Embracing God's Unconditional Love and Resilience in Trials
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's unwavering love and the assurance that nothing can separate us from it. We began by acknowledging our place in God's eternal family, a family bound not by our deeds or missteps but by His unyielding love. This love is a constant reminder that despite our human frailties, God’s grace is ever-present, urging us to rise, forgive ourselves, and love anew.
We delved into the imagery of God's love as a banner over us, a vivid reminder that His love is not conditional on our perfection but is a steadfast declaration over our lives. This love is not overshadowed by our failures or the chaos of the world but stands as a beacon of hope and assurance.
Reflecting on Psalm 37, we acknowledged the trials and tribulations that life presents. In a world filled with chaos and lawlessness, where right and wrong seem blurred, we are called to trust in the Lord and do good. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to seek God's guidance in our actions and to delight in His presence. By doing so, we find safety and prosperity for our souls, even amidst turmoil.
Revelation 4 offers a glimpse into the heavenly throne room, where God's holiness is celebrated continuously. This vision reassures us of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, affirming that He is worthy of our trust and worship. The heavenly beings, with their all-seeing eyes, testify to God's unmatched holiness and His eternal reign, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith.
As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded of the protocol laid out in Psalm 37: trust in the Lord, do good, and delight in Him. This practice builds resilience, allowing us to face trials with joy, knowing that God is with us and will fulfill the desires of our hearts. Let us embrace this divine protocol, turning to God in our trials, and allowing His love to guide us through.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Unconditional Love: God's love for us is unwavering and not dependent on our actions. It is a constant banner over our lives, reminding us that we are cherished and forgiven, even when we falter. This love empowers us to forgive ourselves and others, enabling us to rise and love anew. [13:59]
2. Trust and Do Good: In the midst of life's trials, we are called to trust in the Lord and do good. This active trust involves seeking God's guidance and acting in ways that reflect His goodness, even when faced with chaos and injustice. By doing so, we find safety and prosperity for our souls. [32:23]
3. Delight in the Lord: Delighting in the Lord involves remembering His faithfulness and goodness in our lives. By focusing on His past and present works, we can turn away from negativity and embrace a spirit of praise, allowing God to fulfill the desires of our hearts. [43:22]
4. Heavenly Assurance: Revelation 4 provides a vision of God's holiness and sovereignty, affirming that He is worthy of our trust and worship. The heavenly beings testify to His unmatched greatness, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God is in control. [39:29]
5. Resilience Through Protocol: Psalm 37 offers a divine protocol for navigating trials: trust in the Lord, do good, and delight in Him. Practicing this builds resilience, allowing us to face challenges with joy and confidence, knowing that God is with us and will fulfill His promises. [48:07]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Opening Prayer
- [02:00] - Prayer of Confession
- [04:00] - Children's Hymn: His Banner Over Me is Love
- [06:30] - Understanding God's Banner of Love
- [13:59] - Embracing Forgiveness and Love
- [18:30] - Meditations on Psalm 37
- [22:00] - Trials and Tribulations in Life
- [32:23] - Trusting and Doing Good
- [35:32] - Revelation 4: A Glimpse of Heaven
- [39:29] - The Holiness of God
- [43:22] - Living the Protocol of Psalm 37
- [48:07] - Resilience Through Faith
- [54:29] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
- [57:44] - Invitation to Fellowship and Lunch
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 37
2. Revelation 4
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Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 37, what specific actions are we encouraged to take in the face of trials and chaos? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on trusting and doing good? [32:23]
2. How is God's love described as a "banner" over us in the sermon, and what does this imagery signify about His love? [18:30]
3. What is the significance of the heavenly throne room vision in Revelation 4, and how does it affirm God's sovereignty and holiness? [35:32]
4. According to the sermon, what role do the four living creatures play in Revelation 4, and what do they reveal about God's character? [39:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God's love as a "banner" challenge or affirm your understanding of His love being unconditional and unwavering? [18:30]
2. In what ways does Psalm 37 provide a "protocol" for dealing with life's challenges, and how might this protocol build resilience in a believer's life? [32:23]
3. How does the vision of God's throne room in Revelation 4 provide assurance and encouragement for believers facing trials? [35:32]
4. What does the continuous worship of God by the heavenly beings in Revelation 4 suggest about the nature of worship and its importance in our lives? [39:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did you respond, and how might applying the protocol from Psalm 37 have changed your approach? [32:23]
2. Consider a time when you felt distant from God's love. How can the imagery of His love as a "banner" over you help you to reconnect with His love and forgiveness? [18:30]
3. In what practical ways can you "trust in the Lord and do good" in your current circumstances? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [32:23]
4. How can you cultivate a habit of delighting in the Lord, especially during difficult times? What specific practices can help you focus on His faithfulness and goodness? [43:22]
5. Think about a situation where you struggled to see God's sovereignty. How can the vision of the heavenly throne room in Revelation 4 help you trust in His control over your life? [35:32]
6. Identify one area in your life where you need to build resilience. How can the teachings from Psalm 37 guide you in developing this resilience? [48:07]
7. How can you incorporate more worship into your daily routine, inspired by the continuous worship seen in Revelation 4? What specific steps can you take to make worship a more integral part of your life? [39:29]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Love as Our Constant Banner
God's love is a steadfast banner over our lives, not dependent on our actions or perfection. It is a constant reminder that we are cherished and forgiven, even when we falter. This love empowers us to forgive ourselves and others, enabling us to rise and love anew. In a world where love often feels conditional, God's love stands as a beacon of hope and assurance, urging us to embrace forgiveness and love. [13:59]
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Psalm 91:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt unworthy of love. How can you allow God's unwavering love to transform your perception of yourself today?
Day 2: Active Trust in Chaos
In the midst of life's trials, we are called to trust in the Lord and do good. This active trust involves seeking God's guidance and acting in ways that reflect His goodness, even when faced with chaos and injustice. By doing so, we find safety and prosperity for our souls. Trusting God is not passive; it requires us to engage with the world in a way that mirrors His love and justice. [32:23]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." (Psalm 37:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a situation where you feel overwhelmed by chaos. How can you actively trust God and reflect His goodness in this situation today?
Day 3: Delighting in God's Presence
Delighting in the Lord involves remembering His faithfulness and goodness in our lives. By focusing on His past and present works, we can turn away from negativity and embrace a spirit of praise, allowing God to fulfill the desires of our hearts. This delight is not just an emotion but a choice to focus on God's presence and His work in our lives. [43:22]
"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy." (Psalm 96:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally delight in God's presence today, turning away from negativity and embracing His joy?
Day 4: Assurance of God's Sovereignty
Revelation 4 provides a vision of God's holiness and sovereignty, affirming that He is worthy of our trust and worship. The heavenly beings testify to His unmatched greatness, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God is in control. This assurance allows us to face life's uncertainties with confidence, trusting in God's eternal reign. [39:29]
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to be reminded of God's sovereignty? How can you express your trust in His control today?
Day 5: Building Resilience Through Divine Protocol
Psalm 37 offers a divine protocol for navigating trials: trust in the Lord, do good, and delight in Him. Practicing this builds resilience, allowing us to face challenges with joy and confidence, knowing that God is with us and will fulfill His promises. This resilience is not just about enduring but thriving in the midst of adversity, grounded in God's love and guidance. [48:07]
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one trial you are currently facing? How can you apply the divine protocol of trust, doing good, and delighting in God to build resilience in this situation today?
Quotes
"God, we do thank you that you've made us part of your forever family, that nothing can separate us from your love. Not our wanderings, not our mistakes, not our good deeds. Nothing can separate us from your love. So we come in wonder and humility, giving you thanks and praise." [00:11:59] (22 seconds)
"And so I love that because it's what binds us together. And yet, even though we fail and we follow our, not the path of Jesus, Jesus again and again declares to us, I understand that. I forgive you. Take my hand. Let's get going. And so may his Holy Spirit fall upon you, letting you forget, allowing his forgiveness to allow you to forgive yourself." [00:14:16] (33 seconds)
"His banner over us is love. That despite all the other things that might happen in a relationship with Jesus, the most important thing you know is that he loves you. And that's his banner. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, thank you that your banner over us is love. Help us to rejoice in that. Amen." [00:18:36] (26 seconds)
"Fret not yourself because of evil doers. Don't fret you know what fretting is thinking about it over and over over again fretting right don't fret yourself because of evil doers don't be envious of wrongdoers why for they shall soon fade away like the grass and wither like the green herb don't fret when you get like attacked when nonsense is happening your way you don't have to worry about those that are doing it too don't fret because their day will come but what do we do trust in the lord and do good in the middle of it all it's like okay i gotta trust you lord like like i can't be following my baser instincts i have to ask lord what is it that you'd have me do here i trust that you're in with me in the midst of this chaos and the second thing is as you're trusting him you're to do good so what does good look like here lord in the midst of this trial and then he has this incredible promise dwell in the land uh and befriend the faithfulness and another version says that you will know safety and you will prosper and so ultimately that's what we want in the middle of our chaos and our trial we want to be safe again and we want to prosper because if we let our our baser instincts if these these trials these people are trying to take us out or sometimes we try to take our own self -sabotage if we let those things take their root all of a sudden they will uh control the narrative and that becomes our lord revenge getting what we deserve fighting you know in all of these ways and he says no no don't let that be the narrative of your life trust the lord and do good like what does it mean to trust god in the midst of this trial his body blow okay and then do good like the lord and goodness are tied together like a coin you could say do good and trust the lord or you can say" [00:25:14] (150 seconds)
"Delight yourself in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart so in the midst of all of this trial that you're in the midst of uh you're asking okay lord i know you're with me i know you're all powerful all -knowing i know that you you your presence is with me your spirit is with me i know you're going to help me get through this okay help me figure out what good is okay and then there's some safety and uh prosperity happens in your soul but then he says well if you can delight yourself in the lord he'll give you the desires of your heart and that the whole sense of delighting means that that when you when you're hurt it's hard to delight but but to delight in the lord is to remember all those other places in your life and the life of those that you know where the lord has proven himself to be faithful it's to remember if you go through the scriptures and you can begin to read your scriptures and you can see you know jesus healing the the blinds and the and helping the broken and the and you start to like delight in that and you look at your own album of places where the lord has been in your life and and you're focusing on that you're delighting in him you're letting praise fm live in your soul rather than that other station complaint have you ever been there complaint fm uh regret fm all these other stations that we tune into negativity fm i'm gonna find faults with everyone fm he says no no turn those stations off delight in the lord fm the promise is he'll give you uh the desires of your heart he'll make heaven happen to you in the midst of your hell" [00:29:07] (111 seconds)
"And the more that you navigate in this way, the more it builds resilience in you. In fact, you don't fear the trial anymore, because you know a way through it. And you begin to have all of these experiences experiences of times when you've been body checked by evil and taken out. And yet you've learned to trust in the Lord and do good. And how it always seems to work out again and again and again and again. And so this hundredth blow is going to work out again. In fact, James writes that we're supposed to know this so well, this drill, this protocol so well, that when we get trials, he says, consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you get trials of all different kinds, because within it is producing steadfastness. And when it finishes its work, it's going to make you complete and ready for any work." [00:33:19] (66 seconds)
"And so when God plants a word here in Scripture and says, this is what you're called to do, this is the protocol, the big thing is, will God answer it? Well, you know, does God have the capacity and the goodness to honor us when we submit to his protocol? So in the midst of our trial, when we trust in him and we do good, when we turn on the Praise FM, and do we see that he will honor the fact that we'll have safety and that our souls will prosper and that we'll have the things that we long, deep longings for in our heart will be realized. Like, is this actually happening?" [00:35:32] (43 seconds)
"And so I want to go through what happens up in heaven. First of all, we see this incredibly glorious throne room with a rainbow around the whole of this throne room and there's this glassy kind of marble, but it's see -through. And we see one massive throne and there's thundering and lightning and there's 24 other thrones beneath it with the elders. Those are people of integrity. To be an elder in a church in the New Testament was to be a person without blame, to be someone who is trusted, who's mature, who's Christ -like. And so we have these 24 elders there." [00:36:29] (55 seconds)
"And what do they say? There's enough content that we're told that day and night they never cease. Singing. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. And so they can see what God has done, what God is doing, what God will do, and they're saying, holy, holy, holy. He is like, he's beyond anything that we've ever seen. That's what holy means. It's separated from whatever we've seen before. He is so in a league of its own." [00:39:29] (34 seconds)
"And yet, in her mind, she begins to hear Psalm 37. Trust in the Lord, do good. Trust in the Lord, do good. Trust in the Lord, do good. And as she ponders it, there's a strange peace that comes over her. She remembers praying, God, I don't understand, like, why this has happened, but I trust that you're good and I trust that you're with me. And I'm going to, I'm going to do good. Help me figure out what good means here. Like, I don't even know how to tell the kids. I don't know how to plan a funeral. I don't even know how to plan my life. Like, everything is, but I'm going to trust you. I'm going to try to do good, whatever good I can." [00:41:59] (37 seconds)
"And every time she starts to slip into depression and darkness, she hears that, Psalm 37, Psalm 37, Psalm 37, and she switches back her tears and her depression. She's like, help me, Lord, help me, Lord, to trust you. I don't know how my life's going to work out anymore. Soon, a girlfriend comes by and they've been taking a pottery class and she's a pretty good potter. I mean, actually very good." [00:42:59] (29 seconds)
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