Navigating Favor and Trials in Faith
Summary
In my sermon, I began by acknowledging the service and contributions of various members of our church community, expressing gratitude for their involvement and the vibrancy they bring to our fellowship. I highlighted upcoming events, such as the prophetic encounter and dream day, emphasizing the importance of resting in the Holy Spirit and seeking God's vision for our lives. I also mentioned the return of guest speakers Ivan Roman and Roger Pugh, setting the stage for a season of spiritual enrichment.
I then transitioned into discussing the tension many of us feel in our spiritual journeys, oscillating between seasons of favor and trials. I shared my own sense of intercession for personal promises from God and for the church, likening the anticipation to the tension of childbirth. I empathized with the struggle many face, feeling close to breakthrough yet experiencing the challenge of waiting.
I delved into the story of Solomon, a man of great favor, and the visit from the Queen of Sheba. Her encounter with Solomon led her to acknowledge God's wisdom and favor upon him, which was not just for his benefit but for the love of his people. This story served as a reminder that the favor God bestows upon us is not solely for our benefit but is intended to be shared with others.
I then spoke about the challenges of stewarding favor and the trials we face, such as jealousy or self-sufficiency. I encouraged the congregation to remain open vessels for God's favor, to be conduits of His blessings to others. I stressed the importance of risking it all for God again, as we have done in the past, and not tightening our grip when He blesses us.
I recounted the story of the Israelites' journey from captivity to freedom, highlighting God's wisdom in leading them through a longer route to prepare them for future battles. This illustrated God's intimate knowledge of our readiness for challenges and His desire to build our faith and identity in Him.
I reflected on the disciples' experience with Jesus calming the storm, emphasizing Jesus' intention to teach them authority and faith rather than simply performing a miracle. I challenged the congregation to consider their own discipleship efforts and the importance of maturing in faith.
I concluded by emphasizing the significance of holding onto God's word through seasons of favor and trial. I shared a personal example of a prophetic word that has driven me for over 30 years, underscoring the eternal perspective of God's promises. I encouraged the congregation to steward God's words carefully, to treasure and ponder them, and to be cautious about sharing them indiscriminately.
Key Takeaways:
1. The tension between seasons of favor and trials is a natural part of our spiritual journey. It's essential to recognize that God's favor is not just for our benefit but for the benefit of others as well. As we experience God's blessings, we must remain open vessels, ready to share His favor and continue to trust in Him as the source. [01:14:22]
2. God's timing and guidance are perfect, even when they seem indirect or delayed. The story of the Israelites' journey from captivity to freedom teaches us that God knows our readiness for challenges and strategically prepares us for what lies ahead. We must trust His leading, even when it's not the shortest or easiest path. [01:26:15]
3. Discipleship is a process of maturation in faith and authority. Jesus' approach to teaching His disciples during the storm on the sea was not about performing miracles but about imparting faith and understanding of their authority as believers. We must embrace this model in our discipleship efforts, seeking depth and transformation rather than quick fixes. [01:31:37]
4. Holding onto God's word is crucial in navigating life's seasons. We must steward the prophetic words and promises given to us, treasuring them and allowing them to guide us through both favorable times and trials. This stewardship involves careful reflection and a guarded heart against those who may not honor the word as we do. [01:43:40]
5. Our response to God's favor and trials reveals our heart's posture. In moments of favor, we must resist the temptation to become self-sufficient or to hoard blessings. In trials, we must avoid bitterness and frustration, always returning to a place of centeredness in God's will. Our heart's posture in these seasons shapes our spiritual growth and alignment with God's purposes. [01:37:41]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 10:6-9 - The Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon.
2. Exodus 13:17 - God's guidance of the Israelites out of Egypt.
3. Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus calms the storm.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the Queen of Sheba's reaction to Solomon's wisdom and wealth? How did it affect her view of God? (1 Kings 10:6-9)
2. Why did God lead the Israelites on a longer route out of Egypt instead of the shorter path through the Philistine country? (Exodus 13:17)
3. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' fear during the storm, and what was His main message to them? (Mark 4:35-41)
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the Queen of Sheba's acknowledgment of God's favor on Solomon suggest about the purpose of God's blessings in our lives? (1 Kings 10:6-9) [01:12:27]
2. How does the story of the Israelites' journey illustrate God's understanding of our readiness for challenges? (Exodus 13:17) [01:24:08]
3. In what ways does Jesus' calming of the storm teach us about faith and authority in our spiritual journey? (Mark 4:35-41) [01:31:03]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's favor. How did you share that blessing with others, and how can you continue to be an open vessel for God's favor? [01:14:22]
2. Think about a current challenge or trial you are facing. How can you trust in God's timing and guidance, even if the path seems longer or more difficult? [01:26:15]
3. How can you apply the lesson of Jesus calming the storm to your own life? What steps can you take to grow in faith and authority during difficult times? [01:31:37]
4. Identify a prophetic word or promise from God that you are holding onto. How can you steward this word carefully and allow it to guide you through both favorable times and trials? [01:43:40]
5. Examine your heart's posture in response to both favor and trials. Are there areas where you tend to become self-sufficient or bitter? How can you return to a place of centeredness in God's will? [01:37:41]
6. Consider your discipleship efforts. How can you be more intentional about leading others to faith and helping them mature spiritually? [01:31:37]
7. Reflect on a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and deepen your relationship with Him? [01:50:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Spiritual Tension
The spiritual journey is marked by a dynamic tension between seasons of favor and trials. This tension is not an indication of God's absence but rather a natural rhythm of growth and testing. In times of favor, it is easy to feel God's presence and blessings, but it is equally important to recognize His hand in the trials. These challenges are opportunities to share the blessings received and to trust in God's provision and purpose. The tension serves as a reminder to remain open vessels, ready to pour out God's favor to others, and to continue to rely on Him as the ultimate source of all good things. [07:40]
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively share God's favor with someone in your community this week, and in what ways can you demonstrate trust in God during a personal trial?
Day 2: Trusting God's Perfect Timing
Understanding God's timing can be challenging, especially when His guidance seems indirect or delayed. The journey of the Israelites from captivity to freedom exemplifies God's perfect knowledge of our readiness for challenges. He leads us on paths that prepare us for what lies ahead, even if they are not the most direct. Trusting in God's timing means having faith that He is equipping us for future battles and that His wisdom surpasses our immediate understanding. This trust allows us to follow His lead with confidence, knowing that He is intimately involved in our development and growth. [07:40]
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a time when God's timing seemed off, but in hindsight, you could see His wisdom? How might this perspective change your current view of a delayed answer to prayer?
Day 3: Maturing Through Discipleship
Discipleship is not merely about learning doctrines or performing religious duties; it is about maturing in faith and understanding our authority as believers. Jesus' teaching during the storm was a lesson in faith and authority, not just a display of His power. As disciples, we are called to grow in our understanding of who we are in Christ and the authority we have been given. This process involves deep transformation and a commitment to move beyond seeking quick fixes to embracing the journey of faith that shapes our character and aligns us with God's will. [07:40]
"And he said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?'" - Mark 4:40 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to grow in understanding your authority as a believer, and how can you take a step toward that growth today?
Day 4: Stewarding God's Word
Holding onto God's word through different seasons is vital for navigating life's complexities. Stewarding prophetic words and promises involves treasuring them, pondering their significance, and allowing them to guide us. This careful reflection helps us to maintain an eternal perspective and to act with wisdom when sharing these words with others. The promises of God are not fleeting; they are part of a larger narrative that unfolds over time, often beyond our immediate circumstances. [07:40]
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." - Luke 2:19 (ESV)
Reflection: What is a specific prophetic word or promise you believe God has given you, and how can you better treasure and ponder it in your daily life?
Day 5: Heart Posture in Favor and Trials
Our response to God's favor and trials reveals the posture of our hearts. In moments of favor, we must guard against self-sufficiency and the temptation to hoard blessings. In trials, we must avoid bitterness and frustration, always seeking to align our hearts with God's will. The way we handle these seasons not only shapes our spiritual growth but also our capacity to fulfill God's purposes. A heart that remains centered in God's will is one that can navigate both abundance and lack with grace and faithfulness. [07:40]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." - Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent time of favor or trial. How did you respond, and what does that reveal about the posture of your heart toward God's will?
Quotes
1) "But how we handle trials, the same as favor, will either lead us toward Him, or away from Him. Because if we allow our disappointment, if we allow our discouragement, if we allow what we see with our own eyes to dictate how I feel and that connection, then I've let go of the one I was never supposed to let go of." [01:21:34]
2) "There's an interesting passage in Exodus 13, verse 17. God takes the children of Israel. He takes them out of captivity... But think about what happens over a 400-year period... Basically what's happening though is you have generations that have never known what it's like to live free." [01:22:50]
3) "God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt... He waited until they were ready. Part of it is they're learning who they are again. They're rediscovering their identity." [01:26:15]
4) "There's something in his word that he has for you that's going to get you through the season of favor and the season of trial. And it's in those seasons that you hold on to his word. Like, there's something about stewarding what God has said." [01:43:01]
5) "Even Mary, right? What did she do? She treasured that word in her heart, right? She guarded that. She stewarded it. She pondered it... And there are certain words, I think, resonate with us that you can't shake." [01:44:20]
6) "But when we set our heart in surrender and obedience to God in every season, whether favor or difficulty, it actually strengthens us and causes us to advance. So God's given each of us, I think, a word... it's to cause you to thrive in every season." [01:49:08]
7) "But listen, when you look at somebody else and you see the favor on their life, don't get jealous. Because jealousy, the posture of your heart, will expose what's in your heart, and say that you're actually not ready yet to steward favor." [01:17:52]
8) "I talked about this a few weeks ago, that I really feel like we're coming into this season, where we talked about the history of the church, and those that risked it all. I feel like we're coming into another one of those seasons when it's time to risk it all again." [01:15:52]
9) "How happy your people must be because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness. This is a wild story, a wild statement, that she sees something in him, and who she sees is the Lord." [01:13:21]
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