Persistent Faith: Embracing God's Promise of Restoration

 

Summary

In our journey together as The Fellowship of the Withered Hand, we are reminded of the profound truth that while we may feel limited, God is limitless, and we must let Him work in our lives. This is beautifully illustrated through the story of my friend Jimmy, whose persistence in asking for waffles at a restaurant that didn't serve them eventually led to them being added to the menu. This humorous yet powerful story underscores the biblical principle of persistence, as seen in Jesus' teachings and the life of Job. Persistence is not about wearing God down, but about the growth and transformation that occurs within us as we continue to trust and seek Him.

The story of the man with the withered hand in Mark 3 is a poignant reminder of restoration. Jesus' command to the man to stretch out his hand, resulting in complete restoration, symbolizes the restoration God promises to all of us. This restoration is not just physical but spiritual and eschatological, pointing to the ultimate restoration of all things in God's kingdom. The prophet Joel echoes this promise, assuring us that God will restore the years the locusts have eaten, removing shame and bringing satisfaction and praise.

Job's story is a testament to this transformative restoration. Despite his immense suffering, Job's encounter with God led to a profound transformation. He moved from a cautious, rule-following father to a generous, loving parent, reflecting God's own lavish love. This transformation is not about justifying God's actions but about the change within Job, which allowed him to love more deeply and freely.

The promise of restoration extends beyond this life. As Thomas Aquinas suggests, Job's restoration included not just material blessings but the eternal reunion with his lost children. This eternal perspective assures us that what seems lost now is only temporarily so, as God will restore all things in His time.

Today, we are called to persist, to keep hope alive, and to remember the promise of restoration. Whether it's through prayer, reconciliation, or simply asking for a waffle, we are encouraged to take one action to persist, trusting that God will restore all things in His perfect timing.

Key Takeaways:

- Persistence is a spiritual discipline that transforms us, not because God is reluctant, but because it grows our soul and spirit. Like Jimmy's persistence for waffles, our persistence in prayer and faith leads to growth and eventual fulfillment. [02:16]

- The story of the man with the withered hand teaches us about restoration. Jesus' healing is a foretaste of the complete restoration God promises, pointing to a future where all things are made right. [04:45]

- Job's transformation from a cautious father to a generous, loving parent reflects the transformative power of encountering God. This change allows us to love more deeply, mirroring God's own love. [10:57]

- The promise of restoration is eternal. What seems lost now is only temporarily so, as God will restore all things in His time, assuring us of eternal reunion and fulfillment. [12:28]

- We are called to persist in our faith and actions, trusting in God's promise of restoration. Whether through prayer, reconciliation, or small acts of persistence, we are encouraged to keep hope alive. [13:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - The Fellowship of the Withered Hand
- [00:57] - Jimmy's Persistence
- [01:23] - The Waffle Story
- [02:03] - Biblical Lessons on Persistence
- [03:05] - Job's Perseverance
- [03:50] - The Man with the Withered Hand
- [04:45] - Restoration and Shalom
- [05:28] - Eschatological Restoration
- [06:18] - The Promise of Joel
- [07:01] - Personal Reflections on Restoration
- [08:21] - God as a Restorer
- [09:33] - Job's Transformation
- [11:14] - Eternal Restoration
- [13:48] - Call to Persist and Hope

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Mark 3:1-5 - The story of the man with the withered hand.
2. Joel 2:25-27 - God's promise of restoration.
3. Job 42:10-17 - Job's restoration and transformation.

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Observation Questions:

1. In Mark 3:1-5, what was the reaction of the religious leaders when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand? How did Jesus respond to their silence? [04:16]

2. According to Joel 2:25-27, what specific promises does God make about restoration? How does this passage describe the outcome for God's people? [06:18]

3. In the story of Job, what changes occur in Job's life after his encounter with God, as described in Job 42:10-17? [09:14]

4. How does the story of Jimmy and the waffles illustrate the concept of persistence as discussed in the sermon? [01:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the healing of the man with the withered hand in Mark 3 symbolize the broader theme of restoration in the sermon? What does this suggest about God's power and intention for our lives? [04:45]

2. In what ways does the promise in Joel 2:25-27 of restoring the years the locusts have eaten relate to the idea of spiritual and emotional restoration in our lives today? [06:18]

3. How does Job's transformation from a cautious father to a generous, loving parent reflect the transformative power of encountering God? What does this change reveal about the nature of true restoration? [10:57]

4. The sermon suggests that persistence is not about wearing God down but about personal growth. How does this perspective change the way we approach challenges and prayer in our lives? [02:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you feel limited or withered. How can you invite God to work in that area, trusting in His limitless power? [04:45]

2. Think of a time when you experienced a loss or setback. How does the promise of restoration in Joel 2:25-27 encourage you to keep hope alive? What steps can you take to embrace this promise? [06:18]

3. Consider the story of Jimmy's persistence for waffles. What is one area in your life where you need to persistently seek God’s guidance or intervention? How can you take a small step towards that this week? [01:23]

4. Job's story shows a transformation in his character. Identify an area in your life where you desire transformation. What practical steps can you take to allow God to work in that area? [10:57]

5. The sermon encourages us to persist in prayer and reconciliation. Is there a relationship in your life that needs healing? What is one action you can take this week to move towards reconciliation? [14:06]

6. How can you apply the concept of eternal restoration to your current struggles, knowing that what seems lost now is only temporarily so? How does this perspective affect your daily life and decisions? [12:28]

7. Reflect on the idea of God restoring all things in His time. How can this assurance help you to persist in your faith and actions, even when immediate results are not visible? [13:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Persistence as a Path to Spiritual Growth
Persistence is a spiritual discipline that transforms us, not because God is reluctant, but because it grows our soul and spirit. Like Jimmy's persistence for waffles, our persistence in prayer and faith leads to growth and eventual fulfillment. [02:16]
In the journey of faith, persistence is not about convincing God to act but about allowing God to transform us through the process. The story of Jimmy, who persistently asked for waffles at a restaurant that didn't serve them, humorously illustrates the power of persistence. His determination eventually led to the restaurant adding waffles to their menu. This story parallels the biblical principle of persistence, as seen in the teachings of Jesus and the life of Job. Persistence in prayer and faith is a spiritual discipline that shapes our character and deepens our trust in God. It is through this persistent seeking that we experience growth and transformation, aligning our desires with God's will.
Persistence is not about wearing God down but about the change that occurs within us as we continue to trust and seek Him. It is a journey of growth, where our soul and spirit are strengthened, and our faith is refined. As we persist in our prayers and actions, we open ourselves to the work of God in our lives, allowing Him to fulfill His purposes in His perfect timing.

Luke 18:1-5 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."'"

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel discouraged? How can you practice persistence in prayer and action in this area today?


Day 2: Restoration as a Foretaste of God's Kingdom
The story of the man with the withered hand teaches us about restoration. Jesus' healing is a foretaste of the complete restoration God promises, pointing to a future where all things are made right. [04:45]
In Mark 3, the story of the man with the withered hand serves as a powerful reminder of God's promise of restoration. When Jesus commanded the man to stretch out his hand, it was completely restored. This act of healing is not just a physical restoration but a symbol of the spiritual and eschatological restoration that God promises to all of us. It points to a future where all things are made right in God's kingdom.
The restoration that Jesus offers is comprehensive, encompassing physical, spiritual, and relational aspects of our lives. It is a foretaste of the ultimate restoration that will occur when God's kingdom is fully realized. This promise of restoration assures us that God is actively working to restore what is broken in our lives and in the world. As we experience glimpses of this restoration in our lives, we are reminded of the hope we have in God's promise to make all things new.

Joel 2:25-26 (ESV): "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you long for restoration? How can you invite Jesus to bring healing and wholeness to this area today?


Day 3: Transformation Through Encountering God
Job's transformation from a cautious father to a generous, loving parent reflects the transformative power of encountering God. This change allows us to love more deeply, mirroring God's own love. [10:57]
The story of Job is a profound testament to the transformative power of encountering God. Despite his immense suffering, Job's encounter with God led to a significant transformation in his life. He moved from being a cautious, rule-following father to a generous, loving parent, reflecting God's own lavish love. This transformation was not about justifying God's actions but about the change within Job, which allowed him to love more deeply and freely.
Encountering God has the power to transform our hearts and lives. It challenges us to move beyond our limitations and fears, enabling us to love others with the same depth and generosity that God loves us. This transformation is a journey of growth and maturity, where we learn to reflect God's love in our relationships and actions. As we open ourselves to God's presence, we are changed from the inside out, becoming more like Him in our love and compassion for others.

Job 42:5-6 (ESV): "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Reflection: How has your understanding of God's love transformed your relationships with others? What is one way you can reflect God's love more deeply in your interactions today?


Day 4: The Eternal Promise of Restoration
The promise of restoration is eternal. What seems lost now is only temporarily so, as God will restore all things in His time, assuring us of eternal reunion and fulfillment. [12:28]
The promise of restoration extends beyond this life, offering us hope and assurance of eternal reunion and fulfillment. As Thomas Aquinas suggests, Job's restoration included not just material blessings but the eternal reunion with his lost children. This eternal perspective assures us that what seems lost now is only temporarily so, as God will restore all things in His time.
This promise of eternal restoration is a source of hope and comfort for us as we navigate the challenges and losses of life. It reminds us that God's plan for restoration is not limited to the present but encompasses the fullness of eternity. As we hold onto this promise, we are encouraged to live with hope and anticipation, trusting that God will bring about the ultimate restoration of all things in His perfect timing.

Revelation 21:4-5 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

Reflection: What is one loss or disappointment you are currently facing? How can the promise of eternal restoration bring you hope and comfort today?


Day 5: A Call to Persist and Keep Hope Alive
We are called to persist in our faith and actions, trusting in God's promise of restoration. Whether through prayer, reconciliation, or small acts of persistence, we are encouraged to keep hope alive. [13:48]
In our journey of faith, we are called to persist in our actions and trust in God's promise of restoration. This persistence is not limited to grand gestures but can be expressed through small acts of faith, prayer, and reconciliation. As we continue to seek God and align our lives with His purposes, we are encouraged to keep hope alive, trusting that God will restore all things in His perfect timing.
The call to persist is a reminder that our faith is an active journey, requiring us to take steps of obedience and trust. Whether it's through prayer, reaching out to reconcile with someone, or simply taking a small step of faith, we are invited to participate in God's work of restoration. As we persist, we are reminded of the hope we have in God's promise to make all things new, encouraging us to live with anticipation and trust in His faithfulness.

Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: What is one small act of persistence you can take today to align your life with God's purposes? How can you keep hope alive in the midst of challenges?

Quotes

because we live together in The Fellowship of the withered hand like that man in Jesus story where we are learning together I can but God can I think I'll let him one of the people who teaches me most about persistence I was just with recently N I spent the weekend with very good friends Jimmy and Leanne and Nancy and Warren and Jimmy was an Olympic to cathete so he knows all about what it is to persist in the midst of pain and difficulty one of my favorite story is about the power of His persistence I love to tell you might have heard this before he and I used to eat together every week when we worked in Chicago and often we would have breakfast at a place called Egg Harbor Jimmy's favorite food in the world are waffles and so he would ask for waffles every time but they never had waffles and one day the server who had kind of an attitude just got sick of hearing it and she actually said to him hey waffle boy we don't carry waffles this is not waffle Harbor it's Egg Harbor there are no waffles look at the menu we didn't have waffles last week we don't have waffles today we're not going to have waffles next week we're never going to have waffles hello clue phone it's for you no you think that'd be pretty clear that would stop most people the next week what do you think Jimmy asked for for breakfast and he just kept after it I told that story to the church where we both worked and everybody who went to the church and went to that restaurant cuz it was near started asking for waffles and guess what last I knew they now had waffles on the menu he just wore them down now the Bible has quite a lot to say about persistence it says in one place that Jesus told Parables about how we should pray and not give up something happens in our spirit there's a kind of growth that takes place Paul says don't get weary of doing good as you think about doing good today life can just kind of gr you grind you down don't let it do it uh Hebrews chapter 11 is in a way a story of The Fellowship of the withered hand through the great characters of the Old Testament and and then in chapter 12 it says since we're surrounded by people like that let us run with perseverance got waffles not today old job among other things is a story of perseverance he just would not let God off the hook he just crowned God down now uh uh the idea in scripture is not that God is reluctant to give or that he gets tired obviously but there was a kind of greatness of Soul a nobility of spirit that was growing in Job that took him from an admirable righteous prosperous man to somebody who would Inspire human beings throughout the Millennia as he persevered and God wanted that for him and job was looking for a single word from God that came and that's the word that I want to talk about for a couple of moments today and to have you think about that in your own life we are The Fellowship of the withered hand and uh as you may know that's a story that's found in several of the gospels in Mark chapter 3 Jesus is in the synagogue it's a Sabbath he's teaching and there's a man there with a shriveled withered useless hand and Jesus says to him stand up in front of everyone in the midst of everyone interesting word that you used there in the middle it can be in space um he has everybody looking at him and he doesn't want to be there but we can all we also live in the midst of time and for this man for a little while because Jesus then looked around at the religious leaders shall I heal somebody is it right to do good in the Sabbath or to do evil to heal or to kill and they wouldn't say anything and Jesus was deeply angry and deeply sorrowful and and the man's just standing there this time job had a period of time in the midst of what he saw God but before his life was well off again when he had to trust God there's this in between time and then Jesus says to the man stretch out your hand and lo and behold the man does and the text says uh uh and he stretched it out and his hand was completely restored that's the word restored completely restored really interesting word that Mark uses it means to give back it's like the restoration of Shalom this is the way that life was intended to be giving you back your hand it's also uh New Testament Scholars say a word that has what are called eschatological overtones that is it's a word that's associated with what God is going to do one day maybe not today maybe not tomorrow but there is another phase in God's Great project and this is a word that talks about what it is that God is going to do when he sets things right it's used in Acts chapter 3 verse 21 uh where we're told we're waiting the Messiah is in heaven until the time comes for God to restore that word again restore the restoration of all things until the time comes for God to restore everything as he promised long ago through his holy prophets and that's what job saw that God is about a great project and he made everything and he loves everything and he will and he promised I will restore one of the deep places where this is Promised by his holy prophets is the prophet Joel in chapter 2:25 these are words that have come to me a lot and answered me in in recent years God says and I will restore to you the years that the Locust hath eaten I will restore to you the ears that the Locust has eaten the cankerworm and the caterpillar and the Palmer worm my great Army which I sent among you and you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt wondrously with you and my people shall never be ashamed and you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the Lord your God and no one else and and he says it again and my people will never be ashamed that just as he took away the shame of that man with a withered hand he's going to take away the shame of the people of isra Israel and in the story of Job this moment comes I I think about um with my friends uh Jimmy Leanne and Nancy War we all got to work together at a wonderful church and had a great experience there and then uh the ending of that time came with a lot of pain for us and there has not been restoration yet but we hope for it we ache for it weep for it sometimes when we're all together I think about my family uh uh the years that the locusts have eaten I I think about when our kids were little uh I love to read and would read when they were real real small a book of fairy tales fairy tales are often kind of dark and there was one Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and they had a real fun picture of this just happy beaming goofy looking Humpty Dumpty when he's sitting up on the wall and one of my kids would just light up every time that little face came up and then uh all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put humpy together again I can't even say that stupid Nursery Rhyme now humanly speaking the restoration of what we long for the most is impossible I can't but there is this word that keeps coming up in the Bible God is a god of restoration and one day he's going to restore all things now in this story of job uh job has a vision he he has an experience of God now I'd heard about you now I've seen you now I've experienced you now I get in the way that we do in the way that you know Somebody Loves You job knows it that way not as an abstract philosophical uh syllogism but as a personal reality and then he trusts God now he does that before his life has been restored to him because you know at the very beginning the question was does job just love God because God's been so good to him is it just a quid proquo there's no way for job to know that's not the case until he hangs on to God even though it's not doing him any good but then in chapter 42:1 after job had prayed for his friends the Lord restored his fortuns and gave him twice as much as he had before and then job is transformed to are the thoughts about job before I sign offer today um Ellen Davis in her book getting involved with God writes about how uh The Book of Job is not a book about justifying God's actions it's a book about God's transformation I mean about job's transformation she writes the two portraits of Father job that stand at either end of this book Mark the true measure of his transformation job this man of integrity was once so careful so fearful of God and of the possible sins of his children that's job 1.0 in the first chapter kids might have sinned better offer sacrifices for him imagine having job 1.0 as your dad did you send today did you follow the rules did you make your teer teacher happy did you keep your nose clean did you do everything right helicopter parent he becomes the last his father where uh I mentioned this in an earlier uh podcast he has 10 children they don't name the daughters but his sons are given these extravagant name I mean his daughters are given these extravagant names and uh he gives them an inheritance he is remarkably lavishly unexpectedly generous the way that God is he becomes the free willing breaking with custom to honor daughters alongside sons bestowing inheritances and snapping names the inspiration and model for this wild style of parenting is of course God the Creator job learned about it when God spoke out of the Whirlwind and now job loves with the abandoned characteristic of God's love revolutionary in seeking our freedom reving in the Untamed beauty of every child that's job 2.0 and then one last word because you might be thinking yeah but uh how could even the restoration of all those things for job make up for those 10 children that he lost and of course they could not so this from ellr stump I do not want to take away one iota of the grievousness of heartbreak for any human being no matter what can be said by way of any theoy or defense suffering remains suffering uh lamentable painful worth strenuous efforts on our part to avoid or to remedy but the promise of etern eternity the promise that God will one day restore all things means that many things that would otherwise seem irrevocably lost turn out to be lost only temporarily only temporarily this is why she writes uh on the view of Thomas aquinus who writes about the story of Job the story of job is not wrong to claim that at the end job had twice as much as he had lost during his Affliction even though at the end of the story job has not gotten double the number of Offspring he had before but the same number 10 for ainus and gaining another 10 children job came to have 20 Offspring the first 10 adult children who perished are not annihilated though they are separated from job for the duration of his Earthly life they are not lost to him forever they will be among the particular people job loves and shared Union with God in the Everlasting portion of his life and even now they themselves continue to be his beloved children in the Everlasting portion of their lives when the main thing God gets out of your life is the person you become and so it is with every person and so every person is an end in itself in himself or herself in their story with God the person job became became greater and more glorious and more noble and more loving and that meant he would be able to offer more love for God and more love for his children into all eternity and God is doing that with each of us so today so today so today persist keep hope alive remember that little word restore God will restore all things not necessarily in this life at all but one day that is the only foundation for persisting today take one action to persist keep after a task when you're ready to give up plant a seed persist in prayer seek reconciliation with the person where you thought it was not possible anymore stay at a task a little longer than you think you would have been able to ask for a waffle stretch out your hand [00:32:48]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?