Faith, Fear, and Obedience: Thriving in Life's Deserts
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound connection between faith, fear, and obedience, drawing from the story of the Israelites in the book of Numbers. As we journey through life's deserts, we often encounter obstacles that test our faith. These challenges are not meant to defeat us but to strengthen our reliance on God. The Israelites, having experienced miraculous deliverance from Egypt, faced a daunting challenge at the border of the Promised Land. Their fear led them to doubt God's promises, resulting in a missed opportunity to enter the land flowing with milk and honey.
Faith, as we discussed, makes things possible but not necessarily easy. It requires us to step into the unknown, trusting that God is with us even when the path is not fully illuminated. This is akin to driving at night with headlights that only show a short distance ahead; we must move forward with the light we have, trusting that more will be revealed as we go. The Israelites' story reminds us that fear is the primary enemy of faith. It causes us to rely too heavily on human wisdom, exaggerate difficulties, spread negativity, and ultimately miss out on God's blessings.
Obedience, on the other hand, is the true test of faith. It is not enough to profess belief; we must act on it, even when God's instructions seem unconventional or challenging. The story of Jericho illustrates this beautifully, as the Israelites obeyed God's unusual battle plan and witnessed the walls fall. This obedience, rooted in faith, led to their victory and entry into the Promised Land.
As we navigate our own deserts, we are encouraged to embrace the obstacles as opportunities for growth, to confront our fears with faith, and to demonstrate our trust in God through obedience. By doing so, we not only survive but thrive in the wilderness, experiencing the fullness of God's promises.
Key Takeaways:
- The Body Keeps the Score: Our bodies hold onto both trauma and positive rhythms. Establishing spiritual disciplines, like regular worship, can create a sense of holy ground in our lives, helping us to anticipate and experience God's presence more fully. [33:43]
- Faith Makes Things Possible, Not Easy: Faith in God opens the door to possibilities but does not guarantee ease. Challenges often follow spiritual highs, as seen in the Israelites' journey and Jesus' time in the wilderness. These trials test and strengthen our faith. [42:27]
- Obstacles as Tests of Faith: God allows obstacles to test our faith and stimulate growth. These challenges force us to rely on Him rather than our own strength, leading to spiritual maturity and perseverance. [46:52]
- Fear Erodes Faith: Fear undermines faith by causing us to rely on human wisdom, exaggerate difficulties, spread negativity, and miss opportunities. Overcoming fear requires focusing on God's promises rather than the obstacles. [53:09]
- Obedience as Proof of Faith: True faith is demonstrated through obedience, even when God's instructions seem illogical. Like the Israelites at Jericho, we must trust and act on God's word, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises. [01:02:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [33:09] - The Body Keeps the Score
- [33:43] - Positive Rhythms and Holy Ground
- [34:48] - Anticipating God's Work
- [35:22] - Importance of Spiritual Rhythms
- [36:24] - Generosity and Community Impact
- [37:13] - Samaritan's Purse Partnership
- [38:22] - Opportunities to Serve
- [39:00] - Survival Exercise Analogy
- [41:10] - Desert Periods in Life
- [42:27] - Faith and Challenges
- [46:52] - Obstacles as Tests of Faith
- [53:09] - Fear as the Enemy of Faith
- [01:02:41] - Obedience as Proof of Faith
- [01:09:49] - Thriving in the Desert
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Numbers 13:1-33
- Numbers 14:1-10
- Joshua 6:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the Israelites when they saw the Promised Land, and how did it affect their faith? ([44:28])
2. How did the Israelites' fear manifest when they were at the border of the Promised Land, and what actions did they take as a result? ([53:09])
3. What was the unconventional battle plan God gave to the Israelites for conquering Jericho, and how did they respond to it? ([01:04:26])
4. How did the Israelites' obedience or lack thereof impact their journey and relationship with God? ([01:01:10])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways did the Israelites' fear lead them to rely on human wisdom rather than God's promises? How does this reflect in our own lives today? ([56:25])
2. How does the story of the Israelites at Jericho illustrate the relationship between faith and obedience? What does this teach us about trusting God's plans even when they seem illogical? ([01:06:05])
3. What are the consequences of allowing fear to dominate faith, as seen in the Israelites' experience? How can this be applied to modern-day challenges? ([01:01:37])
4. How does the concept of "faith makes things possible, not easy" challenge our understanding of faith in difficult situations? ([44:28])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when fear caused you to miss an opportunity. How can you shift your focus from obstacles to God's promises in similar situations? ([53:09])
2. Consider the "desert periods" in your life. How can you embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth and reliance on God? ([41:48])
3. What spiritual disciplines can you establish to create a "holy ground" in your life, helping you to anticipate and experience God's presence more fully? ([33:43])
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to step into the unknown with faith. What practical steps can you take to trust God more in this area? ([01:03:35])
5. How can you demonstrate obedience to God in your daily life, even when His instructions seem unconventional or challenging? ([01:06:05])
6. Think of a current obstacle you are facing. How can you view it as a test of faith and an opportunity for spiritual growth? ([46:52])
7. How can you encourage others in your community to overcome fear and embrace faith, especially during challenging times? ([01:02:07])
Devotional
Day 1: The Body Remembers: Spiritual Rhythms as Holy Ground
Our bodies are not just physical entities; they are vessels that hold onto both trauma and positive rhythms. Establishing spiritual disciplines, such as regular worship and prayer, can create a sense of holy ground in our lives. These practices help us anticipate and experience God's presence more fully. By engaging in these rhythms, we create a sacred space within ourselves where we can encounter God and be transformed by His presence. This is a reminder that our spiritual practices are not just routines but are deeply connected to our physical and emotional well-being. [33:43]
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: What spiritual discipline can you incorporate into your daily routine to create a sense of holy ground in your life?
Day 2: Faith Opens Doors, Not Easy Paths
Faith in God makes things possible, but it does not guarantee ease. The journey of faith often involves challenges and trials that test and strengthen our trust in God. Just as the Israelites faced obstacles after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, we too may encounter difficulties after spiritual highs. These trials are opportunities for growth, pushing us to rely on God's strength rather than our own. Faith requires us to step into the unknown, trusting that God is with us even when the path is not fully illuminated. [42:27]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing that you can view as an opportunity to strengthen your faith?
Day 3: Obstacles as Catalysts for Spiritual Growth
God allows obstacles in our lives to test our faith and stimulate growth. These challenges force us to rely on Him rather than our own strength, leading to spiritual maturity and perseverance. The story of the Israelites serves as a reminder that obstacles are not meant to defeat us but to strengthen our reliance on God. By embracing these challenges, we can grow in our faith and experience the fullness of God's promises. [46:52]
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective to see a current obstacle as a catalyst for spiritual growth?
Day 4: Fear Undermines Faith
Fear is the primary enemy of faith, causing us to rely too heavily on human wisdom, exaggerate difficulties, and spread negativity. It can lead us to miss out on God's blessings and opportunities. Overcoming fear requires focusing on God's promises rather than the obstacles in front of us. By confronting our fears with faith, we can move forward with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [53:09]
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a fear that is holding you back. How can you focus on God's promises to overcome this fear today?
Day 5: Obedience as the True Test of Faith
True faith is demonstrated through obedience, even when God's instructions seem unconventional or challenging. The story of Jericho illustrates how the Israelites' obedience to God's unusual battle plan led to their victory and entry into the Promised Land. Obedience, rooted in faith, is the true test of our trust in God. By acting on God's word, we demonstrate our belief in His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. [01:02:41]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to act in obedience to God's word, even if it seems challenging or unconventional?
Quotes
1) "If you've been through something really traumatic, sometimes you can figure it all out in your head and have all the right answers for that. But then your body is still holding it. And until you kind of go through the process of letting your body kind of release that in a real way, you just walk around and you don't know why you're angry. You don't know why you're sad. You don't know why you're tense. And it's because your body's still holding that trauma. Well, let's flip the coin over. The body can also do that in a positive way." [33:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Faith in God makes things possible, but it doesn't make them easy, right? Faith makes things possible, but it doesn't make them easy. With God, all things are possible, but not all things are easy. That's true with our faith in every walk of life. Like the couple who becomes Christians, and they kind of leave a wild lifestyle, and now they're living for Christ, and yet it's so hard to go back to their friends and testify to their faith in Jesus. Not impossible, but hard, right?" [44:28] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Obstacles are often tests of faith. So God did not eliminate the adversaries from the Hebrew path, right? Now, he could have. I mean, the day before they came to Kadesh Barnea, I mean, he could have sent a plague, right, through all the Canaanites, and when they got there, they were like, they found everybody dead, but God didn't. He allowed the obstacle to be there to test their faith. Will they say, well, Lord, we can't handle this, but we have faith. We know you can. Or will they begin to rely on their own strength?" [46:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Following God does not exempt you from problems. Friends, if somebody told you, that when you gave your life to Christ, everything was going to start to work out perfectly, I mean, they didn't tell you something that was consistent with biblical truth. And maybe they didn't mean to do that that way. And here's the issue, right? I mean, if you're walking the same way as the devil, and you're kind of living your own way, and you don't have any plans to follow Jesus, he's going to leave you alone, because you're exactly on the path he wants you on." [47:32] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Fear is the primary enemy of our faith. When the Israelites camped at Kadesh Barnea and they looked over the Jordan, they looked into the Promised Land, they were afraid. And you can understand why. I mean, just a couple of months before that, they had been slaves. They were not trained to fight. And these people were awesome. They looked over and they saw the Canaanites and the Jebusites and the Amorites and the Amalekites and the electric lights, you know, all those people. And they were looking really threatening over there and they were afraid." [53:09] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Obedience is the proof of faith. If fear is the enemy of faith, obedience is actually the proof of faith. The real test of your faith, is not whether you talk a good talk, but whether you actually do it. It's not whether you go around saying, praise the Lord, glory to God. Right? Blessed by the best. Right? How you doing? I'm doing so good. You know how it all works. The real test of our faith comes when the chips are down. Do you obey? Jesus said, you are my friends, if you do what I command you to do." [01:02:41] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Faith is going to take you to the edge of all the light that you can accumulate, but then you have to take one more step into the darkness, into the unknown. But I sure would rather be in the unknown with God, with my father, than in the light without him. It's like we say in a lot of spiritual disciplines, I mean even in tithing. We say give 10% of your resources to God, and here's why. Because we believe you can do more with 90% and the blessing of God than 100% without it." [01:08:58] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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