Embracing God's Grace for Healing and Purpose

 

Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the concept of God's grace and the fivefold gift of the ministry. He emphasizes the importance of the church community in providing support and guidance to individuals. The pastor then delves into the story of Jesus asking a man if he wants to get well, highlighting that wellness comes with responsibility and expectations. He encourages the congregation to embrace change and have faith in God's ability to heal their lives.

The pastor then discusses the significance of the pool at Bethesda and the Sheep gate in Jerusalem, connecting them to Jesus' self-identification as the Lamb of God and the way to the Father. He emphasizes that the gate represents a relationship with Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The pastor also discusses the story of Jesus observing people giving money at the temple treasury, emphasizing that God is interested in the condition of our hearts and how our generosity reflects that.

The pastor acknowledges the struggle of wanting God to stop or quit during difficult times. He emphasizes that God is always at work, even in those moments when we may not feel His presence. He encourages the congregation to fill in the blank with their specific needs, as God is always working for His people. The pastor concludes by reminding the listeners that they are God's assignment and purpose, and His work continues regardless of their awareness or feelings.

The pastor reflects on the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man and the subsequent encounter between Jesus and the healed man. He emphasizes the importance of addressing one's spiritual condition and recognizing that everything they have in life is a sign of God's grace. The pastor concludes by urging the listeners to move from the porch of pain to the pool of God's presence, where true healing and purpose can be found.

The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing that God can take the negative experiences and circumstances in our lives and turn them around for good. He encourages the congregation to have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is currently working on in their lives. The pastor then extends an invitation to those who may not be followers of Jesus, urging them to give their hearts to Him and experience healing and wholeness.

Key Takeaways:

- God's grace is a powerful force that can bring about change and healing in our lives. It is through the church that individuals have access to the support and guidance of pastors and fellow believers. Embracing change and having faith in God's ability to heal is crucial for spiritual growth. [12:45]

- The story of Jesus observing people giving money at the temple treasury teaches us that God is interested in the condition of our hearts and how our generosity reflects that. It is not the amount we give, but the intent behind our giving that matters to God. [24:30]

- God is always at work, even in those moments when we may not feel His presence. He is the one who fills in the blanks and provides what is needed. We are God's assignment and purpose, and His work continues regardless of our awareness or feelings. [36:15]

- The story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man emphasizes the importance of addressing one's spiritual condition. Physical healing is a blessing, but it is important not to forget the blesser, which is God himself. Everything we have in life is a sign of God's grace and should point us back to God as the blesser. [48:20]

- God can take the negative experiences and circumstances in our lives and turn them around for good. If we surrender those painful and tragic events to Him, He can work with them. It is important to have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is currently working on in our lives. [59:30]

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Mark 12:41-44: "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.'"
2. Proverbs 16:2: "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord."
3. John 5:1-18: This passage tells the story of Jesus healing a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk, which he does, but this healing takes place on the Sabbath, leading to conflict with the Jewish leaders.

Observation Questions:
1. What are the differences between the offerings of the rich people and the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44?
2. In Proverbs 16:2, what does it mean that "motives are weighed by the Lord"?
3. What are the reactions of the Jewish leaders to the healing of the invalid man in John 5:1-18?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the poor widow's offering in Mark 12:41-44 reflect on the condition of our hearts and our generosity?
2. How does Proverbs 16:2 relate to the concept of God being interested in our motives rather than our actions?
3. What does the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in John 5:1-18 reveal about the importance of addressing one's spiritual condition?

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent act of generosity you've done. Was it out of abundance or scarcity? How did your heart feel during that act?
2. Can you think of a situation where your actions seemed pure but your motives might not have been? How can you align your motives with God's will in such situations?
3. Recall a time when you experienced healing, whether physical or emotional. Did you acknowledge God's grace in that situation? How can you ensure to do so in the future?
4. Think of a negative experience or circumstance in your life. How can you surrender it to God and allow Him to work it out for good?
5. Can you identify a specific need in your life right now? How can you invite God to fill in that blank?

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Change Through God's Grace
God's grace is a transformative force that can bring about healing and change in our lives. The church community plays a crucial role in providing support and guidance during this process. Embracing change and having faith in God's ability to heal is a key aspect of spiritual growth. [12:45]

Ephesians 4:7 - "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent change in your life. How can you see God's grace at work in this situation, and how can you lean into that grace for healing and growth?

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Day 2: The Heart Behind Our Generosity
God is more interested in the condition of our hearts than the amount we give. Our generosity is a reflection of our heart's condition and our relationship with God. It's not about the amount we give, but the intent and love behind our giving. [24:30]

2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Reflection: Consider your recent acts of generosity. Were they driven by love and a cheerful heart, or were there other motivations? How can you cultivate a heart that gives cheerfully and generously?

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Day 3: God's Unseen Work in Our Lives
Even when we can't feel His presence, God is always at work in our lives. He fills in the gaps and provides what we need. We are His purpose and assignment, and His work continues regardless of our awareness or feelings. [36:15]

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is a situation in your life where you felt God was absent? Looking back, can you see how He was working behind the scenes?

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Day 4: Recognizing God as the Source of All Blessings
The story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man reminds us to address our spiritual condition and recognize God as the source of all blessings. Physical healing is a gift, but it's important to remember the Giver. Everything we have is a sign of God's grace. [48:20]

James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Reflection: What is a recent blessing you've received? Have you taken the time to thank God for it and acknowledge Him as the source?

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Day 5: Seeing God's Work in Our Trials
God can take our negative experiences and circumstances and turn them around for good. If we surrender our pain and struggles to Him, He can work through them. We need to have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is currently doing in our lives. [59:30]

Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Reflection: What is a difficult situation you're currently facing? How can you surrender it to God and look for His work in the midst of it?

Quotes

"I am working...I am working...I am working all the time...God's working all the time...God's working when I feel him and...God's working when I feel numb...God's working when I'm successful and...God's working when I feel like a failure...God's working when everything's going right and...God's working when everything's going wrong...God is working even if I don't acknowledge Him or feel anything at all."

"You are his assignment...people are his purpose."

"Do you want to get well? How we respond right there it matters... He responds to the question with some excuses... it's an excuse of what could have possibly... you could have stayed closer to the pool so that you give yourself a head start... he goes back to the porch just like you and I going back to the things we know won't heal us..."

"I'm trying to get you off the porch and into the pool of your purpose... I'm trying to get you off the porch of pain and into his presence which is the symbolic metaphor of the pool... why is it that we turn back to the things we know that are on the porch?"

"There in Jerusalem is the Sheep gate, the Sheep gate that you must go through in order to get to the house of miracle, there is the Sheep gate that once you pass through the gate you get access to the benefits of being in the house."

"The question for us is how will we give with no thought no reverence no worship or will we give with that reverence and give in awe of what God is doing in our lives."

"He's saying that your spiritual condition must be fixed. God was always in the New Testament after people's spiritual condition and used physical healings as a metaphor to show what he wanted to do in their soul."

"Everything that you have in your life is getting you to see it's Jesus, it's Jesus in his grace, in his abundance. It's the house that you have that's a sign of God's grace on your life, it's a blessing that should point you right back to the blesser."

"God's always doing something whether we realize it or not because he's doing something when he's doing something but he's doing something when he's doing nothing because he's doing nothing intentionally which means he's doing something so I just got to figure out God what is it that you're doing right now because your word says you're working."

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Transcript
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