Embracing God's Limitless Power and New Beginnings
Summary
In our gathering tonight, we reflected on the incredible ways God works in our lives, often beyond our understanding or expectations. We began by acknowledging the faithfulness of our congregation and the importance of coming together with open hearts, ready to experience God's presence. We emphasized that every service, even a midweek one, is an opportunity for God to move powerfully among us.
Our focus was on a remarkable event from Acts 8, where Philip was supernaturally transported after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. This miracle, often overlooked, is a testament to God's limitless power and His ability to intervene in extraordinary ways. We drew parallels with other biblical instances of divine transportation, such as Enoch, Elijah, and the disciples' boat being transported to shore. These stories remind us that God is not constrained by natural laws and can perform miracles that defy human logic.
We discussed how these miraculous events are not just historical accounts but are relevant to us today. God remains the same, capable of performing great wonders in our lives. We are encouraged to expand our faith, believing that God can do the impossible, whether it's a miraculous healing, a financial breakthrough, or a spiritual revival. The key is to remain open to the Holy Spirit's leading and to trust that God can move us, change us, and use us for His purposes.
As we concluded, we were reminded that God can do new things in our lives, ministries, and communities. We should not limit God with our doubts or small expectations. Instead, we should embrace the possibility of God doing something extraordinary, just as He did with Philip. Let us keep our faith high, our vision strong, and be ready to move when God calls us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faithfulness in Worship: Our consistent gathering in worship is not just a routine but a powerful opportunity for God to work in our lives. Each service is a chance to experience His presence and see lives transformed. We should come with expectant hearts, ready to give God glory and receive His blessings. [01:19]
2. God's Limitless Power: The story of Philip's transportation in Acts 8 reminds us that God's power is not limited by natural laws. Just as He performed miracles in the past, He can do the same today. We should not confine God to our understanding but trust in His ability to do the impossible. [06:40]
3. Miracles in Our Time: The miracles of the Bible are not just historical events but are relevant to us today. God can still perform great wonders in our lives, whether it's healing, provision, or spiritual breakthroughs. We must have faith that God can do extraordinary things in our midst. [15:32]
4. Being Open to the Holy Spirit: We should be open to the Holy Spirit's leading, ready to be moved and used by God for His purposes. Just as Philip was caught away by the Spirit, we too can experience God's supernatural guidance and intervention in our lives. [26:56]
5. Expecting New Things: God is a God of new things, capable of doing what we cannot even imagine. We should not limit Him with our doubts but believe that He can bring about new beginnings, revivals, and transformations in our lives and communities. [27:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Faithfulness in Worship
- [01:19] - Importance of Midweek Services
- [02:37] - Honoring Our Young People
- [03:14] - The Miracle of Philip's Transportation
- [04:37] - Biblical Examples of Divine Transportation
- [06:40] - God's Limitless Power
- [08:01] - Miracles in the Old and New Testaments
- [09:28] - Peter's Miraculous Escape
- [11:23] - The Significance of Philip's Miracle
- [14:14] - Believing in Modern-Day Miracles
- [16:09] - God's Power Beyond Reason
- [18:58] - The Relevance of Acts 8 Today
- [20:18] - Encouragement to Believe for Big Things
- [26:56] - Being Open to the Holy Spirit's Leading
- [27:38] - Expecting New Things from God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 8:37-40 - The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, focusing on Philip's miraculous transportation.
2. Genesis 5:24 - Enoch's translation by God.
3. 2 Kings 2:11 - Elijah's ascension in a chariot of fire.
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the miraculous event that occurred to Philip after he baptized the Ethiopian eunuch? How is this event described in Acts 8:39? [04:37]
2. How does the sermon describe the faithfulness of the congregation and its importance in experiencing God's presence? [01:19]
3. What other biblical examples of divine transportation were mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to Philip's experience? [06:40]
4. According to the sermon, how should we approach each service, even midweek ones, in terms of our expectations and readiness? [01:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Philip's transportation challenge our understanding of God's power and the natural laws we are accustomed to? [06:40]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the miracles of the Bible are relevant to us today? How can this perspective influence our faith? [15:32]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and using believers for God's purposes? [26:56]
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to expand their faith and expectations of what God can do in their lives and communities? [27:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a service. How did your expectations and openness to the Holy Spirit influence that experience? [01:19]
2. The sermon emphasizes God's limitless power. What is one area in your life where you need to trust God to do the impossible? How can you actively expand your faith in this area? [06:40]
3. Consider the miraculous events in the Bible. How can you apply the belief in modern-day miracles to your current challenges or situations? [15:32]
4. The sermon encourages being open to the Holy Spirit's leading. What steps can you take to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? [26:56]
5. How can you avoid limiting God with doubts or small expectations in your personal life or ministry? What practical steps can you take to embrace the possibility of God doing extraordinary things? [27:38]
6. Think of a situation where you felt stuck or constrained by natural circumstances. How can the story of Philip inspire you to believe in God's ability to intervene supernaturally? [04:37]
7. Identify a new thing you believe God might be calling you to in your life or community. What actions can you take to prepare for and embrace this new beginning? [27:38]
Devotional
Day 1: Faithfulness in Worship as a Gateway to Transformation
Our consistent gathering in worship is not just a routine but a powerful opportunity for God to work in our lives. Each service is a chance to experience His presence and see lives transformed. We should come with expectant hearts, ready to give God glory and receive His blessings. When we gather with open hearts, we create an environment where God can move powerfully among us, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us. This faithfulness in worship is a testament to our commitment to God and our desire to see His will done in our lives. [01:19]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How can you prepare your heart to be more expectant and open during your next worship service, allowing God to work in and through you?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Limitless Power
The story of Philip's transportation in Acts 8 reminds us that God's power is not limited by natural laws. Just as He performed miracles in the past, He can do the same today. We should not confine God to our understanding but trust in His ability to do the impossible. This trust in God's limitless power encourages us to expand our faith and believe that He can intervene in our lives in extraordinary ways, whether through miraculous healings, financial breakthroughs, or spiritual revivals. [06:40]
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV): "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God more fully, believing that He can do the impossible?
Day 3: Experiencing Miracles in Our Time
The miracles of the Bible are not just historical events but are relevant to us today. God can still perform great wonders in our lives, whether it's healing, provision, or spiritual breakthroughs. We must have faith that God can do extraordinary things in our midst. By believing in modern-day miracles, we open ourselves to the possibility of experiencing God's power in ways that defy human logic and understanding. [15:32]
Mark 9:23 (ESV): "And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.'"
Reflection: What is one specific miracle you are praying for in your life, and how can you actively cultivate faith to see it come to pass?
Day 4: Being Open to the Holy Spirit's Leading
We should be open to the Holy Spirit's leading, ready to be moved and used by God for His purposes. Just as Philip was caught away by the Spirit, we too can experience God's supernatural guidance and intervention in our lives. This openness requires a willingness to listen and respond to the Spirit's promptings, trusting that God has a plan and purpose for our lives that is greater than we can imagine. [26:56]
Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for and respond to the Holy Spirit's guidance?
Day 5: Expecting New Things from God
God is a God of new things, capable of doing what we cannot even imagine. We should not limit Him with our doubts but believe that He can bring about new beginnings, revivals, and transformations in our lives and communities. By expecting new things from God, we align ourselves with His vision and purpose, ready to embrace the extraordinary plans He has for us. [27:38]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What new thing do you sense God wants to do in your life, and how can you position yourself to receive it?
Quotes
We don't have services to waste. It's a Wednesday night, but there are needs here tonight. It's a midweek service, but there's people that need to hear from the Lord tonight. We don't have services to waste. We can come in here, and we need to give it all we've got. We need to come in with our hearts and our minds in the right places, and we're ready to give the Lord glory and honor and praise and worship, amen, because He's worthy of that. Amen. [00:01:19]
Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God." The Ethiopian eunuch saying that, and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. [00:04:30]
We serve the same God that they served that day, and He's not a God of any less miracles. And this message isn't necessarily about miracles, but it is about a supernatural God that could do anything for anybody, anytime, anywhere, no matter how much the difficulty, no matter how much opposition, no matter how weird it seems. God is a God that can do all those things still yet for us today. [00:16:02]
He can still do miracles of these proportions. He can still do incredible things that blow the minds of people. There's a verse in the Gospels where the people saw the miracles, and they just shook their head, smh, shaking my head. They were dumbfounded. They were taken back. They were amazed. They didn't know how to calculate what they were seeing because they couldn't compartmentalize it. They just couldn't square with it. It was way out of their understanding and logic and reason. [00:17:26]
We don't get a lot of progress made by putting Him in our little box and restricting Him to our little religion and our little services and our little understanding. God's so far beyond all that. How many believe that tonight? So far beyond it. That's why, look, y'all, we need to come to a place. Now, this is in no means reducing any of our faith, but we need to be at a place where we can believe for miracles like this. [00:19:32]
It's not out of the realm of reason for God to do this kind of thing. I didn't get many amens, but it's true. It's not out of the realm of reason. God is not reduced in any power. He's not reduced in any ability or any might. Same God, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever. Same Holy Ghost, same anointing, amen. The same anointing that the disciples and apostles and the ladies of God of faith of the book of Acts operated. [00:20:06]
Let's not be skeptical when somebody says, "You won't believe this miracle I got." We should be saying, "Try me." I want to come along. I want to believe that with you. I want to celebrate that. A brother gets a pastor, gets a church paid off. That's happened in this region here. I know of two churches that were blessed exponentially financially, at least two churches. Blessings just exponentially. Finances and just incredible. [00:22:20]
20 miles is nothing for the Lord. Hallelujah. Y'all guys getting anything out of this tonight? 20 miles, it's a big deal to us. 20 miles is like from this church facility to my driveway is like 19 miles. Just say 20. It would be like Philip being transported through the spirit of God straight from this property here, this campus, all the way to 412 Horse Cove Road, right over Monosano Mountain, probably at the speed of light too. [00:23:35]
We look at things like Red Seas. We look at things like cancer. We look at things like that person or that soul or that family. And I'm guilty. I'll just go ahead on record. My grandmother, our pastor Dale's grandmother, my grandmother had told me two times, Dale's gonna be turned around. He's gonna be all right. He's gonna be a preacher one day. He's going to get it turned around. And I just didn't see it. [00:24:56]
The Holy Ghost can do it. The Holy Ghost can do it. Somebody shout, "The Holy Ghost can do it." Holy Ghost can do it. Y'all are witnesses. You've been raised up. Such were some of you, but you've been washed and sanctified and justified and cleansed. You, you, we've all come from places that we're not proud of, but thanks be to God, 20 miles is nothing for the Holy Ghost because He's a mighty, awesome God. [00:25:41]
If God needs to move you, He can move you. If God needs to change you, He can change you. If God needs to move somebody out of your life, if He needs to move you somewhere else, if He needs to give you some new thing, He can do it. This is a new thing, Dale. New thing. Never been, never been seen before. Never even been understood before. This was a new thing, and we serve a God that could do new things. [00:27:08]
We used to sing a song growing up in church, "You got to move, you got to move. When the Lord gets ready, you got to move." Hallelujah. You got to move. [00:34:32]
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