Finding Peace and Strength in God's Family

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Family Security

In times of fear, it is essential to remember that as children of God, we belong to a divine family that offers protection and care. Just as a child in a powerful earthly family feels secure knowing their family will protect them, we too can find peace in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe, is always ready to protect and care for us. When fear arises, we should call out to God, trusting that He will handle our anxieties. This sense of belonging to God's family provides comfort and security, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. [01:34]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: In what specific situation do you need to call out to God today, trusting Him to handle your fears and anxieties?

Day 2: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers us with love, power, and self-control. Contrary to fears of losing control, being filled with the Spirit actually enhances our self-control, making us more human and loving. This divine empowerment allows us to master challenges through Christ’s strength. The root of many fears is the feeling of being out of control, but 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God’s Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more self-controlled we become, enabling us to face life's challenges with confidence and grace. [03:08]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel out of control? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you with self-control in that area today?

Day 3: Eternal Perspective

Cultivating a long-term perspective, especially an eternal one, helps us endure short-term pain and challenges. By focusing on eternity, we can better handle temporary setbacks and align our lives with God’s promises and rewards. Studies show that long-term thinkers are more successful, and as Christians, our ultimate long-term perspective is eternity. This eternal perspective helps us endure short-term pain and challenges, knowing that they are insignificant compared to the glory that awaits us. Romans 8:17-18 encourages us to focus on the promises of God and the rewards that come from being good stewards of what He has given us. [05:39]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one short-term challenge you are facing right now? How can you shift your focus to an eternal perspective to help you endure it?

Day 4: Overcoming Bitterness

In a broken world, pain is inevitable, but bitterness is optional. By reminding ourselves that God is good and in control, and that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us, we can overcome bitterness and embrace God’s purpose for our lives. Romans 8:26-27 assures us that the Holy Spirit is praying for us, and God is using everything for our good. He wants us to succeed and will provide what we need. Trusting that God will never stop loving us is essential. This assurance helps us combat insecurity and the fear of rejection, knowing that God’s love is constant and unwavering. [13:16]

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV): "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

Reflection: Is there a situation or person in your life where bitterness has taken root? How can you begin to release that bitterness and trust in God's goodness and control?

Day 5: Unwavering Love of God

Trusting that God will never stop loving us is crucial in overcoming insecurity and fear of rejection. Romans 8:38-39 promises that nothing can separate us from His love, providing a foundation of security and peace. This assurance helps us combat insecurity and the fear of rejection, knowing that God’s love is constant and unwavering. In a world where love can often feel conditional and fleeting, God's love remains steadfast and unchanging, offering us a secure foundation on which to build our lives. [20:35]

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Reflection: How does knowing that nothing can separate you from God's love change the way you view your insecurities and fears of rejection today?

Sermon Summary

In times of fear, it's crucial to remember the family to which you belong. As children of God, we are part of a divine family that offers protection and care. Just as a child of a powerful earthly family might feel secure, knowing their family will protect them, we too can find peace in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the universe. When fear arises, we should call out to God, trusting that He will handle our fears and anxieties. The root of many fears is the feeling of being out of control, but 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God’s Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more self-controlled we become, contrary to the fear that it might make us lose control.

Focusing on the long term rather than the short term is another habit to cultivate. Studies show that long-term thinkers are more successful, and as Christians, our ultimate long-term perspective is eternity. This eternal perspective helps us endure short-term pain and challenges, knowing that they are insignificant compared to the glory that awaits us. Romans 8:17-18 encourages us to focus on the promises of God and the rewards that come from being good stewards of what He has given us.

In a broken world, pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. Bitterness can be overcome by remembering that God is good and in control. Romans 8:26-27 assures us that the Holy Spirit is praying for us, and God is using everything for our good. He wants us to succeed and will provide what we need. Trusting that God will never stop loving us is essential. Romans 8:38-39 promises that nothing can separate us from His love. This assurance helps us combat insecurity and the fear of rejection, knowing that God’s love is constant and unwavering.

Key Takeaways

1. Control:** The Holy Spirit empowers us with love, power, and self-control. Contrary to fears of losing control, being filled with the Spirit actually enhances our self-control, making us more human and loving. This divine empowerment allows us to master challenges through Christ’s strength. [03:08]
3. Long-Term Focus: Cultivating a long-term perspective, especially an eternal one, helps us endure short-term pain and challenges. By focusing on eternity, we can better handle temporary setbacks and align our lives with God’s promises and rewards.

4. Overcoming Bitterness: In a broken world, pain is inevitable, but bitterness is optional. By reminding ourselves that God is good and in control, and that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us, we can overcome bitterness and embrace God’s purpose for our lives.

5. Unwavering Love of God: Trusting that God will never stop loving us is crucial in overcoming insecurity and fear of rejection. Romans 8:38-39 assures us that nothing can separate us from His love, providing a foundation of security and peace.

** [03:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Family Protection
[01:34] - Calling Out to God
[02:18] - Facing Fears
[03:08] - Power of the Holy Spirit
[04:35] - Long-Term Thinking
[06:55] - Promises of God
[08:14] - Rewards in Heaven
[09:49] - Handling Short-Term Pain
[10:38] - God’s Goodness and Control
[12:04] - Broken World and Bitterness
[13:44] - Spiritual Battles
[15:32] - Overcoming Bitterness
[17:10] - God’s Desire for Our Success
[20:35] - God’s Unfailing Love

Sermon Clips

whenever you are afraid the first thing you need to do is remember this whose family you're a part of I'm a Son of God I'm a daughter of God I'm a Child of God I'm in the family and families take care of each other and there's Family Protection now let's say you grew up in Chicago or New York City and your family was a part of the family okay the the Mafia Family okay and you're walking down the street as a kid okay and somebody starts to assault you and you stop you oh wait just a minute do you know who I am do you know who am I am my father is Guido and Guido works for Bruno and Bruno is the Capo Deo Deo deapo he will make you an offer you can't refuse are you sure you want to touch me cuz I'm in the family and guy says well on second thought you can have your money back because the family protects you now when you start to be afraid God says the first thing you say wait a minute do you know who my father is my father is the creator of the universe my father is God I'm a Child of God I'm in the family God takes care of his kids and then I cry out to Father father would you take care of this fear for me will you handle this one for me and my heavenly father says of course I'll handle it for me go back to sleep you don't have to worry about it I'll take care of you when you were afraid you remember who family you're in you're a child of God you're not a slave you're a child of God and he's going to take care of you and second you call out to your father [00:04:28]

2 Timothy 1:7 For the spirit that God has given us does not make us fearful or timid instead his Spirit fills us with power love and self-control now get this the more controlled You Are by the Holy Spirit the more self-control you're going to have you're going to have now get this a lot of people are afraid of the holy spirit it's like I don't want to be filled with the spirit filled with the spirit that'll turn me into some nut I'm going to be some religious fanatic I'm going to be like some of those people on TV saying baby you know out foul Spirit of nicotine you know and I'm going to be falling over backwards and I'm going to be you know I'm going to lose control actually it's the exact opposite the more you have of the Holy Spirit the more self-controlled you are in fact God does not give us it says a spirit of fear so if you are afraid that's not from God that fear is not from God when God's spirit comes into your life you're filled with love I want that you're filled with power I want that you're filled with self-control I I want that okay Holy Spirit I want all you got fill me it doesn't make me some nutcase it makes me more human it makes me more natural it makes me more loving it makes me more in self-controlled Mastered by the master I can Master anything throw it at me I can handle it why because I can do all things to Christ who strengthens me so the spirit in me doesn't make me a lunatic or a religious nut to be filled with the spirit makes me more self-controlled and Believe Me Brother you need more self-control the more Spirit controlled I am the more self-controlled I am [00:58:56]

focus on the long term not the short term focus on the longterm not the short term you know there's a very famous study done by Harvard University very very famous study that found out that figured out that the more longterm your thinking is the more successful you're going to be in life the shorter term your thinking is the more failure you're going to be in life people who fail at life have shortterm thinking they're only thinking about today they're only thinking about here and now they're only thinking about what feels good to me right now but the longer term you think the more successful you'll be in life in fact the longest term thinkers are those who are most successful in life now as a Christian we can win this one hands down because when we think in terms of long-term thinking we call it eternity because we're not just thinking about life here on this Earth We're not thinking about 40 50 years ahead we're thinking about trillions and trillions and trillions of years ahead and living in light of Eternity is the key to being the most successful you could possibly be thinking in long term now when you think in long term you're able to handle short-term pain a whole lot better you're a able to handle short-term losses short-term failures short-term uh hindrances because you're thinking longterm here at Saddleback we went 15 years without a building a lot of pastors would have given up not having a building for 15 years Saddleback grewed over 10,000 people before we built this building but it didn't bother me because I was thinking long term of in spending my entire life as a pastor of one church so 15 years so what that's just 15 years I was thinking long term most people aren't thinking that the whole society teaches you to think shortterm and we'll look at that when we get to the world [00:47:59]

Romans chapter 8 uh verses 17 and 18 talks about focusing on the long term and it talks about the promises of God the next few verses since we are his children we will possess circle the word will that's a promise that's in the future it's not now doesn't say we do possess we will it's long term since we are his children we will possess the blessings he keeps for his family and we will also possess this is really cool we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him did you know that the Bible says that when you get to heaven you're going to get rewarded you will be rewarded for how well you did with what you were given what did you do with your time what did you do with your money what did you do with your influence what did you do with your talents your time your talent your treasure this is called the stewardship of life and God has put stuff in your hands and you're steward of you're going to be uh evaluated on that in heaven and your rewards will be based on that and you're going to be rewarded but not only that the Bible says you're going to be rewarded not just for how well a steward you were you're going to be rewarded for what Jesus did did you know that look at that verse again it says and also we will possess with Christ what God has kept for him did you know that the Bible says that in heaven we are going to co- with Christ we're going to be hirs with Christ from the father we're going to co- with Christ the easiest way for me to explain that is Imagine in heaven this giant theater sign like a big Vegas sign that's flashing that says now starring for eternity Jesus Christ co-starring your name that's what it means to share in Christ's Glory you're going to do that that in heaven so you need to focus not on your little pity Petty pain right now but on the long-term benefits of doing the right thing and sharing in glory forever notice it says the rest of that verse for if we share Christ suffering we will also share his glory I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared in other words the small potatoes with all the glory that is going to be revealed to us he's saying yeah you know what it's not always easy living for Christ it's not always easy doing the right thing it's not always easy making the moral decision but the benefit long term is going to far Outlast the pain you need to focus long term not short term [00:57:59]

remind myself that God is good and in control this is an application of what the Bible teaches in Romans uh chapter 8 this is how God sets us free from the self-destructive weapon of bitterness remind myself that God is good and in control and you mean to remind yourself of that over and over and over and over and over every single day now I don't have time to get into this but in verses 19 to 25 of Romans chapter 8 Paul describes how sin has damaged the world if I got into this the sermon would be twice as long we don't have time to get into it so let me just summarize in verses 19 to 25 Paul says everything in the world is broken everything in the world has lost its original purpose everything in the world is suffering everything in the world is in pain and everything in the world is frustrated because sin broke it all down everything is frustrated in fact look at this verse on the screen verse 20 everything created is subject to frustration waiting to be liberated set free from me waiting to be liberated from its bondage to decay all of Creation groans in pain like childbirth and we Gran inwardly we're going oh man this is tough this is hard this is difficult why is life so hard says the environment is groaning I I think earthquakes and I think you know hurricanes and I think all the wacky weather is the is the environment groaning because it's broken and we grow GR in pain because relationships are broken and later you're going to find out that the holy spirit groans in pain for you there are three groans in this chapter now he says that the result of living in a broken world is pain and the result of pain is bitterness and that's a self-destructive weapon when I look out and I go he's got a nicer house than I do she's got a better job than I do how come her kids are like that how come my and you start comparing and you start getting envious you start getting jealous and then people hurt you and you get bitter and you get uh uh uh grudges and you get resentful that's a pain that's going to eat you up you got to learn how to deal with that weapon of self-destruction and the way you do it is remind yourself that God is good and in control [01:04:23]

the result of living in a broken world is pain and the result of pain is bitterness and as a result we get bitter inside and we start getting resentful and we life is unfair well yeah what else is new life is unfair it's because it's broken but the Bible says in Romans 8 that there there are four things you need to remember to get over bitterness now listen pain in your life is not optional but misery is pain in your life is not you're going to have pain in your life it's called life suffering in your life is not optional you're going to suffer misery is moaning is opt optional bitterness is optional and you over come bitterness by remembering four magnificent truths in Romans 8 verse 26 and 27 says this the holy spirit is praying for me that helps me overcome bitterness because no matter what I'm going through I know God's on my side he's praying for me it says here the spirit helps us with our weakness and we don't know how to pray as we should but the spirit himself speaks to God for us God's praying to himself he's he's talking to himself about you the spirit of God it says prays for us and even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain God sees what's in our hearts and the spirit speaks to God for his people in the way that God wants so when you're no matter what you're going through first thing you goes you know what right now the holy spirit is praying for me that's cool second thing God is using it all for good that's second thing I write remember God is using everything in my life for good it's not all good but he's using it all for good the next verse says this and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who've been called according to his purpose it's not all good but God is using it all for good God is greater than my problems God is greater than my enemies God is greater than my critics and God is using it all for good in my life [01:27:59]

God wants me to succeed did you know that did you know that God wants you to succeed he doesn't want you to fail in your life he wants you to succeed in your life God is not against you if you're a Christian if you're a Believer God is for you the Bible says in verse 31 so what can we say against such wonderful things about such wonderful things all the stuff we've talked about what do we say about all these wonderful things if God is for us who can be against us remember I'm in the family my father is God and so God is wants me to succeed and finally number four God will give me what I need when I'm feeling blue and when I'm feeling bitter I need to remind myself that God God is good he's in control his spirit is praying for me he's using everything for good in my life he wants me to succeed and he's going to give me what I need verse 32 since God did not spare even his own son but gave him up for us all won't God give us won't God who gave us Christ give us everything else wow he said if God loved you enough to let Jesus die on the cross for you don't you think he loves you enough to help you with your death don't you think he cares enough to help you with your health don't you think he cares about you when your face breaks out there is nothing in your life that God doesn't care about I threw that one in because it seems so ridiculous there is nothing in your life that God doesn't care about you got an upset upset tummy God cares about it he knows every hair on your head God will give me what I need if God didn't spare his son to solve my biggest problem everything else is Small Potatoes it's all minor to him there is no big problem in your life they're all small problems to God [01:42:23]

trust that God will never stop loving me Trust that God will never never stop loving me I'm in the family he cannot not love his family he will never stop loving me Romans 8:38-39 in the chapter now I'm convinced that nothing ever can ever separate us from his love death can't life can't the Angels can't demons can't Satan can't separate you from God our fears for today our worries about tomorrow even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away whether we're high above the sky or in the deepest ocean nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our lord I may lose a lot of things in life but I'll never lose my salvation you can't lose it because nothing once you're in God's hand he's not letting go of you you may want to let go but he's not letting go of you you cannot lose your salvation now my question is this do you belong to Christ because none of these things are true in your life unless you belong to Christ do you have the Holy Spirit in your life you say well I don't know well let's make certain of it right now let's bow our heads and I'm going to pray a prayer as we close and I'm going to ask you to pray it say this in your heart dear Jesus Christ thank you for all that you did for me thank you that there's no condemnation in my life for all the sin I've done you took that condemnation thank you that you did what the law couldn't do thank you that you destroyed sin's control thank you that you accomplished the law in my life and my righteousness is nothing but your righteousness is what ticket I get into heaven on help me to never forget what you did for me and when I feel ashamed let me remember what you did on the cross for me Holy Spirit I ask you to give me better thoughts I want to switch mindsets I don't want the mindset of self-destruction I want the mindset of life and peace I don't want to think my old ways I want to think your new ways I invite you to put put thoughts in my mind all the time for they are the truth and help me to remember and realize that I have a new ability to say no Lord I used to just have willpower but now I've got spirit Power I'm not obligated to give into those compulsions anymore that if I ask you for help you'll help me and give me the strength to say no thank you that no temptation is too strong and when I'm afraid help me to turn my thoughts to to you help me to remember that I'm your child and help me to cry out to you father Daddy I'm afraid to focus on my father not my fears and help me to focus on the longterm not the short term you know the pain in my life you know the suffering I want you to use it for good and I want you to use it For Your Glory and I want to look and focus longterm on eternity not just the Here and Now I want to do the right thing not the easy thing and when I start to get bitter and I feel life is unfair and when I feel hurt help me to remember that you God are good and you're in control that you are praying for me thank you for doing that that you are working all things for good thank you for doing that that you are for me not against me thank you for that and that you didn't spare Jesus and so you'll give us whatever we need thank you for that most of all I thank you that you will never let go of me you'll never stop loving me you'll never reject me thank you that I cannot lose my salvation no matter what else I lose on this planet that you will never stop loving me if you've never invited Jesus Jes Christ in your heart Jesus say I want you to be my Lord my savior I want you to be the manager of my life I don't understand it all but I want to trust in you completely thank you for your grace to me I want to love you for the rest of my life and I ask you to accept me into your family by faith in your name I pray amen [01:58:56]

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