Forged in Trials: Embracing Humility and Gratitude
Summary
Growing in love and extending that love to others is the heartbeat of our community at Victory Fellowship. Our mission is to engage with God and each other, experience Christ-like relationships, and expand our Savior's mission to local and global communities. This journey involves taking small, incremental steps, like getting to know each other and sharing personal reflections, such as whether we hold grudges or forgive easily. Personally, I struggle with holding grudges, but I am on a journey of learning to forgive.
In our current series on Thanksgiving, we explore the power of gratitude, even in our weaknesses and pains. This week, we delve into the story of Jacob, who was shaped and molded by God through life's challenges. Just as a blacksmith uses an anvil and hammer to shape metal, God uses life's trials to mold our character, teaching us humility and dependence on Him. Jacob's story illustrates how God uses difficult circumstances to refine us, stripping away our self-made identities and filling our lives with His blessings and provisions.
Jacob's encounter with Esau, after years of estrangement, is a powerful example of reconciliation. Despite his fear, Jacob humbled himself before Esau, recognizing that his blessings were not self-earned but graciously given by God. This humility allowed for a peaceful reconciliation, as God had been working on both Jacob's and Esau's hearts. Similarly, God often prepares our hearts for reconciliation with others, teaching us to forgive as we have been forgiven.
True humility involves understanding that we are not self-made but God-constructed. It requires us to depend on God for everything and to submit our lives to His will. This humility allows us to respect and honor others, recognizing that all our blessings come from God. As we navigate life's challenges, we can find hope and reassurance in God's sovereignty and faithfulness, knowing that He is shaping us for His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Sovereignty: Regardless of life's challenges, God is sovereign and in control. He uses trials to mold our character, teaching us humility and dependence on Him. This process is not easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. [27:37]
- Humility and Dependence: True humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. It involves recognizing our dependence on God for everything and submitting our lives to His will. [34:15]
- Reconciliation: God often prepares our hearts for reconciliation with others. Before we can forgive or seek forgiveness, we must first seek the Lord's wisdom and guidance, allowing Him to work on our hearts. [48:51]
- Identity in Christ: Our identity should be centered on Jesus, recognizing that our blessings and provisions come from God, not ourselves. This perspective allows us to humbly respect and honor others. [40:39]
- Gratitude in Trials: Even in the midst of life's challenges, we can be thankful for God's refining work in our lives. He uses the anvil and hammer to shape us, not to make us suffer, but to grow us in love and dependence on Him. [55:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[16:48] - Five Minutes of Fellowship
[19:55] - Returning to Our Seats
[22:15] - Announcements
[24:32] - Thanksgiving Series Introduction
[26:03] - The Blacksmith's Anvil
[27:37] - Rough Edges and God's Molding
[28:12] - Jacob's Encounter with Esau
[32:15] - Jacob's Humility
[33:13] - The Process of Humility
[34:15] - Dependence on God
[36:08] - Esau's Embrace
[37:36] - God's Gracious Blessings
[39:22] - Identity and Blessings
[40:39] - Respect and Honor
[48:51] - Reconciliation and Forgiveness
[49:52] - The Challenge of Forgiveness
[50:35] - Personal Reflections on Grudges
[52:09] - Jacob's Journey to Shechem
[52:51] - Building an Altar to God
[54:18] - New Identity and Nation
[55:48] - Gratitude for God's Refining Work
[56:23] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Our Salvation
[57:45] - Thankfulness in Trials
[01:00:05] - Worship and Thanksgiving
[01:01:04] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Genesis 33:1-18
Observation Questions:
1. What was Jacob's initial reaction upon seeing Esau and his 400 men approaching? How did he prepare for this encounter? [28:12]
2. How did Esau respond to Jacob when they finally met, and what was Jacob's reaction to this response? [32:15]
3. What did Jacob acknowledge about his blessings when speaking to Esau, and how did he attribute them? [37:36]
4. What significant action did Jacob take after settling in Shechem, and what did he name the altar he erected? [52:51]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jacob's act of bowing to Esau reflect his understanding of humility and dependence on God? [33:13]
2. In what ways does the story of Jacob and Esau illustrate the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness? [48:51]
3. How does Jacob's acknowledgment of God's role in his blessings challenge the idea of being self-made? [40:39]
4. What does Jacob's journey and transformation tell us about the process of spiritual growth and identity in Christ? [54:18]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you held a grudge. How did it affect your relationship with the person involved, and what steps can you take towards reconciliation? [50:35]
2. Consider the concept of humility as "thinking of yourself less." How can you practice this in your daily interactions with others? [34:15]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to depend on God. What practical steps can you take to submit this area to His will? [34:15]
4. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude, even in the midst of life's challenges and trials? [55:48]
5. Think about a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can you seek God's wisdom and guidance to prepare your heart for this process? [48:51]
6. Reflect on your identity in Christ. How does recognizing that your blessings come from God change the way you view yourself and others? [40:39]
7. What specific action can you take this week to show respect and honor to someone you may have previously competed with or felt envious of? [40:39]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Sovereignty in Our Trials
In the journey of life, challenges and trials are inevitable. However, these moments are not without purpose. They are opportunities for God to mold and shape our character, teaching us humility and dependence on Him. Just as a blacksmith uses an anvil and hammer to refine metal, God uses life's difficulties to refine us, stripping away our self-made identities and filling our lives with His blessings and provisions. This process, though often uncomfortable, is essential for our spiritual growth and maturity. We are reminded that God is sovereign and in control, using every circumstance for our good and His glory. [27:37]
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you see God's hand at work in this situation, and what is He teaching you through it?
Day 2: Embracing Humility and Dependence on God
True humility is not about diminishing our worth but about recognizing our complete dependence on God for everything. It involves submitting our lives to His will and acknowledging that our blessings are not self-earned but graciously given by Him. This perspective allows us to think of ourselves less and focus more on serving others. As we navigate life's challenges, we are called to trust in God's sovereignty and faithfulness, knowing that He is shaping us for His purposes. [34:15]
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to depend on God fully? How can you practice humility by surrendering these areas to Him today?
Day 3: The Path to Reconciliation
Reconciliation is a powerful testament to God's work in our hearts. Before we can forgive or seek forgiveness, we must first seek the Lord's wisdom and guidance, allowing Him to prepare our hearts for reconciliation. Jacob's encounter with Esau, after years of estrangement, exemplifies this process. Despite his fear, Jacob humbled himself before Esau, recognizing that his blessings were from God. This humility paved the way for a peaceful reconciliation, as God had been working on both Jacob's and Esau's hearts. Similarly, God often prepares our hearts for reconciliation with others, teaching us to forgive as we have been forgiven. [48:51]
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Is there someone in your life with whom you need to reconcile? What steps can you take today to seek God's guidance and begin the process of reconciliation?
Day 4: Finding Our Identity in Christ
Our identity should be centered on Jesus, recognizing that our blessings and provisions come from God, not ourselves. This understanding allows us to humbly respect and honor others, knowing that we are all recipients of God's grace. As we embrace our identity in Christ, we are called to live in a way that reflects His love and character to those around us. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centeredness to a life of service and gratitude. [40:39]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: How does your identity in Christ influence the way you interact with others? What changes can you make to ensure that your life reflects His love and grace?
Day 5: Gratitude in the Midst of Trials
Even in the midst of life's challenges, we can be thankful for God's refining work in our lives. He uses the anvil and hammer to shape us, not to make us suffer, but to grow us in love and dependence on Him. Gratitude shifts our focus from our circumstances to God's faithfulness, allowing us to see His hand at work in every situation. As we cultivate a heart of gratitude, we are reminded of God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to our growth and transformation. [55:48]
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV)
Reflection: What are some specific things you can thank God for today, even in the midst of your current trials? How can practicing gratitude change your perspective on these challenges?
Quotes
"Regardless of what side that you're on, God is sovereign. God is in control. And God, through scripture, tells us that we must pray for our leaders. Whether you agree with them or not, whether you support them or not, you must pray. And so we want to congratulate Trump on his newly reelected position. But we need to pray for our government. We need to pray. It's important. It's imperative that we pray that there will be wisdom, that there will be discernment, that there will be healing in our nation, and that people can come together." [00:22:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And changing our minds and having a thankful mind can transform our lives. It can transform our perspective, just illuminating to God's goodness and just inspiring us on our journey through life. Because it's very easy to grow sour. It's very easy to become depressed and sad about our aches and pains. But as we discovered last week, that God utilizes that to show his goodness and his faithfulness and to be thankful for those scars and for those aches and pains that we have throughout our daily lives." [00:24:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Unfortunately, many of us, including myself, we have these rough edges. We just do. We all have rough edges. That's because of our sinful nature, our rebellious nature. And these rough edges, can cause cuts and scrapes and injuries to other people. We can also offend and disappoint our Heavenly Father. But fortunately, God doesn't leave us with these rough edges. He molds and shapes our hearts and our minds and our actions." [00:27:31] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Humility is realizing we must be dependent on God for everything. Every single thing. And humility is yielding and submitting our entire life to God. Submitting. Yielding. To what God desires. And humility is knowing you're not self-made, but God-constructed. You're not self-made. You may have achieved all these things, but you really haven't. Because God has constructed you and blessed you with those things. With those achievements." [00:34:21] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"You're recognizing that the Lord is the Lord of your life, that he's in charge of all things. And he blesses you because he chooses to bless you. And he challenges because he chooses to challenge you. So what happened? Let's continue with the story. Esau ran to Jacob and Jacob unexpectedly receives this huge embrace by his brother who 20 years earlier wanted to kill him. He kissed his neck and they wept. And it had been a long time, 20 years since they had last seen each other. 20 years." [00:36:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"See, we can choose to hold grudges or we can forgive. It doesn't have to be easily, but we can forgive because Jesus has forgiven us. See, before taking action, we must seek the Lord for his wisdom, guidance, and timing. And we have to ask the Lord, what am I doing or what have I done in this situation? Because unfortunately, in our world, it's always easy to point the blame and point our fingers at someone else." [00:48:50] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Thank you, Jesus, for being the steadfast anvil and the mighty hammer, enduring every trial for us. Thank you, Jesus, for refining me. Thank you, Jesus, for hammering out these rough edges in my life because I needed it. Thank you, Jesus, for you, Jesus, that I can rest in you, that I don't have to worry. Thank you, God, that you're sovereign and control in our lives, despite of our political affiliations, that you are God and I'm going to rest and I'm going to trust in you no matter what." [00:57:42] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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