Embracing God's Presence: A Journey of Faith
Summary
Reflecting on the journey of our church, it's essential to remember where we came from to understand where we are headed. God has always called His people to pause and reflect on the past, as seen in various Psalms. This reflection is not about living in the past but recognizing God's wondrous deeds and His hand in our journey. Our church's foundation was laid long before any of us arrived, as part of God's divine plan. The early days were marked by a hunger for God's glory, a desire to see His presence manifest in our community, and a commitment to expanding His reach.
The journey has been about glorifying God, not individuals. It's about His fame, not ours. The presence of God has been the driving force behind our growth and the transformation of lives. As we moved from one location to another, God's hand was evident, guiding us and enlarging our vision. The presence of God is what draws people, not the size of the choir or the eloquence of the preacher. It's His glory that fills the house and attracts those seeking hope and belonging.
Hearing God speak has been a cornerstone of our church. It's crucial to be in a relationship with the Shepherd, to be one of His sheep, and to be surrendered to follow Him. This relationship is nurtured through prayer and a commitment to hearing His voice. Preaching and teaching repentance is another pillar. We are called to live differently, to turn away from sin, and to embrace a life of holiness. This is not about perfection but about allowing Jesus to live His life through us.
Faith is another key element. It's about believing what God has said, even when circumstances seem contrary. Faith comes from hearing God's word and trusting in His promises. Finally, understanding the fear of God is vital. It's about having a holy reverence and awe for God, not wanting to disappoint Him or be disciplined by Him. This fear leads to a life that honors God and experiences His glory.
As we continue on this journey, we must remain committed to these pillars: hearing God, repenting, living by faith, and fearing God. This will ensure that His glory continues to dwell among us, drawing people to Him and transforming lives for generations to come.
Key Takeaways:
1. Reflecting on God's Faithfulness: Understanding our past helps us appreciate God's faithfulness and guides us into the future. Reflecting on His deeds reminds us that our journey is part of His divine plan, and His presence is what draws people to Him. [48:57]
2. Hearing God's Voice: Being in a relationship with God is essential to hearing His voice. This involves being one of His sheep, nurturing a relationship with the Shepherd, and being surrendered to follow Him. Prayer and scripture are vital in this process. [01:08:21]
3. Repentance and Holiness: We are called to live a life of repentance and holiness, turning away from sin and allowing Jesus to live through us. This is not about perfection but about a commitment to a transformed life. [01:14:01]
4. Living by Faith: Faith is believing in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary. It involves hearing God's word, trusting in His promises, and walking in obedience. Faith leads to miracles and transformation. [01:20:31]
5. The Fear of God: A holy reverence and awe for God lead to a life that honors Him. This fear involves not wanting to disappoint or be disciplined by God, resulting in a life that experiences His glory and presence. [01:23:25]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [46:06] - Reflecting on Our Past
- [48:57] - God's Divine Plan
- [51:20] - The Presence of God
- [54:09] - Our Journey and Growth
- [56:23] - The Glory of God
- [59:32] - Understanding God's Glory
- [01:01:21] - Generational Influence
- [01:08:21] - Hearing God's Voice
- [01:10:05] - Relationship with the Shepherd
- [01:12:00] - Seeking God's Will
- [01:14:01] - Repentance and Holiness
- [01:20:31] - Living by Faith
- [01:23:25] - The Fear of God
- [01:26:02] - Experiencing God's Glory
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 85:8-9
- John 10:27
- Hebrews 11:1
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 85:8-9, what is the relationship between hearing God and experiencing His glory in the land?
2. In John 10:27, what are the three characteristics of Jesus' sheep mentioned in the verse?
3. How does the sermon describe the role of God's presence in the growth and transformation of the church? [56:23]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the importance of reflecting on the past to understand God's faithfulness? [48:57]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of hearing God's voice relate to the idea of being one of His sheep, as mentioned in John 10:27? [01:08:21]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of repentance and holiness in experiencing God's glory? [01:14:01]
3. How does the sermon define faith, and what role does it play in the life of a believer according to Hebrews 11:1? [01:20:31]
4. What does the sermon imply about the fear of God and its impact on a believer's life and relationship with God? [01:23:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's presence in a powerful way. How did it impact your faith journey, and how can you seek more of His presence in your daily life? [56:23]
2. In what ways can you nurture your relationship with the Shepherd to better hear His voice? Consider practical steps you can take this week. [01:08:21]
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to practice repentance and seek holiness. What steps can you take to turn away from sin and allow Jesus to live through you? [01:14:01]
4. Think of a situation where circumstances seem contrary to God's promises. How can you apply the principles of faith discussed in the sermon to trust in God's word and promises? [01:20:31]
5. How can you cultivate a healthy fear of God in your life, ensuring that it leads to a life that honors Him? What changes might you need to make in your attitudes or actions? [01:23:25]
6. Reflect on the journey of your church or community. How can you contribute to ensuring that God's glory continues to dwell among you and draw others to Him? [48:57]
7. Consider a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and deepen your relationship with Him?
Devotional
Understood. I will now create the 5-day devotional based on the instructions provided.
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Day 1: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
Reflecting on the past is a spiritual discipline that allows us to see God's faithfulness throughout our journey. By looking back, we can recognize the wondrous deeds God has performed and understand that our path is part of His divine plan. This reflection is not about dwelling in the past but about acknowledging God's presence and guidance in our lives. It is His glory and presence that draw people to Him, not our own achievements or efforts. As we remember where we came from, we gain clarity on where we are headed, trusting that God will continue to lead us. [48:57]
"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." (Deuteronomy 32:7, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific moment in your past where you clearly saw God's hand at work. How can this memory encourage you to trust Him with your current circumstances?
Day 2: Hearing God's Voice
Being in a relationship with God is essential for hearing His voice. This involves being one of His sheep, nurturing a relationship with the Shepherd, and being surrendered to follow Him. Prayer and scripture are vital in this process, as they help us tune our hearts to His guidance. When we prioritize listening to God, we align ourselves with His will and purpose for our lives. This relationship is not passive but requires active engagement and a willingness to be led by Him. [01:08:21]
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Reflection: Set aside a specific time today to pray and read scripture, asking God to speak to you. What do you sense He is saying to you about your current situation?
Day 3: Repentance and Holiness
We are called to live a life of repentance and holiness, turning away from sin and allowing Jesus to live through us. This is not about achieving perfection but about committing to a transformed life. Repentance involves a change of heart and mind, leading to a life that reflects God's holiness. As we embrace this call, we experience the freedom and joy that come from living in alignment with God's will. It is through repentance that we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. [01:14:01]
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to repent and seek God's forgiveness. What steps can you take today to begin living in holiness in this area?
Day 4: Living by Faith
Faith is believing in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary. It involves hearing God's word, trusting in His promises, and walking in obedience. Faith is not passive but requires action and a willingness to step out in trust. As we live by faith, we open ourselves to the miraculous and transformative work of God in our lives. This journey of faith is marked by a deep reliance on God's character and His ability to fulfill His promises. [01:20:31]
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise from God that you are struggling to believe right now? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him more fully in this area?
Day 5: The Fear of God
A holy reverence and awe for God lead to a life that honors Him. This fear is not about being afraid but about having a deep respect and desire not to disappoint or be disciplined by God. It is this reverence that draws us closer to His glory and presence. As we cultivate the fear of God, we align our lives with His purposes and experience the fullness of His presence. This fear leads to wisdom and a life that reflects His character. [01:23:25]
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current understanding of the fear of God. How can you cultivate a deeper reverence for Him in your daily life? What changes might this require in your attitudes or actions?
Quotes
"God has always called his people to take time to slow down, to pause, and to ponder the past before moving into the future. Now, we don't live in the past. But isn't it interesting? Listen to these psalms. Psalm 78, Psalm 105, 106, 135, and 136 are all examples of God's people reflecting on the past, specifically on the wondrous deeds in the life of God's people." [00:49:04]
"But in the 70s, we moved over to that church. Man, God was at work in that church. And then I went off to camp with them, Pastor. And while at the Bill Rice Ranch, God called me to preach. Now, I'm not, this work and this glory work didn't have anything to do with me, but I can see now the hand of the Lord in all of it. He moved us to somewhere that talked about expansion and reaching." [00:50:53]
"The presence of God was there, and I got a hunger for something in my heart. I wasn't satisfied any longer, even as a little boy, with just cold, dead, dry religion. And so when the Lord worked it out, Terry and I met and fell in love, and then we started serving in my home church. Then when there came a knock at the door in this church, and just a small few families called and said, will you come to Dunn and pastor our church?" [00:53:00]
"The presence of God always has grown people and always will draw people and as long as we keep him near we'll have the glory of God in the house and people will come. And they'll come from everywhere. When we built that second building over there and knocked the walls out, we thought, good night for the population of our town. Will we ever fill this up? And we didn't. God did." [00:56:23]
"Then when we built this building, there were walls where these beams are. We thought, will it ever fill up? And we didn't fill it, but God did. Then we knocked these walls out, and now people are sprinkling into those upper balconies. And I want to tell you something. As long as there's lost people, and as long as there's the glory of God, we can count on more and more folks coming." [00:57:31]
"His son Jesus likes to give glory to his father. And his father likes to lift up Jesus. So in the middle of all of it, we need to learn how to hear God speak. So can I just give you my favorite little verse right now? I told the students this the other week at the retreat, and I'm going to say it to you too. It's in, well, let's see. I should have wrote it down. Thank you, Pastor. John 10, verse 27." [01:06:18]
"You've got, if you want to hear, God speak, you first have to be one of his sheep. Number two, he said, my sheep have my voice and I know them. You have to be in a relationship with the shepherd. You say, what's a relationship? Well, what's your relationships like? I bet you your best friend gets a call pretty regularly every day or two. Or you text them. I bet you talk to them and pray with them a little bit." [01:07:59]
"You have to be surrendered to follow him. He said, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. You know who he speaks to more? The ones that are going to follow him. The ones that are going to obey him. The ones that are going to do what he says. The ones that are going to do what he says to do. Then he speaks more and more and more." [01:10:17]
"Preaching against repentance of sin. I didn't do this in the early service, but I got just a minute. So I want to tell you some of the sins I preach against in these revivals. And some of the ones that I preach against in this church. Some of the same things that are wrong then are wrong now. And don't you remember when we used to fill out those cards and walk them in the aisles." [01:14:16]
"Faith in God you say but you don't know what I'm going through faith in God but you don't know what they've done to me faith in God you don't know what the doctor said faith in God you don't know what the doctor said faith in God God will pastor what is faith faith is just believing what God said somebody sweet in this church caught me on the parking lot all the way around asked me to pray for somebody dear to them." [01:16:19]
"When you start believing God, miracles happen. When you stop believing God, you'll dry up and die like many a place, many a family, many a church. Teaching and living faith for His glory. I can go ahead and tell you whatever He preaches next Sunday and the Sundays to follow, whatever God gives these other pastors, if they give me the word, I'm going to believe it with them." [01:20:31]
"And the fear of God is this. Listen to this definition of it. It's being in awe and amazed and in full reverence of God while at the same time having a holy respect for God and not wanting to disappoint Him. Or doubt Him or be disciplined by Him. Let me say that one more time. Fear of God is an awe and reverence and wonder of God while at the same time having a holy reverence and a holy, I almost use the word terror, of doubting Him or disappointing Him or being disciplined by Him." [01:22:56]
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