Finding Strength and Grace Through Faith and Prayer

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Sufficiency of Jesus

Jesus, being fully God and fully Man, sinless, and committed to the salvation plan for humanity, is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. We are encouraged to bring all our challenges, disappointments, and diagnoses to Him. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dekb9-8MMoI&t=750s))

Colossians 2:9-10 - "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority."

Reflection: How can you actively bring your challenges and disappointments to Jesus today? Can you think of a specific situation where you need to trust in His sufficiency?

Day 2: Perseverance in Faith

Even when the journey with Jesus becomes difficult, we are encouraged to keep going, to keep leaning in even when questions arise. There is nowhere else to go because Jesus has the words of eternal life. ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dekb9-8MMoI&t=1455s))

John 6:68 - "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'"

Reflection: What challenges in your faith journey are you currently facing? How can you lean into Jesus and His words of eternal life in these situations?

Day 3: Confidence in God's Grace

Jesus, as our high priest, understands our weaknesses and temptations. We can approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we can receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dekb9-8MMoI&t=2160s))

Hebrews 4:15-16 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 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: How can you approach God's throne of grace with confidence today? What specific areas in your life do you need His mercy and grace?

Day 4: God's Understanding and Care

God cares, knows, and understands our struggles. Even in times of loneliness and despair, Jesus is fully capable of providing mercy and grace. ([48:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dekb9-8MMoI&t=2915s))

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's care and understanding in your struggles? How can you lean on Jesus for mercy and grace during times of loneliness and despair?

Day 5: Prayer as an Uprising

Prayer is an uprising against the disorder of the world. It is not simply asking God for specific outcomes, but rather it is an opportunity to commune with God and actively participate in directing the course of His world. ([59:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dekb9-8MMoI&t=3545s))

James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Reflection: How can you use prayer as an uprising against the disorder in your world today? Can you think of a specific situation where you can actively participate in directing the course of God's world through prayer?

Sermon Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of holding on to the age-old truth of who Jesus is and was. The pastor reminds the congregation that Jesus is sufficient, fully God and fully Man, sinless, and committed to the salvation plan for humanity. The pastor then shifts to discussing prayer, encouraging the congregation to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, seeking mercy and grace in times of need. The pastor shares a personal example of their theology of healing, acknowledging that sometimes God doesn't heal, but that doesn't deter them from combating the evil nature of the world. The pastor emphasizes the importance of bringing all challenges, disappointments, and diagnoses to Jesus, reminding the congregation of God's promise to be their refuge and strength in times of trouble.

The pastor then reflects on a scripture passage where many of Jesus' disciples turned back and no longer followed him when things got challenging. The pastor compares this to the scene in the movie Forrest Gump where Forrest decides to end his journey and go home. However, the pastor highlights the response of Simon Peter, who remains faithful to Jesus. Peter acknowledges that although the journey may be difficult, there is nowhere else to go because Jesus has the words of eternal life. The pastor encourages the congregation to have the audacity to keep going with Jesus, to keep leaning in even when questions arise.

The pastor acknowledges the overwhelming nature of the world and the desire for control, but emphasizes the need to trust in God's sovereignty. The pastor introduces the book of Hebrews, highlighting its significance as a book that connects the Old Testament promises with the fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The pastor specifically focuses on Hebrews 4:14-16, emphasizing the comforting truth that Jesus, as our high priest, understands our weaknesses and temptations. The pastor encourages the congregation to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we can receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.

The pastor shares a personal experience of feeling hopeless and lonely while dealing with a rare disease called blyer teresia. They express the need for support and encouragement during difficult times, emphasizing that sometimes all one needs is someone to listen and offer a word of encouragement. The pastor acknowledges that feelings of loneliness are not uncommon and that many people may relate to waking up crying or feeling overwhelmed by the fragility of life. The main message of the sermon is that God cares, knows, and understands our struggles, and Jesus is fully capable of providing mercy and grace in times of need.

The pastor concludes by emphasizing the power and significance of prayer. The pastor quotes Carl Bar, who describes prayer as an uprising against the disorder of the world. Prayer is not simply asking God for specific outcomes, but rather it is an opportunity to commune with God and actively participate in directing the course of His world. The pastor encourages the congregation to turn to prayer when they feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or faced with challenges and questions.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

"Lord, where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life." - Simon Peter

"We don't have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are...let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence."

"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." - Carl Bar

"Prayer therefore is much more than asking God for this or that outcome; it is drawing into communion with him and taking up our privileged role as his people in prayer." - Sky Jaani

"In those moments I just remember like I needed a life raft... I just needed a little bit of encouragement... to somehow by the supernatural empowerment of God to feel courage on the inside that goes beyond my ability to check out and people's ability to counsel me."

"I imagine my feeling of loneliness is not an isolated occurrence... sometimes you wake up crying because it's the worst day of your life again... sometimes you turn on the news and you imagine how fragile life really is and how overwhelming that is on top of how fragile your life already was before all that stuff started happening."

"I want to make a just a really good case that God cares and God knows and that Jesus is entirely sufficient as our great high priest to give you his mercy and Grace in your time of need... Jesus fully knows and Jesus fully understands."

"Hold firmly to your faith...this isn't self-help talk, this isn't just your confessions in the mirror in the morning...this is holding fast to your confession."

"Andrew Murray says about prayer, 'Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life not only for ourselves but for others, for the church, for the world.'"

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