Finding Peace and Strength in God's Presence
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on the importance of resting in God's presence, especially amidst life's trials and tribulations. We acknowledged that while some of us may be experiencing joy, others are facing hardships. The Holy Spirit brings peace and joy, not through a perfect life but through His presence in our struggles. We were reminded that our relationship with God should not be solely about what He can do for us but about being with Him and allowing His peace to guide us.
We delved into Luke 7, focusing on John the Baptist, a significant figure in Scripture whose life was prophesied. Despite his greatness, John experienced moments of doubt and questioning while imprisoned. He sent his disciples to Jesus to confirm if He was the Messiah. Jesus responded by highlighting the miracles He performed, affirming His identity. This interaction teaches us that even the most faithful can have doubts, but it is crucial to bring our questions to Jesus and await His answers.
We also discussed the importance of humility and repentance. The Pharisees, in their pride, rejected God's purpose, while the tax collectors and sinners, in their humility, accepted it. This contrast emphasizes that the path to God's kingdom is narrow and requires a humble heart willing to repent and follow God's plan.
Finally, we were encouraged to bring our struggles and questions to God, to seek His guidance through His Word, and to support one another in our faith journey. Our faith is demonstrated by how we navigate trials, keeping our focus on Jesus and His promises.
### Key Takeaways
1. Rest in God's Presence: True peace and joy come not from a perfect life but from resting in God's presence, especially during struggles. We must shift our focus from what we want God to do for us to simply being with Him and allowing His peace to guide us. [46:01]
2. Even the Faithful Have Doubts: John the Baptist, despite his significant role and faith, experienced moments of doubt. This teaches us that it is natural to have questions and uncertainties. What matters is bringing these doubts to Jesus and waiting for His response. [01:01:23]
3. Humility and Repentance: The Pharisees' pride led them to reject God's purpose, while the humble tax collectors and sinners accepted it. This highlights the importance of humility and repentance in our walk with God. The path to God's kingdom is narrow and requires a heart willing to change and follow His plan. [01:16:13]
4. Bring Your Struggles to God: In times of hardship, we must bring our questions and struggles to God, seeking His guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Avoid turning to temporary solutions or distractions. Instead, persistently seek God's presence and answers. [01:07:09]
5. Faith Through Trials: Our faith is demonstrated by how we navigate trials. Keeping our focus on Jesus and His promises helps us maintain our faith and brings glory to God, even in difficult times. Our goal should be to know Jesus and bring Him glory, regardless of our circumstances. [01:09:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[46:01] - Rest in God's Presence
[52:22] - Love Thy Neighbors Mission Recap
[53:52] - John the Baptist's Doubts
[55:26] - Jesus' Response to John
[58:16] - Prophecies About John the Baptist
[59:50] - John the Baptist's Humility
[01:01:23] - John's Questions in Prison
[01:04:18] - Bringing Questions to Jesus
[01:07:09] - Running to the Throne of Grace
[01:09:53] - Faith Through Trials
[01:13:05] - Humility and Repentance
[01:16:13] - The Narrow Path
[01:18:01] - Wisdom Proved Right
[01:19:14] - Questions and Struggles
[01:20:29] - Pride vs. Humility
[01:22:01] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 7:18-35 (NIV)
> John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) Jesus went on to say, "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: 'We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.' For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was John the Baptist's question to Jesus, and why did he ask it? ([53:52])
2. How did Jesus respond to John the Baptist's disciples when they asked if He was the Messiah? ([53:52])
3. What was the reaction of the tax collectors and sinners compared to the Pharisees when they heard Jesus' words? ([55:26])
4. What does Jesus say about John the Baptist's role and significance in God's plan? ([55:26])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might John the Baptist have experienced doubt about Jesus being the Messiah, despite his significant role and experiences? ([01:01:23])
2. How does Jesus' response to John the Baptist's question highlight the nature of His ministry and mission? ([53:52])
3. What does the contrast between the tax collectors and Pharisees teach us about humility and repentance? ([55:26])
4. How does the concept of bringing our struggles and questions to God, as demonstrated by John the Baptist, apply to our own faith journey? ([01:04:18])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced doubt or questioned your faith. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from John the Baptist's approach to bring his questions to Jesus? ([01:01:23])
2. In what ways can you shift your focus from what you want God to do for you to simply being in His presence and allowing His peace to guide you? ([46:01])
3. How can you cultivate a heart of humility and repentance in your daily life, especially when faced with pride or self-righteousness? ([01:16:13])
4. What are some practical steps you can take to bring your struggles and questions to God, rather than turning to temporary solutions or distractions? ([01:07:09])
5. Think about a current trial or hardship you are facing. How can you keep your focus on Jesus and His promises to maintain your faith and bring glory to God? ([01:09:53])
6. Identify one area in your life where you need to practice more humility. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate a humble heart willing to follow God's plan? ([01:16:13])
7. How can you support others in your small group or community who are going through trials, helping them to bring their struggles to God and seek His guidance? ([01:04:18])
Devotional
Day 1: Resting in God's Presence
True peace and joy come not from a perfect life but from resting in God's presence, especially during struggles. We must shift our focus from what we want God to do for us to simply being with Him and allowing His peace to guide us. In our busy lives, it is easy to get caught up in the demands and challenges we face daily. However, God invites us to find rest in Him, to pause and experience His presence, which brings a peace that surpasses all understanding.
When we rest in God's presence, we acknowledge that He is in control, and we trust Him with our worries and fears. This act of resting is not passive but an active choice to seek God and allow His Spirit to fill us with peace and joy, even in the midst of trials. By doing so, we can navigate life's challenges with a calm and steadfast heart, knowing that God is with us and for us. [46:01]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed? Can you take a moment today to rest in God's presence and trust Him with that burden?
Day 2: Embracing Doubts with Faith
John the Baptist, despite his significant role and faith, experienced moments of doubt. This teaches us that it is natural to have questions and uncertainties. What matters is bringing these doubts to Jesus and waiting for His response. John, while imprisoned, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah, seeking reassurance in his time of need. Jesus responded by highlighting the miracles He performed, affirming His identity and providing John with the assurance he sought.
This interaction reminds us that even the most faithful can have doubts, and it is crucial to bring our questions to Jesus. He welcomes our inquiries and provides answers that strengthen our faith. By turning to Jesus with our doubts, we can find clarity and peace, knowing that He is the source of all truth. [01:01:23]
Matthew 11:2-5 (ESV): "Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?' And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.'"
Reflection: What doubts or questions are you currently facing in your faith journey? How can you bring these to Jesus and seek His guidance and reassurance?
Day 3: The Power of Humility and Repentance
The Pharisees' pride led them to reject God's purpose, while the humble tax collectors and sinners accepted it. This highlights the importance of humility and repentance in our walk with God. The path to God's kingdom is narrow and requires a heart willing to change and follow His plan. Humility allows us to recognize our need for God and to repent of our sins, turning away from our old ways and embracing His will for our lives.
Repentance is not just a one-time act but a continual process of aligning our hearts with God's desires. It involves acknowledging our shortcomings, seeking forgiveness, and making a conscious effort to live according to His Word. By cultivating humility and practicing repentance, we open ourselves to God's transformative work in our lives, leading us closer to His kingdom. [01:16:13]
James 4:6-8 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? How can you practice humility and repentance today to draw closer to God?
Day 4: Bringing Your Struggles to God
In times of hardship, we must bring our questions and struggles to God, seeking His guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Avoid turning to temporary solutions or distractions. Instead, persistently seek God's presence and answers. When we face difficulties, it is tempting to look for quick fixes or to distract ourselves from the pain. However, true healing and guidance come from God alone.
By bringing our struggles to God, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and invite His wisdom and comfort into our lives. Through prayer, reading Scripture, and seeking the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we can find the strength and direction we need to navigate our challenges. God is always ready to listen and provide the support we need; we just need to turn to Him with open hearts. [01:07:09]
Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: What struggles are you currently facing? How can you bring these to God today and seek His guidance and comfort through prayer and Scripture?
Day 5: Demonstrating Faith Through Trials
Our faith is demonstrated by how we navigate trials. Keeping our focus on Jesus and His promises helps us maintain our faith and brings glory to God, even in difficult times. Our goal should be to know Jesus and bring Him glory, regardless of our circumstances. Trials are an inevitable part of life, but they also provide opportunities for our faith to grow and be strengthened.
By focusing on Jesus and His promises, we can endure hardships with hope and perseverance. Our response to trials can be a powerful testimony to others of God's faithfulness and love. As we trust in Him and rely on His strength, we bring glory to God and deepen our relationship with Him. Let us strive to keep our eyes on Jesus, knowing that He is with us in every trial and will see us through. [01:09:53]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How do you typically respond to trials in your life? What steps can you take to keep your focus on Jesus and His promises during difficult times?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I think sometimes in life we can get stuck on focusing on what we need God to do for us rather than just being with him. We can be stuck on, you know, God you haven't done this, you haven't done that, and we can get stuck in the anxiety of like looking for the things that we want God to do versus just being still and being with him and letting him be with us in those moments, leading us, guiding us. That's where his peace is at church." [46:01] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Thank you, God, that the joy of heaven is that we get to be fully in your presence and that, God, that you made a way for us now. The curtain was torn in two. Lord God, when you went to that cross and you took our sin upon yourself and you paid for that on the cross, Jesus, it says in your word that the temple, the curtain in the temple that separated mankind from the presence of God was torn in two. Lord God, that we could now have access by the blood of Jesus into the most holy place, your presence, God." [46:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And, Lord, if we're really honest, the answer is you, Jesus. Lord God, the issue is in the hearts of men. The issue, Lord God, is that we are in rebellion against you, God. And that we haven't bowed our knee down to you, Lord Jesus. And so, Lord, we just cry out for our nation. That, God, you would bring an awakening in our nation. Lord God, that the things that, the issues in our nation would bring people to their knees and they would bring them to a place of realizing that, Jesus, you are our hope." [46:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We had people mowing lawns and weed whacking we had people power washing houses people are replacing storm doors and and removing trees and even fixing toilets but through all of that we were showing people the love of jesus and we saw people come to the lord and get saved which is what it was all about and uh and then single moms morning out on saturday you know we had about 35 or so moms that walked into these doors and our whole goal was just to show them the love of jesus and the hope in the gospel." [52:22] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Repentance gets such a negative connotation, but I see it like this. Repentance is just coming home to where you belong. So you think about the, the prodigal son. The prodigal son went, and he lived however he wanted to, and, and he was so hesitant about coming back home, because what would his father think? What would his father do? You know, maybe he would at least let him become a servant. And so he, he turned, he repented, he came home, and what did the father do? He made him a son again." [01:17:25] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "John the Baptist was human, and he had times of questioning and doubt. He had times of questioning and doubt. As we are reading here in Luke chapter 7, John the Baptist was in prison at this time. He didn't know if he was going to live or if he was going to die. He didn't know the outcome of his life, and he had a lot of time to think, and a lot of time to process. And I'm sure some of the thoughts began to come through his mind of, you know, Jesus, he said, if you're truly the Messiah, then why am I still sitting here in jail?" [01:01:23] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The question isn't, are we going to face trials? The question is, in those moments of questioning, what are you going to do with your questions? In those moments of weakness, what are you going to do with your weakness? You see, your next point is this, John brought his questions to Jesus, and he awaited an answer. He brought his questions to Jesus, and he awaited an answer. But the reality, church, is that many times, we bring our questions everywhere else first. We bring our questions to Google, don't we?" [01:04:18] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The depth of our faith is demonstrated by how we go through trials. Listen, there is a way to have victory even in the midst of hardship, even in the midst of trials. I think one of the questions that we have to ask is what is our goal? And where are our eyes looking? Because I think many times as Christians, we think that the goal of our life here on this earth should be a perfect, easy life with no problems, no obstacles, no issues. And for us, that is the goal that we strive for. And when that doesn't happen, our entire bulk begins to get rocked." [01:09:53] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need to be willing to get into the word of God and search until we find an answer, because the answers that we're going to find are going to be in this book. We need to be able to talk to others. You know, I love Vanessa's testimony about how when she began to be honest and be vulnerable with her struggles, with other believing Christians that could point her to Jesus, but that was so key in her overcoming the struggles that she faced, the trials that she was facing, and the vices that she was addicted to because of her struggles, that as she began to open up and be vulnerable with others, that God began to peel away the layers, bring healing to her heart, and bring victory in her life." [01:08:33] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The entrance into God's kingdom is narrow, and very few find it. The entrance is narrow because so many people, you know, the Bible says in Matthew chapter 7, verse 13 through 14, it says, enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate, and wide is the road that lead to destruction, and many find it. But narrow is the road, and narrow is the path that leads to life, and only a few find it. See, the reality is that more people than that would, would rather live for themselves, would rather live how they want, and they have pride in their heart, rather than realizing that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life." [01:16:13] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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