Faith, Trust, and God's Divine Plan for Us

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God knows and cares deeply about every aspect of our lives. We began by understanding that the Word of God is inherently powerful, but it requires our faith to activate its full potential in our lives. Faith is the nourishment that empowers God's Word to work effectively within us. Without a living faith, we may find ourselves questioning why our prayers seem unanswered or why we face certain challenges. However, when we keep our faith alive, we allow God's Word to manifest powerfully in our circumstances.

We delved into the comforting assurance that God is aware of our struggles and cares for us deeply. Even when we face trials and tribulations, we are reminded that everything is working according to God's divine plan. The story of my own journey, from aspiring to be a medical doctor to becoming a chemist, illustrates how God's plans are often different from our own, yet they lead us to where we are meant to be. This journey of faith and trust in God's plan is echoed in the lives of biblical figures like Joseph and David, who faced significant challenges but ultimately fulfilled God's purpose for their lives.

We also discussed the importance of resisting the enemy's attempts to derail us from God's path. The devil seeks to destroy, but by activating our faith and trusting in God's protection, we can overcome any adversary. Just as Daniel was protected in the lion's den, we too can trust that God will shut the mouths of the lions in our lives.

Finally, we were encouraged to look up to God in every situation, trusting that He will turn things around for our good. The journey may be tough, but it is a path of no return to bondage. God is leading us to a promised land, a place of abundance and fulfillment. We are reminded that after a period of suffering, God promises to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith as the Catalyst for God's Power: The Word of God is powerful, but it requires our faith to activate its full potential in our lives. Faith is the nourishment that empowers God's Word to work effectively within us. Without a living faith, we may find ourselves questioning why our prayers seem unanswered or why we face certain challenges. [00:48]

2. God's Unchanging Care and Plan: God knows and cares about every detail of our lives, even when we face trials. His plans for us are for good, to give us hope and a future. Trusting in His unchanging care allows us to see beyond our current struggles and believe in His promise to turn things around for our good. [03:00]

3. Resisting the Enemy's Distractions: The enemy seeks to destroy and distract us from God's path. By being vigilant and activating our faith, we can resist the devil's attempts and trust in God's protection. Just as Daniel was protected in the lion's den, we too can trust that God will shut the mouths of the lions in our lives. [14:59]

4. The Journey to the Promised Land: Our journey may be tough, but it is a path of no return to bondage. God is leading us to a promised land, a place of abundance and fulfillment. We are reminded that after a period of suffering, God promises to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. [27:09]

5. Endurance Through Trials: Like David, who faced many challenges before becoming king, we must endure the trials and trust in God's plan. Our current struggles are part of the training ground for the blessings God has in store for us. By looking up to God and allowing Him to lead, we will ultimately fulfill His purpose for our lives. [33:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:48] - The Power of Faith
- [03:00] - God Knows and Cares
- [04:12] - Trusting God's Plan
- [05:26] - God's Unfailing Care
- [09:34] - Personal Testimony
- [11:00] - God's Attention to Detail
- [13:08] - Casting Your Cares
- [14:59] - Resisting the Enemy
- [18:52] - The Path to Resurrection
- [20:14] - Looking Up to God
- [25:33] - Journey Through the Wilderness
- [27:09] - The Promised Land
- [30:26] - God's Restoration and Strength
- [33:52] - Endurance and Training
- [35:51] - David's Journey to Kingship
- [43:47] - Pursuing and Recovering All
- [48:06] - The Crown Meets You
- [56:50] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 10:29-31 - "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
2. 1 Peter 5:7-10 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
3. Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 10:29-31 tell us about God's attention to detail in our lives? How does this relate to the sermon’s message that God knows and cares about every aspect of our lives? [11:00]
2. In 1 Peter 5:7-10, what are believers instructed to do with their anxieties, and how does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on casting our cares upon God? [13:08]
3. How does the story of David, as mentioned in the sermon, illustrate the concept of enduring trials to fulfill God's purpose? [35:51]
4. What role does faith play in activating the power of God's Word in our lives, according to the sermon? [00:48]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might understanding that God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:29-31) change the way we view our personal struggles and challenges? [11:00]
2. What does it mean to resist the devil by standing firm in faith, as instructed in 1 Peter 5:8-9, and how can this be applied in our daily lives? [14:59]
3. How does the sermon’s reference to Jeremiah 29:11 encourage believers to trust in God's plan, even when current circumstances seem unfavorable? [04:12]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that trials and suffering are part of God's training ground for future blessings? [33:52]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was distant. How can the assurance that God knows and cares about every detail of your life (Matthew 10:29-31) help you in similar situations in the future? [11:00]
2. What are some practical steps you can take to cast your anxieties on God, as encouraged in 1 Peter 5:7? How can this practice change your approach to daily stressors? [13:08]
3. Consider a current challenge you are facing. How can you activate your faith to see God's Word work powerfully in that situation? [00:48]
4. Identify a "lion" in your life that seeks to devour your peace or joy. How can you apply the sermon’s message of resisting the enemy to overcome this challenge? [14:59]
5. Think about a time when your plans did not align with God's plans, similar to the pastor's testimony. How did that experience shape your trust in God's divine plan? [09:34]
6. How can you encourage someone else who is currently in a "wilderness" season, using the sermon’s message about the journey to the promised land? [27:09]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to look up to God in your current circumstances, trusting Him to turn things around for your good? [20:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as the Catalyst for Transformation
Faith is the essential ingredient that activates the power of God's Word in our lives. Without it, the inherent power of the Word remains dormant, unable to manifest its full potential. Faith acts as the nourishment that empowers God's Word to work effectively within us. When we lack a living faith, we may find ourselves questioning why our prayers seem unanswered or why we face certain challenges. However, by keeping our faith alive, we allow God's Word to manifest powerfully in our circumstances, transforming our lives and aligning us with His divine purpose. [00:48]

Hebrews 4:2 (ESV): "For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened."

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs the activation of faith today? How can you intentionally nourish your faith to see God's Word transform that area?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Unchanging Care
God's care for us is unwavering and encompasses every detail of our lives. Even when we face trials and tribulations, His plans for us remain good, designed to give us hope and a future. Trusting in His unchanging care allows us to see beyond our current struggles and believe in His promise to turn things around for our good. This assurance provides comfort and strength, knowing that God is intimately aware of our struggles and is working everything according to His divine plan. [03:00]

Isaiah 46:4 (ESV): "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of God's unchanging care during difficult times? How can this assurance change your perspective on current challenges?

Day 3: Resisting the Enemy's Distractions
The enemy seeks to destroy and distract us from God's path, but by being vigilant and activating our faith, we can resist his attempts. Trusting in God's protection, we can overcome any adversary, just as Daniel was protected in the lion's den. This requires a conscious effort to stay focused on God's promises and to resist the distractions that the enemy places in our path. By doing so, we can trust that God will shut the mouths of the lions in our lives, allowing us to continue on the path He has set for us. [14:59]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: What are some distractions or temptations that the enemy uses to derail you from God's path? How can you actively resist these distractions today?

Day 4: The Journey to the Promised Land
Our journey through life may be tough, but it is a path of no return to bondage. God is leading us to a promised land, a place of abundance and fulfillment. After a period of suffering, God promises to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. This journey requires endurance and trust in God's plan, knowing that He is leading us to a place of greater blessing and purpose. By looking up to God and allowing Him to lead, we can navigate the challenges of life with hope and confidence. [27:09]

Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (ESV): "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing."

Reflection: What does your "promised land" look like, and how can you trust God to lead you there? What steps can you take today to move closer to this place of abundance and fulfillment?

Day 5: Endurance Through Trials
Like David, who faced many challenges before becoming king, we must endure the trials and trust in God's plan. Our current struggles are part of the training ground for the blessings God has in store for us. By enduring these trials with faith and perseverance, we are being prepared for the fulfillment of God's purpose in our lives. This process requires patience and trust, knowing that God is using our experiences to shape us into the people He has called us to be. [33:52]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: How can you view your current trials as a training ground for future blessings? What practical steps can you take to endure these trials with faith and perseverance?

Quotes

That person would be weak. So for the Word of God to be powerful in your life, your faith has to be alive are you getting what I'm saying we all knew we say the work of God is powerful but for the work of God to perform the purpose for which God has sent it in your life your faith has to be alive your faith is the food that the work of God needs to be powerful in your own life are you getting what I'm saying I said your faith is the food that the work of God needs to be powerful in your own life in your own life the work of God is always powerful there is no doubt about that but you will ask what's happening to my life I'm praying what is going on but I'm telling you this morning what you need is to make sure your faith is alive the more faith you give to the work of God the more powerful the work of God will be in your life the more faith you apply to that situation to which you are applying the work of God the more result you will be seeing so this morning I want to encourage you put your faith alive put your faith alive amen sometimes in life [00:01:12] (109 seconds)

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation, whether yourself or your family, and you begin to wonder, why? Why am I here? Why am I going through this? Am I not a good Christian? Am I not worship God the way I should? Am I not doing things right? But I want to tell you today that everything is working according to the plan of God. Somebody will say, Kayode, why are you saying that? What I'm going through is not good. It's too painful. It's too hard. Why should I be in this situation? Many people have asked this kind of question in the Bible. They say, why, why, why, why? But I want to tell you, that God will turn things around for you. [00:03:25] (62 seconds)

Let us remember what the Bible said. He said in Jeremiah chapter 11, 29, he said, my plan for you is for good, to give you a hope and a better future. Right? That is the thought of God. Is that change? It's not change. The thought of God towards you never change. Because when God say it, God stand by it. And God will perform it. So when that is the thought of God for my life, I will now ask myself, why am I going through what I'm going through today? Eh? I want to tell you, if you truly believe in God as we are, everything will work together for your good. God is going to turn things around for you. [00:04:27] (62 seconds)

Not knowing that everything is working together for my good. As I'm failing, I'm getting closer to where God want me to be slowly, slowly, slowly. And I was there today. And I have my PhD in chemistry today. Glory be to God, amen. So what am I telling us? You may find yourself somewhere today. Every one of us, we are somewhere today. And we are passing through something. We are going through something. Something that some people may be happy with what they are going through right now. Glory be to God. But God want to take you higher. Some people are not happy with what they are going through right now. Maybe with respect to yourself or to your family or to your children, to your friend, you are going through something you don't like. It's so painful. And you begin to wonder, where is my God? Where is my God in this situation? Why am I going through this? I'm telling you, God knows what you are going through. God knows you are there. And he cares about that situation you are going through. And God is going to take you out of that situation, amen. [00:09:34] (76 seconds)

Devil is just looking for loopholes in her life to be able to stink, to be able to attack. That's why God is saying, be vigilant. Be sober. Calm down. Trust in me. Activate your faith. Make your faith to be alive, so that you'll be able to stop the enemy. Put them where they belong. Shut the enemy down. down so that they will have no effect to accomplish their goal in your life we remember daniel daniel because is a christian like you and me trust in the lord because of worshiping god you know he was thrown into the den den of lions what happened to daniel in that den of lions you know he was thrown there the lion was looking at him they were just looking at themself so what i want to tell you now regarding that is there may be a lion that think he wants to destroy your life that lion cannot he will not your own lion may be different from my own lion that trying to destroy your life destroy my life or destroy your life but one thing is sure that the god that protected daniel on that day is the same god that we are serving today and that god will shut the mouth of the lion you will not be consumed in the name of jesus christ somebody may be going through sickness you will not be consumed in the name of jesus christ somebody may be going through sickness or one disease or the other that stand like a lion that want to default that want to destroy somebody i'm telling you this morning that disease will not kill you god will shut the mouth of that sickness and god will protect you you will live to praise god like daniel live to praise god amen so god will shut every lion that is after your life god will cast them down in jesus name amen so my next point here say you are not singled out you are not alone in that situation many christians are going through similar things in first peter chapter five verse nine he say resisting steadfast in faith knowing that the same suffering are experienced by the spirit of the christian people and the spirit of the christian people is the most important your brotherhood in the world sometimes we we say why me we think we are the only one going through the same thing we are the kind of thing we are going through many people are going through similar things you are not singled out and you are not alone but god is saying we have to do something to resist to resist we have to resist the devil from having their way in our lives i put something here i say without crucifixion there will be no resurrection [00:14:59] (0 seconds)

When Jesus was going through this crucifixion, is it not painful? It's so painful. What offense did Jesus commit? He was doing good, right? And you too, you say, I'm living my life right, I'm doing good, why am I going through this? You are going to come out of it. Jesus went through it, and he was later glorified. Praise the Lord. So without crucifixion, there can be no resurrection. So instead of continuing to complain, and be saying, why me? Why am I? Why am I going through this? Why is my family going through this? Look up to God. I say, look up to God. Tell somebody next to you, say, look up to God. You know, when you look up to God, God will take up that situation. If you want God to take it up, you have to look up to God. So I'm challenging you this morning. Whatever thing you are going through, you have to look up to God. Whatever situation you find yourself, don't worry about how you get to that place. Don't keep thinking, how am I going to get there? Whether by mistake or by whatever, you are there already, you are there. What you just need to do is to look up to God. Look up to God in prayer, and keep looking up to God. And God will take it up. And God will turn things around. And God will turn things around for you, and you'll be victorious. Amen? I say you'll be victorious. Amen. So keep looking up to God. God is on your side. God will never leave you. God will never forsake you. You are not single out. You are not alone that go through some tough times in life. [00:18:37] (131 seconds)

When they're in the wilderness, you know, wilderness is a land of just enough. It's a land of just enough. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they asked for this, just God, this is all what you need. I gave you. They need food. God ain't done the food from above. Just enough for them to survive. Somebody may be the wilderness of his own journey of life today. Wilderness is not your place. God wants to take you to the promised land. A land flowing with milk and honey. I know some people are just in the land of just enough. Just enough. Just another day, another day, another day. But that wasn't the plan of God. God has a better plan. And I'm telling you this morning you will cross over to your promised land. A land of more than enough. A land of more than enough. That is where God is taking you to and you'll be there in Jesus' name. So God said after you have suffered he said I saw you in that suffering. He said after you have suffered 1 Peter 5 .10 after you have suffered a while God said number one I'm going to perfect the situation. I'm going to perfect everything that concerning your home, your life, your children, your family. I'm going to perfect everything. I'm going to restore everything that you have lost back to you. God said I'm going to restore them back. In the book of Joel in chapter 2 God said I'm going to restore the years that enemy the canker one the caterpillar my great armies has eaten in your life. God is going to restore them back. Wherever you are today you may be wondering I should have been better off. I should have better than this. God of restoration will restore you back to where he wants you to be. He said after you have suffered I'm going to restore you back to where I want you to be. Enemy may be thinking they are winning. They are not winning. They are just helping to walk, push you through the path that God wants you to go through to get to where God wants you to be. Don't think enemy is winning. No. It's not winning at all. An enemy will not win in your life. He will not win. Amen. So number two God said I'm going to establish you and support you. After you restore everything back into your life everything that devil thought he had stolen he said I'm going to establish that I'm going to support you. Everything you need to keep your blessing I'm going to give it unto you. He said, I'm going to strengthen you. I'm going to strengthen you. God will strengthen you, give you the strength that you need in order to maintain your blessing. And lastly, he said, I'm going to set you, that is, place you on a firm foundation, give you rest all around, making you to become who you ought to be. God wants you to become exactly who God wants you to be. Where you are today, if you are happy with the situation, praise the Lord, God will lift you up higher. If you are not happy, God is going to turn things around in your life. I want you from this moment forward to watch out for it. [00:27:09] (0 seconds)

To get through a training ground. Sometimes you go through a training ground because God wants to train his own children to be able to handle the kind of blessing he wants to place in their hand. It's just like if you have a if you take an eight -year -old child and give him billions of dollars to be spending anyhow, that money might destroy that child. So sometimes in our lives, you know, God will take us through some training ground because what because because of what he wants to use you to do in the future. When you are going through that training, it's painful. Just like when you go to gym, you are doing exercise, sometimes it's not easy, right? But you keep going, you keep going, you keep going. It's a training. God will take you through that training. It may be painful. You may be suffering in that training. Just like what God said is that after you have suffered a while, I will say to you, you may be going through that suffering. It's like training because of what God wants to use you for in the near future. He who get to where God wants him or her to be are those that endure the training and not giving up, and not back out, and not going back. So, I want to encourage you, don't go back. Keep going forward. Keep trusting God. [00:33:52] (107 seconds)

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Transcript

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