Empowered to Rise: Embracing Wounds for Strength
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God has marked each of us with the ability to bounce back from our wounds. This divine birthmark is not a physical blemish but a spiritual empowerment that allows us to rise stronger from our trials. We began by reflecting on a video of a doctor dropping a baby, which served as a metaphor for how God sometimes allows us to fall to test our resilience and faith. The key question we wrestled with was, "Do you think God dropped you?" The answer is a resounding no. God has not abandoned us; instead, He has marked us with His power to overcome.
We delved into John 20, where Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to His disciples, showing them His wounds. This act was not to highlight His suffering but to demonstrate His victory over it. Jesus' wounds became a testament to His power to bounce back, and He imparted this same power to His followers. We learned that our wounds, much like Jesus', are not meant to be hidden but revealed, as they are the very means through which God works His greatest miracles.
The message emphasized the importance of not giving up when faced with adversity. We live in a culture that often encourages quitting at the first sign of trouble, but God calls us to persevere. Like the third founder of Apple, Ronald Wayne, who missed out on a fortune because he gave up too soon, we risk missing out on God's blessings if we don't endure. Our wounds are not just scars; they are the birthmarks of our faith, marking us as God's children with the power to rise again.
We also explored the relationship between faith and forgiveness. Holding onto unforgiveness can hinder our ability to receive God's full blessings. Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto His disciples, we must breathe in God's Spirit to empower us to forgive and let go. This act of letting go is crucial for unlocking the full potential of our birthmark—the power to bounce back.
Finally, we were reminded that God uses our wounds to shape our identity in Him. Our stories with God often begin with wounds, and through them, He transforms our misery into ministry. By embracing our wounds and allowing God to work through them, we can experience the fullness of His power and live a life that reflects His glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Testing and Our Resilience: Just as a doctor tests a baby's reflexes, God sometimes allows us to fall to test our resilience and faith. Our ability to bounce back is a testament to our identity as His children, marked by His power. [01:28]
2. The Power of Revealed Wounds: Jesus' resurrection wounds were not hidden but shown to His disciples, symbolizing victory over suffering. Our wounds, when revealed, become the means through which God performs His greatest works. [08:47]
3. Perseverance Over Quitting: In a culture that often encourages giving up, God calls us to persevere through adversity. Our wounds are not just scars but birthmarks of faith, marking us as God's children with the power to rise again. [04:51]
4. Faith and Forgiveness: Holding onto unforgiveness can hinder our ability to receive God's full blessings. By breathing in God's Spirit, we are empowered to forgive and let go, unlocking the full potential of our birthmark. [21:24]
5. Transforming Misery into Ministry: Our stories with God often begin with wounds, and through them, He transforms our misery into ministry. Embracing our wounds allows us to experience the fullness of His power and live a life that reflects His glory. [15:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:28] - God's Testing and Our Resilience
- [04:51] - Perseverance Over Quitting
- [08:47] - The Power of Revealed Wounds
- [11:24] - Receiving the Holy Spirit
- [13:15] - Thomas' Doubt
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 20:19-29
Observation Questions:
1. In John 20:19-20, what was the initial reaction of the disciples when Jesus appeared to them and showed His wounds? How did their emotions change? [08:47]
2. What specific action did Jesus take in John 20:22, and what was its significance for the disciples? [11:24]
3. How did Thomas respond to the news of Jesus' resurrection, and what did he require to believe? [13:15]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the act of Jesus showing His wounds to the disciples signify about the nature of His victory over suffering? [08:47]
2. How does the concept of being "marked" by God with the power to bounce back relate to the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit in John 20:22? [11:24]
3. In what ways does Thomas' doubt and subsequent belief illustrate the relationship between faith and the evidence of God's work in our lives? [13:15]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like God had "dropped" you. How did you respond, and what did you learn about your resilience and faith? [01:28]
2. Jesus showed His wounds to His disciples. Are there wounds in your life that you have been hiding? How might revealing them allow God to work through you? [08:47]
3. Consider a situation where you were tempted to give up. What steps can you take to persevere and trust in God's plan, even when it seems difficult? [04:51]
4. How does holding onto unforgiveness impact your ability to receive God's blessings? What is one step you can take this week to let go and forgive? [21:24]
5. Think about a wound or trial in your life that God has used to shape your identity. How can you use this experience to minister to others? [15:03]
6. In what ways can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to empower you in your daily life? How can this help you bounce back from challenges? [11:24]
7. Identify an area in your life where you are settling for "good" instead of pursuing "much better." What changes can you make to align with God's higher calling for you? [35:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Resilience Through Divine Testing
In life, we often face challenges that test our faith and resilience. These moments can feel like we have been dropped, much like the metaphor of a doctor testing a baby's reflexes. However, these trials are not signs of abandonment but opportunities for growth. God allows us to experience these falls to strengthen our identity as His children, marked by His power to bounce back. Our resilience is a testament to our faith and the divine empowerment we carry within us. [01:28]
"For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." (Psalm 66:10-12, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did it test your faith, and in what ways can you see God's hand in helping you rise again?
Day 2: Revealing Wounds as Testimonies
Jesus' resurrection wounds were not hidden but shown to His disciples, symbolizing victory over suffering. Our wounds, when revealed, become the means through which God performs His greatest works. By embracing and sharing our wounds, we allow God to use them as testimonies of His power and grace. This act of vulnerability can inspire others and demonstrate the transformative power of faith. [08:47]
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a wound or struggle you have experienced. How can sharing this part of your story serve as a testimony to God's healing and transformative power?
Day 3: The Call to Persevere
In a culture that often encourages giving up at the first sign of trouble, God calls us to persevere through adversity. Our wounds are not just scars but birthmarks of faith, marking us as God's children with the power to rise again. By enduring through trials, we open ourselves to the blessings and growth that God has in store for us. [04:51]
"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: Identify an area in your life where you feel tempted to give up. What steps can you take today to persevere and trust in God's plan for you?
Day 4: The Freedom of Forgiveness
Holding onto unforgiveness can hinder our ability to receive God's full blessings. By breathing in God's Spirit, we are empowered to forgive and let go, unlocking the full potential of our birthmark—the power to bounce back. Forgiveness is not just a release for others but a liberation for ourselves, allowing us to fully embrace God's grace and move forward in faith. [21:24]
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?
Day 5: Transforming Wounds into Ministry
Our stories with God often begin with wounds, and through them, He transforms our misery into ministry. By embracing our wounds and allowing God to work through them, we can experience the fullness of His power and live a life that reflects His glory. Our past struggles can become a source of strength and inspiration for others, turning our pain into a platform for God's work. [15:03]
"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:4, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when God used your past struggles to help someone else. How can you continue to allow God to transform your wounds into a ministry that serves others?
Quotes
"Sometimes God has to let you go to test your response and see if you're his child. And the question that I'm wrestling with is, how do I bounce back better? How do I bounce back better after I've been wounded?" [00:01:35] (18 seconds)
"God didn't drop you. God marked you. And if you don't understand that God has marked you, you will misinterpret the struggles you are experiencing." [00:04:30] (11 seconds)
"Jesus walked on water, fed 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. He healed the lame and the blind. But you know what made him famous? He was famous for the resurrection. He was famous for his ability to bounce back." [00:04:51] (14 seconds)
"Everybody's story with Christ starts with wounds. I would dare say that there are some people who have not experienced the power of God because they've always been in church, and they've never experienced a wound deep enough to make them cry out, My God." [00:14:01] (15 seconds)
"God says, I am increasing the power you need to love them. Every time they hit you, I am increasing the power you need to love them. I let them keep hitting you because your ability to trust me is broken." [00:22:22] (6 seconds)
"God equates breathing. Can I help y 'all breathe? Take a deep breath. Don't that feel good? That's like therapy. Look, breathing in Scripture is equated to drinking." [00:26:58] (17 seconds)
"God said, the reason you can't do it is because you're too sober. It's too much of you, not enough of me. You're born again, but you're not marked by my birth." [00:30:51] (11 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?