Embracing God's Presence: Transformation, Relationship, and Community
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to make God's presence known on earth, a task that is both profound and accessible. Reflecting on the story of John the Baptist, we see that even when circumstances don't align with our expectations, God's mission continues in ways we might not foresee. Jesus' response to John's inquiry about His identity—highlighting the miracles of the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, and the lame walking—reminds us that the kingdom of God is marked by transformation and healing. This is a call to remain open to God's work in our lives, even when it takes unexpected forms.
Our relationship with God, much like a marriage, thrives on ongoing conversation. It's not about having one definitive discussion but about continually engaging with God, opening new topics, and deepening our connection. This intimacy with God is available to everyone, even those who don't yet know Him by name. As believers, we are the bridge for others to encounter God, to experience His presence, and to enter into a relationship with Him.
Isaiah 41:10 offers a powerful message: "Do not fear, for I am with you." In a world governed by fear, this assurance is countercultural. God's presence is our strength and support, and He promises to uphold us with His righteous right hand. This divine support is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with others. We are called to be conduits of God's love and power, demonstrating His presence through our lives.
The prophetic gifts are accessible to all believers, meant to encourage, strengthen, and comfort. They are not about correction or rebuke but about building up the body of Christ. As we grow in these gifts, we must do so with humility, clarity, and kindness, ensuring that our words align with God's nature and are delivered with the fruit of the Spirit.
In our community, everyone is invited to participate in the prophetic, to be known and to know others, and to live lives marked by generosity and openness to God's leading. As we do so, we become instruments of God's peace and healing, making His presence known in tangible ways.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Kingdom is Transformative: The kingdom of God is evidenced by transformation—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and enabling the lame to walk. This transformation is a sign of God's presence among us, calling us to trust in His power even when our circumstances seem dire. [01:51]
- Ongoing Relationship with God: Our relationship with God is like a marriage, requiring ongoing conversation and openness to new topics. This intimacy is available to everyone, and as believers, we are called to facilitate others' encounters with God. [03:18]
- Fear Not, For God is With Us: In a world filled with fear, God's message is clear: "Do not fear, for I am with you." This assurance is a call to trust in God's presence and strength, allowing Him to uphold us with His righteous right hand. [06:46]
- Prophetic Gifts for All: The prophetic is accessible to all believers, meant to encourage, strengthen, and comfort. It is not about correction but about building up the body of Christ, and it requires humility, clarity, and kindness. [26:16]
- Community and Generosity: Being part of a community and living generously are essential to our spiritual growth. As we engage with others and give of ourselves, we dethrone money and other idols, allowing God's voice to be clear in our lives. [37:02]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - The Kingdom's Evidence
[01:51] - When Plans Change
[03:18] - Relationship as Conversation
[04:30] - Expanding God's Presence
[05:28] - Encountering God Through Us
[06:46] - Do Not Fear
[07:44] - God Speaks in Our Language
[08:37] - Manifestations of Fear
[09:17] - God's Strength and Help
[10:11] - The Righteous Right Hand
[11:34] - Support and Confirmation
[12:06] - Receiving to Give
[13:04] - God's Hand in Ours
[14:58] - The Secret to Seeing God Move
[16:02] - Intimacy with God
[18:07] - Receiving and Sharing Prophecy
[19:04] - Ways to Receive from God
[21:01] - Sensing God's Presence
[23:12] - The Power of Perception
[25:30] - Prophetic Community
[26:16] - Prophetic Values and Protocols
[30:21] - Encouragement Through Prophecy
[31:11] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[32:43] - Clarity and Kindness
[33:29] - Brevity in Prophecy
[34:48] - Preparing for Prayer
[36:02] - Community and Trust
[37:02] - The Importance of Tithing
[39:01] - Receiving Prayer and Encouragement
[40:59] - Praying for Healing
[43:04] - Overcoming Fear with God's Help
[44:00] - Invitation to Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 41:10
Observation Questions:
1. What are the signs that Jesus mentioned to John's disciples to confirm the presence of God's kingdom? [01:03]
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of our relationship with God, and what analogy is used to illustrate it? [03:18]
3. According to the sermon, what role do believers play in helping others encounter God? [05:28]
4. What does Isaiah 41:10 promise to those who are fearful or dismayed? [06:46]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of John the Baptist challenge our understanding of God's mission when our expectations are not met? [01:51]
2. In what ways can ongoing conversation with God be compared to a marriage, and why is this important for spiritual growth? [03:18]
3. How does the assurance "Do not fear, for I am with you" serve as a countercultural message in today's world? [06:46]
4. What is the significance of the prophetic gifts being accessible to all believers, and how should they be used within the church community? [26:16]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your circumstances did not align with your expectations. How did you see God's mission continue in unexpected ways? [01:51]
2. How can you cultivate a deeper, ongoing conversation with God in your daily life? What new topics might you open up in your prayers? [03:18]
3. Identify a person in your life who may not know God. How can you be a bridge for them to encounter God's presence this week? [05:28]
4. What specific fears are you currently facing, and how can you apply the promise of Isaiah 41:10 to those fears? [06:46]
5. Consider the prophetic gifts mentioned in the sermon. How can you practice humility, clarity, and kindness when using these gifts to encourage others? [26:16]
6. In what ways can you contribute to a community marked by generosity and openness to God's leading? How might this impact your spiritual growth? [37:02]
7. Reflect on the role of tithing in your life. How does it help you dethrone money and other idols, allowing God's voice to be clearer? [37:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation as Evidence of God's Kingdom
The kingdom of God is not just a distant promise but a present reality marked by transformation. This transformation is seen in the miracles of healing, such as the deaf hearing, the blind seeing, and the lame walking. These acts are not merely physical healings but signs of God's presence and power among us. They remind us that God's kingdom is active and alive, calling us to trust in His ability to change our circumstances, even when they seem dire. As we witness these transformations, we are invited to participate in God's work, allowing His power to flow through us to bring healing and hope to others. [01:51]
Isaiah 35:5-6 (ESV): "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems unchangeable. How can you invite God's transformative power into this area today?
Day 2: Cultivating an Ongoing Relationship with God
Our relationship with God is dynamic and ever-evolving, much like a marriage that thrives on continuous conversation and openness. This ongoing dialogue with God allows us to explore new topics and deepen our connection with Him. It is not limited to those who already know Him by name but is available to everyone. As believers, we have the privilege and responsibility to facilitate others' encounters with God, helping them experience His presence and enter into a relationship with Him. This requires us to be open and attentive to God's voice, ready to share His love and truth with those around us. [03:18]
Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV): "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to engage in meaningful conversation with God? What new topic might you explore with Him today?
Day 3: Embracing God's Presence Over Fear
In a world often governed by fear, God's message to us is clear: "Do not fear, for I am with you." This assurance is countercultural, inviting us to trust in God's presence and strength rather than succumbing to fear. God's promise to uphold us with His righteous right hand is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with others. As we experience His support, we are called to be conduits of His love and power, demonstrating His presence through our lives and offering hope to those around us. [06:46]
Psalm 46:1-2 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."
Reflection: Identify a fear that has been holding you back. How can you lean into God's promise of presence and strength to overcome this fear today?
Day 4: Prophetic Gifts as Tools for Encouragement
The prophetic gifts are accessible to all believers and are intended to encourage, strengthen, and comfort. These gifts are not about correction or rebuke but about building up the body of Christ. As we grow in these gifts, we must do so with humility, clarity, and kindness, ensuring that our words align with God's nature and are delivered with the fruit of the Spirit. This approach allows us to be effective instruments of God's peace and healing, making His presence known in tangible ways within our community. [26:16]
1 Corinthians 14:3 (ESV): "On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation."
Reflection: Consider how you might use your words to encourage someone today. How can you ensure that your words reflect God's love and kindness?
Day 5: Community and Generosity as Spiritual Practices
Being part of a community and living generously are essential to our spiritual growth. As we engage with others and give of ourselves, we dethrone money and other idols, allowing God's voice to be clear in our lives. This generosity is not just about financial giving but about sharing our time, talents, and resources with those around us. By doing so, we create a space where God's presence can be experienced, and His love can be shared, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose within our community. [37:02]
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV): "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Reflection: What is one way you can practice generosity today, either within your community or towards someone in need? How might this act of giving deepen your relationship with God and others?
Quotes
"The devastating news to John the Baptist was that the response came back that they're not coming to get him out. But that's not the case. That the mission was taking a different turn. And what do we do? What do we do when things don't go the way that we hope, when things don't go the way we think we were promised?" [00:01:51] (20 seconds)
"And what the poet said, and I wish I could do the Yorkshire accent because it's something else. But my gifts lie elsewhere. He says, what if he lives long enough, what he will see is what most married couples see is that the conversation isn't about the relationship. The conversation is about the relationship. Is the relationship." [00:03:18] (27 seconds)
"Fear governs so much of our behavior. And yet here we have this countercultural message. Do not fear. Why? Why? For I am with you. I am with you. How are people who don't know Jesus, going to know that he is with them unless he meets you?" [00:06:46] (21 seconds)
"Do not be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. What is to be dismayed? Dismayed is in dismay. Stressed. It's discouraged. It's you've got problems. Your problems have problems and there isn't a solution in sight. Don't be dismayed. Why? I am your God. I'm the one you build your life around." [00:09:17] (25 seconds)
"How are the people of Dallas and Atlanta, Miami, wherever we represent, who don't know him by name, going to ever know that? They'll only know that if we will be the first to receive. Because you can't give what you don't have. I had a thought earlier of giving each one of you $100." [00:12:06] (28 seconds)
"The only way I can see God do things is if my right hand is in his hand. This posture, I am the God who takes you by the right hand, is the image of a father taking hold of his child's hand. Children, you've all seen it. They love it until they don't. They get to a certain age and they're like, what are you doing trying to grab my hand?" [00:15:30] (31 seconds)
"Sometimes we think it has to be this incredibly spiritual thing, inspiring, but often, and we think we need to find the needle in the haystack, but actually if the scriptures are true, we're looking for the haystack. The voice of God isn't the sound of a dripping tap in Dallas during a hard freeze, but the voice of God is the sound of rushing waters." [00:18:07] (30 seconds)
"And the thing is, we want to grow as a community to a place where the prophetic doesn't rely on one or two people. But it's a gift that everyone uses. In our church, the goal we have, we're not there yet, and it's a bit shocking to say in Dallas because so many people do have a PhD in theology." [00:25:30] (24 seconds)
"Joel chapter two, verse 28, and Acts chapter two, Peter does the same. And they say that the spirit of God has been poured out on just a few people in every church. No, all people. Young, old, men, and women. And so the very first, the only criteria to be used by God to give a word that is prophetic, that strengthens and courage and comforts, is that you are alive." [00:26:16] (27 seconds)
"Words, prophetic words, whether they're given through something we see, hear, sense, or perceive, never contradict the nature of God. They never go against his word, and they never violate any of the core teachings of the scriptures. We want to be responsible. We want to make sure that the gift is given through the lens of the fruit of the Spirit." [00:31:11] (23 seconds)
"Because so much of how we do things communicates, and we want to make sure that we communicate responsibly. The third one is we want to be clear and be kind. Is the person in a place where they could receive a word right now? Can you offer it humbly? Can you... Do it in such a way that the focus isn't on you, the giver, but the focus is really on the dignity of the receiver." [00:32:43] (34 seconds)
"And when the prophetic is in the community and it's offered in community, you'd be amazed at when someone has a word for the first time and everybody knows and they're like, is that the kid from Nazareth? Speaking with authority? That's what was so stunning about Jesus. So be known, and know others." [00:36:02] (22 seconds)
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