities for His glory. When we offer what we have to God, no matter how small, He can use it in ways beyond our imagination. [20:58]
"And he said to them, 'How many loaves do you have? Go and see.' And when they had found out, they said, 'Five, and two fish.' Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass." (Mark 6:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: What limited resources or abilities do you feel are holding you back? How can you offer them to God and trust Him to multiply them for His purposes?
Day 5: Transforming Past Mistakes
Past mistakes are tangible obstacles that come with evidence of our failures. The Apostle Paul's transformation teaches us that God can use even our mistakes for His glory. Trusting God, trusting others, and giving God the glory are key to overcoming these past mistakes and living in His victory. By embracing God's forgiveness and allowing Him to redeem our past, we can move forward with confidence and purpose. [30:26]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: What past mistakes are you struggling to move past? How can you trust God to use these experiences for His glory and your growth?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We were made in a specific way by God. We were made with specific parts. And we were made for a specific purpose. And I'll run through that very, very quick with different verses in the Bible where it says that. We were made a specific way. In Psalms 139, David writes that you made all the, he's talking about God. You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." [05:41] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What does a victorious life look like? What does a life designed by God look like? It looks like free-flowing water through a working sink. Not just using a tabo or a bathroom dipper. It's a life lived following God's design, not our own design for ourselves. And all of us have tabos that stop us from experiencing the free-flowing power of God in our lives." [10:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We all have this template for Christ-like eternity-sized bigness inside of us. And he plants that inside our heart. And we were made for a specific purpose. For those who remember, I preached way back a few months ago. But it's Ephesians 2.10 that we are his workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." [07:12] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So what's stopping us? What's stopping us? Time, fear, and limitations. What stops us? Fear and limitations. What can we do about it? We can trust God. We can trust others. And the last one, what's stopping us? This one's a big one. It's past mistakes." [25:50] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We all have fears. We all have real limitations. We all have real hurts. And I personally have a ton of past mistakes. But God is so mighty and he is so amazing and he loves us enough to still say come on what's stopping you from being part of what I'm doing what's stopping you what's stopping you he wants us when we work in God's design the way he's designed us it's us coming in line with his plans with his purposes with his ways and they sure they sure don't look like our ways at all ton of times but i promise you it's the best way to live it is the best way to live." [33:33] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Fears stop us from fully entering into God's design for us. I used to have a fear when I was much younger. Maybe it was because I watched Deep Blue Sea too young. If you know that, it's a shark movie. But I used to think that there was a shark in the swimming pool. And I knew that it was totally irrational. But I fully felt in my heart. That there would be a shark in the swimming pool." [11:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If fear says, what if I make a mistake? I might be rejected. You know? If fear doesn't work out, if fear is stopping us, what do we need to do? And I have three things. All of them will, so I'll share three things that stop us and then three things that we can do. And all of the three apply to all, all the three things that we can do apply to all three things that stop us. But I'll start with one first. And the first one is to trust God." [17:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Knowing your limitations it's not this is not the sign to suddenly be like whoa okay no limitations my god is limitless knowing your limitations is not a bad thing it really isn't but trusting that our god is limitless and trusting in others it really encourages me that it's not in my hands actually to make everything happen it's not tally's got the whole world in her hands it's he's got the whole world no no." [25:50] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And Paul had complete confidence that God could. What you have done or what was done to you may have been so real. It may have been so real and I don't want to invalidate that. But no matter how real it is, what you went through, it cannot and it will not cancel out or overpower the validity of the cross of Jesus. No matter what it is that you've gone through." [30:26] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "For the eyes of the lord move to and fro throughout the earth that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely his and i just imagine god's spirit moving to and fro the earth and he's looking who's going to break generational curses with me today who's gonna say yes to me you know who's gonna say yes to the little nudging that i give in their heart to pray for someone to bless somebody who's going to point people to my kingdom today." [35:49] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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