Embracing Trials: Authority, Peace, and God's Goodness

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Trials as Opportunities for Growth

Understanding the dual meaning of the Greek word "parasmos" is crucial for our spiritual journey. This word can mean both "test" and "temptation," and recognizing this distinction helps us view our trials as opportunities for growth rather than threats. Tests are designed to prove and improve our character, while temptations aim to seduce us into sin. The enemy seeks to turn our tests into temptations, but God uses these moments to refine us, much like a goldsmith refines gold through fire. By understanding this, we can approach life's challenges with a mindset that seeks growth and transformation. [09:41]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you reframe it as an opportunity for growth and character development in your life today?

Day 2: Living in the Authority of Christ

As new creations in Christ, we have authority over sin and the enemy. This authority empowers us to live righteously and overcome the enemy's schemes. Instead of fearing temptation, we are called to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to live victoriously. The enemy often tries to sow seeds of doubt and suspicion, questioning God's goodness and our identity in Him. However, by standing firm in our authority, we can resist these lies and live in the freedom and power that Christ has given us. [05:48]

Luke 10:19 (ESV): "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel powerless. How can you begin to exercise your authority in Christ to overcome this challenge today?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Unchanging Goodness

The enemy often sows seeds of doubt about God's nature, leading us to question His goodness and faithfulness. However, we must settle in our hearts that God is always good, faithful, and in control, regardless of our circumstances. This understanding strengthens our faith and trust in Him, allowing us to navigate life's challenges with confidence. By focusing on God's unchanging nature, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that He is working all things for our good. [23:41]

Nahum 1:7 (ESV): "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you doubted God's goodness. How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness and goodness in your current situation?

Day 4: Experiencing Peace Beyond Understanding

Anxiety often arises from our need to understand our circumstances. By surrendering this need and trusting in God's sovereignty, we can experience His peace, which surpasses all understanding. This peace is not the absence of trouble but the assurance of being right with God. When we focus on what God is teaching us through our trials, rather than the "why" behind them, we can find rest and tranquility in His presence. [29:49]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: What is one situation causing you anxiety today? How can you surrender your need to understand it and trust in God's peace instead?

Day 5: Refinement Through Trials

Like gold refined in fire, our trials are meant to purify and strengthen us. Embracing this process allows us to grow in authority and live as overcomers, reflecting Christ's victory over the enemy. Our trials are not meant to destroy us but to strengthen us, proving our faith and trust in God. By viewing our challenges as opportunities for refinement, we can approach them with confidence, knowing that God is using them to prepare us for His purposes. [21:29]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Consider a trial you are currently facing. How can you embrace it as a refining process that strengthens your faith and prepares you for God's purposes?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound depth of the Lord's Prayer, particularly focusing on the phrase, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This prayer, often recited but not always fully understood, holds a transformative power when we grasp its true meaning. We delved into the Greek word "parasmos," which can mean both "test" and "temptation." Understanding this distinction is crucial for our spiritual journey. Tests are designed to prove and improve our character, while temptations aim to seduce us into sin. The enemy seeks to turn our tests into temptations, but God uses these moments to refine us, much like a goldsmith refines gold through fire.

We must shift our perspective from fearing temptation to embracing the authority we have in Christ. As new creations, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live righteously and overcome the enemy's schemes. The enemy often sows seeds of doubt and suspicion, questioning God's goodness and our identity in Him. However, we are called to stand firm, knowing that God is always good, faithful, and in control. Our trials are not meant to destroy us but to strengthen us, proving our faith and trust in God.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is available to us when we surrender our need to understand every situation. Anxiety often stems from our desire to comprehend the "why" behind our circumstances. Instead, we should focus on what God is teaching us through our trials. By trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness, we can experience His peace, even amidst life's challenges.

Ultimately, our journey is about growing in our authority as believers, overcoming the enemy, and living in the peace that comes from knowing Jesus. This peace is not the absence of trouble but the assurance of being right with God. As we embrace this truth, we are equipped to face life's tests with confidence, knowing that God is refining us for His purposes.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding "Parasmos": The Greek word "parasmos" means both "test" and "temptation." Tests are meant to prove and improve our character, while temptations aim to lead us into sin. Recognizing this distinction helps us see trials as opportunities for growth rather than threats. [09:41]
2. Authority in Christ: As new creations, we have authority over sin and the enemy. We must shift our focus from fearing temptation to embracing the power of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to live righteously and overcome the enemy's schemes. [05:48]
3. God's Goodness and Faithfulness: The enemy often sows seeds of doubt about God's nature. We must settle in our hearts that God is always good, faithful, and in control, regardless of our circumstances. This understanding strengthens our faith and trust in Him. [23:41]
4. Peace Beyond Understanding: Anxiety often arises from our need to understand our circumstances. By surrendering this need and trusting in God's sovereignty, we can experience His peace, which surpasses all understanding. [29:49]
5. Refinement Through Trials: Like gold refined in fire, our trials are meant to purify and strengthen us. Embracing this process allows us to grow in authority and live as overcomers, reflecting Christ's victory over the enemy. [21:29]
** [21:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:12] - Introduction and Prayer
[05:48] - Authority in Christ
[09:41] - Understanding "Parasmos"
[11:26] - Tests vs. Temptations
[13:38] - Trials and God's Purpose
[16:32] - Biblical Examples of Testing
[17:28] - Overcoming Through Faith
[19:24] - The Power of God's Word
[20:07] - Jesus' Example in the Wilderness
[21:29] - Refinement Through Trials
[22:59] - Authority Through Overcoming
[23:41] - God's Goodness and Faithfulness
[27:16] - Embracing the Process
[29:49] - Peace Beyond Understanding
[31:13] - Surrendering to God's Control
[32:13] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[35:05] - Prayer of Salvation
[37:02] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What is the significance of the Greek word "parasmos" in the context of the Lord's Prayer? How does it relate to both tests and temptations? [09:41]
According to the sermon, how does the enemy attempt to turn our tests into temptations? [11:26]
What examples from the Bible were given to illustrate how God tests His people? [16:32]
How does the sermon describe the peace of God in relation to our understanding of life's circumstances? [29:49]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding the dual meaning of "parasmos" change the way believers might approach their trials and temptations? [09:41]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can shift their perspective from fearing temptation to embracing their authority in Christ? [05:48]
How does the sermon explain the role of God's goodness and faithfulness in overcoming the enemy's schemes? [23:41]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between surrendering our need to understand and experiencing God's peace? [29:49]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent trial in your life. How can you view it as a test meant to refine you rather than a temptation meant to lead you astray? [11:26]
In what areas of your life do you feel the enemy is sowing seeds of doubt about God's goodness? How can you combat these doubts with the truth of God's faithfulness? [23:41]
How can you actively embrace your authority in Christ to overcome temptations and live righteously? What practical steps can you take this week? [05:48]
Think of a situation where you have been anxious due to a lack of understanding. How can you surrender this need to understand and trust in God's sovereignty? [29:49]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to experience God's peace. What steps can you take to invite His peace into that situation? [31:13]
How can you use the Word of God to strengthen your faith and resist the enemy's lies? What specific scripture will you meditate on this week? [19:24]
Consider a time when you felt tested by God. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you apply this lesson to future tests? [13:38]

Sermon Clips

1) "That we walk in an authority that actually gives us grace by the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live righteously, to live as Christ lived. But I find so many Christians are afraid of the enemy so much. It's like we give the enemy so much airplay. The enemy does this and the enemy does this and the enemy does this and while I believe there is a real enemy, I don't believe he needs to have as much power as we give him. I so believe this and I sense that the church needs to rise up in the authority that Jesus left us at the Great Commission." [05:48] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "In this petition, Jesus reveals one of the most fundamental truths in life, that the enemy wants to cause you to sin, but the Lord wants you to cause you to grow and be perfected. And therefore, when events in our lives come our way, our prayer is, Lord, lead us not into temptation. Lead us not into what the enemy wants to turn into a seduction to sin, but lead us into the place where the enemy doesn't have power to tempt us to fall when we are called to grow. Isn't that amazing?" [11:26] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "And I'm amazed at how many Christians are like, why would God allow this? And I'm like, we live in a broken, fallen world, people. Some Christians feel like they're entitled to this perfect life here on earth. Not even Jesus had a perfect life on earth. And so I don't know why we think because we're a Christian that we're exempt from bad things happening to good people. The difference is, is that we know how to overcome when something comes against us." [13:38] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And this is why Jesus had to go through the wilderness because he didn't engage in conversation. The enemy tried to seduce him to sin, but Jesus allowed. The test, which by the way, the same word for Jesus was tempted in the wilderness is the same word parasmos. So it's the same word of being tried and tested to be proven true. And this is why Jesus overcame the enemy before he went to the cross, because he took back what the enemy robbed from us in the garden." [17:28] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Authority is not just in being loud. Authority is not in just, you know, saying the right phrases and being popular. Authority has the power to silence hell in the name of Jesus. Because you have overcome. And that is what we're called to as men and women of God. to overcome. Five strategies in all of these tests. You see, this is just what he did in the wilderness. The enemy will always try and sow seeds of suspicion. Did God really say, is he really who he says he is?" [22:59] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "I believe anxiety has the root of fear and it's why we are so highly strung in this generation. You know why? Because we need to understand. But sometimes God will surpass your understanding. The competing forces are peace and understanding. You can't have peace and understanding. Sometimes you just have to have peace and not lean on your own understanding. And in all your ways acknowledge the Father that He is good. You see anxiety at its highest when your need to understand is at its highest." [29:49] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Some of you need to surrender the right to understand and let peace flood your soul today. Some of you need to actually have, I just feel like the Holy Spirit has opened your eyes this morning to go, oh my gosh, that which I've been wrestling with, been given the enemy too much airtime. My prayers are going to change now because now my prayers are, I'm going to get in the word. I'm going to look at my situation and I'm going to present an argument back to the enemy that he's got nowhere to go but flee." [31:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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