Inviting God: Navigating Life's Challenges with Faith
Summary
In today's message, we explored the importance of inviting God into every aspect of our lives. Whether it's the pressures of school, financial struggles, marriage, or even our identity, we need God's guidance and presence. By inviting Him into our lives, we open ourselves to His best answers and directions. We also discussed the concept of the "donkey mission," inspired by Saul's journey to find his father's donkeys. This mission symbolizes the challenges and territories we navigate in our spiritual journey, each representing different aspects of our growth and maturity in Christ.
We delved into the significance of dealing with our past, killing the foxes of sin, and focusing on our desires. Our desires play a crucial role in how we respond to temptation. By aligning our desires with God's will, we can stand firm against the enemy's temptations. We also touched on the importance of patience and endurance during trials, as these lead to the crown of life promised by God.
Furthermore, we explored the regions of Shalisha and Ephraim, which represent future provision and attitude, respectively. Shalisha reminds us to pray for God's provision and trust in His plans for our future. Ephraim, known for double fruitfulness, teaches us the value of being pruned by God to receive His blessings. This pruning process, though challenging, is essential for spiritual growth and receiving God's double portion.
As we continue on our spiritual journey, we must focus on God's will, maintain a positive attitude, and be open to His pruning. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purpose and experience the abundant life He promises.
Key Takeaways:
1. Invite God into Every Aspect of Life: Whether it's school, finances, or relationships, we must invite God into our lives to guide us with His wisdom and direction. By doing so, we align ourselves with His best answers and solutions. [34:21]
2. Align Desires with God's Will: Our desires influence how we respond to temptation. By focusing on God's will and goodness, we can stand firm against the enemy's attempts to lead us astray. This alignment empowers us to overcome challenges with God's strength. [42:44]
3. Embrace Patience and Endurance: Trials and temptations are part of our spiritual journey. By patiently enduring these challenges, we receive the crown of life promised by God. This endurance strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with Him. [41:12]
4. Pray for Future Provision: Trusting in God's provision for our future is essential. By praying and declaring His promises, we align ourselves with His plans and experience His blessings in our lives. [50:52]
5. Be Open to God's Pruning: Spiritual growth requires being pruned by God. This process, though difficult, prepares us to receive His double portion of blessings. By maintaining a thankful attitude, we embrace His transformative work in our lives. [01:05:28]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [22:49] - Inviting God into Our Lives
- [26:29] - The Donkey Mission
- [31:45] - Dealing with the Past
- [33:57] - Aligning Desires with God's Will
- [35:36] - Inviting God into Finances and Marriage
- [36:58] - Bringing God into Schools
- [38:11] - Patience and Endurance
- [39:36] - Killing the Foxes of Sin
- [42:44] - Overcoming Temptation
- [46:23] - Future Provision in Shalisha
- [50:52] - Praying for Future Provision
- [55:16] - God's Provision in Our Lives
- [58:09] - Embracing God's Pruning
- [01:04:03] - Double Fruitfulness in Ephraim
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 1:12-18
2. Genesis 48:13-20
3. 2 Kings 4:42-44
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Observation Questions:
1. According to James 1:12-18, what is promised to those who patiently endure testing and temptation? How does this relate to the concept of the "crown of life"? [41:12]
2. In Genesis 48, why did Jacob choose to bless Ephraim over Manasseh, and what significance does this have in the context of double fruitfulness? [01:04:03]
3. How does the story of the man from Baal Shalisha in 2 Kings 4 illustrate the concept of future provision? [53:45]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of areas in life where we need to invite God for guidance and direction? [34:21]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does aligning our desires with God's will, as discussed in James 1:14-15, help us stand firm against temptation? What practical steps can be taken to align our desires with God's will? [42:44]
2. The sermon mentions the importance of patience and endurance during trials. How can these qualities strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with God? [41:12]
3. What does the concept of "donkey mission" symbolize in our spiritual journey, and how can it help us understand the challenges we face? [38:11]
4. How does the process of being pruned by God, as illustrated in the sermon, prepare us to receive His double portion of blessings? [01:05:28]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How can you invite God into this situation to seek His guidance and direction? [34:21]
2. Identify an area in your life where your desires may not align with God's will. What steps can you take this week to refocus your desires on God's goodness? [42:44]
3. Think of a recent trial or temptation you faced. How did you respond, and what role did patience and endurance play in your response? How can you cultivate these qualities further? [41:12]
4. Consider a past experience where you felt pruned by God. How did this experience lead to spiritual growth, and how can you maintain a thankful attitude during future pruning processes? [01:05:28]
5. What specific prayers can you offer for future provision in your life, trusting in God's plans and timing? How can you actively declare His promises over your future? [50:52]
6. Reflect on your current attitude towards challenges and growth. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude and openness to God's transformative work in your life? [01:09:15]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to let go of past sins or guilt. What steps can you take to surrender these to God and move forward in your spiritual journey? [39:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Inviting God into Every Aspect of Life
In every facet of life, from the mundane to the monumental, inviting God to be present is crucial. Whether dealing with the stress of school, the complexities of marriage, or financial uncertainties, God's wisdom and guidance are indispensable. By consciously inviting Him into these areas, we open ourselves to His best answers and solutions, aligning our lives with His divine purpose. This act of invitation is not a one-time event but a continuous practice that transforms our daily experiences and decisions. [34:21]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you have not yet invited God to guide you? How can you begin to invite Him into that area today?
Day 2: Aligning Desires with God's Will
Our desires significantly influence how we respond to life's temptations and challenges. By aligning our desires with God's will, we can stand firm against the enemy's attempts to lead us astray. This alignment requires a conscious effort to focus on God's goodness and His plans for us, empowering us to overcome obstacles with His strength. It is through this alignment that we find the courage and resilience to face temptations and remain steadfast in our faith. [42:44]
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a desire in your life that may not align with God's will. How can you begin to shift this desire to align more closely with His plans for you?
Day 3: Embracing Patience and Endurance
Trials and temptations are inevitable parts of our spiritual journey. Embracing patience and endurance during these times is essential, as they lead to the crown of life promised by God. This endurance not only strengthens our faith but also deepens our relationship with Him. By trusting in God's timing and purpose, we learn to navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience, knowing that our perseverance will be rewarded. [41:12]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current trial you are facing. How can you practice patience and endurance in this situation, trusting in God's promise of the crown of life?
Day 4: Praying for Future Provision
Trusting in God's provision for our future is a vital aspect of our faith journey. By praying and declaring His promises, we align ourselves with His plans and open our lives to His blessings. This act of faith requires us to let go of our anxieties and trust that God will provide for our needs in His perfect timing. As we pray for future provision, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and expectation, ready to receive His abundant blessings. [50:52]
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your future that you are anxious about? How can you begin to pray and trust God for His provision in this area?
Day 5: Being Open to God's Pruning
Spiritual growth often requires us to undergo a pruning process by God. Though challenging, this process is essential for preparing us to receive His double portion of blessings. By maintaining a thankful attitude, we embrace His transformative work in our lives, allowing Him to shape us into the people He has called us to be. This openness to pruning is a testament to our trust in God's wisdom and His plans for our spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. [01:05:28]
"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:2, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge or setback. How might this be part of God's pruning process in your life, and how can you embrace it with gratitude?
Quotes
1. "You have to invite the Lord into what's going on in your life. Every single time. Because He has the best way. He has the best answer. He has the best direction. Amen? I want you to think about this like students in this room. Anybody that's a student in this room. How are you dealing with the pressures of school without God involved in your life? We need God in our life. Students, every student's got to hear this. We need God in our life. We need God in our life. We need God in our life. I know there's students out here. You guys are getting really quiet. Don't make me make you stand up and bring you up here on stage, man. I will do it. Right? Do you think that you need God in your life to communicate to you and tell you what you need to do and the pressures of school? Yes? Of course. We've got to invite God into that." [34:21] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "How about our identity? We need God in our identity and who we are in Jesus Christ. Amen? Telling us who we are. Revealing to us. Am I male? Am I female? Am I a child of God? Am I not a child of God? God, what do you have to say? What is your word? Say, and I'm going to follow what your word says because I trust you and believe in you as my God. And we need that in our lives, in our world. The world's lying to us and telling us we can do whatever we want. That's not what the word says. Amen? And all I'm saying is we need the identity of Jesus in our life and God telling us what we should do. Amen? Praise the Lord." [37:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If your desires are focused on worldly, bad, evil things, the temptation will then come and drag you off into the darkness. But what if your desires were focused on the good of God, the will of God, and the enemy tries to bring temptation, you would be able to stand in Jesus. Just as Jesus showed us when the enemy came, what did he do? He used the word to overcome. And so here's the point of this. Your desires and where they are laying currently right now is the difference between how much the enemy tempts you and drags you off versus you stand against him." [42:44] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes you got to declare things that you believe will happen in the future every single day pray for it pray for it amen and so saul's donkey mission he's off looking for these donkeys he's going through these regions he's experiencing these things and he's going through and it's a tough tough um search he's going through mountains he's going over rocks over hills all these different things theologians say that he had to go 32 miles to find these donkeys and back then there weren't really a whole lot of trails or anything so he's really going it could have been weeks before he got there found these donkeys he ends up finding samuel instead and then he comes back but it was a long difficult challenging mission and when i thought about that i was like hmm that kind of sounds like some missions that are going on in this room right you climbing some mountains and over some boulders and strafing some knees a little bit amen as you're trying to figure out what is taking you through amen and you just got to keep continuing going amen keep walking out what he has for you" [52:20] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Ephraim, the region of Ephraim that Saul passes through, is known as double fruitfulness. Double fruit. Double the blessing of God. And it talks about it in Genesis 48. What happened was is Jacob had his two grandsons come so he can bless them, pass the blessing on to them. It was Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh was the firstborn. And traditionally it goes to the firstborn. And Ephraim was the second. And Jacob put his blessing on Ephraim. The secondborn instead of the firstborn. And they tried to correct him because they thought he was old and didn't know what he was doing. But he said, no, I'm blessing Ephraim. And because of that, Ephraim and his tribe in that region was doubly blessed by Jacob through that blessing that he poured out over them. And that's where this region comes from, the double blessed territory because of the blessing that came from Jacob to Ephraim." [01:04:03] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When you started cutting that junk out of your life, God's telling you to surrender. He's giving you signs and witnesses and people in your life that are trying to help you. And you're like, you guys don't know what you're talking about. And it takes a DUI to get you to understand that you're drinking too much. And God's trying to chop that stuff off. And there ain't nobody in here that regrets getting rid of that stuff out of their life. Because so much upside and blessing that comes when we start walking the path of righteousness. Amen? But you, when you're pruned, you gotta be pruned by having the attitude to thank God for what he's doing in your life. He's saving you. You did ask Jesus to save you, did you not? What did you expect was gonna take place? That he was gonna reveal to you the things that you should not be doing and start cutting that stuff off out of your life?" [01:08:34] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And so God is planting future for you right now. You've got to believe that to be true. Because some of you are in a bad situation right now. And you can't figure out what's happening. But I want you to know that if you invite God into it, God is going to plant seed for your future. He will provide. The second region, so that's planting future provision. The second region is Ephraim. And Ephraim is about your attitude. And so I hope that you receive what I'm sharing with you right here. Because this is super important. Ephraim, the region of Ephraim that Saul passes through, is known as double fruitfulness. Double fruit. Double the blessing of God." [01:03:12] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "You're on a donkey mission right now. Right now, you're going through something. God's trying to show you something. He's trying to stretch you. He's trying to reveal to you ministries that need to take place. Things that need to happen. There's family and friends in your life that need to know Jesus. And he's trying to stretch you and get you in a place where you'll start witnessing. You'll start talking about Jesus everywhere you go. You'll start communicating to people what he's done in your life. Every single one of you have a testimony. If you accepted Jesus, you have a testimony. And in that testimony is the gospel. And you can tell everyone what you were and what you have become. And no one can take that from you. No one can tell you you're a liar because it's what's happened to you. But that very testimony has the power to set another person free." [01:14:11] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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