Embracing Spiritual Growth Through Faith and Stretching

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Discomfort for Spiritual Growth

The journey of 21 days of fasting and prayer has been a time of spiritual stretching, pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones. This period is not merely a temporary challenge but a call to adopt a new lifestyle of growth and closeness to God. Embracing discomfort is essential, as it prepares believers for greater things. Just as Mel Fisher persevered for years before finding his treasure, Christians are encouraged to persist in their spiritual journey, trusting that God is preparing them for something significant. The process of stretching is not meant to break them but to build resilience and deepen their faith. [35:33]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you embrace this discomfort as a path to spiritual growth today?

Day 2: Position Yourself for Divine Encounters

Being in the right place at the right time can lead to miraculous changes, as illustrated by the man with the withered hand in Mark 3. Despite his shame and fear, he was in the synagogue where Jesus was present, leading to his healing. This story emphasizes the importance of prioritizing being in God's presence and being open to His work in one's life. By positioning themselves in environments where God is present, believers can experience transformative encounters that they might otherwise miss if they are absent or distracted. [44:07]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: Are there specific places or situations where you feel God's presence more strongly? How can you prioritize being in those places this week to position yourself for divine encounters?

Day 3: Vulnerability Leads to Healing

Jesus called the man with the withered hand to step forward and expose his weakness. This act of vulnerability led to his healing. Similarly, believers are encouraged to reveal their weaknesses and struggles within a safe community, trusting that God can bring healing and freedom. By exposing their vulnerabilities, they allow God to work in their lives in ways that bring restoration and wholeness. This requires courage and trust, knowing that God is faithful to heal and transform. [48:34]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of weakness or struggle that you have been hesitant to share with others? How can you take a step towards vulnerability and seek support from a trusted community this week?

Day 4: Faith Requires Stretching Beyond Limits

When Jesus asked the man to stretch out his hand, it was an act of faith. Believers are called to stretch beyond what they think is possible, trusting in God's word and power to accomplish what they cannot do on their own. This act of stretching is a demonstration of faith, believing that God can do immeasurably more than they ask or imagine. By stepping out in faith, they open themselves to experiencing God's miraculous power in their lives. [49:52]

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to stretch beyond your current limits? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 5: Release Expectations and Trust God's Timing

Believers are encouraged to release their expectations and not limit God by expecting Him to work in a specific way. By being open to new and unexpected methods of His intervention, they can trust that His ways are higher and that He can do more than they imagine. This requires surrendering control and trusting in God's timing and methods, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises in His perfect way. [53:42]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one expectation you have been holding onto that you need to release to God? How can you practice trusting His timing and methods in your life this week?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we celebrate the conclusion of our 21 days of fasting and prayer, a period where many of us have been stretched beyond our comfort zones. This journey has not been about temporary change but about embracing a new lifestyle of spiritual growth and closeness to God. As we reflect on this time, we are reminded of the story of Mel Fisher, a treasure hunter who persevered for 16 years before finding a treasure worth over half a billion dollars. His mantra, "Today is the day," serves as a powerful reminder that we should not wait for "someday" to draw closer to God or to act on our faith. Today is the day to stretch beyond our limits.

In Mark 3, we read about a man with a withered hand who encountered Jesus in the synagogue. This man, despite his shame and fear, was in the right place at the right time. Jesus called him to step forward and stretch out his hand, resulting in a miraculous healing. This story teaches us the importance of being in the right place, getting in the right position, and being willing to stretch beyond our limits. It challenges us to release our expectations and trust in God's timing and methods.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to continue stretching in our spiritual lives. Whether it's through participating in a night of worship, joining a life group, or contributing to the legacy offering, we are called to step out of our comfort zones and trust God with our resources and our lives. Remember, God often places opportunities within our reach but beyond our grasp, requiring us to stretch in faith to obtain them. Let us embrace this season of stretching, knowing that God will not stretch us beyond what is necessary for our growth and His purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace the Stretching Process: The 21 days of fasting and prayer have been a time of spiritual stretching, pushing us beyond our comfort zones. This is not just a temporary challenge but a call to a new lifestyle of growth and closeness to God. Embrace the discomfort, knowing that God is preparing you for greater things. [35:33]
2. Be in the Right Place at the Right Time: Like the man with the withered hand, being in the right place—where Jesus is present—can lead to miraculous changes. Don't miss your miracle by being absent or distracted. Prioritize being in God's presence and open to His work in your life. [44:07]
3. Expose Your Weaknesses: Jesus called the man to step forward and expose his withered hand. In the same way, we must be willing to reveal our weaknesses and struggles in a safe community, trusting that God can bring healing and freedom. [48:34]
4. Stretch Beyond Your Limits: When Jesus asked the man to stretch out his hand, it was an act of faith. We are called to stretch beyond what we think is possible, trusting in God's word and power to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. [49:52]
5. Release Your Expectations: Don't limit God by expecting Him to work in a specific way. Be open to new and unexpected methods of His intervention. Trust that His ways are higher and that He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. [53:42]
** [53:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:33] - The Stretching Process
[36:04] - A New Lifestyle
[39:24] - Lessons on Stretching
[44:07] - Being in the Right Place
[45:42] - Exposing Weaknesses
[48:34] - The Safest Place
[49:52] - Stretching Beyond Limits
[53:42] - Releasing Expectations
[55:36] - Opportunities to Stretch
[58:04] - Legacy Offering
[61:45] - Sowing and Reaping
[64:10] - Pressing Forward
[64:59] - The Rubber Band Reminder
[68:31] - Invitation to Salvation

Sermon Clips

It's a new lifestyle that we're walking with you, Lord, to draw close to you. Thank you last week for 46 people baptized in water. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you for the spirit of revival that's in this house and worship today, Lord. We thank you. We thank you. [00:36:29] (17 seconds)

And so Jesus was angered at that and grieved, and then he said, stretch forth your hands. So here's some lessons. Number one, get in the right place. Say, get in the right place. Where did the man go? He went to the synagogue. Why did he go to the synagogue? Well, on that day, Jesus came to church. [00:43:40] (18 seconds)

I wonder how many times he came in, sat in the back, his hand hidden, didn't want to expose his weakness, didn't want to show something in his life that was withered, that wasn't what it should be. Are there things in your life where you feel like you just don't measure up? [00:44:07] (17 seconds)

And notice, the man doesn't ask, Jesus, please. Jesus, please. Jesus, please heal me. Nowhere in this story. I wonder why. I wonder if he felt unworthy. I wonder if he felt that he was too shamed. And so he's afraid, and he pulls back. I wonder how long you've been coming to church. [00:45:42] (26 seconds)

Shouldn't the church be the safest place for you to expose your shrivelness in your life? Shouldn't that be the safest place in your life? Now, we don't do that in here, but we do that in small groups, in life groups. And we say what's said in a life group stays in a life group. [00:48:34] (18 seconds)

Jesus said, stretch forth your hand, and it says he stretched it out. Now, he'd tried many times. The hand is atrophied. He couldn't make it go out. He couldn't, and isn't it interesting? Jesus says, stretch out your hand, and he doesn't stretch out the hand that's not withered, but somehow down in his knower, he just knew he's talking about my withered hand. [00:49:52] (29 seconds)

God often gives us something within our reach but beyond our grasp so we have to stretch out in order to obtain it wow let me read that again god often gives us something that is within our reach but beyond our grasp so we have to stretch in order to obtain it. [00:54:16] (25 seconds)

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