Seeking God's Face: Finding Strength in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today's sermon focused on the theme of seeking God's face and finding strength in Him, much like how plants seek the sun for their sustenance and growth. We began with some community announcements, including the need for food donations for an upcoming lasagna dinner and details about the Free Fun Family Friday event. The sermon then transitioned into a discussion about the beauty and resilience of plants, drawing parallels between their behavior and our spiritual lives.
Plants, like sunflowers, instinctively seek the sun, turning their faces towards it from dawn till dusk. This natural behavior serves as a metaphor for how we should seek God. Just as plants need sunlight to grow and thrive, we need God's presence to navigate the storms of life. The story of the woman with the issue of blood from Matthew 9:20-22 was highlighted to illustrate the importance of reaching out to Jesus in faith, even when we are weathering life's storms.
We also explored the concept of spiritual resilience, emphasizing that while we will face troubles in this world, as stated in John 16:33, we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. The sermon encouraged us to be like tendrils of a plant, always reaching out for support and strength from God, rather than relying solely on ourselves or others who are just as fallible.
Psalm 27 was cited to remind us that our hearts are naturally inclined to seek God's face, and that in doing so, we find our true strength and purpose. The sermon concluded with a call to live our best lives by continually seeking God, standing firm in our faith, and sharing His glory with others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Seek God's Face Like Sunflowers Seek the Sun: Just as sunflowers turn their faces towards the sun from dawn till dusk, we should continually seek God's presence in our lives. This constant seeking helps us grow spiritually and stay aligned with His will. [32:12]
2. Resilience in the Storms of Life: John 16:33 reminds us that we will face troubles in this world, but we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. This assurance allows us to face life's challenges with resilience, knowing that our strength comes from God. [27:35]
3. The Importance of Reaching Out in Faith: The story of the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 illustrates the power of reaching out to Jesus in faith. Her act of touching His cloak, despite her long-term suffering, resulted in her healing. This teaches us the importance of actively seeking Jesus, especially in our times of need. [29:17]
4. Spiritual Support and Strength: Like tendrils of a plant that reach out for support, we must reach out to God for our spiritual strength. Relying solely on ourselves or others who are equally fallible will not provide the stability we need. Our true support comes from God. [45:11]
5. Living Our Best Lives by Seeking God: Psalm 27 encourages us to seek God's face and remain confident in His goodness. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purpose and find the strength to stand firm, even in the face of adversity. This continual seeking and standing firm allows us to live our best lives and share His glory with others. [36:13]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:28] - Community Announcements
[21:19] - Love for Plants and Nature
[23:10] - Communication Among Plants
[24:17] - The Beauty of Deciduous Trees
[25:13] - Weathering the Storms
[27:35] - John 16:33: Overcoming the World
[28:48] - The Woman with the Issue of Blood
[31:24] - Seeking Jesus in the Storm
[32:12] - Sunflowers Seeking the Sun
[34:20] - Psalm 27: Seeking God's Face
[36:13] - Living Our Best Lives
[39:16] - Acts 17:24: God’s Proximity
[41:19] - Reaching Out to God
[45:11] - Spiritual Support and Strength
[49:05] - Training Ourselves to Seek God
[50:40] - The Woman’s Faith and Healing
[52:34] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 9:20-22 - The story of the woman with the issue of blood.
2. John 16:33 - Jesus' assurance of overcoming the world.
3. Psalm 27:8-14 - Seeking God's face and finding strength.
#### Observation Questions
1. What did the woman with the issue of blood do to seek healing from Jesus? (Matthew 9:20-22)
2. According to John 16:33, what assurance does Jesus give us about facing troubles in the world? [27:35]
3. How does Psalm 27 describe the act of seeking God's face and the resulting confidence? [34:20]
4. What natural behavior of sunflowers was used as a metaphor for seeking God in the sermon? [32:12]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the act of reaching out in faith, as demonstrated by the woman with the issue of blood, significant in our spiritual lives? [29:17]
2. How does Jesus' statement in John 16:33 provide comfort and resilience during life's challenges? [27:35]
3. What does it mean to seek God's face according to Psalm 27, and how does this seeking impact our lives? [34:20]
4. In what ways can the metaphor of sunflowers seeking the sun help us understand our need to seek God's presence continually? [32:12]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you actively reached out to Jesus in faith during a difficult situation. How did that experience impact your faith? [29:17]
2. Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." How can this assurance change the way you face your current challenges? [27:35]
3. Psalm 27 encourages us to seek God's face. What practical steps can you take this week to seek God's presence more intentionally? [34:20]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of spiritual resilience. What are some ways you can build resilience in your spiritual life? [27:35]
5. Like tendrils of a plant reaching out for support, how can you ensure that you are reaching out to God for strength rather than relying solely on yourself or others? [45:11]
6. The metaphor of sunflowers seeking the sun was used to illustrate our need to seek God. What are some distractions in your life that prevent you from seeking God, and how can you minimize them? [32:12]
7. How can you share the glory of God with others in your daily life, as encouraged by the sermon? [36:13]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of seeking God's face, finding strength in Him, and building spiritual resilience. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussions and personal reflections.
Devotional
Day 1: Seek God's Presence Constantly
Just as sunflowers instinctively turn their faces towards the sun from dawn till dusk, we are called to continually seek God's presence in our lives. This constant seeking is not just a passive act but an active pursuit that aligns us with His will and helps us grow spiritually. By turning our hearts and minds towards God, we can find the sustenance and guidance we need to navigate life's challenges. This daily act of seeking God ensures that we remain rooted in His love and purpose, much like how sunflowers remain rooted in the soil while reaching for the sun. [32:12]
Psalm 105:4 (ESV): "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can seek God's presence throughout your day today? Can you set aside specific times to pray, read Scripture, or simply be still before Him?
Day 2: Resilience Through Christ's Victory
In John 16:33, Jesus reminds us that we will face troubles in this world, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world. This assurance allows us to face life's challenges with resilience, knowing that our strength comes from God. When we encounter storms in our lives, we can find peace and courage in the knowledge that Jesus has already secured the ultimate victory. This perspective helps us to remain steadfast and hopeful, even in the midst of adversity, trusting that God is with us and will see us through. [27:35]
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Reflection: Think about a current challenge you are facing. How can you remind yourself of Christ's victory and draw strength from it today?
Day 3: Faith in Action
The story of the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 illustrates the power of reaching out to Jesus in faith. Despite her long-term suffering, she believed that touching His cloak would bring her healing. Her faith was not passive but active, leading her to take a bold step towards Jesus. This teaches us the importance of actively seeking Jesus, especially in our times of need. When we reach out to Him in faith, we open ourselves to His healing and transformative power in our lives. [29:17]
James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to take a step of faith? What action can you take today to actively seek Jesus in that situation?
Day 4: Dependence on God's Strength
Like the tendrils of a plant that reach out for support, we must reach out to God for our spiritual strength. Relying solely on ourselves or others who are equally fallible will not provide the stability we need. Our true support comes from God, who is our unshakable foundation. By depending on Him, we can find the strength to endure and thrive, even when circumstances are difficult. This dependence on God is a daily practice that requires humility and trust, recognizing that He is our ultimate source of strength and support. [45:11]
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own strength or the strength of others? How can you shift your dependence to God today?
Day 5: Living with Purpose by Seeking God
Psalm 27 encourages us to seek God's face and remain confident in His goodness. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purpose and find the strength to stand firm, even in the face of adversity. This continual seeking and standing firm allows us to live our best lives and share His glory with others. When we prioritize seeking God, we discover our true purpose and are empowered to live out His calling in our lives. This not only transforms us but also impacts those around us as we reflect His love and grace. [36:13]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God's face and align yourself with His purpose today? What steps can you take to ensure that your actions reflect His glory to those around you?
Quotes
1. "In John 16, 33 says this. It says I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world. See, it says you will have trouble. So don't get upset. Nobody told me that was going to happen to me. Nobody told me I was going to have problems. Yes, the Lord said in John 16, 33 that you are not going to have a perfectly easy life. No one will." [27:35] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We are all weathering storms in our life. We all have to weather something regardless of what it is in our life. We have things that we go through. But what we need to know is what we are going to seek. His face. Now you see sunflowers do this really cool thing. Sunflowers seek the sun. Now what I love about sunflowers... they face, they seek the sun." [31:39] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from anyone. See, sometimes we think in our head that God is in heaven. We get this idea that God in all that is heavenly lives out there. Even though we sing, I've got Jesus in my heart. When we were, I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart. I've got the peace that passes understanding. Where? There you go. Good. You guys were ready. I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus. Where? And we get that. Why? Because that's where he dwells." [40:09] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We have to sit in a place where we can seek his face and look for it. You know what I love? One year we decided to do some sprouting of some plants when we lived in Minneapolis. And we put it by the window to get light. But the predominant lighting window was not that window. It was from another side. And they could get light from both sides. And those little plants, instead of going toward the window that we thought they would, all of their little plant heads went completely a different direction. And it was so interesting. They went to the big light, the largest source of light." [38:30] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need to train ourselves because it's not easy. And the Scripture talks about training in many times and in many places. And it says, train or to press on. Training isn't fun. I am trying to train myself to get up every morning at 6.30. How many of you are successful getting up every morning at the same time? Okay. I am not. You guys are amazing. You guys deserve an award because I tried so hard. And you know what it says? He said, my heart says, seek his face. My heart says, get out of bed. But my body says, no, I need to stay here. I deserve a few more moments." [49:05] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When we have a bad day, where do we reach for first? When we're going through the storm, we need to be reaching, always reaching. And when we've grabbed hold, we need to stand up and let that glory shine through us so that others know exactly what direction to go. We need to reach hard. We need to reach. See, tendrils are for support. It helps them hold firm, helps them hold strong. That's what we need in our life." [48:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I love how they just reach out. They're just out trying to feel something. I love how they just reach out. I'm pretty sure that if I stood there beside that passion vine for too long, they would attach onto me. They would just wrap themselves around me, because they are looking for stability and for strength. So, tendrils, that's really what it is. They are for support and for strength, and here are some that actually attach to the right places." [45:11] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We need to keep our faces fixed on him. And sometimes it's hard. It's hard to focus in one direction. I don't know about you, but I've struggled with ADHD all my life since I was a little girl. And I had some great people who, who gave me tips on how to stay focused. But sometimes I can be looking straight at you and looking at the fly on the wall over there and I have no idea what you're saying. I look like I'm attentive. I look like I'm paying attention. And yet I'm not. My mind is somewhere else." [36:54] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We have a story in God's word that is in the book of Matthew. It's actually in all, it's in three of the four gospels that you can read about it. And it is the woman with the issue of blood. And we don't know her complete thing. But in Matthew 9, 20, if you want to follow along with me today, Matthew 9, 20, it says this. It says just then, now Jesus is surrounded by people. He has just talked to the ruler whose daughter has died. And he said listen, go, she's going to be fine." [28:48] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We need to reach for Jesus. She fought her way through to do that. You know, we are all weathering storms in our life. We all have to weather something regardless of what it is in our life. We have things that we go through. But what we need to know is what we are going to seek. His face. Now you see sunflowers do this really cool thing. Sunflowers seek the sun. Now what I love about sunflowers... they face, they seek the sun." [31:39] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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