Faithfulness: Pre-Deciding Responses to Life's Challenges
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to be determined and pre-decide our responses to life's challenges. This determination is not just about reacting to circumstances but about preparing ourselves spiritually and mentally for what lies ahead. Prayer becomes a tool not just for current situations but for building strength for future challenges. The world often throws various challenges at us, from health issues to financial struggles, but with faith, we can pre-imagine our responses and hold on to hope and joy, regardless of what is yet to come.
We explored the concept of having a one-word goal that defines our life's purpose. While many might choose words like "successful," "influential," or "happy," these are often rooted in worldly desires. Instead, the word "faithful" stands out as a divine goal. Faithfulness is about being consistent in our relationship with God, which in turn influences our interactions with others and how we manage our resources. It's about being ready, consistent, and devoted, ensuring that our actions align with our pre-decided values.
Faithfulness manifests in three key areas: our interactions with others, our stewardship of resources, and our obedience to God's promptings. Every interaction is an opportunity to add value to others, every resource is a chance to multiply and steward well, and every prompting is a call to obey God. By focusing on these areas, we align ourselves with God's will and live a life that pleases Him.
Ultimately, our faithfulness is not about perfection but about consistency and obedience. It's about being ready to respond to God's call, regardless of the cost, and trusting that He will reward a lifetime of faithfulness. As we close, let's reflect on how we can be faithful in our daily lives, adding value to others, multiplying our resources, and obeying God's promptings.
Key Takeaways:
1. Pre-Decide Your Responses: Life's challenges are inevitable, but by pre-deciding our responses through prayer and faith, we can face them with strength and determination. This preparation allows us to hold onto hope and joy, regardless of the circumstances. [06:16]
2. Faithfulness Over Success: While worldly goals like success and influence are common, true fulfillment comes from being faithful. Faithfulness to God is the ultimate goal, as it aligns us with His will and leads to a life that pleases Him. [08:21]
3. Three Areas of Faithfulness: Our faithfulness should be evident in our interactions with others, our stewardship of resources, and our obedience to God's promptings. Each area offers opportunities to add value, multiply blessings, and obey God's will. [24:27]
4. Consistency in Faith: Being consistently faithful is challenging but essential. It requires us to live by God's feelings about us rather than our own shifting emotions, ensuring that our actions are rooted in divine truth. [21:37]
5. Obedience to God's Promptings: Every prompting from God is an opportunity to obey and align ourselves with His purpose. By pursuing Jesus and being open to the Holy Spirit, we become effective tools in God's hands. [51:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:16] - Pre-Deciding Responses
- [08:21] - Faithfulness Over Success
- [14:27] - Consistency in Faith
- [18:39] - Challenges of Being Faithful
- [21:37] - Living by God's Feelings
- [24:27] - Three Areas of Faithfulness
- [30:00] - Adding Value to Others
- [32:34] - Self-Reflection and Humility
- [35:20] - Encouragement and Atmosphere
- [38:31] - Encouraging Others to Greatness
- [43:24] - Multiplying Resources
- [48:48] - Stewardship and Generosity
- [51:54] - Obedience to God's Promptings
- [54:43] - Personal Testimony of Faithfulness
- [57:43] - Conclusion and Call to Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
2. Matthew 25:21 - "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’"
3. Habakkuk 2:4 - "See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of pre-deciding our responses to life's challenges? How does this relate to the concept of faith? [06:16]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three key areas where faithfulness should manifest in our lives? [24:27]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faithfulness and worldly success? [08:21]
4. What analogy does the pastor use to describe the importance of consistency in faith, and how does it relate to our spiritual lives? [14:27]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of pre-deciding our responses through prayer and faith change the way we handle unexpected challenges in our lives? [06:16]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faithfulness to God differs from pursuing worldly success, and why is this distinction important? [08:21]
3. How can the three areas of faithfulness—interactions with others, stewardship of resources, and obedience to God's promptings—be practically applied in daily life? [24:27]
4. What does it mean to live by God's feelings about us rather than our own shifting emotions, and how can this impact our faith journey? [21:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might pre-deciding your response through prayer have changed the outcome? What steps can you take to incorporate this practice into future situations? [06:16]
2. Consider your current life goals. Are they more aligned with worldly success or with being faithful to God? What changes can you make to ensure your goals reflect faithfulness? [08:21]
3. Identify one area in your life where you can add value to others. What specific actions can you take this week to be more faithful in your interactions? [30:00]
4. Think about the resources you have, whether time, talents, or possessions. How can you multiply these resources to serve others and honor God? [43:24]
5. Reflect on a recent prompting you felt from God. Did you act on it? If not, what held you back, and how can you be more open to obeying God's promptings in the future? [51:54]
6. How can you ensure that your actions are rooted in divine truth rather than your own emotions? What practices can help you stay grounded in God's feelings about you? [21:37]
7. Identify a person in your life who could benefit from encouragement. What specific words or actions can you offer to add value to their life this week? [38:31]
Devotional
Day 1: Pre-Deciding Responses with Faith
In life, challenges are inevitable, but how we respond to them can be pre-decided through prayer and faith. This proactive approach allows us to face difficulties with strength and determination, holding onto hope and joy regardless of the circumstances. By preparing ourselves spiritually and mentally, we can navigate life's trials with a sense of peace and assurance. This preparation is not just about reacting to situations as they arise but about building a foundation of faith that sustains us through any storm. [06:16]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a challenge you are currently facing. How can you pre-decide your response to this challenge through prayer and faith today?
Day 2: Faithfulness Over Worldly Success
While the world often values success, influence, and happiness, true fulfillment comes from being faithful to God. Faithfulness is about aligning our lives with God's will and living in a way that pleases Him. It is a divine goal that transcends worldly desires, focusing on consistency in our relationship with God. By prioritizing faithfulness, we find a deeper sense of purpose and joy that worldly achievements cannot provide. [08:21]
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your current life goals. How can you shift your focus from worldly success to being more faithful in your relationship with God?
Day 3: Three Areas of Faithfulness
Faithfulness should be evident in our interactions with others, our stewardship of resources, and our obedience to God's promptings. Each interaction is an opportunity to add value to others, every resource is a chance to multiply and steward well, and every prompting is a call to obey God. By focusing on these areas, we align ourselves with God's will and live a life that pleases Him. This holistic approach to faithfulness ensures that our actions are consistent with our pre-decided values. [24:27]
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your daily interactions and resource management. How can you be more faithful in these areas today?
Day 4: Consistency in Faith
Being consistently faithful is challenging but essential. It requires us to live by God's feelings about us rather than our own shifting emotions, ensuring that our actions are rooted in divine truth. Consistency in faith is not about perfection but about obedience and readiness to respond to God's call. By trusting in God's unwavering love and guidance, we can maintain a steady course in our spiritual journey. [21:37]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area where your faithfulness wavers. What steps can you take to be more consistent in your faith today?
Day 5: Obedience to God's Promptings
Every prompting from God is an opportunity to obey and align ourselves with His purpose. By pursuing Jesus and being open to the Holy Spirit, we become effective tools in God's hands. Obedience to God's promptings requires sensitivity to His voice and a willingness to act, even when it is challenging. Trusting that God will reward a lifetime of faithfulness, we can step out in faith and embrace His calling for our lives. [51:54]
"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent prompting from God that you hesitated to follow. How can you take a step of obedience today?
Quotes
"all righty well we really have been in a incredible service series I don't know how many of you have been enjoying understanding what it's what it means to be determined what it means to be determined pre-deciding before the circumstance dictates your reaction pre-deciding how you'll respond I can't tell you how unprepared you feel when big things hit you and you've never sat down and imagined how you'd respond with God that's what prayer is for me now I'm not praying about my current circumstance I'm praying father make me strong for what is yet to come because how many of you know that once you get Jesus you still have to be determined about walking out Jesus because the world wants to rob you of that determination by throwing all sorts of stuff at you how many have you had some stuff thrown at you this week just some stuff" [00:00:00] (54 seconds)
"our faith is to say no matter what is not yet beheld I can hang on to my hope I predetermine to hang on to my joy I predetermine but I wanted to jump into the next part of what we need to predetermine to have this determination what else do we need to pre-decide remember we have been on this journey but I wanted to just before I do a summary I wanted to ask you to think and I and I got some some people on video I I couldn't quite get all the clips together in time but I'll post it out on social media but I got some clips together of of what some people believe that their outcome is going to be in life one word what would you say your one word goal is if you could choose one word what would you say your one word" [00:02:26] (45 seconds)
"Right, when we're sitting in church, they become pretty holy, so what I did was I took some of your words, I went to the web and had a look at, well, I didn't go to the web, I went to ChatGPT and I asked a few questions and then I asked some people that aren't in church that I know, hey, just in conversation, I asked a pastor who had a non-believing janitor in his church while we were visiting and I asked him what that was and he grumpily told me something under his breath and he wanted to be fundamentally, the first word that he kind of came up with was successful." [00:03:36] (39 seconds)
"And then the third word that came up as the most, three of the most popular words of what one word goals were, was I wanna be happy. I wanna be happy. Joyful, happy, but let's just de-Christianize some of these words and fundamentally, if we had to look at it, these are the top three words that people wanna use to say that's what's gonna change my behavior. How many of you know that you can't become successful, influential and happy by doing nothing?" [00:05:18] (33 seconds)
"I believe that there is one word that's mentioned in Scripture through God's eyes that stands above the rest. Now, you may say, I wanna love, but you must realize that you can't love. You can never be successful at love. Why? Because God is love, and the only way you can be successful at loving others is to be successful with your relationship with God. Any of the divine qualities, you're never gonna be able to set as a goal because they're God's, holy unto Him. Ouch." [00:06:54] (35 seconds)
"God's not gonna look at you and go, well done, my good and successful servant. Well done, my good and influential servant. Well done, my good and happy servant. Well done, my good and rich servant. Well done, and good, my highly politically successful servant. Well done, my good and intelligent servant. Well done, my good and learned servant. Well done, my good and insert university name, attendee there, look at my ring servant. No, when we get to enter heaven, he's gonna say, well done, my good and faithful servant." [00:07:52] (46 seconds)
"Let's pray. Father, Father, as we hear from you today, may we realize that faithfulness, divine consistency is what will turn our lives around. And we predefine that in circumstances that are yet to come at us and the ones that we are walking through right now, we are going to learn how to be faithful." [00:08:54] (29 seconds)
"and then we said you know what we're not only going to be ready we're not only going to be consistent but we're going to be devoted what did it say we said that we're going to make sure that on the vine we're not worrying about the fruit but the attachment to the vine we're going to keep on seeking the king attached to the vine and then all these other things will come from our attachment but we detach from Jesus expecting the blessings of the Christ" [00:16:07] (32 seconds)
"we haven't read our Bible we haven't prayed we haven't got an intimate relationship with God but we want healing we want forgiveness we want money we want prosperity we want all the blessings of the Christ but we've forgotten to remain attached to him and then last week we said how do we become generous remember and I gave you some pointers on generosity of heart must become a natural pre-decided decision if if you remember I don't know my wife will remember my kids are probably cringing at home as I tell the story if you're watching this kids I'm sorry man I used to be terrible in a restaurant when I didn't get my own way bring me a bad steak man even the the chefs that went on duty felt my wrath it's like I pay you to do this do it right yeah and I was I was so blessed I had a bad steak the other evening and I just called the waitress over and and and I ate the whole thing it was disgusting but I would not insult people just to get my own way now I'm not saying we have to be doormats and just let people walk up do you how many of you know that you can tell somebody that the the fruit of their work is not good but you can do it generously" [00:16:49] (92 seconds)
"How many of you know that being consistently good is sometimes boring and tough? You little goody two-shoes. Nobody wants to come and talk to you because all you say is, let's pray. Everybody comes to you for counsel and you give them a Bible scripture. Romans 12, let me guess. Everybody just sometimes needs a little bit of healthy disruption in their lives and I just don't want to get goodness right now. I'm not in the mood to hear your story about Jesus, okay?" [00:19:23] (39 seconds)
"To live out the life about how God feels about you is way more difficult than to wake up in the morning and live out life how you feel about you. So today I give you life and death, says Scripture, to decide who are you gonna live by. Whose feelings are you gonna live by faithfully? Here's the one thing that will stop you from being faithful. Habakkuk chapter two, verse four says this. Look at the proud. Say proud. Proud. Proud." [00:21:46] (33 seconds)
"Faithfulness to God. Faithfulness. Say faithfulness. Turn to your friend, your neighbor, your partner, plus someone behind you and say, you're looking rather faithful today. Cool. No one said that to me. Okay. What does it mean to be faithful and how do we live it out? What does it mean to be faithful? We've said we've gotta be faithful and not proud. Well, Jesus talks about faithfulness in three very distinct ways." [00:24:17] (27 seconds)
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