Living Beyond Limits: Embracing God's Promises

 

Summary

In reflecting on Psalm 78:41, we are reminded of the profound and often tragic history of the Israelites, who, despite being chosen by God and given miraculous promises, frequently fell into rebellion and disbelief. This passage serves as a poignant reminder of the human tendency to limit God through unbelief and disobedience. The Israelites, meant to be a beacon of God's glory, often found themselves in defeat and disgrace because they failed to trust and act upon God's promises. This historical reflection is not just a recounting of past failures but a mirror for us today as Christians. We, too, are called to be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, meant to reflect God's glory in the world. Yet, we must ask ourselves if we are truly living up to this calling or if we are guilty of limiting the Holy One of Israel in our own lives.

The essence of this message is a call to self-examination. Are we enjoying the fullness of the Christian life? Are we experiencing the blessings that God has freely offered us? The challenge is to assess whether we are living in the joy, peace, and assurance that should characterize the life of a believer. The Christian life is not meant to be one of misery or defeat but of victory and abundance. We are reminded that God’s promises are sure, and His blessings are available to us if we do not limit Him through unbelief or disobedience.

The call is to open our hearts wide to God’s promises, to live in the assurance of our salvation, and to experience the joy and peace that come from a deep, personal relationship with God. We are encouraged to move beyond a superficial faith and to seek a profound, transformative experience of God’s presence in our lives. This is not just for our own benefit but for the glory of God and the testimony of His power to the world.

Key Takeaways:

- The Danger of Limiting God: The Israelites' history serves as a warning against limiting God through unbelief and disobedience. We must examine our own lives to ensure we are not guilty of the same, as this limits the blessings and power God wants to manifest in us. [03:38]

- Assurance of Salvation: A key aspect of the Christian life is the assurance of salvation. We are meant to live with the certainty that our sins are forgiven and that we are children of God. This assurance is foundational to experiencing the fullness of God's promises. [17:24]

- Joy and Rejoicing: Christians are called to be a rejoicing people, even in the midst of trials. True joy is found in our relationship with God, and it is a powerful testimony to the world of the sufficiency of Christ. [27:13]

- Delighting in God's Commandments: God's commandments are not burdensome but are meant to be a source of delight. When we view them as grievous, we limit the joy and freedom that come from living in obedience to God. [30:19]

- Experiencing God's Presence: We are invited to know God in a real and intimate way. This involves experiencing His presence and the manifestations of His love and power in our lives. Such experiences are not reserved for a select few but are available to all believers. [23:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Psalm 78:41
- [00:36] - The History of Israel's Unbelief
- [01:16] - God's Purpose for Israel
- [02:10] - Israel's Failures and Consequences
- [03:04] - The Serious Charge Against Israel
- [04:14] - Limiting the Holy One of Israel
- [06:14] - Self-Examination for Christians
- [07:38] - Our Calling as God's People
- [09:00] - The Paradox of Limiting God
- [11:30] - Standards for Self-Judgment
- [13:39] - The Christian Life in the New Testament
- [15:27] - Assurance and Knowledge of God
- [20:43] - Experiencing God's Love and Presence
- [26:40] - Rejoicing and Delighting in God
- [34:34] - Resting in God's Sufficiency
- [39:04] - Causes of Limiting God
- [45:10] - The Enormity of Limiting God
- [46:54] - Call to Repentance and Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 78:41
- Psalm 81:11-16

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Psalm 78:41 reveal about the behavior of the Israelites towards God? How did they "limit the Holy One of Israel"? [00:36]

2. In the sermon, what were some of the consequences faced by the Israelites due to their unbelief and disobedience? [02:29]

3. How does the sermon describe the intended role and purpose of the Israelites as God's chosen people? [01:52]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "limiting the Holy One of Israel" in the context of the Israelites' history? [03:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "limiting God" through unbelief and disobedience apply to modern Christians, according to the sermon? [09:00]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between assurance of salvation and experiencing the fullness of God's promises? [17:24]

3. In what ways does the sermon encourage Christians to move beyond a superficial faith? What does a profound, transformative experience of God's presence look like? [23:12]

4. How does the sermon interpret the joy and rejoicing that Christians are called to have, even in the midst of trials? [27:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be "limiting the Holy One of Israel" through unbelief or disobedience? How can you address these areas? [09:00]

2. The sermon emphasizes the assurance of salvation as foundational to experiencing God's promises. Do you feel assured of your salvation? If not, what steps can you take to seek this assurance? [17:24]

3. Consider your current spiritual practices. How can you deepen your relationship with God to experience His presence more intimately? What changes might you need to make? [23:12]

4. The sermon calls Christians to rejoice always. How can you cultivate a spirit of joy in your daily life, even when facing challenges? [27:13]

5. Reflect on your attitude towards God's commandments. Do you view them as burdensome or as a source of delight? How can you shift your perspective to find joy in obedience? [30:19]

6. Think about a recent situation where you felt anxious or worried. How can you apply the peace of God, as described in the sermon, to similar situations in the future? [32:22]

7. The sermon encourages believers to open their hearts wide to God's promises. What specific promise of God do you want to embrace more fully in your life, and how will you do so? [47:10]

Devotional

Day 1: The Peril of Unbelief
The history of the Israelites serves as a stark warning against the danger of limiting God through unbelief and disobedience. Despite being chosen by God and witnessing His miraculous works, the Israelites often fell into rebellion, which led to their downfall. This serves as a mirror for us today, urging us to examine our own lives to ensure we are not guilty of the same. By limiting God, we restrict the blessings and power He desires to manifest in us. We are called to trust in God's promises and live in obedience, allowing His glory to shine through us. [03:38]

Psalm 78:32-33 (ESV): "In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where unbelief might be limiting God's work. How can you actively choose to trust Him more in this area today?


Day 2: Living in the Assurance of Salvation
A key aspect of the Christian life is the assurance of salvation, which provides a foundation for experiencing the fullness of God's promises. This assurance means living with the certainty that our sins are forgiven and that we are children of God. It is not just a theological concept but a lived reality that should bring peace and confidence. As believers, we are encouraged to embrace this assurance, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with God. [17:24]

1 John 5:13 (ESV): "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of salvation. How does the assurance of being a child of God influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?


Day 3: Joy in Trials
Christians are called to be a rejoicing people, even in the midst of trials. True joy is found in our relationship with God, and it serves as a powerful testimony to the world of the sufficiency of Christ. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promises. As believers, we are encouraged to cultivate a heart of gratitude and joy, reflecting the light of Christ to those around us. [27:13]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you choose to find joy in God despite the circumstances?


Day 4: Delighting in Obedience
God's commandments are not burdensome but are meant to be a source of delight. When we view them as grievous, we limit the joy and freedom that come from living in obedience to God. Obedience is not about following rules but about aligning our lives with God's will, which leads to true fulfillment and peace. As believers, we are invited to delight in God's commandments, experiencing the abundant life He offers. [30:19]

Psalm 119:47-48 (ESV): "For I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes."

Reflection: Consider an area where you struggle with obedience. How can you shift your perspective to see God's commandments as a source of delight and freedom?


Day 5: Experiencing God's Presence
We are invited to know God in a real and intimate way, experiencing His presence and the manifestations of His love and power in our lives. Such experiences are not reserved for a select few but are available to all believers. This involves moving beyond a superficial faith and seeking a profound, transformative relationship with God. As we open our hearts to Him, we can experience the joy and peace that come from His presence. [23:12]

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God's presence in your daily routine? What practices can you incorporate to deepen your relationship with Him?

Quotes


The Israelites, meant to be a beacon of God's glory, often found themselves in defeat and disgrace because they failed to trust and act upon God's promises. This historical reflection is not just a recounting of past failures but a mirror for us today as Christians. We, too, are called to be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, meant to reflect God's glory in the world. [00:06:40]

The ultimate charge which he brings against them is that they were guilty of limiting the Holy One of Israel. Now some of the translations you will notice translate this as they provoked the Holy One of Israel. It comes to the same thing. They provoked him in that way that in their unbelief and in their failure to receive his promises and to believe them and to act upon them. [00:36:28]

Are we individually enjoying the blessings of the Christian Life as we should? What we find as we look back and review the past year, we've attended the house of God, we've read the scriptures, how much of this have we appropriated? To what extent are we enjoying all that God has offered us so freely? [00:07:38]

The teaching is quite plain here as it is everywhere in the Bible that it is possible for us in this respect to limit the Holy One of Israel and to cause God to say, oh that my people had hearkened unto me, oh that they had listened. Now this is a paradox of course, it's a final antinomy that we can't resolve. [00:09:00]

Assurance of salvation, knowing that we are, that our sins are forgiven, the ability to say being reconciled or being justified by faith we have peace with God, the ability to say there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Now that is what is meant to be the normal for every Christian. [00:16:00]

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which he has given unto us. Now what that means is that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. It isn't referring to our love of God but to our knowledge of his love to us that it's shed abroad in our hearts. [00:19:12]

We are invited to know God in a real and intimate way. This involves experiencing His presence and the manifestations of His love and power in our lives. Such experiences are not reserved for a select few but are available to all believers. [00:23:12]

Rejoicing, God's people are meant to be a rejoicing people. These are the words: Rejoice evermore. I'm not saying that, the scriptures says it: Rejoice evermore. Or listen again to the Apostle putting it: rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. [00:26:40]

Christian people were never meant to be miserable, we're never meant to be unhappy. And if you and I are sort of half turning back to the world still and rather be mourning the fact that we can't enjoy what they're enjoying and still be with them and we are be very wonderful in denying ourselves. [00:29:04]

God's commandments are not burdensome but are meant to be a source of delight. When we view them as grievous, we limit the joy and freedom that come from living in obedience to God. [00:30:19]

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of Christ Jesus. There are many others that I could quote which say exactly the same thing. Now, my friends, these are practical matters. Are we enjoying that peace? [00:31:58]

Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it. That's what he wants us to do. Don't just open it but open it wide, let him fill it. Open your heart to him, believe the promises, take them literally as they are. [00:46:54]

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Transcript
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