Faithfulness in the Ordinary: Trusting God's Preparation
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on God's faithfulness and our response to His goodness. Psalm 23 speaks of God's loving kindness, His "hesed," which follows us all our lives. In Romans 12, Paul urges us to present ourselves before God, a call to worship and surrender. As we navigate life's challenges, we must remember that it is God's people who are called to seek Him, pray, and humble themselves. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? Our simple response to God's goodness is to come before Him in surrender and seek His face.
We also delved into the story of David from 1 Samuel 17, focusing on his preparation and faithfulness. David's journey from shepherd to king is a testament to how God prepares us for our destiny through ordinary tasks and private victories. David's faith was not born out of bravado but from trusting God in private moments when no one was watching. His confidence in facing Goliath came from his experiences of God's deliverance from lions and bears.
David's story teaches us that God equips us with gifts uniquely suited for our assignments. David couldn't wear Saul's armor; he had to rely on his own skills and tools. Similarly, we must walk in the gifts God has given us. Trust and availability go hand in hand; David's trust in God made him available to face not just Goliath but any future challenges. Lastly, God prepares both the worker and the work. Just as God prepared David, He also prepared the circumstances for David's victory over Goliath.
### Key Takeaways
1. Destiny Comes Wrapped in the Ordinary: Often, God's calling in our lives is hidden in mundane tasks. David was sent to deliver cheese, an ordinary task that led to an extraordinary encounter with Goliath. We must be faithful in small, ordinary tasks, as they are often the setup for our destiny. [54:42]
2. Private Victories Protect Against Public Failure: David's confidence in facing Goliath came from his private victories over lions and bears. These private moments of faith and trust in God prepared him for public challenges. Similarly, our private battles and victories in faith protect us from public failures. [01:03:56]
3. God Equips You with Gifts Custom Fit for Your Assignment: David couldn't wear Saul's armor; he had to rely on his own skills and tools. God has given each of us unique gifts and abilities tailored for our specific assignments. We must practice and become proficient in these gifts to be ready for the moments of testing. [01:07:00]
4. Trust and Availability Go Hand in Hand: David's trust in God made him available to face not just Goliath but any future challenges. When we trust God, we make ourselves available for His purposes, knowing that He will equip us and provide for us. Our availability to God allows Him to do the amazing through us. [01:11:56]
5. God Prepares the Worker and the Work: God not only prepares us for our assignments but also prepares the circumstances for our success. Just as God prepared David and the situation with Goliath, He is preparing both us and our work. We must trust that God is setting things up for our victory and destiny. [01:18:59]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:55] - Call to Worship and Surrender
[32:49] - Seeking God's Face
[33:51] - Praising God's Faithfulness
[35:44] - Worship Through Song
[37:00] - Lighting the Fire of First Love
[38:36] - Drawing Near to God
[39:33] - Community and Announcements
[43:29] - Summer Camp and Farewell to Noah
[45:04] - Introduction to David Series
[46:14] - David's Faithfulness in Preparation
[47:05] - David and Goliath Background
[49:27] - David's Confidence in God
[50:12] - The Process of Preparation
[52:29] - Developing Through Ordinary Tasks
[54:42] - Destiny in the Ordinary
[58:29] - Private Victories and Public Success
[01:07:00] - Custom Fit Gifts for Your Assignment
[01:11:56] - Trust and Availability
[01:18:59] - God Prepares the Worker and the Work
[01:25:04] - The Promise and the Process
[01:28:07] - Prayer for New Believers
[01:29:34] - Closing Worship and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 23:6 - "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
2. Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
3. 1 Samuel 17:34-37 - "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 23:6 say about God's goodness and love? How does this relate to the concept of "hesed" mentioned in the sermon? [31:55]
2. According to Romans 12:1, what is our true and proper worship? How does this connect to the idea of presenting ourselves before God? [32:49]
3. In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, what experiences did David recount to Saul to demonstrate his readiness to face Goliath? How did these experiences build his confidence? [47:05]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "hesed" in Psalm 23:6 enhance our understanding of God's faithfulness in our lives? [31:55]
2. What does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice according to Romans 12:1? How can this be seen as a response to God's goodness? [32:49]
3. How do David's private victories over the lion and the bear prepare him for his public challenge against Goliath? What does this teach us about the importance of private faithfulness? [47:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a mundane task in your life. How might God be using this ordinary task to prepare you for something greater? [54:42]
2. Can you identify any "private victories" in your life that have prepared you for public challenges? How can you continue to cultivate these private moments of faith? [01:03:56]
3. What unique gifts has God given you that are custom fit for your assignments? How can you practice and become proficient in these gifts? [01:07:00]
4. How does your trust in God influence your availability to face challenges? Can you think of a situation where you need to make yourself more available to God's purposes? [01:11:56]
5. In what ways do you see God preparing both you and the work He has for you? How can you trust in His preparation process? [01:18:59]
6. How can you make yourself more available to God in your daily life? What steps can you take this week to increase your availability to His calling? [01:14:51]
7. Think of a time when you felt unprepared for a task God called you to. How did you see God's preparation in hindsight? How can this experience encourage you in your current walk with God? [01:16:19]
Devotional
Day 1: Destiny Comes Wrapped in the Ordinary
God often hides His calling in the mundane tasks of our daily lives. David was sent to deliver cheese, an ordinary task that led to an extraordinary encounter with Goliath. This teaches us that we must be faithful in small, ordinary tasks, as they are often the setup for our destiny. The seemingly insignificant moments in our lives can be the very opportunities God uses to prepare us for greater things. By embracing and excelling in these ordinary tasks, we position ourselves to step into the extraordinary plans God has for us. [54:42]
1 Samuel 17:17-18 (ESV): "And Jesse said to David his son, 'Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.'"
Reflection: What ordinary task in your life can you approach with greater faithfulness and excellence, trusting that God may use it for a greater purpose?
Day 2: Private Victories Protect Against Public Failure
David's confidence in facing Goliath came from his private victories over lions and bears. These private moments of faith and trust in God prepared him for public challenges. Similarly, our private battles and victories in faith protect us from public failures. When we trust God in the secret places of our lives, He equips us with the strength and confidence needed for public challenges. These private victories build our faith and character, ensuring that we are ready for the larger battles ahead. [01:03:56]
1 Samuel 17:34-35 (ESV): "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.'"
Reflection: What private battle are you currently facing that you need to trust God with? How can you seek His strength and guidance in this situation?
Day 3: God Equips You with Gifts Custom Fit for Your Assignment
David couldn't wear Saul's armor; he had to rely on his own skills and tools. God has given each of us unique gifts and abilities tailored for our specific assignments. We must practice and become proficient in these gifts to be ready for the moments of testing. By embracing and honing our God-given talents, we prepare ourselves to fulfill the unique purposes God has for us. Trusting in the gifts God has given us allows us to face challenges with confidence and effectiveness. [01:07:00]
1 Samuel 17:38-39 (ESV): "Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, 'I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.' So David put them off."
Reflection: What unique gifts and abilities has God given you? How can you practice and develop these gifts to be ready for the assignments He has for you?
Day 4: Trust and Availability Go Hand in Hand
David's trust in God made him available to face not just Goliath but any future challenges. When we trust God, we make ourselves available for His purposes, knowing that He will equip us and provide for us. Our availability to God allows Him to do the amazing through us. Trusting in God's plan and provision enables us to step out in faith and be used by Him in powerful ways. By being available to God, we open ourselves up to the incredible opportunities He has in store for us. [01:11:56]
1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV): "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more fully? How can you make yourself more available for His purposes today?
Day 5: God Prepares the Worker and the Work
God not only prepares us for our assignments but also prepares the circumstances for our success. Just as God prepared David and the situation with Goliath, He is preparing both us and our work. We must trust that God is setting things up for our victory and destiny. By recognizing that God is at work in both our lives and our circumstances, we can have confidence that He is orchestrating everything for our good and His glory. Trusting in God's preparation allows us to step into our assignments with faith and assurance. [01:18:59]
1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV): "And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."
Reflection: How can you trust that God is preparing both you and your circumstances for success? What steps can you take to align yourself with His preparation and plan?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "So we thank you for your grace today that abounds to every one of us, Lord. We praise you today that you invite us to draw near to you. And you promise us that when we do, you will draw near to us. So to every heart, God, that is hungry today for you, I thank you, Lord. You will satisfy, Lord. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They'll be satisfied." [38:36] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We don't do amazing. We just do available. God does the amazing. We do the available. I make myself available. God takes care of the rest. I surrender. Just like we sang about at the end of our worship set. I make myself available to God and he takes care of the rest." [01:14:51] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you trust God, there's an overwhelming sense of abundance that, that we can say, God, I don't know what this is going to cost, but whatever the cost is, I know you're going to cover it. I don't know exactly what it's going to take for me to do, for me to stay in this marriage, even though we're struggling, even though, but, but Lord, whatever the cost is, I know you're going to cover it. You're going to give me what I need as I make myself available to you." [01:14:51] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is always one step ahead of us, folks. God is always ten steps ahead of us. And the Bible says really clearly, he has your steps ordered. He not only prepares you, but he prepares the work that you're to do." [01:20:28] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. Did you know that? God has given you everything you need. We've received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." [01:22:12] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Destiny comes wrapped in the ordinary. When I was a teenager, um, I was, um, I came to Christ when I was 15 years old, really had a moment where my life was really changed. Um, now, you know, there's a process involved in that too. And so it wasn't like there was any kind of perfection achieved at that moment, but there was a shift that took place in my heart and it began this whole new trajectory in my life has put me to where I am today." [54:42] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Private victories protect against public failure. Private victories in David's life were what set him up for those public victories and protected him against public failure. Many years ago when I used to, I used to do a lot of different kind of things musically and lead worship in different contexts." [58:29] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God equips you with gifts custom fit for your assignment. This is what you have to love about this character, David. He has this opportunity to walk in someone else's armor. It had to be probably the best armor would imagine that was available at the time. It was the king's own armor that was lent to David to say, hey, if you're going to go face this giant, I'm going to give you this armor." [01:07:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God always speaks words of warning before handing out judgment. God always deals so graciously and mercifully with us. And this is another word of warning to you today. Whatever that sin is, start wrestling with it. Do not give it space. Do not give it home. Do not give it an easy place to live in your life. Wrestle with that sin. Confess it to a spouse or to a friend in Christ. Use every weapon at your disposal or within your reach to battle against it. Own it, confess it, and let God give you victory." [01:05:26] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You have everything you need today. To developing that picture. Can we do this? Can we bow our heads together for just a moment? I will just say this. If you have not received, if you've not come to a knowledge of, a personal knowledge of Jesus, a personal relationship with Jesus, I'll say it like that, because that word knowledge is not just a head knowledge. It's a, if you've not come to that personal relationship with Jesus, then we're not gonna be able to do that." [01:25:57] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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