Faithful Worship: Trusting God in Desolation
Summary
### Summary
Today, we reflected on the foundational aspects of our faith, particularly focusing on the importance of living by faith rather than by sight, feelings, or emotions. Trusting in Jesus is paramount, especially in times of life's changes and uncertainties. We explored the story of Moses at Horeb, a desolate place that became holy ground when God revealed Himself. This encounter teaches us that worship is not contingent on our circumstances or feelings but on the revelation of God's person, presence, and promises.
We examined how figures like Job, Habakkuk, and Paul responded to their desolate situations with worship and trust in God. Job worshiped despite losing everything, Habakkuk sang praises even when his dreams seemed shattered, and Paul rejoiced while imprisoned. These examples illustrate that true worship arises from recognizing who God is, not from our external conditions.
Moses' encounter with God at Horeb underscores that worship is rooted in the revelation of God's person. God revealed Himself to Moses as "I am who I am," signifying that He is the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He remains the same today. This revelation transforms our desolate places into holy ground.
Furthermore, worship is also about the relationship of His presence. When God touches a place or a person, it becomes holy. Moses' ordinary staff became the rod of God, symbolizing that God equips those He calls. Lastly, worship is anchored in the reassurance of God's promises. Even when Moses felt broken and forgotten, God reaffirmed His promise and provided everything Moses needed for his future.
In conclusion, we are called to worship God not because of our circumstances but because of who He is. We are marked by God, set apart for His divine purpose, and can trust that His promises will come to pass.
### Key Takeaways
1. Living by Faith: Trusting in Jesus is essential, especially in times of uncertainty. It's easier said than done, but God remains constant and unchanging, making Him worthy of our trust. We must learn to live by faith, not by sight or emotions. [21:01]
2. Worship in Desolation: True worship is not dependent on our circumstances. Figures like Job, Habakkuk, and Paul worshiped God despite their dire situations. This teaches us that worship arises from recognizing who God is, not from our external conditions. [40:34]
3. Revelation of God's Person: Moses' encounter with God at Horeb shows that worship is rooted in the revelation of God's person. God revealed Himself as "I am who I am," signifying His eternal and unchanging nature. This revelation transforms our desolate places into holy ground. [47:10]
4. Relationship of His Presence: When God touches a place or a person, it becomes holy. Moses' ordinary staff became the rod of God, symbolizing that God equips those He calls. This teaches us that holiness is about relationship and being set apart for God's divine purpose. [54:45]
5. Reassurance of His Promise: Worship is anchored in the reassurance of God's promises. Even when Moses felt broken and forgotten, God reaffirmed His promise and provided everything Moses needed for his future. This reminds us that God's promises are certain and will come to pass. [58:27]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:01] - Trusting in Jesus
[22:17] - God's Unchanging Nature
[23:14] - Casting Our Burdens
[24:27] - Releasing Our Struggles
[26:12] - Affirmation of Faith
[29:01] - Special Music
[34:04] - Announcements and Gratitude
[35:25] - Reading from Exodus
[36:32] - Prayer for Clarity and Anointing
[38:16] - Lessons from Horeb
[39:24] - Learning to Trust
[40:34] - Worship in Desolation
[47:10] - Revelation of God's Person
[54:45] - Relationship of His Presence
[58:27] - Reassurance of His Promise
[01:03:41] - Invitation to Worship
[01:17:30] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Exodus 3:1-6 (NIV)
> Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
### Observation Questions
1. What was Moses doing when he encountered the burning bush?
- Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, and led them to Horeb, the mountain of God. ([35:25])
2. What did God instruct Moses to do when he approached the burning bush?
- God instructed Moses to take off his sandals because the place where he was standing was holy ground. ([35:25])
3. How did Job respond to his calamities according to the sermon?
- Job fell on his face and worshiped God despite losing everything. ([40:34])
4. What was the significance of Moses' staff after God touched it?
- Moses' ordinary staff became the rod of God, symbolizing that God equips those He calls. ([59:59])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God revealed Himself to Moses as "I am who I am"?
- This revelation signifies God's eternal and unchanging nature, which transforms desolate places into holy ground. ([47:10])
2. How does the story of Job, Habakkuk, and Paul illustrate the concept of worship in desolation?
- These figures worshiped and trusted God despite their dire situations, showing that true worship arises from recognizing who God is, not from external conditions. ([40:34])
3. What does the transformation of Moses' staff into the rod of God teach us about God's calling?
- It teaches that God equips those He calls, turning ordinary things into instruments of His divine purpose. ([59:59])
4. How does the reassurance of God's promises play a role in worship according to the sermon?
- Worship is anchored in the reassurance of God's promises, reminding us that God's promises are certain and will come to pass even in times of desolation. ([58:27])
### Application Questions
1. Living by Faith: Reflect on a recent time of uncertainty in your life. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to trust in Jesus more fully during such times? ([21:01])
2. Worship in Desolation: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you shift your focus from your circumstances to recognizing who God is and worshiping Him in the midst of it? ([40:34])
3. Revelation of God's Person: How has God revealed Himself to you in your personal life? Share a specific instance where you felt God's presence and how it transformed your situation. ([47:10])
4. Relationship of His Presence: Identify an area in your life that feels ordinary or desolate. How can you invite God's presence into that area to transform it into holy ground? ([54:45])
5. Reassurance of His Promise: Recall a promise from God that you are holding onto. How does this promise give you hope and strength in your current circumstances? ([58:27])
6. Personal Worship: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, especially during difficult times? What practical steps can you take to make worship a consistent part of your life? ([46:15])
7. Equipped by God: Reflect on a talent or resource you have that seems ordinary. How might God be calling you to use it for His divine purpose? ([59:59])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in Jesus During Uncertainty
Description: Trusting in Jesus is essential, especially in times of uncertainty. It's easier said than done, but God remains constant and unchanging, making Him worthy of our trust. We must learn to live by faith, not by sight or emotions. In moments of life's changes and uncertainties, our faith in Jesus becomes our anchor. Just as Moses encountered God in a desolate place, we too can find holy ground in our struggles when we trust in God's unchanging nature. This trust is not based on our feelings or circumstances but on the steadfast character of God. [21:01]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that feels uncertain or challenging. How can you actively choose to trust Jesus in this situation today, despite not seeing the outcome?
Day 2: Worship in Desolation
Description: True worship is not dependent on our circumstances. Figures like Job, Habakkuk, and Paul worshiped God despite their dire situations. This teaches us that worship arises from recognizing who God is, not from our external conditions. Job worshiped despite losing everything, Habakkuk sang praises even when his dreams seemed shattered, and Paul rejoiced while imprisoned. These examples illustrate that true worship arises from recognizing who God is, not from our external conditions. [40:34]
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: Reflect on a time when you felt desolate or hopeless. How can you choose to worship God in the midst of your current struggles, recognizing His unchanging nature?
Day 3: Revelation of God's Person
Description: Moses' encounter with God at Horeb shows that worship is rooted in the revelation of God's person. God revealed Himself as "I am who I am," signifying His eternal and unchanging nature. This revelation transforms our desolate places into holy ground. When we understand who God is, our perspective shifts, and we can see His hand at work even in the most challenging circumstances. This understanding leads us to worship Him for who He is, not just for what He does. [47:10]
Exodus 3:14-15 (ESV): "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say this to the people of Israel, "The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you." This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.'"
Reflection: How does the revelation of God's eternal and unchanging nature impact your view of your current situation? Spend time meditating on who God is and how that changes your perspective.
Day 4: Relationship of His Presence
Description: When God touches a place or a person, it becomes holy. Moses' ordinary staff became the rod of God, symbolizing that God equips those He calls. This teaches us that holiness is about relationship and being set apart for God's divine purpose. When we are in a relationship with God, His presence transforms us and our circumstances. This transformation is not about the physical change but about being set apart for His purposes and equipped for His calling. [54:45]
Exodus 4:2-3 (ESV): "The Lord said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' He said, 'A staff.' And he said, 'Throw it on the ground.' So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it."
Reflection: Consider an ordinary aspect of your life that God might be calling you to use for His purposes. How can you offer this to Him and allow His presence to transform it into something holy?
Day 5: Reassurance of His Promise
Description: Worship is anchored in the reassurance of God's promises. Even when Moses felt broken and forgotten, God reaffirmed His promise and provided everything Moses needed for his future. This reminds us that God's promises are certain and will come to pass. In times of doubt and discouragement, we can hold onto the promises of God, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them. This assurance gives us the strength to continue worshiping and trusting Him, even when we cannot see the way forward. [58:27]
2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."
Reflection: Identify a promise from God that you need to hold onto today. How can you remind yourself of this promise and trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill it, even when circumstances seem contrary?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I told you a couple of weeks ago. I'm convinced that the greatest lesson God wants to teach us is trust me. Just trust me. In all of life's changes, no matter what happens, trust me. It's a lot easier to say I trust the Lord than it is to actually put it into practice. Have you noticed that? And yet we can trust him because he doesn't keep changing the rules on us." [21:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You worship because even though every appearance on the outside may be one of desolation, God is still God. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob is I am and he's still the God of today. See, I wish somebody would remember in this house that the God who was with Moses at the Red Sea is the same God who is with you today." [48:10] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You may be in a desolate place. You may be in a horrible place. But God has his hand on you. You're not like the prevailing culture. You're a different breed. You have a different nature. You have the touch of God on your life. You've been marked for holiness. You've been called for a higher purpose. You're different from all the folks around you. You're set apart." [56:34] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You will not be in the horrible place forever. God will bring you out. But I will tell you this. It's learning to worship in the horrible place that shortens the amount of time you spend there. So I can help you get out of there a lot quicker. And that is if you learn to worship even there. You know, if God could send an earthquake and get two missionaries out of prison at the midnight hour, God knows how to get you out of your stuff. really does." [01:17:30] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Over the last several Sundays, I've invited you to travel with me to a place in the land of Midian called Horeb. The name Horeb, you remember, means desolation. Horeb is a dry, barren, wasteland of a place. Another name for Horeb is Mount Sinai. And it is the place where God revealed himself to his people following their deliverance from Egypt and from where the Ten Commandments were given." [38:16] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "In this encounter with God on Horeb, Moses discovers how it is possible to worship in the desolate place. He discovers the same lesson that Job and Habakkuk and Paul and anyone who seeks to follow the Lord must learn. The lesson at Horeb teaches us we do not worship in response to circumstances. We do not worship in response to feelings." [46:15] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When something is holy, that means it has been set apart for divine purpose. You know, we were doing Throwback Sunday today. We used to try to equate holiness with appearance or with certain activities or with a certain code of conduct. What we failed to understand, please, don't hear that as being dismissive by any means. But what we failed to understand is that holiness is not about keeping rules and abiding by traditions. Holiness is about relationship." [54:45] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When God made you a promise, he didn't make it just to get your hopes up, only to then dash them on the rocks of reality. When God made you a promise, he fully intended to bring it to fruition. You may be at Horeb right now. You may be in that horrible place right now. You may have no reason to believe the vision will ever come to pass, but here in this holy place of Horeb, God is going to take your brokenness, and he's going to place into your life everything you need for your future." [01:01:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You can know everything about God and not know God. There are some very well-known theologians who are atheists. They know a lot about God, but they don't know God. God can be a healer to somebody else and not be that to you. You can know God is a redeemer to somebody else and him not be that to you. You can know he is a deliverer because you've seen him do that in the life of somebody else and not know it personally. But God wants to reveal himself to you personally." [52:17] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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