Refilling Our Spiritual Tanks: Trusting God's Unseen Work
Summary
In today's message, we focused on the profound truth that God is always at work in our lives, even when we cannot see it. We declared our hope in Him, acknowledging that He is present in every situation, whether it be in our marriages, our children, our health, or our finances. We were reminded of the promises of peace, restoration, healing, deliverance, and provision that God has made to us. Just as Joseph's trials in Egypt were turned for good, we believe that God will bring good out of our current challenges. Romans 8:28 reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
We explored the concept of spiritual refilling, emphasizing the importance of keeping our spiritual tanks full. Just as we need to recharge our phones or refuel our cars, we must also continually refill our spiritual lives. This involves daily practices such as reading Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship. We were reminded of the importance of the Sabbath and the need to intentionally set aside time to rest and refresh in God's presence.
We also discussed the dangers of spiritual emptiness, using examples from the lives of Moses, Elijah, and Esau. When we are spiritually depleted, we are more prone to making poor decisions. Moses, despite his close relationship with God, experienced burnout because he was carrying too much on his own. Elijah, after a great victory, found himself in despair and exhaustion. Esau, in a moment of weariness, made a regrettable decision that cost him his birthright.
The message concluded with a call to examine our lives and make intentional changes to ensure we are continually refilling our spiritual tanks. We were encouraged to memorize and declare Scripture, as Jesus did when He was tempted by Satan. By doing so, we can stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live in the fullness of God's promises.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Unseen Work: Even when we cannot see it, God is actively working in our lives. He is present in every situation, turning trials into triumphs and fulfilling His promises of peace, restoration, and provision. Our hope is anchored in His faithfulness. [41:23]
2. The Necessity of Spiritual Refilling: Just as we recharge our devices and refuel our cars, we must continually refill our spiritual lives. This involves daily practices such as reading Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship. These practices keep us spiritually vibrant and connected to God. [47:47]
3. Dangers of Spiritual Emptiness: When we are spiritually depleted, we are more prone to making poor decisions. Examples from the lives of Moses, Elijah, and Esau illustrate the consequences of spiritual emptiness. We must prioritize spiritual refilling to avoid burnout and poor choices. [54:54]
4. Power of Scripture: Memorizing and declaring Scripture is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. Jesus demonstrated this when He was tempted by Satan. By knowing and speaking God's Word, we can stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live in the fullness of God's promises. [58:51]
5. Intentional Life Examination: We must examine our lives and make intentional changes to ensure we are continually refilling our spiritual tanks. This may involve reassessing commitments, relationships, and activities that drain us. By doing so, we can live in alignment with God's design and purpose. [01:01:56]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Declaration of Hope
- [02:15] - God's Promises in Our Lives
- [05:00] - Spiritual Refilling Explained
- [08:45] - Importance of Daily Practices
- [12:30] - Dangers of Spiritual Emptiness
- [16:00] - Examples from Moses and Elijah
- [20:00] - Esau's Regrettable Decision
- [24:00] - Power of Memorizing Scripture
- [28:00] - Jesus' Example in Temptation
- [32:00] - Examining Our Lives
- [36:00] - Intentional Changes for Refilling
- [40:00] - Commitment to Daily Refilling
- [44:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 8:28
2. Exodus 18:13-24
3. 1 Kings 19:1-8
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 8:28 say about God's work in our lives, and how does this relate to the story of Joseph in Egypt? [41:23]
2. In Exodus 18, what advice does Jethro give to Moses, and why was it necessary for Moses to follow it? [54:54]
3. How did Elijah's experience in 1 Kings 19 demonstrate the dangers of spiritual emptiness and exhaustion? [01:05:12]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of spiritual refilling, and why is it compared to recharging a phone or refueling a car? [47:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 8:28 provide comfort and assurance during difficult times, and what does it mean to be "called according to His purpose"? [41:23]
2. What can we learn from Moses' experience in Exodus 18 about the importance of delegation and avoiding burnout in our own lives? [54:54]
3. How does Elijah's reaction to Jezebel's threat in 1 Kings 19 reflect the impact of spiritual depletion, and what can this teach us about maintaining spiritual health? [01:05:12]
4. Why is it important to memorize and declare Scripture, as demonstrated by Jesus in Matthew 4, and how can this practice help us stand firm against challenges? [01:17:30]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How can the promise of Romans 8:28 encourage you to trust in God's unseen work? [41:23]
2. Identify an area in your life where you might be carrying too much on your own. How can you apply the lesson from Moses and seek help or delegate responsibilities? [54:54]
3. Consider a time when you felt spiritually depleted. What steps can you take to ensure you are regularly refilling your spiritual tank through practices like prayer, worship, and fellowship? [47:47]
4. Think about a specific Scripture that has been meaningful to you. How can you commit to memorizing and declaring it in times of temptation or difficulty? [01:17:30]
5. Examine your weekly schedule. Are there activities or commitments that drain you spiritually? How can you make intentional changes to prioritize spiritual refilling? [01:26:06]
6. How can you incorporate a Sabbath rest into your routine to ensure you are spiritually refreshed and connected to God? [47:47]
7. Reflect on a recent decision you made out of exhaustion or weariness. What can you learn from Esau's story to avoid making similar choices in the future? [01:05:12]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Unseen Hand in Our Lives
God is always at work in our lives, even when we cannot see it. This truth is a source of hope and assurance, reminding us that God is present in every situation, whether it be in our marriages, our children, our health, or our finances. We are encouraged to trust in His promises of peace, restoration, healing, deliverance, and provision. Just as Joseph's trials in Egypt were turned for good, we can believe that God will bring good out of our current challenges. Our hope is anchored in His faithfulness, as Romans 8:28 reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. [41:23]
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust that God is working behind the scenes, even if you cannot see it right now?
Day 2: The Vital Practice of Spiritual Refilling
Spiritual refilling is essential for maintaining a vibrant relationship with God. Just as we recharge our phones or refuel our cars, we must also continually refill our spiritual lives. This involves daily practices such as reading Scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship. These practices keep us spiritually vibrant and connected to God. By intentionally setting aside time to rest and refresh in God's presence, we can ensure that our spiritual tanks remain full, allowing us to live in alignment with His purpose and design. [47:47]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What specific daily practice can you commit to this week to ensure your spiritual tank is being refilled regularly?
Day 3: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Spiritual Emptiness
When we are spiritually depleted, we are more prone to making poor decisions. The lives of Moses, Elijah, and Esau illustrate the consequences of spiritual emptiness. Moses experienced burnout because he was carrying too much on his own. Elijah, after a great victory, found himself in despair and exhaustion. Esau, in a moment of weariness, made a regrettable decision that cost him his birthright. These examples remind us of the importance of prioritizing spiritual refilling to avoid burnout and poor choices. [54:54]
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a recent decision you made that may have been influenced by spiritual emptiness. How can you address this area to prevent similar decisions in the future?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Scripture
Memorizing and declaring Scripture is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. Jesus demonstrated this when He was tempted by Satan. By knowing and speaking God's Word, we can stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live in the fullness of God's promises. Scripture serves as a source of strength and guidance, helping us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and faith. [58:51]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: Choose one Scripture verse to memorize this week. How can you use this verse to combat a specific challenge or temptation you are facing?
Day 5: Intentional Examination and Change
We must examine our lives and make intentional changes to ensure we are continually refilling our spiritual tanks. This may involve reassessing commitments, relationships, and activities that drain us. By doing so, we can live in alignment with God's design and purpose. Intentional life examination allows us to identify areas that need adjustment, helping us to prioritize what truly matters and live a life that reflects our faith and values. [01:01:56]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to reassess to ensure it aligns with God's purpose for you? What steps can you take to make necessary changes?
Quotes
"And Father there may be situations that we're facing And we declare this morning our hope is in you No matter what we're facing, no matter the storm, no matter the trial No matter the tribulation, God we declare it our hope is in you And God we understand and we know that you are working God that you have never left us and you will never leave us now Lord even as Jesus said that there would Lord even as Jesus said that there would" [00:30:52] (33 seconds)
"And let me tell you something. You and I are on all the time. And our gas is being consumed. Our emotional tank is being consumed. Our physical tank is being consumed. And very important to understand, our spiritual tank is being consumed. And we must stop and refill continually and constantly. We've got to be filling up. We've got to be putting of that fuel." [00:52:21] (29 seconds)
"There's a few things that I've learned as I look up these things. And it's this, your engine size and your driving style determine your miles per gallon. See, if you ever go to a car dealer, you look at the little sticker on the window. You ever seen the sticker on the window of a car when you're going to go buy it? It's got a square with a picture of a gas tank. And it says two numbers on it. It says in city driving miles per gallon and a highway miles per gallon. Because depending on where you're driving and how you're driving is how many miles you're going to get to the gallon. And if you didn't know this, a four -cylinder engine versus a six -cylinder engine or a eight -cylinder engine, they're going to consume differently." [00:52:45] (50 seconds)
"And some of us are under, we don't understand why is it that I have to constantly be filling and I feel on empty. I see so -and -so there. They don't fill up as often. And here's what we got to understand. Our engine size, our calling, what we carry, the weight that we carry. As a matter of fact, if you drive a truck, your truck, while you're driving it without hauling anything versus when you got a trailer or it's full, it's going to burn differently." [00:53:56] (30 seconds)
"And so many of us, we're trying now to live our lives as if we weren't carrying anything, but the truck is full. And we've got to understand that if we're consuming more, we got to fill up more. We got to understand that it is imperative to fill the tank continually continually and constantly, continually and constantly." [00:54:45] (25 seconds)
"Has anybody ever noticed that going certain places on airplanes takes longer than the return flight? And the reason is that there are certain winds at the atmospheric level that will always be pushing in a certain way. So, for example, flying to Europe, you're always going to get a tailwind. But flying from Europe, you're almost always going to get a headwind." [00:59:19] (30 seconds)
"And when the headwind is hitting the airplane, it's going to slow it down, it's going to make the engines work harder, and it's going to consume more fuel. And so there's moments where everything's going well, and you're walking with God, and you feel a tailwind getting you there faster." [00:59:28] (18 seconds)
"And there's moments where the enemy puts up a resistance, and there's a headwind trying to stop you. But in those moments, it may feel like a delay, but God will still have you arrive. We have to understand, we've got to fill up continually. We have to fill up constantly." [00:59:38] (20 seconds)
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