Navigating the Wilderness: Trusting God's Timing and Provision
Summary
In my sermon, I began by sharing a personal story about a significant decision my wife Juliet and I faced when we felt called to move from London to Chicago to start a church. This calling was unexpected and required deep faith and commitment, especially considering Juliet's initial reluctance to ever leave London. However, through prayer and discernment, it became clear that this was God's direction for us.
I then connected our journey to the biblical narrative of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Just as the Israelites faced a physical wilderness, we often encounter a metaphorical wilderness in our lives. This wilderness can be a place of testing and growth, where God shapes us into the people He wants us to become. I emphasized that reaching the "Promised Land" in any area of our lives—whether it's personal, professional, or spiritual—is rarely straightforward. There are often detours and delays, much like our unexpected stays in Idaho and Nashville before finally moving to Chicago.
During the sermon, I delved into the challenges and trials that come with navigating the wilderness. I shared how during the early days of our church plant in Naperville, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Juliet and I faced loneliness and uncertainty. We couldn't even meet people casually due to restrictions, let alone gather a church community. Yet, it was in these moments of hardship that we learned to rely more deeply on God's provision and guidance.
I also recounted a significant test of faith when I received a lucrative job offer from a large, well-known church. This opportunity would have been an easy way out of our struggles, but I chose to decline, reaffirming my commitment to the path God had set for us in starting a new church. This decision was pivotal, teaching me about the importance of obedience and trust in God's greater plan.
Towards the end of the sermon, I shared the exciting news of finally securing a permanent location for our church after more than two years of searching and facing numerous rejections. This breakthrough was a testament to God's faithfulness and timing. It reminded us that God leads us through hardships not to harm us but to prepare us for greater things.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embracing God's Timing: Understanding and accepting God's timing is crucial in our spiritual journey. The delays and detours we experience, like our unexpected extended stays in Idaho and Nashville, are often God's way of preparing us for what lies ahead. These periods, although challenging, are filled with lessons that are essential for our growth and readiness for the next steps God has planned for us. [13:33]
2. Faithfulness in Trials: The wilderness periods in our lives are not just obstacles but opportunities for deepening our faith. When faced with the decision to take an easier path or stay the course in a challenging church plant, choosing faithfulness was a testament to trusting God's plan over immediate comfort or security. This choice is a powerful witness to the strength and reliability of God's word and guidance. [19:33]
3. God's Provision in Hardship: Even when resources seem scarce and the path forward is unclear, God provides. Our experience of receiving unexpected financial support when we were unable to afford basic equipment for our church services is a vivid reminder that God meets our needs in His perfect timing and often through unexpected means. [22:12]
4. The Value of Perseverance: Reaching the promised land, whether it's a personal goal or a communal vision like establishing a church, requires perseverance through challenges. The journey teaches us resilience and deepens our reliance on God, shaping us into individuals capable of achieving the purposes He has set for us. [06:41]
5. Praising God in All Circumstances: As we enter into seasons of fulfillment and blessing, it is crucial to give praise to God, recognizing Him as the source of all good things. This act of blessing God, even before we see the fruition of our labors, aligns our hearts with His and opens the way for continued blessings and breakthroughs in our lives. [25:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:18] - The Call to Move
- [03:53] - The Journey Begins
- [06:41] - Challenges in Naperville
- [10:37] - Moses' Final Pep Talk
- [13:33] - Trusting God's Timing
- [19:33] - A Test of Faith
- [22:12] - God's Timely Provision
- [25:05] - Entering the Promised Land
- [28:25] - Church Growth and Expansion
- [31:19] - Corporate and Individual Praise
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 8:1-3 - "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
2. Exodus 16:3 - "The Israelites said to them, 'If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.'"
3. Psalm 34:1 - "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significant decision that Max and Juliet faced, and how did they discern it was God's direction? [01:18]
2. How does the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land parallel the personal journey of Max and Juliet? [03:53]
3. What were some of the challenges Max and Juliet faced when they moved to Naperville during the COVID-19 pandemic? [06:41]
4. How did God provide for Max and Juliet when they were preparing for their first church worship night? [22:12]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Deuteronomy 8:1-3 teach us about the purpose of the wilderness experiences in our lives? How does this relate to Max and Juliet's journey? [10:37]
2. In what ways did Max and Juliet's decision to decline the lucrative job offer demonstrate faithfulness and trust in God's plan? [19:33]
3. How can the Israelites' longing for Egypt (Exodus 16:3) be seen in our own lives when we face difficulties? [07:55]
4. What does it mean to "bless the Lord" as described in Psalm 34:1, and how can this practice impact our spiritual journey? [25:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to make a significant change in your life. How did you discern it was God's direction, and what steps did you take to follow it? [01:18]
2. Have you ever experienced a "wilderness" period in your life? How did it shape your faith and reliance on God? [03:53]
3. When faced with a difficult decision, like Max and Juliet's choice to decline a job offer, how do you determine whether to stay the course or take a different path? [19:33]
4. Think of a time when you felt like giving up on a goal or calling due to hardships. How did you overcome the temptation to look back and long for the past? [07:55]
5. How have you experienced God's provision in unexpected ways during times of need? Share a specific example. [22:12]
6. In what ways can you practice praising God in all circumstances, even before seeing the fulfillment of your prayers or goals? [25:05]
7. Identify a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the lessons from Deuteronomy 8:1-3 to trust in God's timing and provision during this period? [10:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Perfect Timing
Understanding and accepting God's timing can transform our spiritual journey. Often, we find ourselves in situations where delays and detours seem to hinder our progress. However, these moments are not setbacks but rather divine orchestrations designed to prepare us for what lies ahead. Just as the journey to a new city involved unexpected stops in Idaho and Nashville, our spiritual paths are filled with necessary pauses that teach us patience and trust. These periods, though challenging, are imbued with lessons that are essential for our growth and readiness for the next steps God has planned for us. [13:33]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up."
Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you feel impatient or frustrated with the timing? How can you shift your perspective to see this as part of God's timing?
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Day 2: Faithfulness in Trials
Trials are not merely obstacles; they are opportunities to deepen our faith. When faced with the decision to take an easier path or stay the course in a challenging situation, choosing faithfulness is a testament to trusting God's plan over immediate comfort or security. This choice strengthens our reliance on God's word and guidance, serving as a powerful witness to His strength and reliability. Such decisions teach us about the profound impact of steadfast faith and obedience to God's will, even when it contradicts our desires or the apparent ease of an alternative. [19:33]
James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: Recall a recent challenge where you had the option to choose an easier path. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now, knowing the value of faithfulness in trials?
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Day 3: God's Provision in Hardship
Even when resources seem scarce and the path forward is unclear, God provides. Our experiences, such as receiving unexpected financial support when it seemed impossible, remind us that God meets our needs in His perfect timing and often through unexpected means. These instances of divine provision encourage us to maintain our faith during periods of scarcity and to trust that God will provide for our needs as we continue to serve and follow Him. [22:12]
2 Corinthians 9:8-9 says, "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, 'He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'"
Reflection: Can you identify a moment in your life when God provided for you in an unexpected way? How does this memory help you trust in His provision for the future?
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Day 4: The Value of Perseverance
Reaching our "Promised Land"—whether it's a personal goal or a communal vision—requires perseverance through challenges. The journey not only teaches us resilience but also deepens our reliance on God, shaping us into individuals capable of achieving the purposes He has set for us. This process of continual effort and faith amidst adversity is crucial for spiritual growth and achieving lasting success in our endeavors. [06:41]
Romans 5:3-5 notes, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Reflection: What is one goal or vision you are working towards that requires perseverance? How can you commit to persisting in this area, trusting that God is shaping you through the process?
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Day 5: Praising God in All Circumstances
As we enter seasons of fulfillment and blessing, it is crucial to praise God, recognizing Him as the source of all good things. This act of blessing God, even before we see the fruition of our labors, aligns our hearts with His and opens the way for continued blessings and breakthroughs in our lives. Such praise not only honors God but also fortifies our faith, reminding us of His sovereignty and goodness in all circumstances. [25:05]
Psalm 34:1-3 declares, "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more praise into your daily routine, especially in times when you are waiting for a breakthrough or facing difficulties?
Quotes
Quotes for Outreach:
1. "The truth is that there are a lot of people in this life reaching the promised land, reaching your promised land in whatever area that is, is not just about you. It's about your friends. It's about your family. It's about people. It's about your family. It's about people. It's about people in this church. We need you to reach your promised land. We need you to make that journey. So not only do you need it, the people around you need it." [09:19]
2. "The journey from where you are to where God wants you to be is not always a straight line. Sometimes there's twists and turns, and it feels like you're going the wrong way, but God is leading you nonetheless." [14:55]
3. "God leads you through hard times. He tests you at times, but God provides for you all the time. God provides for you all the time. God provides for you all the time. God provides for you all the time. God provides for you all the time." [22:12]
4. "The place where God wants to take you is good. How good? Let me tell you. It's got brooks and streams and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills. Sounds pretty awesome. A land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey." [23:45]
Quotes for Members:
1. "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these 40 years. Remember that God led you all the way in the wilderness these 40 years. Remember that God led you all the way in the wilderness these 40 years. Led you for 40 years." [12:02]
2. "Sometimes, God will take away what you want, so that he can give you what you need." [20:51]
3. "Nothing will heat up and cause the impurities to ride to the surface like being married. I remember when Julie and I got married, I was like, I'm a pretty good guy, right? We got married, and no one has ever been that close into your business before. I very quickly realized, man, I am really, really selfish in a lot of areas. I've got to work on that." [16:24]
4. "As you enter into it, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Praise God. Bless God. You ever heard someone say, bless God, or bless the Lord? I don't know about you, but I've always thought that was a weird thing to say, because I know that we need things in this life." [25:05]
5. "There is something supernatural that happens when you bless God in advance of entering into the promised land, in advance of the breakthrough, in the middle of the challenge, the struggle, the trial." [31:19]
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