Finding Rest in God's Framework for Our Lives
Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound concept of God's framework for our lives and the importance of entering into His rest. We began by discussing how the events of our lives are not random but are framed by the Word of God. Many people, in their religious pursuits, try to create their own frameworks, leading to stress and uncertainty. This stress is evident in the lives of many believers who are unsure of God's plans because they do not study Scripture for themselves. They rely on different preachers who may lead them in various directions, causing confusion and anxiety.
We delved into the story of the Israelites, who turned a 40-day journey into 40 years because they could not enter into God's rest. This serves as a powerful reminder that serving God should not be stressful. When we walk by faith, God introduces us to the next framework in the sequence of our lives, allowing us to flow with His plans. This means that as believers, we should always be able to hear His voice. God does not make it difficult for us to hear Him; rather, He is always speaking, even through the people around us and the events in our lives.
We reflected on the story of Joseph, who, despite being forgotten by the butler, remained in God's framework. Joseph's story teaches us that sometimes being forgotten by people is a blessing, as it keeps us within God's timing and plans. Lobbying for recognition or trying to force God's hand through desperate prayers can lead to stress and a wilderness experience, where we go around in cycles without progress. Instead, we should trust that God has already framed everything about our lives from the foundation of the world.
We emphasized the importance of holding fast to the written Word of God. Jesus, during His temptation, used the power of the written Word to silence the enemy. This teaches us that in our faith walk, we must have Scripture to back up the promises God has given us. Adversity often teaches us lessons that prosperity cannot, and it is during these times that we must hold fast to our confidence and rejoicing.
Finally, we concluded with the invitation of Jesus to come to Him for rest. He promises rest to all who labor and are heavy-laden. Stress and doubt in God's Word lead us back to the wilderness model, but Jesus offers us a place of rest and peace.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Framework and Our Rest: The events of our lives are framed by the Word of God, and trying to create our own frameworks leads to stress. Entering into God's rest means trusting His plans and walking by faith, knowing that He has already sequenced our lives. This trust eliminates the need for stress and allows us to hear His voice clearly. [01:05]
2. Hearing God's Voice: God is always speaking, and it is not difficult to hear His voice. He speaks through the people around us and the events in our lives. The challenge is not in God's communication but in our ability to listen and recognize His voice amidst the noise of life. [02:53]
3. The Blessing of Being Forgotten: Joseph's story teaches us that being forgotten by people can be a blessing, as it keeps us within God's timing and plans. Lobbying for recognition or trying to force God's hand through desperate prayers can lead to stress and a wilderness experience. Trusting God's timing is crucial for entering His rest. [04:40]
4. The Power of the Written Word: In our faith walk, we must hold fast to the written Word of God. Jesus used Scripture to silence the enemy during His temptation, teaching us the importance of having Scripture to back up the promises God has given us. Adversity often teaches us lessons that prosperity cannot, and it is during these times that we must hold fast to our confidence and rejoicing. [06:49]
5. Jesus' Invitation to Rest: Jesus invites all who labor and are heavy-laden to come to Him for rest. Stress and doubt in God's Word lead us back to the wilderness model, but Jesus offers us a place of rest and peace. Trusting in His promises and entering into His rest is the key to a fulfilling and stress-free life. [08:16]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - God's Framework and Our Rest
[02:03] - Hearing God's Voice
[02:53] - Recognizing God's Voice
[03:49] - Joseph's Story and God's Timing
[04:40] - The Blessing of Being Forgotten
[05:32] - Avoiding the Wilderness Experience
[06:05] - Trusting God's Framework
[06:49] - The Power of the Written Word
[07:33] - Lessons in Adversity
[08:16] - Jesus' Invitation to Rest
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 4:1-11 (Entering God's Rest)
2. Genesis 41:9-14 (Joseph's Story)
3. Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus' Invitation to Rest)
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 4:1-11, what does it mean to enter God's rest, and why did the Israelites fail to do so?
2. How did Joseph's experience in Genesis 41:9-14 demonstrate God's timing and framework for his life?
3. In Matthew 11:28-30, what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him, and what does He offer them?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God's rest in Hebrews 4:1-11 relate to the stress and uncertainty many believers experience today? [01:05]
2. What can we learn from Joseph's story about the importance of trusting God's timing and not lobbying for recognition? [04:40]
3. How does Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 challenge our understanding of rest and labor in our spiritual lives? [08:16]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to create your own framework for your life. How did it lead to stress, and what steps can you take to trust God's framework instead? [01:05]
2. Think about a situation where you felt forgotten or overlooked. How can you see this as a blessing in disguise, similar to Joseph's experience? [04:40]
3. How can you improve your ability to hear God's voice amidst the noise of life? What practical steps can you take to be more attentive to His communication? [02:53]
4. Identify a specific promise from God that you are holding onto. Do you have Scripture to back it up? How can you use the written Word to strengthen your faith during adversity? [06:49]
5. Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest. What are some practical ways you can respond to this invitation in your daily life to reduce stress and find peace? [08:16]
6. How can you ensure that your prayers align with God's framework and timing, rather than trying to force His hand? [05:32]
7. Reflect on a recent challenge or adversity you faced. What lessons did you learn from it that prosperity could not have taught you? How can you hold fast to your confidence and rejoicing during such times? [07:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Framework for Our Lives
The events of our lives are framed by the Word of God, and trying to create our own frameworks leads to stress. Entering into God's rest means trusting His plans and walking by faith, knowing that He has already sequenced our lives. This trust eliminates the need for stress and allows us to hear His voice clearly. [01:05]
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves trying to control every aspect, leading to unnecessary stress and anxiety. However, the Bible teaches us that God has already framed our lives with His Word. This means that every event, every circumstance, is part of His divine plan. When we try to create our own frameworks, we step out of His rest and into a realm of uncertainty and stress. Trusting in God's framework requires faith and a deep understanding that He has already sequenced our lives from the foundation of the world.
By walking in faith and trusting God's plans, we can eliminate the stress that comes from trying to control everything. This trust allows us to hear His voice more clearly, guiding us through each step of our journey. It is a call to surrender our plans and embrace His, knowing that His ways are higher and His plans are perfect.
Hebrews 4:10-11 (ESV): "For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are trying to control the outcome? How can you surrender this area to God and trust in His framework today?
Day 2: Recognizing God's Voice in Our Lives
God is always speaking, and it is not difficult to hear His voice. He speaks through the people around us and the events in our lives. The challenge is not in God's communication but in our ability to listen and recognize His voice amidst the noise of life. [02:53]
God's voice is not distant or hard to hear; He is constantly communicating with us through various means. Whether it's through Scripture, the counsel of godly friends, or the circumstances we face, God is always speaking. The real challenge lies in our ability to quiet the noise of life and tune into His voice. This requires intentionality and a heart that is open to hearing from Him.
To recognize God's voice, we must cultivate a habit of listening. This means setting aside time for prayer, meditation, and reading His Word. It also means being attentive to the ways He might be speaking through others and the events around us. By doing so, we can discern His guidance and follow His lead more effectively.
John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Reflection: What distractions in your life are preventing you from hearing God's voice? How can you create space in your daily routine to listen more attentively to Him?
Day 3: The Blessing of Being Forgotten
Joseph's story teaches us that being forgotten by people can be a blessing, as it keeps us within God's timing and plans. Lobbying for recognition or trying to force God's hand through desperate prayers can lead to stress and a wilderness experience. Trusting God's timing is crucial for entering His rest. [04:40]
The story of Joseph is a powerful reminder that being overlooked or forgotten by people can actually be a blessing. Joseph was forgotten by the butler, but this delay was part of God's perfect timing. Often, we may feel the need to push for recognition or try to force God's hand through desperate prayers. However, this can lead to stress and a prolonged wilderness experience, where we go around in cycles without making progress.
Trusting in God's timing means believing that He knows the best time for everything in our lives. It requires patience and faith, knowing that His plans are always for our good. When we rest in His timing, we can avoid the stress and anxiety that come from trying to make things happen on our own.
Genesis 41:1 (ESV): "After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel forgotten or overlooked? How can you shift your perspective to see this as part of God's perfect timing and plan for you?
Day 4: The Power of the Written Word
In our faith walk, we must hold fast to the written Word of God. Jesus used Scripture to silence the enemy during His temptation, teaching us the importance of having Scripture to back up the promises God has given us. Adversity often teaches us lessons that prosperity cannot, and it is during these times that we must hold fast to our confidence and rejoicing. [06:49]
The written Word of God is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. During His temptation, Jesus used Scripture to counter the enemy's lies, demonstrating the importance of knowing and holding fast to God's Word. In our own lives, we must have Scripture to back up the promises God has given us. This not only strengthens our faith but also equips us to stand firm in the face of adversity.
Adversity often brings lessons that prosperity cannot. It is during these challenging times that we must cling to the written Word, finding confidence and joy in God's promises. By doing so, we can navigate through difficulties with a steadfast heart, knowing that God's Word is true and reliable.
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: What specific Scripture can you hold onto during times of adversity? How can you incorporate this verse into your daily routine to strengthen your faith?
Day 5: Jesus' Invitation to Rest
Jesus invites all who labor and are heavy-laden to come to Him for rest. Stress and doubt in God's Word lead us back to the wilderness model, but Jesus offers us a place of rest and peace. Trusting in His promises and entering into His rest is the key to a fulfilling and stress-free life. [08:16]
Jesus extends a beautiful invitation to all who are weary and burdened: come to Him for rest. This rest is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional. When we doubt God's Word and try to carry our burdens alone, we find ourselves back in a wilderness experience, filled with stress and uncertainty. However, Jesus offers a place of rest and peace, where we can lay down our burdens and trust in His promises.
Entering into Jesus' rest means believing that He is sufficient for all our needs. It means trusting that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. By coming to Him, we find a fulfilling and stress-free life, anchored in His love and grace. This rest is a gift that we can receive daily, as we choose to trust in His promises and walk in His peace.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to bring to Jesus? How can you practically accept His invitation to rest and find peace in Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "And you know, the Bible said, the Lord made the guy to forget about Joseph. Because when people forget about you at times, it's a blessing. But you know, we don't like it when people forget about us. You are even angry that they forgot about you. How dare you forget about me? But the Lord is saying, that is a blessing. That is how things are framed for those who are sent ahead of their brethren, who manifest the grace similar to what Joseph manifested, and even greater. Somebody say amen." [04:40]
2. "Let me tell you something about Jesus. All he has to offer you is rest. He said come on to me. All you that labor. And are heavenly leading. I will give you rest. It's a land of me for meek and lowly. You will find rest. So every time you are stressed on the account of doubting the integrity of the word of God, just know that you are about to repeat again the wilderness model." [08:16]
3. "The Bible is saying those things don't happen by chance. There's a framework determining what will happen next. Everything is already framed by the Word of God. What people are trying to do, religiously, is that we are trying to create frameworks. Meanwhile, Scripture is telling us that if you want to work with God, you have to enter into a dimension that is called rest." [01:05]
4. "What kind of father is God that you have to remind him of what should happen when you turn 40? And it is when you are now turning 39, God will not start running after us. That's not the God of the Bible. So when God is asking you to walk by faith, what he's doing essentially is that he's introducing to you the next framework along the sequencing of events of your life, so that as things are sequenced, you can get into the flow of the framework of God." [02:03]
5. "The same thing people call farming, promoted Joseph. Made Joseph the prime minister. Made Egypt a global power. Because a man under the covenant was able to, by the word of God that was communicated to him, that today he heard his voice, and his heart was not rebellious to what he heard, and he was able to see the next 14 years of mankind." [02:53]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Once a man doesn't understand the framing of the sequencing of event of God for his life, you'll get into some dangerous prayer point, and you might force the hand of God to give you some blessings. But it's just that, while the meat is in your mouth, you'll now begin to see that God is not pleased. On the account of the fact of you're not understanding how God framed things, but you are now bombarding God with dangerous prayer points, God will just look at you and say, you are tempting me. And the problem with that is that, your story will now become what is called a triad in the wilderness. Once you are out of the faith lane, that is what happens. You are just going around in cycles." [05:32]
2. "The moment you are out of the faith, grace, glory pathway, which is called the path of the just, the rest is just religion. If Jesus did not hold fast the confidence of that and rejoicing, after 40 days of no food and the enemy came and he says, if you are the son of God, turn these stones to bread, I mean, it will, I mean, you will see bread everywhere. But the Lord understood the fact that one of the things that is missing in the faith work of so many people is the power of the written word." [06:05]
3. "So if I ask us this morning now, apart from the fact that you have certain promises God has given to you, do you also have scripture to back them up? Because in order to defeat the enemy, the Lord told us and made us to understand that there is a realm in which you don't use, does say the Lord. The only thing you use to silence the voice of the enemy is the power of the written word. The reason why you are going through this hunger is that you might learn. That means there are some lessons you don't learn in prosperity. You learn them in adversity." [06:49]
4. "And that is the beautiful thing about gathering together like this. When we gather together like this, God is always speaking. The same thing people call farming, promoted Joseph. Made Joseph the prime minister. Made Egypt a global power. Because a man under the covenant was able to, by the word of God that was communicated to him, that today he heard his voice, and his heart was not rebellious to what he heard, and he was able to see the next 14 years of mankind. So if that happened under the old covenant, now, without the Holy Spirit, without the blood, without the cross, how much can you see now, as the word of God is framing things for you?" [02:53]
5. "Once you understand the framework of God for your life, one of the things you don't do is to lobby people. Lobbying is a sign of stress. It's a sign that you have not entered into his rest." [03:49]
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