Embracing God's Plan: Surrender, Peace, and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Silence for Spiritual Clarity

Negative influences can cloud judgment and impede spiritual growth. It is essential to silence these distractions to hear God's voice clearly and prepare for the blessings He has in store. By intentionally filtering out the noise, one can focus on the divine path laid out for them. [01:41:17]

Isaiah 30:21 - "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Reflection: What are the negative voices or influences in your life that you need to silence to better hear God's direction?

Day 2: The Practice of Surrender

Continual surrender to Jesus is vital for spiritual wholeness. Like the leper who approached Jesus, laying down burdens daily at His feet allows for a life of peace and surrender, acknowledging that Jesus' strength covers our weaknesses. [01:31:51]

Psalm 55:22 - "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."
Reflection: What burdens are you holding onto that you need to surrender to Jesus today?

Day 3: Peace in His Presence

God's presence is a sanctuary of peace, a constant in the chaos of life. By seeking His presence above all else, one can tap into the peace that is part of God's very nature, a peace that surpasses all understanding and circumstances. [01:39:14]

Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Reflection: How can you actively seek God's presence to experience His peace in your daily life?

Day 4: Creative Power Amidst Attacks

Spiritual attacks can be a precursor to God's creative work in one's life. Recognizing that opposition often signals divine preparation can transform the way one perceives and responds to challenges, seeing them as opportunities for growth. [01:19:57]

2 Corinthians 12:10 - "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: How can you view your current struggles as potential areas where God is preparing to work creatively in your life?

Day 5: Embrace the Transformative Spirit

The Holy Ghost has the power to transform lives and expand God's kingdom. By allowing the Spirit to move freely, believers can overcome worldly negativity and step into their divine calling to witness God's goodness. [01:47:43]

Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Reflection: In what ways can you open up to the Holy Ghost's transformative power in your life this week?

Sermon Summary

In his sermon at Apostolic Church Dallas, Pastor Justin Michael focuses on the spiritual journey of believers and the importance of tuning out negative influences to embrace God's plan. He begins by highlighting the necessity of silencing negative voices that hinder spiritual growth and emphasizes the need for the church to prepare for the harvest God has planned. Pastor Michael draws attention to the Old Testament's representation of the Throne of God through the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, underscoring the importance of understanding the mirroring of earthly and heavenly realms.

Pastor Michael stresses the victory found in Jesus and the importance of casting our cares upon Him, as illustrated by the story of the leper who approached Jesus with complete surrender. He explains that a lack of casting our cares leads to a lack of wholeness and that continual surrender is essential for spiritual well-being.

The sermon also includes a prayer for the Holy Spirit to breathe life into the words of the Bible, with a special acknowledgment of guest Dylan Morgan's prophetic gifting. Pastor Michael calls for a move of the Holy Ghost to resist the enemy's influence and invites the congregation to open themselves up to the Spirit's work.

He speaks about the creative nature of God and the significance of believers resisting the world's negative messages. Pastor Michael points out that peace is not just a gift from God but is part of His very nature, and by being in God's presence, believers can access this peace at all times.

The concept of casting cares upon God is further explored, with Pastor Michael explaining that humans have a limited emotional capacity and that God's supernatural strength begins when our natural abilities end. He encourages believers to release their burdens to God, referencing the biblical invitation to take on His yoke because it is light and easy.

Pastor Michael discusses the idea that when the church faces attacks, it is a sign that God is preparing to create something new in the lives of the congregation. He asserts that the enemy reacts to God's creative work and that believers are called to resist twisted doctrines and ideologies that oppose the church.

The sermon also touches on the importance of understanding that our callings are meant to serve others, not ourselves. Pastor Michael urges believers to let go of selfishness and embrace their role as witnesses of God's goodness. He emphasizes the need to tune into God's voice for peace and suggests a season of turning off all other voices to focus on hearing from God.

Pastor Michael addresses the concept of being unequally yoked with God, highlighting the importance of daily devotion to step into the spiritual realm. He describes this as leaving behind natural struggles and ascending to heavenly places through prayer and devotion.

The sermon concludes with a discussion on the power of repentance, the role of the Holy Ghost in expanding God's kingdom, and the dominion that Christ has over all the kingdoms of the world. Pastor Michael emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Ghost and the importance of being baptized in Jesus' name.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (AMP) — > "And you know what restrains him now from being revealed; it is so that he will be revealed at his own appointed time. For the mystery of lawlessness (rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness) is already at work; but it is restrained only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way."

2. 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
> "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

3. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
> "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

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Observation Questions

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 say about the restraint of lawlessness and its appointed time?
According to 1 John 4:4, what assurance do believers have regarding the spirit of the world?
In 1 Peter 5:7, what are believers instructed to do with their cares and why?
Pastor Michael mentioned the importance of silencing negative voices to embrace God's plan. What are some examples he gave of these negative influences? [01:40:32]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 relate to the spiritual attacks Pastor Michael discussed? [01:19:57]
What does it mean for believers to have "greater is he that is in you" in the context of resisting the world's negative messages? [01:14:40]
How does the act of casting our cares upon Jesus, as mentioned in 1 Peter 5:7, contribute to our spiritual well-being according to Pastor Michael? [01:26:06]
Pastor Michael emphasized the importance of daily devotion. How does this practice help believers ascend to heavenly places and leave behind natural struggles? [01:28:49]

Application Questions

Pastor Michael talked about the necessity of silencing negative voices. What are some specific negative influences in your life that you need to tune out to better hear God's voice? [01:40:32]
Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by your burdens. How can you practice the daily act of casting your cares upon Jesus to find wholeness and peace? [01:33:13]
Pastor Michael mentioned that spiritual attacks often indicate that God is preparing to do something new in our lives. Can you identify a recent challenge that might be a sign of God's creative work in you? How can you respond to it with faith? [01:19:57]
How can you prioritize your relationship with God to ensure His voice remains the loudest in your life? What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your daily devotion? [01:39:51]
Pastor Michael emphasized the transformative power of the Holy Ghost. How can you allow the Holy Ghost to move more freely in your life, not just on Sundays but throughout the week? [01:47:43]
Reflect on the idea that our callings are meant to serve others. How can you shift your focus from personal gain to being a witness of God's goodness in your daily interactions? [01:35:09]
Pastor Michael discussed the importance of repentance and being baptized in Jesus' name. How can you incorporate regular repentance into your spiritual practice to maintain a close relationship with God? [01:47:05]

Sermon Clips

"In the New Testament, God's always speaking; it's not that He ever stopped speaking, it's that we've got to get back on the right frequency, but our frequency is so interrupted with the distractions of this world." [01:37:50] (Download)

"One of the reasons that we don't have peace is because we're not tuned in to the voice of the peace. We get frustrated with God because we're dealing with negative emotions and we're dealing with negative this and that." [01:38:28] (Download)

"God says I want to teach you the art of casting upon me because when you run out of natural emotion, when you run out of natural ability, you're going to learn that's where the supernatural begins." [01:27:35] (Download)

"The growing kingdom of God happens when people allow the wind to move in their life. It's just looking for people that are going to allow the wind to blow." [01:47:43] (Download)

"We've got to be a church that allows the wind to blow freely, not just on Sunday, but every day. Let the wind blow and see the increase of His government." [01:49:17] (Download)

"For the church is under attack, it's simply because God is getting ready to create something in your life and in this church. You have to understand who God is; He is a creative God and the enemy is a reactive enemy to that which is being created." [01:19:57] (Download)

"We are told in the New Testament that the Old Testament throne, the Ark of the Covenant, was a shadow and a type of what was happening in Heavenly places, mirroring what was taking place in the heavenlies." [01:42:04] (Download)

"Heavy things get lighter when you yoke up with The Great I Am. That's why daily devotion is one of the most important parts of your life." [01:28:49] (Download)

"There is nothing worth my peace, there is nothing worth the Peace of the Holy Ghost. Peace is not just something that God gives you; peace is what God is. When you're continually in his presence, you always have access to his peace." [01:39:14] (Download)

"God has a harvest, God has a plan, but right now there is a deepening that God is trying to bring a good majority of this body to, so that he can have the strength to bring it up like he wants to bring it up." [01:41:17] (Download)

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