Embracing New Seasons: Faithfulness and Restoration
Summary
Today is a day of honoring faithfulness and embracing the new season God is bringing to our community. As we bless and send the Magpots into their next chapter and welcome the Ben-Rostros into new leadership, we are reminded that God is always at work, orchestrating growth and generational impact in our midst. Even as we reflect on the year so far, with its unfulfilled dreams and unanswered prayers, we are called to remember that God is not finished yet. He invites us to surrender our time, our seasons, and our expectations to Him, trusting that He can bring fruit in every month, in every circumstance, just as the river in Ezekiel’s vision brings life wherever it flows.
Ezekiel’s story is one of hope in exile—a people stripped of everything familiar, yet met by God with a vision and a plan. Exile is not just a physical place; it can be emotional, spiritual, or relational. Yet, even in our most disconnected moments, God can open the heavens and give us a vision that shifts everything. The vision of the temple and the river in Ezekiel 47 is a prophetic picture: God’s plans are birthed in unexpected places and are always rooted in His presence. Just as God gave Ezekiel a detailed blueprint for the temple, He is intentional with our lives, measuring our days and building something beautiful within us.
But plans alone are not enough—God calls us to be builders. We are His temple, His royal priesthood, and He expects us to be faithful, instructional, and to serve from a place of rest, not striving. The call is to go deeper, to move from ankle-deep to fully immersed in His presence, allowing the current of the Holy Spirit to carry us beyond convenience and control. When we are fully immersed, life flows not just to us but through us, bringing healing, restoration, and fruitfulness to those around us.
God’s dream is for His river to flow to every tribe, tongue, and nation, and He invites us to be part of that mission. Even if you feel stuck, numb, or fruitless, God’s plan is for restoration, for you to dream again, and to live at a level where you pinch yourself in awe of His faithfulness. He is bigger than your limitations, and He is still moving, still restoring, still offering living water that satisfies every thirst. Today, the invitation is to surrender your plans, receive His living water, and step into the next level of life He has for you.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Plans Are Birthed in Unexpected Places
God often reveals His greatest plans in the midst of exile, disappointment, or unfamiliar territory. Like Ezekiel by the river in Babylon, we may find ourselves in places we never expected, but it is precisely there that God opens the heavens and gives us vision. Our peculiar seasons are not wasted; they are the soil for divine blueprints and new beginnings. [01:03:04]
- Faithfulness Unlocks Fruitfulness in Every Season
The call to be faithful is not just about consistency in action, but about a heart that remains steadfast when others fall away. God honors those who stay near, who serve Him in the mundane and the miraculous, and who do not let inconsistency define their walk. Faithfulness is the foundation upon which God builds fruit that remains, even in the “winters” of our lives. [01:15:48]
- Rest Is a Posture, Not Passivity
Serving God from a place of rest means depending on His strength rather than striving in our own. True rest is not inactivity, but a deep trust that God’s promises are true and that obedience is a gesture of faith. When we serve clothed in grace, not sweat, we find that His burden is light and His work is accomplished through us, not by us. [01:19:19]
- Full Immersion Brings Life to You and Through You
God calls us to move beyond shallow engagement and to be fully immersed in His presence. As we go deeper—from ankle to knee to waist to waters too deep to cross—we relinquish control and allow the Spirit to carry us. This immersion is not just for our benefit; it is so that the river of God’s life can flow through us, bringing healing and restoration to our city, our families, and the nations. [01:22:35]
- Restoration Is God’s Response to Exile
No matter how long you have wept by the rivers of Babylon, God’s plan is to turn mourning into vision and despair into destiny. He wants to restore your song, renew your dreams, and bring you to a place where you marvel at His goodness. The faithfulness of God is not just a memory; it is a present reality, inviting you to wake up, dream again, and live in the abundance of His restoration. [01:31:52]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Honoring the Magpots and Ben-Rostros
[03:10] - Entering a New Season of Worship
[05:20] - Reflections on Time and God’s Timing
[08:30] - Reading Ezekiel 47: The River from the Temple
[13:15] - Fruitfulness in Every Season
[17:40] - God’s Plan in Exile: Hope for the Displaced
[22:00] - Purpose in Peculiar Places
[27:00] - The Power of Prophetic Words
[32:00] - God’s Blueprint: The Temple and Our Lives
[38:00] - Builders Needed: Faithfulness and Instruction
[44:00] - Serving from Rest, Not Striving
[48:00] - Going Deeper: Full Immersion in God’s Presence
[53:00] - The River Flows Out: Mission to the Nations
[58:00] - Restoration, Dreaming Again, and Living the Song
[01:03:00] - Invitation to Receive Living Water and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “The Plan – Fruitfulness in Every Season”
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### Bible Reading
Ezekiel 47:1-12 (ESV)
> Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
>
> Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
Psalm 126:1-6 (ESV)
> When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Ezekiel’s vision, how does the river change as it flows from the temple? What happens to the land and the living things wherever the river goes? (Ezekiel 47:1-12)
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean that “fruit must come every season” for God’s people? [[51:55]]
3. What emotions and experiences are described in Psalm 126 when God restores His people? How do the people respond? (Psalm 126:1-6)
4. The sermon mentions that God’s plans are often birthed in “unexpected places.” What are some examples from the Bible or the sermon where God met people in exile or difficult situations? [[01:03:04]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to give Ezekiel a vision of a river bringing life in the middle of exile? What message was God sending to His people through this vision? [[01:03:04]]
2. The sermon says, “Faithfulness unlocks fruitfulness in every season.” What does it look like to be faithful when life feels like a “winter” or a time of exile? [[01:15:48]]
3. The river in Ezekiel’s vision starts small and grows deeper. What might this progression (ankle, knee, waist, deep) represent in our spiritual lives? [[01:21:00]]
4. The sermon talks about serving God from a place of rest, not striving. How is “rest” different from passivity, and why is it important for fruitfulness? [[01:19:19]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to surrender our time, seasons, and expectations to God. Is there an area of your life where you are struggling to trust God’s timing or plan? What would it look like to surrender that area this week? [[51:55]]
2. “God’s plans are birthed in unexpected places.” Have you ever experienced God working in your life during a difficult or unfamiliar season? How did that shape your faith? [[01:03:04]]
3. The vision in Ezekiel 47 calls us to go deeper—from ankle-deep to fully immersed in God’s presence. Where would you say you are right now in your walk with God (ankle, knee, waist, or fully immersed)? What is one step you can take to go deeper? [[01:21:00]]
4. The sermon says, “Faithfulness is the foundation upon which God builds fruit that remains.” In what practical ways can you show faithfulness to God this month, even in the “mundane” or hard times? [[01:15:48]]
5. Serving from rest means depending on God’s strength, not our own. Are there areas where you feel you are striving or “sweating” in your own strength? How can you shift to serving from a place of rest and trust? [[01:19:19]]
6. The river in Ezekiel’s vision brings life and healing wherever it flows. Who in your life needs to experience God’s life and restoration through you? What is one way you can let God’s “river” flow through you to bless someone this week? [[01:22:35]]
7. The sermon invites us to “dream again” and believe for restoration. Is there a dream or hope you have let go of? What would it look like to bring that before God and ask Him to restore it? [[01:31:52]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person surrender their plans, go deeper in His presence, and become a channel of His life and restoration to others.
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Presence Brings Life and Fruitfulness in Every Season
No matter what season you find yourself in—whether it feels like winter, exile, or a time of abundance—God’s presence has the power to bring life, healing, and fruitfulness. The vision of the river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47 is a prophetic picture that wherever God’s Spirit flows, dead things come alive, and fruit is produced every month, not just in the “good” seasons. Even when you feel stuck, delayed, or discouraged, God is able to bring forth new growth and purpose. Trust that He can use every season, even the ones that seem barren, to bear fruit in your life and in the lives of those around you. [54:00]
Ezekiel 47:1-12 (ESV)
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel stuck or barren right now? Ask God to show you how His presence can bring new life and fruitfulness in that very place today.
Day 2: God’s Plans for You Are Intentional and Detailed
God’s plans for your life are not random or haphazard. Just as He gave Ezekiel a vision of the temple with every measurement and detail carefully laid out, God is intentional about every aspect of your journey. You are more valuable than any building, and He has placed His Spirit within you. Even when you can’t see the full picture, you can trust that God is building something beautiful and purposeful in you, with every day and every detail measured by His loving hand. [01:12:05]
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have doubted God’s intentionality or care? How can you surrender that area to His detailed plan today?
Day 3: Faithfulness and Consistency Open the Door to God’s Nearness
God honors those who remain faithful and consistent, even when others fall away or when circumstances are difficult. In a world marked by inconsistency, God calls His people to be steadfast, to keep serving, and to stay near to Him. The faithful are invited to draw close to God, to minister to Him, and to experience His presence in a deeper way. Your faithfulness, even in the small things, is seen and rewarded by God, and it becomes a testimony to others of His goodness and reliability. [01:15:48]
Ezekiel 44:15-16 (ESV)
“But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord God. They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge.”
Reflection: In what area of your life is God calling you to renewed faithfulness or consistency? What practical step can you take today to draw nearer to Him?
Day 4: God Calls You to Full Immersion, Not Just Occasional Participation
God’s desire is not for you to wade in His presence only when it’s convenient or comfortable, but to be fully immersed—allowing His Spirit to carry you beyond your own control and comfort zones. Like the river in Ezekiel’s vision, God invites you to go deeper: from ankle-deep, to knee-deep, to waist-deep, and finally to waters so deep you must swim. Full immersion means living out your faith every day, letting God’s presence flow through you to bring life to others, and not settling for a shallow or compartmentalized walk with Him. [01:22:35]
John 7:37-38 (ESV)
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to move from “ankle-deep” to “fully immersed” in God’s presence this week? Is there a specific area where you need to let go of control and let God lead?
Day 5: God Restores, Renews, and Gives You a Song Again
God is a God of restoration—He turns mourning into joy, exile into homecoming, and tears into a harvest of laughter and praise. Even if you have felt numb, weary, or like you’ve lost your song, God promises to restore your hope and renew your dreams. He stores every tear and is able to bring you into a season where you “dream again,” living in the reality of His faithfulness and goodness. Your story of restoration becomes a testimony that brings freedom and hope to others. [01:36:56]
Psalm 126:1-6 (ESV)
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Reflection: Where have you lost your song or your hope? Ask God to restore your joy and give you a new song of praise, and consider sharing your story of restoration with someone who needs encouragement.
Quotes
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