Faith in the Unseen: Trusting God's Promises
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor referencing Mark chapter 8, verses 22-26, where Jesus heals a blind man. The pastor emphasizes the significance of this healing, where Jesus uses spit and laying hands on the man's eyes to restore his sight. The pastor encourages the congregation to declare, "I can't quite see it, but I still believe it," acknowledging that faith often requires belief in things unseen. The pastor then discusses the importance of reading and understanding the Bible for oneself, without relying on others' interpretations. He uses a personal anecdote about cooking catfish to illustrate the importance of authenticity in our relationship with God, warning against diluting the authenticity of God's message with personal interpretations.
The pastor then addresses the concept of cycles and the repetition of mistakes, questioning why individuals continue to face the same challenges repeatedly without learning from their past experiences. He emphasizes the importance of learning from previous lessons and not repeating the same mistakes. The pastor also discusses a story from Mark chapter eight where Jesus miraculously feeds a large crowd with just a few loaves of bread. Despite having witnessed Jesus perform such a miracle before, the disciples still doubt and question how they will be able to feed the people in the current situation. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust in Jesus, who has already proven His ability to provide and perform miracles.
The pastor then reflects on a situation where Jesus appears to need a second attempt to heal a blind man, which raises questions about his abilities. Despite this, the pastor emphasizes that Jesus' touch brings improvement, and there is still room for further clarity. The pastor then emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead, as it is through the power of Jesus' resurrection that salvation is obtained. The pastor encourages the congregation to not only believe but also confess that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of unwavering belief in God's promises and preparing for the fulfillment of God's promises. He encourages the congregation to continue believing and preparing for the fulfillment of God's promises, reminding them that God is able to do what He said He would do. The pastor also urges the congregation to give praise to God for sustaining their lives thus far and to appreciate their current blessings before expecting more.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of reading and understanding the Bible for oneself, without relying on others' interpretations. He warns against diluting the authenticity of God's message with personal interpretations. ([12:45])
- The pastor addresses the concept of cycles and the repetition of mistakes, questioning why individuals continue to face the same challenges repeatedly without learning from their past experiences. He emphasizes the importance of learning from previous lessons and not repeating the same mistakes. ([22:30])
- Despite having witnessed Jesus perform miracles before, the disciples still doubt and question how they will be able to feed the people in the current situation. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust in Jesus, who has already proven His ability to provide and perform miracles. ([32:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead, as it is through the power of Jesus' resurrection that salvation is obtained. The pastor encourages the congregation to not only believe but also confess that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. ([42:00])
- The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of unwavering belief in God's promises and preparing for the fulfillment of God's promises. He encourages the congregation to continue believing and preparing for the fulfillment of God's promises, reminding them that God is able to do what He said He would do. ([52:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 8:22-26: "They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?' He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.' Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, 'Don’t even go into the village.'"
2. Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the specific actions Jesus took to heal the blind man in Mark 8:22-26?
2. In Romans 10:9, what are the two conditions mentioned for salvation?
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think Jesus used spit and touch to heal the blind man in Mark 8:22-26? What could this signify about the nature of Jesus' healing?
2. In Romans 10:9, why is it important to both declare with your mouth and believe in your heart for salvation? What does this suggest about the relationship between faith and action?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to believe in something you couldn't quite see. How did that experience shape your faith?
2. Are there any cycles or repeated mistakes in your life that you find hard to break? What steps can you take to learn from these experiences and avoid repeating them?
3. How can you ensure that your understanding of the Bible is authentic and not overly influenced by others' interpretations? Can you commit to reading a chapter of the Bible each day for the next week?
4. Can you think of a situation where you doubted God's ability to provide, despite having witnessed His provision before? How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in those moments of doubt?
5. What is one specific way you can prepare for the fulfillment of God's promises in your life this week?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Authenticity in Faith
In our journey of faith, it is crucial to seek understanding of the Bible independently, without relying solely on others' interpretations. This pursuit of knowledge fosters authenticity in our relationship with God, preventing the dilution of His message with personal biases. [12:45]
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good."
Reflection: Reflect on your Bible study habits. Are there areas where you rely too heavily on others' interpretations? How can you foster more independent study to deepen your understanding?
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Day 2: Breaking the Cycle of Mistakes
Life often presents us with recurring challenges, prompting us to question why we repeatedly face the same issues without learning from past experiences. It is essential to learn from our past mistakes and not repeat them, breaking the cycle of repeated failures. [22:30]
Proverbs 26:11 - "As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly."
Reflection: Identify a recurring challenge in your life. What lessons can you learn from your past experiences to overcome this challenge?
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Day 3: Trusting in Jesus' Proven Abilities
Despite witnessing Jesus perform miracles, we often find ourselves doubting His ability to provide in our current situations. It is important to trust in Jesus, who has already proven His ability to provide and perform miracles. [32:15]
Matthew 14:31 - "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you doubted God's ability to provide. How can you strengthen your trust in Jesus' proven abilities?
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Day 4: Confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior
Believing in Jesus as the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead is the cornerstone of our faith. It is through the power of Jesus' resurrection that salvation is obtained. We are encouraged to not only believe but also confess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. [42:00]
Romans 10:9 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Reflection: How often do you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior? How can you make this confession a more integral part of your daily life?
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Day 5: Preparing for the Fulfillment of God's Promises
Unwavering belief in God's promises and preparing for their fulfillment is a key aspect of our faith. We are reminded that God is able to do what He said He would do and encouraged to continue believing and preparing for the fulfillment of His promises. [52:30]
Numbers 23:19 - "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
Reflection: What is one promise from God that you are waiting for? How are you preparing for its fulfillment?
Quotes
"If you can't get with the 66 books stop leaning yourself over to other people's interpretation of what the Bible said and read the Bible for the Bible because every now and then you know what it's like when you go taste some fish that ain't right." [51:40]
"Something just won't right in the sauce, something somebody done sprinkle some extra stuff in here, somebody then added some extra um in it that did that weren't necessary because the word has always been right and the word has always been right right by itself." [52:47]
"This ain't the same circumstance but it is the same circumstance. It ain't the same time but it is the same time why because these people are doing the same thing that we do G, they have already seen Jesus do the miraculous but somehow they still ain't figured it out." #!!42:49!!#
"Ain't you tired of going through these cycles, ain't you tired of going through these moments of serious doubt where you know what the Bible has said about you, you've gone to the Altar and had hands laid on you, you went to the prophetic service that night and the man of God or the woman of God spoke to you prophetically and you say yes I believe, they laid hands on you, you fell out, you got back up but then two minutes later you got the same doubt, you got the same fear, you're suffering from the same lack of belief." #!!44:19!!#
"I know you can't see the miracle in your hand, but you need to start acting like you believe it. I know you can't quite see it, but I still believe it, God. I know you got a promise for me, and I believe it's gonna come, and because I believe it's gonna come, I'mma prepare like it's happening right now." #!!01:08:25!!#
"Romans 10 and 9 says that if Thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead Thou shalt be saved." #!!01:12:51!!#
"Don't give up on God because he won't give up on you... I ain't never seen a moment where eviction notice are posted on the doors... have you given God praise for sustaining your life up until now because it didn't have to do it but it did." #!!01:06:04!!#
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