Finding Hope and Healing in Waiting on God
Summary
The sermon begins with the speaker emphasizing the importance of finding certainty in God, using the story of a man who believed that only God could heal him. The man was brought to the temple every day, confident in God's ability to provide healing. The speaker highlights that hope is found in the waiting, as we all live in some version of "not yet" in various aspects of our lives. The speaker then discusses the importance of having hope and trust in God while waiting, using various examples of waiting situations to highlight the challenges of waiting. The speaker asserts that the key to waiting is having patience, which is made possible through trusting in Jesus and having the Holy Spirit within.
The speaker reflects on previous discussions about hope, emphasizing that hope is placing confidence in God and that everyone needs hope, especially in uncertain times. The speaker introduces a story from Acts chapter 3 about a man who was born lame. The speaker explains that during that time, there was a belief that physical or mental struggles were a result of sin, either of the individual or their parents. This belief was held by Jesus' disciples as well. The speaker then emphasizes that although we may not be living in the purpose that God has given us yet, we can still trust and honor God with our whole being. The speaker encourages the audience to live with hope and believe that God is working something out, even if it hasn't happened in the present moment.
The speaker addresses the belief held by the parents of a blind man that his condition was a result of his or his parents' sin. Jesus corrects this theology, stating that neither the man nor his parents sinned to cause his blindness. The speaker then relates this to how people today often attribute someone's suffering or difficult circumstances to their lack of prayer or belief. The speaker emphasizes that this perspective is based on terrible theology and is sinful. Jesus, instead, explains that the man's blindness occurred so that the works of God could be displayed in him. The man's sight is later restored by Jesus, and he responds with gratitude.
The speaker discusses the story of a man who was brought to the Temple Gate called Beautiful to beg for money. The man had been doing this for many years, and he was known by the people who passed by the gate. The gate was named after a family who made a donation to the temple, and it was made of the best bronze. The man was brought to this particular gate because behind it was the court of women, where women would worship, sing, and serve each other. The speaker emphasizes that Peter and John, instead of ignoring or judging the man, gave him attention and spent time with him. This story is presented as an example of how God can work in someone's life, even if they are considered sinful or undesirable by society.
The speaker concludes the sermon by encouraging the audience to pray and ask God for help. They acknowledge that it can be difficult to find the right words to pray, but offer the lyrics of the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as a starting point. The speaker then offers to pray these words over the specific requests and hopes of the listeners. They emphasize the struggles and burdens that people are carrying and lay them before God, believing in His faithfulness and provision.
Key Takeaways:
- Hope is found in the waiting. We all live in some version of "not yet" in various aspects of our lives, and it's in these moments of waiting that we find hope. This hope is made possible through trusting in Jesus and having the Holy Spirit within us. [56:35]
- Jesus corrects the theology that physical or mental struggles are a result of sin. This perspective is based on terrible theology and is sinful. Instead, Jesus explains that these struggles occur so that the works of God can be displayed. [49:33]
- The story of the man at the Temple Gate called Beautiful is an example of how God can work in someone's life, even if they are considered sinful or undesirable by society. Peter and John, instead of ignoring or judging the man, gave him attention and spent time with him. [49:33]
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and honoring the women who played a significant role in funding Jesus and supporting his ministry. These women connected their hearts to their hands by generously providing resources and care for Jesus. [53:42]
- The speaker encourages the audience to pray and ask God for help. They acknowledge that it can be difficult to find the right words to pray, but offer the lyrics of the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as a starting point. They emphasize the struggles and burdens that people are carrying and lay them before God, believing in His faithfulness and provision. [01:16:40]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 3:4-8: "Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, 'Look at us!' So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."
2. John 9:1-3: "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'"
3. Isaiah 55:8-9: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Peter and John offer the man at the Temple Gate instead of silver or gold? (Acts 3:6)
2. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' question about the cause of the man's blindness in John 9:1-3?
3. According to Isaiah 55:8-9, how does God describe the difference between His thoughts and ways compared to ours?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the man at the Temple Gate was confident that God could heal him, even though he had been lame from birth? [56:35]
2. How does Jesus' correction of the disciples' theology in John 9:1-3 challenge common beliefs about suffering and sin? [49:33]
3. What does Isaiah 55:8-9 suggest about our understanding of God's plans and timing, especially in the context of waiting and hope? [01:09:25]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were in a "not yet" phase of life. How did you find hope during that period? [58:28]
2. How can you apply the lesson from the man at the Temple Gate to your own life when you feel overlooked or judged by society? [51:19]
3. Jesus corrected the disciples' belief that suffering was a direct result of sin. How can you change your perspective or actions to avoid making similar judgments about others? [49:33]
4. Think of a situation where you are currently waiting for something. How can you practice patience and trust in God's timing this week? [01:04:42]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing and honoring the contributions of women in ministry. How can you actively support and acknowledge the women in your church community? [53:42]
6. The speaker encouraged using the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as a prayer. How can you incorporate this or another hymn into your daily prayer routine to help you express your hopes and struggles to God? [01:16:40]
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you need to relinquish control and trust in God's timing. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to God? [01:08:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Hope in the Waiting
In life, we often find ourselves in a state of "not yet," waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled. This waiting period is not a time of inactivity or despair, but a time of hope and trust. It is in these moments of waiting that we find hope, made possible through trusting in Jesus and having the Holy Spirit within us. [56:35]
Romans 8:25 - "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Reflection: What are you currently waiting for in your life? How can you actively trust in God and find hope during this waiting period?
Day 2: Understanding God's Purpose in Our Struggles
Physical or mental struggles are not a result of sin, as some may believe. Instead, these struggles occur so that the works of God can be displayed. This perspective shifts our focus from our own suffering to God's glory and purpose. [49:33]
John 9:3 - "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."
Reflection: Reflect on a struggle you are currently facing. How can you shift your perspective to see this struggle as an opportunity for God's works to be displayed?
Day 3: Recognizing God's Work in the Unlikely
The story of the man at the Temple Gate called Beautiful is a reminder that God can work in anyone's life, even those considered sinful or undesirable by society. Instead of ignoring or judging, we are called to give attention and spend time with those who are often overlooked. [49:33]
Luke 14:13-14 - "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Reflection: Who in your life or community is often overlooked or judged? How can you give them attention and spend time with them this week?
Day 4: Honoring the Significant Role of Women in Ministry
Women have played a significant role in funding Jesus and supporting his ministry. These women connected their hearts to their hands by generously providing resources and care for Jesus. We are called to recognize and honor their contributions. [53:42]
Luke 8:2-3 - "And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."
Reflection: How can you honor and support the women in your life and community who are contributing to God's work?
Day 5: Praying with Faith and Expectation
Prayer is a powerful tool in our relationship with God. Even when it's difficult to find the right words, we can lean on the truths found in hymns like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." As we lay our struggles and burdens before God, we can trust in His faithfulness and provision. [01:16:40]
Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Reflection: What struggles or burdens are you carrying today? How can you lay them before God in prayer, trusting in His faithfulness and provision?
Quotes
"We live in the not yet, we live in the waiting, we live with hope believing that God is up to something in this, it just hasn't happened right now in this moment." [59:51]
"Nothing happens that God isn't aware of and nothing happens that God doesn't actually allow to happen, but he's saying here's the point we live in the not yet, we live in the waiting and yet we place our hope our confidence our certainty in Jesus because he's got us and he's got this." [01:01:45]
"In those moments where you lack patience, are moments where you need to learn to be confident and be certain in almighty God. It doesn't mean that God's work is incomplete, it means that you have some work to do to trust in almighty God who has done all of the work for you." ([01:07:34])
"Hope is confident that God will do the best thing in the best time and in the best way. When I place my hope, my confidence, my certainty in almighty God, I'm relinquishing control and I'm believing that he's going to do the best thing in the best time and the best way." ([01:08:54])
"We talk about Peter and James and John and all of these guys who do incredible work and they should be honored but we often don't talk about the women who worked behind the scenes to fund the movement of Jesus because they were generous they connected their hearts to their hands." [53:42]
"They believed that if you get close to anybody unclean you would be unclean and they believed that if you allowed somebody unclean into the temple it would make the temple that was holy an Unholy place and we know that that's terrible awful bad Theology and Doctrine because God himself in the form of Jesus on Earth was somebody that interacted with everybody." [54:54]
"Jesus says this neither this man nor his parents sinned so stop thinking that way because if you want to land somewhere on what is sinful that posture and that perspective is sinful." #!!48:14!!#
"I would even say that you're teetering on the line of sin because Jesus says to the disciples and he says to us that's not the case at all... Jesus goes no that's not it at all and then he says something really unique he says this but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." #!!48:50!!#
"Peter and John give this man attention, they spend a moment with him... this gate in history is called the naner gate... it was called the beautiful gate because of the resource that was put into the gate." #!!51:19!!# #!!52:29!!#
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