Faith in Action: Trusting God's Promises

 

Summary

In today's gathering, I shared a personal journey of faith and reliance on God's promises, inspired by the life of George Mueller. As a young convert at the University of Texas, I was deeply moved by Mueller's autobiography, which taught me the power of trusting God for provision. This trust was not just theoretical but practical, as I experienced God's faithfulness firsthand. From giving away my summer meal money to witnessing miraculous provisions in Peru, I learned that God meets our needs when we rely solely on Him.

The journey of faith continued with the founding of HeartCry Missionary Society, where we aimed to support indigenous missionaries without making them dependent. Despite financial challenges, God consistently provided, often in unexpected ways. This journey taught me that to see God work, we must cut ourselves off from relying on human strength and fully depend on Him. The testimonies of God's provision are not just stories but reminders that God is alive and active today.

I emphasized that the promises of God are for those who seek His glory above all else. These promises are not for self-promotion or preservation but for those who desire God's will and glory. The true pursuit of God's promises requires a heart set on His kingdom, a willingness to be weak, and a relentless faith that presses into God's promises with desperation and passion. The promises of God are vast, and they call us to a life of prayer and perseverance, trusting that God will fulfill His word.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith in Action: Trusting God requires stepping out in faith, even when it seems unreasonable. Like George Mueller, we must believe that God will provide for our needs when we rely solely on Him. This faith is not passive but active, requiring us to take bold steps in obedience to God's leading. [01:36]

- Dependence on God: To see God work, we must cut ourselves off from the arm of the flesh. This means not relying on human strength or resources but trusting God to meet our needs. It's in our weakness that God's strength is made perfect, and His provision becomes evident. [08:40]

- Promises for God's Glory: God's promises are for those who seek His glory and will above all else. These promises are not for self-promotion but for advancing God's kingdom. When our hearts are aligned with God's purposes, we can trust that He will fulfill His promises. [32:35]

- Relentless Faith: The kingdom of God advances through those who are passionately weak and violently desperate. This means having a relentless faith that presses into God's promises, knowing that there is no other place for hope or deliverance. [42:49]

- Wrestling with Promises: We must take hold of God's promises and wrestle with them in prayer. This involves a holy boldness and perseverance, believing that God will fulfill His word. There is nothing in our lives that cannot be overcome through prayer and faith in God's promises. [56:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - The Promises of the New Testament
- [00:47] - Conversion and Influence of George Mueller
- [01:36] - Testimonies of Faith and Provision
- [03:15] - Early Steps of Faith
- [04:31] - Mission Work in Peru
- [06:09] - Founding HeartCry Missionary Society
- [07:15] - God's Provision in Ministry
- [08:40] - Dependence on God Alone
- [10:14] - Journal Entries of God's Faithfulness
- [12:14] - Trusting God in Financial Struggles
- [14:49] - God's Call for More Faith
- [18:10] - The Importance of God's Glory
- [30:32] - Trusting God Over Human Support
- [32:35] - Promises for God's Glory
- [42:49] - Relentless Faith and Desperation
- [56:54] - Wrestling with God's Promises
- [57:10] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 7:7-8 - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Observation Questions:
1. What was the personal journey of faith shared by the pastor, and how did it relate to the life of George Mueller? [01:36]
2. How did the pastor describe the financial challenges faced by the HeartCry Missionary Society, and what was the outcome? [06:09]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of cutting oneself off from the "arm of the flesh"? [08:40]
4. What does the pastor mean by "wrestling with God's promises," and how is this concept illustrated in the sermon? [56:54]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the pastor's story of miraculous provision in Peru illustrate the principle found in Matthew 7:7-8? [31:09]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's promises are linked to seeking His glory and will above all else? [32:35]
3. How does the pastor's emphasis on "relentless faith" relate to the idea of God's strength being made perfect in our weakness, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:9? [42:49]
4. What does the pastor mean by saying that the kingdom of God advances through those who are "passionately weak and violently desperate"? [42:49]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to rely solely on God for provision. How did that experience shape your faith? [03:15]
2. The pastor mentioned the importance of cutting off reliance on human strength. What practical steps can you take to depend more on God in your daily life? [08:40]
3. How can you align your heart with God's purposes to ensure that you are seeking His glory above all else? [32:35]
4. Consider a promise of God that you are currently wrestling with in prayer. What steps can you take to persevere in faith until you see it fulfilled? [56:54]
5. The sermon emphasized the need for a "relentless faith." What areas of your life require a more passionate and desperate pursuit of God's promises? [42:49]
6. How can you cultivate a heart that is willing to be weak so that God's strength can be made perfect in you? [42:49]
7. Identify one specific way you can step out in faith this week, trusting God to provide and guide you in that area. [01:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action
Trusting God requires stepping out in faith, even when it seems unreasonable. This kind of faith is not passive but active, demanding bold steps in obedience to God's leading. Like George Mueller, who believed that God would provide for his needs, we are called to rely solely on God. This reliance is not just a mental exercise but a practical demonstration of faith in our daily lives. When we take these steps, we open ourselves to witnessing God's miraculous provisions and faithfulness. [01:36]

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you take a bold step of obedience today?


Day 2: Dependence on God
To see God work, we must cut ourselves off from relying on human strength and resources. This means embracing our weaknesses and trusting God to meet our needs. In our vulnerability, God's strength is made perfect, and His provision becomes evident. This dependence is not a sign of weakness but a testament to God's power and faithfulness. When we let go of our reliance on the "arm of the flesh," we create space for God to demonstrate His might in our lives. [08:40]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a situation where you are relying on your own strength. How can you shift your dependence to God and trust Him to work in that area?


Day 3: Promises for God's Glory
God's promises are for those who seek His glory and will above all else. These promises are not for self-promotion but for advancing God's kingdom. When our hearts are aligned with God's purposes, we can trust that He will fulfill His promises. This alignment requires a heart set on His kingdom, a willingness to be weak, and a relentless faith that presses into God's promises with desperation and passion. [32:35]

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you align your desires with God's glory today? How can you ensure that your pursuit of His promises is for His kingdom and not for personal gain?


Day 4: Relentless Faith
The kingdom of God advances through those who are passionately weak and violently desperate. This means having a relentless faith that presses into God's promises, knowing that there is no other place for hope or deliverance. Such faith is characterized by a holy boldness and perseverance, believing that God will fulfill His word. This relentless pursuit is not easy, but it is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's promises. [42:49]

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you need to pursue with relentless faith? How can you demonstrate a holy boldness in your prayer and actions today?


Day 5: Wrestling with Promises
We must take hold of God's promises and wrestle with them in prayer. This involves a holy boldness and perseverance, believing that God will fulfill His word. There is nothing in our lives that cannot be overcome through prayer and faith in God's promises. This wrestling is not a sign of doubt but a demonstration of our commitment to seeing God's promises fulfilled in our lives. [56:54]

"And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day." (Genesis 32:24, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a promise from God that you are holding onto. How can you wrestle with this promise in prayer today, demonstrating your commitment to seeing it fulfilled?

Quotes


When I was converted at the University of Texas at the age of 21, a man came up to me as I've said many times and put several books in my hand. One of those books was the autobiography of George Mueller, and I was absolutely astounded at that little volume. [00:47:52]

I felt like the Lord had laid on my heart to give away the money I had for that Summer's meals to give away all that money to that particular Endeavor and to trust God. And what happened was for some reason my friends were working as waiters and a lady just heard that I was living with these boys. [00:03:38]

God met every need all the time, and as God began to work in the ministry, I began to see indigenous missionaries, men that lived on $75 a month and had started 15, 20 churches, men of whom the world is not worthy, many of them uneducated, unshaven mountain men, and that God just gloriously was using. [00:05:05]

One of the great problems is that unless you cut yourself off from the arm of the flesh, you'll never see God work. Unless you cut yourself off from the arm of the flesh, you'll never see God work. And so God began to train, and so we began to support missionaries. [00:08:38]

The last few months have been the leanest of our ministry since June. We have lived every day from hand to mouth. Several times Darren, John, and I have not received our salaries. In spite of this hardship, all the men and women in the field have received their support without exception. [00:10:14]

God has taken away from us even the little strength we thought we had. We have nothing to hope in but Him. We have 7 days before the end of the month and not a single missionary has been paid. Mission giving usually goes down in December because of the Christmas holidays. [00:12:20]

I felt led that God would send someone to us before the mail arrived who would give a gift to the mission. At midday, a brother from Kentucky came to the office and gave us $15. It was a great confirmation to all of us that God had heard our prayers and that He was with us. [00:15:31]

I would rather be a beggar in the court of God than to sit in the seats of the mighty in the greatest halls of this present age. I would be the weakest of all His children that I might see greater portions of His grace. I would be the most incompetent that I might see greater measures of His strength. [00:26:15]

The promise belongs to those with the right passion, and the promise belongs to the weak. The promise belongs to the weak. Young men, you will heartily agree that you can do nothing of yourself. You don't know at all what that means. If it's going to take so many decades of all your strength being destroyed. [00:38:38]

The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. Now, in light of Luke 16:16, it seems best to interpret this passage to mean this: the kingdom presses ahead relentlessly, and only the relentless press their way into it. The men that are used of God, if I could only have two words to describe them. [00:42:49]

There is nothing, there is absolutely nothing in your life that cannot be overcome through wrestling and prayer and believing and availing yourself of the promises of God. Let's pray. Father, I come before you and ask you, Lord, you are a good God. You are a very good God. [00:56:54]

You can trust God. You can trust God. Don't you hear me? You don't have to go into debt. You can trust God. If God has called you to do something, why run to men? Why tell them? Why raise support from them? Why speak great things about yourself so that they might give? [00:30:12]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 19, 2011. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?