Removing the Little Things: Finding Rest in Jesus
Summary
In addressing the issue of why marriages may not be restored and why situations may not change, I emphasized that it is often the little things, like sand in our spiritual shoes, that contaminate our hearts and souls. I referred to the story of Nehemiah, who faced opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, and Samson, who fell because of the little sand in his hair. I stressed the importance of addressing and removing these little things that hinder our spiritual growth and relationships.
I also emphasized the importance of relying on Jesus to help carry our burdens. I compared Jesus to an experienced oxen who can guide and support us in our journey. I encouraged everyone to come to Jesus when they are tired and weary, and to allow him to give them rest and carry their load. I concluded by urging everyone to be honest with themselves and admit when they have "sand in their shoes," symbolizing the burdens they are carrying.
I pointed out that it is often the accumulation of little things over time that cause people to walk away from God, rather than big events. I highlighted the importance of paying attention to the little things that can wear down one's faith, such as gossip, resentment, unforgiveness, judgment, broken promises, bitterness, and lust. I encouraged everyone to be aware of these little hurts and offenses that can pile up over time and cause people to want to quit.
I shared the importance of walking with God as we grow older. I compared the desire to be a runner, seeking recognition and applause, to the need for walking, which represents a consistent and faithful relationship with God. I shared that my wife and I have made it a habit to walk daily for over 20 years, using this time to talk and keep our bodies active. I encouraged everyone to be faithful walkers, not concerned with the opinions or applause of others, but focused on keeping their eyes on God.
Finally, I used the analogy of foxes in a vineyard to illustrate how little things can have a big impact on our lives. I shared a personal experience of going to the beach and getting sand in their shoes and food, highlighting how even the tiniest particles can be bothersome. I encouraged everyone to come to Jesus and take on His yoke, which is easy and light, offering rest and relief from stress and anxiety.
Key Takeaways:
- Little things, like sand in our spiritual shoes, can contaminate our hearts and souls. It's important to address and remove these little things that hinder our spiritual growth and relationships. ([12:45])
- Jesus is like an experienced oxen who can guide and support us in our journey. When we are tired and weary, we should come to Jesus and allow him to give us rest and carry our load. ([24:30])
- It's often the accumulation of little things over time that cause people to walk away from God. We need to pay attention to the little things that can wear down our faith, such as gossip, resentment, unforgiveness, judgment, broken promises, bitterness, and lust. ([36:15])
- Walking with God represents a consistent and faithful relationship with Him. As we grow older, we should strive to be faithful walkers, not concerned with the opinions or applause of others, but focused on keeping our eyes on God. ([48:00])
- Little things can have a big impact on our lives. We should come to Jesus and take on His yoke, which is easy and light, offering rest and relief from stress and anxiety. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Nehemiah 6:1-4 #!!30:04!!#
2. John 10:1 #!!21:43!!#
3. Psalm 73:2 #!!31:30!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Nehemiah's response to his enemies in Nehemiah 6:1-4?
2. How does John 10:1 describe the enemy's mission?
3. What does Psalm 73:2 reveal about David's struggle?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Nehemiah's response to his enemies reflect his faith and commitment to God's work?
2. What does John 10:1 tell us about the nature of spiritual warfare and the enemy's tactics?
3. How does David's struggle in Psalm 73:2 relate to our own spiritual struggles?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt like Nehemiah, being distracted or discouraged from your spiritual journey? How did you respond?
2. How can you guard against the enemy's tactics as described in John 10:1 in your daily life?
3. Like David in Psalm 73:2, have you ever felt like you were slipping in your faith? What helped you to regain your footing?
4. What are some "little things" or "grains of sand" in your life that have been hindering your walk with God? How can you address them?
5. How can you ensure that you are "walking" with God daily, despite the challenges and distractions that may come your way?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of the Small Things
The small things in life, the daily worries and fears, the little hurts and disappointments, can often be the most damaging to our faith. These are the grains of sand in our spiritual shoes that grind at us day after day, causing us to stumble and potentially walk away from God. It's not the big things that hinder us, but these small, persistent irritations ([26:43]).
Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Reflection: What small things are currently causing you to stumble in your faith? How can you address them?
Day 2: The Importance of Walking with God
Walking with God is a daily commitment, a consistent practice that strengthens our faith and our relationship with Him. The enemy will do everything he can to discourage us and distract us from this walk, but we must remain steadfast and faithful ([20:24]).
Galatians 5:16 - "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
Reflection: How can you make your walk with God a more consistent part of your daily life?
Day 3: The Hidden Sand in Our Spiritual Shoes
The hidden sand in our spiritual shoes, the little things that get inside our hearts and souls, can cause us to want to quit. These are the unseen struggles, the private battles that we fight every day. But we must remember that God sees our struggles and is with us in every step ([29:23]).
Hebrews 4:13 - "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
Reflection: What hidden struggles are you currently dealing with? How can you invite God into these struggles?
Day 4: The Power of Persistence
The enemy will try to discourage us, to make us sin, to discredit us. But we must remain persistent in our faith, in our walk with God. We must not let the enemy's tactics deter us from our path ([30:04]).
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: How has the enemy tried to discourage you recently? How can you remain persistent in your faith?
Day 5: The Yoke of Jesus
When we are tired, when we feel like giving up, when we have sand in our shoes, we can turn to Jesus. He invites us to take on His yoke, to let Him help us carry our burdens. He promises to give us rest and to lighten our load ([35:36]).
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Reflection: What burdens are you currently carrying? How can you let Jesus help you carry them?
Quotes
1. "It's the little things that get inside of us, get inside of our heart, it's the little crevices in our soul that are contaminated by sand and that want to cause us to say, you know what, I can't do this anymore, I'm going to quit." [29:23]
2. "Sometimes it's not the big things that cause people to walk away from God, it's those little things over time that cause them to walk away from God." [26:43]
3. "God is looking for some faithful Walkers...you don't care if anybody's cheering...all you care about is keeping your eyes on God." [22:32]
4. "You can't carry the load by yourself. I'll help you...take my Yoke, I'll help you through it." (source: [35:36])
5. "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine, not the lion or the bear. These small animals may seem insignificant, but they can cause great damage to a farmer or someone planting a vineyard." [32:58]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?