Faith Beyond Comfort: Embracing God's Promises
Summary
In our walk with the Lord, we often find ourselves at a crossroads where contentment can lead to complacency. The Spirit of God has been impressing upon my heart a powerful message: there is more. More than our training, education, positions, and personal preferences. This is a call to trust God beyond the confines of our comfort zones. Hebrews 11 speaks of faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This faith was evident in the lives of the ancients, who by faith accomplished great things and died still believing for more. They longed for a heavenly country, a city built by God.
The question I pose to you is whether you have settled in your relationship with God or if you are still hungering for more. Bishop E.E. Cleveland once said, "If you don't see it before you see it, you ain't never gonna see it." This speaks to the power of vision and faith. I shared a story of a boy in Africa who, with a bucket in hand, believed that by the end of the day, he would have water from a well that had not yet been dug. His faith was evident in his actions.
Life is unpredictable, filled with joys and sorrows. Horatio Spafford's story of immense loss yet profound faith in God reminds us that peace can be found even in the midst of life's storms. By faith and trust in God, we can confidently say, "It is well with my soul," even when we face tragedies and challenges.
I recounted a personal experience where I resisted what God was doing in a church service because it was not to my liking. However, I realized that my resistance was preventing me from experiencing a transition God wanted to bring into my life. God simply wanted my 'yes,' and through that, He promised more of Himself.
Our faith is what carries us through life's transitions. It is immediately evident where our faith lies when we face changes. I encouraged the congregation to consider who is serving their tea, who is influencing their perspective, and to not be distracted by the 'dust' of life that can cloud our vision of God's promises.
In conclusion, I urged everyone to live a life of faith that is visible, to trust God for more, and to not let the dust of life's challenges obscure the vision of what God has in store for us. It is through faith that we can overcome and remain steadfast, looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God Himself.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith is not a passive state but an active assurance and conviction that propels us towards God's promises. Like the ancients, our faith should be visible in our actions and our longing for more of God's presence and kingdom. [53:31]
- Vision precedes manifestation. We must see with the eyes of faith before we can experience the reality of God's promises. This vision is not just for material things but for the spiritual realities and the deeper work God wants to do in and through us. [54:38]
- Life's storms are inevitable, but our response to them defines our faith journey. Like Horatio Spafford, we can experience peace amidst turmoil when our hearts are anchored in the truth that "it is well with my soul," trusting in God's sovereignty and love. [01:12:51]
- Surrender to God's process is essential for spiritual growth. Resisting God's work because it doesn't align with our preferences can hinder our spiritual progress. Embracing transitions with a 'yes' to God opens the door to greater intimacy with Him and transformation. [52:29]
- Our influence on others is powerful and can be a force for change. Through our words and actions, we have the opportunity to reflect God's love and grace, impacting lives and shaping destinies, just as my father's unwavering faith and vision shaped mine. [01:03:38]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-10, 13-16 (NIV)
> "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for... By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God... All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
2. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
> "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 11:1 describe faith as, and how is this faith demonstrated by the ancients? ([52:59])
2. According to the sermon, what was the significance of the boy in Africa carrying a bucket to a well that had not yet been dug? ([55:05])
3. How did Horatio Spafford respond to the immense loss of his daughters, and what hymn did he write as a result? ([01:12:16])
4. What personal experience did the pastor share about resisting God's work in a church service, and what was the outcome? ([51:57])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of faith in Hebrews 11 challenge our understanding of seeing and believing? ([52:59])
2. What does the story of the boy with the bucket teach us about the relationship between faith and action? ([55:05])
3. In what ways can life's storms, as illustrated by Horatio Spafford's story, reveal the depth of our faith and trust in God? ([01:12:16])
4. How can resisting God's work, as described in the pastor's personal experience, hinder our spiritual growth and transformation? ([51:57])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt content in your spiritual life. How can you ensure that this contentment does not lead to complacency? ([52:59])
2. Vision precedes manifestation. What is a vision or promise from God that you are currently holding onto, and how are you actively preparing for its fulfillment? ([55:05])
3. Life's storms are inevitable. How can you anchor your heart in the truth that "it is well with my soul" during challenging times? ([01:12:16])
4. Have you ever resisted a change or transition that God was leading you through? What steps can you take to surrender more fully to God's process? ([51:57])
5. Consider the influences in your life. Who is "serving your tea," and how can you ensure that your perspective is aligned with God's promises rather than life's distractions? ([57:03])
6. Think of someone in your life who needs encouragement. How can you use your words and actions to reflect God's love and grace to them this week? ([01:03:38])
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God beyond your comfort zone. What practical steps can you take to step out in faith? ([52:59])
Devotional
Day 1: Active Faith Ignites Divine Pursuits
Faith is not merely a feeling of spiritual security but a dynamic force that propels believers toward the fulfillment of God's promises. It is an active assurance, a conviction that what is hoped for will indeed come to pass, even if it is not yet visible. This faith is not stagnant; it demands expression through actions that align with a longing for more of God's presence and His kingdom. It is the kind of faith that was evident in the lives of the ancients, who lived not just for the present but for the promise of a heavenly country. They understood that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, and their lives were a testament to this belief, as they acted upon their convictions with courage and perseverance.
Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV)
"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your faith through your actions today in a way that shows you are longing for more of God's presence in your life? [07:40]
Day 2: Visionary Faith Shapes Reality
Vision is the lens through which faith views the world. It is the ability to see beyond the immediate, to imagine what is not yet as though it were. This visionary faith is not confined to the acquisition of material possessions but extends to the spiritual realm, where the deeper work of God in a person's heart and life takes precedence. It is about seeing with the eyes of faith the transformation that God wants to bring about, both within and without. This vision precedes the manifestation of God's promises and requires a steadfast gaze upon the things that are unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV)
"As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to apply visionary faith, and how can you start to visualize God's work in that area today? [54:38]
Day 3: Anchored Soul in Life's Storms
The true measure of faith is not found in the absence of storms but in the peace that prevails within them. It is the kind of faith that Horatio Spafford exemplified when, despite suffering immense loss, he could still declare, "It is well with my soul." This peace is not a denial of reality but a deep trust in God's sovereignty and love, an anchor for the soul that holds firm in the face of life's most violent tempests. It is a faith that understands that God's purposes are often worked out through trials and that His presence is a constant source of comfort and strength, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: When facing a difficult situation, how can you cultivate a heart that says, "It is well with my soul," and what practical steps can you take to reinforce this declaration in your life? [01:12:51]
Day 4: Surrender Invites Divine Transition
Surrender to God's process is a pivotal step in the journey of spiritual growth. It involves letting go of personal preferences and preconceived notions of how God should work, and instead saying 'yes' to whatever He is doing. This surrender is not passive; it is an active engagement with the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. It is about trusting that God's ways are higher than our ways and that His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us. Embracing God's transitions with a willing heart opens the door to a deeper relationship with Him and to the more that He promises.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one aspect of your life where you have been resistant to God's leading, and how can you surrender it to Him today? [52:29]
Day 5: Influential Faith Leaves Lasting Impressions
The influence of a believer's faith extends far beyond personal boundaries; it has the power to shape destinies and change lives. Through words and actions that reflect God's love and grace, believers have the opportunity to serve as vessels for His transformative power. This influence is not to be taken lightly, as it can be a force for change in the world. Just as a father's unwavering faith and vision can shape the life of his child, so too can the faith of one believer impact the lives of many, leaving an indelible mark that points others toward God's love and the hope found in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (ESV)
"For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
Reflection: Who in your life could be impacted by your faith today, and what is one way you can actively demonstrate God's love to them? [01:03:38]
Quotes
"Our life's dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence?" [01:10:35](Download | )
"Life changes, life challenges. What determines how we handle transitions is our faith. And life is filled with transitions... What carries us through is our faith." [47:10](Download | )
"I realized that God was wanting to do something in me and I was resisting. I realized that I was not willing to surrender. And if I didn't, I was going to miss out on a transition that he was wanting to do in my life." [52:29](Download | )
"He saw it as dust. When my mother divorced him and left him with six children... my father saw it as dust. When I became a wayward teenager... my father saw it as dust. He would look at me and say, God is not done with you." [58:31](Download | )
"I have more. If you will just trust me and not your training, your education, your position, your title, even your personal likes and dislikes... Have you become satisfied with your walk with Jesus?" [53:31](Download | )
"He wasn't distracted by the dust. What are you being distracted by to the degree that it has fogged your sight of the eternal... What is your dust that Satan is using to keep you from seeing your God given goal?" [57:35](Download | )
"By faith, the prostitute Rehab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. All these people, listen to this, were still living by faith when they died. They wanted more." [54:38](Download | )
"Did he believe us? How do you know? Look at his hands. He's got a bucket with a cloth. He knew that water was coming. But look at this next picture because this is what he was looking at." [56:24](Download | )
"I pray that you'll give words of wisdom to those in this room so that they will be facilitators of peace. I do bless you, Lord, and I thank you. It's an awesome privilege to preach your word and to be here in this place today." [01:17:54](Download | )
"I'm not letting that impact me. He texts me back. Well, I hear you. You're right. No, no, I don't want to be right. I'm just saying what makes us such a beautiful relationship." [01:08:30](Download | )
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