Embracing God's Will: Growth Through Trials and Worship
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound truth that our relationship with God must go beyond mere comfort and routine. We often celebrate when God answers our prayers with a "yes," but struggle when He says "no." This struggle can lead to bitterness and questioning. However, it's crucial to understand that some trials and tribulations are designed to push us beyond our comfort zones and closer to God. We must prioritize our spiritual growth over worldly pleasures and material gains. Our lives should not be about seeking personal happiness but about seeking God's will and purpose.
We delved into the importance of maintaining a consistent relationship with God through prayer, reading His Word, and fasting. These three practices are essential for spiritual growth and hearing God's voice. Neglecting any of these can lead to a weakened spiritual state. We also discussed the significance of brokenness in our spiritual journey. God values a broken and contrite heart because it is in our brokenness that we are most open to His transformative power.
The story of the woman with the alabaster box in Luke 7 served as a powerful illustration of true repentance and worship. Despite her sinful past, she approached Jesus with humility and desperation, seeking forgiveness and transformation. Her actions contrasted sharply with the self-righteous Pharisees who failed to recognize their need for Jesus. This story reminds us that God is more interested in our genuine repentance and love for Him than in our outward religious practices.
We must also be mindful of our interactions with others, especially those who are struggling. Instead of judging and condemning, we should offer guidance, support, and love. Every soul is valuable to God, and our role is to lead them to Him, not to clean them ourselves. Finally, we emphasized the importance of coming to church with an expectation to encounter God and be used by Him. Our spiritual journey requires continuous effort, and we must remain vigilant and intentional in our pursuit of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Embrace God's "No" as Much as His "Yes": When God says "no," it is an opportunity for growth and deeper reliance on Him. Our faith should not waver based on the answers we receive but should be rooted in trust that God knows what is best for us. Embracing God's "no" can lead us to a place of greater spiritual maturity and understanding. [24:08]
2. Prioritize Spiritual Practices: Prayer, reading the Word, and fasting are non-negotiable for a thriving spiritual life. These practices are interconnected and essential for hearing God's voice and understanding His will. Neglecting any of these can lead to spiritual stagnation and a weakened relationship with God. [30:09]
3. Value Brokenness: God uses our brokenness to draw us closer to Him and to transform us. A broken and contrite heart is more open to God's work and more willing to surrender to His will. Embracing our brokenness allows God to make us whole and use us for His purposes. [46:32]
4. Genuine Repentance and Worship: The story of the woman with the alabaster box teaches us the importance of genuine repentance and heartfelt worship. God values our sincere efforts to seek Him and turn away from sin more than our outward religious practices. True worship involves humility, desperation, and a deep love for God. [41:14]
5. Support and Love for Others: Our interactions with others should be marked by love, guidance, and support rather than judgment and condemnation. Every soul is valuable to God, and our role is to lead them to Him. We must be willing to help others in their spiritual journey and be open to being used by God to make a difference in their lives. [50:30]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:12] - Embracing God's "No"
[24:08] - Beyond the Comfort Zone
[25:20] - Prioritizing Spiritual Practices
[26:42] - Genuine Relationship with God
[27:36] - The Beatitudes and Brokenness
[28:49] - Building a Continuous Relationship
[30:09] - The Power of Prayer, Word, and Fasting
[31:29] - Jesus' Example in Spiritual Warfare
[32:37] - Repetition in Spiritual Practices
[34:12] - The Alabaster Box: True Repentance
[36:06] - Supporting and Loving Others
[37:26] - The Value of One Soul
[40:37] - True Worship and Honor
[46:32] - God Uses Brokenness
[50:30] - Importance of Community Support
[52:12] - Seeking God with Expectation
[56:35] - The Power of Expectation in Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 7:36-50 - The story of the woman with the alabaster box.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the Pharisees to the woman with the alabaster box, and how did Jesus respond to their thoughts? ([35:04])
2. According to the sermon, what are the three essential spiritual practices for maintaining a strong relationship with God? ([30:09])
3. How did the woman with the alabaster box demonstrate genuine repentance and worship? ([41:14])
4. What does the sermon suggest is the significance of brokenness in our spiritual journey? ([46:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the importance of embracing God's "no" as much as His "yes"? How can this lead to spiritual growth? ([24:08])
2. How do prayer, reading the Word, and fasting work together to strengthen our relationship with God? ([30:09])
3. In what ways does the story of the woman with the alabaster box illustrate the difference between outward religious practices and genuine repentance? ([41:14])
4. How can brokenness be a tool for God to draw us closer to Him and transform us? ([46:32])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when God said "no" to your prayers. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you embrace God's "no" in the future? ([24:08])
2. Evaluate your current spiritual practices. Are you consistently engaging in prayer, reading the Word, and fasting? What steps can you take to improve in these areas? ([30:09])
3. Think about a moment when you felt broken or at the end of yourself. How did that experience affect your relationship with God? How can you use your brokenness to draw closer to Him now? ([46:32])
4. The woman with the alabaster box showed genuine repentance and worship. How can you demonstrate genuine repentance in your daily life? ([41:14])
5. Consider your interactions with others, especially those who are struggling. How can you offer guidance, support, and love instead of judgment and condemnation? ([50:30])
6. When you come to church, do you come with an expectation to encounter God and be used by Him? How can you cultivate this mindset more consistently? ([52:12])
7. Identify one person in your life who is struggling. What specific actions can you take this week to support and guide them in their spiritual journey? ([50:30])
Devotional
### Day 1: Embracing God's "No" for Spiritual Growth
Description:
When God says "no" to our prayers, it can be challenging to accept and understand. However, these moments are opportunities for us to grow spiritually and deepen our reliance on Him. Our faith should not be dependent on receiving affirmative answers but should be rooted in the trust that God knows what is best for us. Embracing God's "no" can lead us to a place of greater spiritual maturity and understanding. It is in these moments of denial that we are often pushed beyond our comfort zones and drawn closer to God. [24:08]
Bible Passage:
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a recent situation where God said "no" to your prayer. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience to trust Him more deeply?
### Day 2: The Power of Spiritual Practices
Description:
Prayer, reading the Word, and fasting are essential practices for a thriving spiritual life. These practices are interconnected and vital for hearing God's voice and understanding His will. Neglecting any of these can lead to spiritual stagnation and a weakened relationship with God. Consistent engagement in these practices helps us build a continuous and genuine relationship with Him. They are not just religious routines but are lifelines that keep us connected to the source of our spiritual strength and guidance. [30:09]
Bible Passage:
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, ESV)
Reflection:
Which of the three spiritual practices (prayer, reading the Word, fasting) do you find most challenging to maintain consistently? What steps can you take today to incorporate it more regularly into your life?
### Day 3: Embracing Brokenness for Transformation
Description:
God uses our brokenness to draw us closer to Him and to transform us. A broken and contrite heart is more open to God's work and more willing to surrender to His will. Embracing our brokenness allows God to make us whole and use us for His purposes. It is in our moments of vulnerability and humility that we experience the depth of God's grace and transformative power. Recognizing and accepting our brokenness is not a sign of weakness but a pathway to spiritual renewal and strength. [46:32]
Bible Passage:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on a time when you felt broken and vulnerable. How did that experience bring you closer to God, and what did you learn about His grace and power during that time?
### Day 4: Genuine Repentance and Worship
Description:
The story of the woman with the alabaster box teaches us the importance of genuine repentance and heartfelt worship. God values our sincere efforts to seek Him and turn away from sin more than our outward religious practices. True worship involves humility, desperation, and a deep love for God. This woman's actions contrasted sharply with the self-righteous Pharisees who failed to recognize their need for Jesus. Her story reminds us that God is more interested in our genuine repentance and love for Him than in our outward religious practices. [41:14]
Bible Passage:
"And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment." (Luke 7:38, ESV)
Reflection:
Consider your own acts of worship and repentance. Are they driven by genuine love and humility, or are they more about outward appearances? How can you deepen your sincerity in seeking God?
### Day 5: Supporting and Loving Others
Description:
Our interactions with others should be marked by love, guidance, and support rather than judgment and condemnation. Every soul is valuable to God, and our role is to lead them to Him. We must be willing to help others in their spiritual journey and be open to being used by God to make a difference in their lives. Instead of judging and condemning, we should offer guidance, support, and love. This approach not only reflects God's love but also helps build a supportive and nurturing community. [50:30]
Bible Passage:
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of someone in your life who is struggling spiritually. How can you offer them support and love today in a way that reflects God's grace and compassion?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "When we pray and God says no we won't say nothing and we get we get bitter and we start questioning God sometimes I have I've asked God why why this and why that and you know what I've come to realize there's some things in this world that we go through that it doesn't have any point to where God's waiting for you at but you're only going to get to that point when you get past yourself you got to get past what you know and what you think is right." [23:12] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We think that our own desires and our own pleasures is what this life's all about that's not what this life's about you was not put on this earth to do pleasures and enjoy the things of this world it's not bad to enjoy some of them it's not bad to have family and have fun and go on vacation and do those things but we have to have our priorities right we have to have the main thing the main thing we can't get sidetracked on what we're trying to achieve for this world." [24:08] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you reach a place that you realize that you were broke and you don't have what it takes to fix it, that's when you become broken spirit. When you look at yourself in the mirror, and I'm speaking from experience, when you look at yourself in the mirror and you tell yourself, I don't like who I am. I don't like the person that I see. I don't like what this person does. I don't like how this person acts." [28:49] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When Jesus sees something's broken he says there's there's something I can use right there there's a person that I can touch there's a person that I can get a hold of there's somebody that I can use because they're willing to let me use them. We don't need to throw away the people, but we do need to throw away the sin. For the kingdom of God has put a premium on brokenness." [46:32] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The good news is. Is that God makes broken people whole. He doesn't just fix them. He doesn't just make it right. He makes them whole. As if they were never broken before. It's only the spirit of God can do that. AA won't do that. 12 step program won't do that. Celebrate recovery won't do that. It's the Holy Spirit. And I'm not against any of that. If that helps by all means do it. But that's not going to fix anything. That's not going to make you whole. Only the spirit of God can make you whole." [53:15] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We have to build that while we're working we have to build that while we're while we're striving to meet God we're not going to we're not going to make it to the end of us if we're okay and satisfied with where we are now if you're okay with where you are now then I would encourage you to check yourself and and try to make it move forward more towards God it's not okay to stay where you're at in God God wants a place where God wants you in a place by him the only way to get there is you have to go through some stuff and you have to get past that." [25:20] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There's three simple things, and it's preached, and you hear it time after time again, and this is the way that God set it up. It's prayer, His word, and fasting. Those are the way God talks. You want to hear a voice from God? You want to find out what God wants you to do? You want to hear what God has to say? It's in those three things. If you ignore any of those three, you won't get a full picture of it. You'll only get half of it." [30:09] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We need to make sure that we have that real right relationship with God. We need to come to a place of repentance daily we need to do we need to do that and I'm not saying that you have to you or try to think about what you did wrong it's not one time because we shouldn't be intentionally sin in any way I'm saying we need to push forward into the spirit and we need to make sure that we don't quench the spirit." [45:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need to get our desire and our hunger back in God. To like we was when we were desperate. That's what we need to pray like we're desperate. Read the word of God like we're desperate. We need to get a hold of God like we're desperate. Because somebody's life hangs in the balance of that. Our lives, our children's lives, at the very least. At the very least, there's someone looking up. And their life's hanging in the balance. Your decisions affect people that you don't even know." [48:06] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we come on Sundays. Let us be ready. And be willing to let the spirit of God. Move us and guide us. And I don't mean that with just praise and worship. I don't mean that. I mean let the spirit use you to pray. Let the spirit use you to be an altar worker. Let the spirit use you to do whatever the spirit has called you to do. Because sometimes I feel like the spirit is flowing. But there's hindrance sometimes to it. And you can feel it. It's like when the air. When the rushing wind comes. Or like you turn the fan on. Something is blocking and slowing it down a little bit." [55:39] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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