Steadfast Hope: Embracing God's Promises Amidst Challenges
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound call to hope amidst life's uncertainties and challenges. We began by acknowledging the overwhelming nature of current events, from financial pressures to societal changes, and how these can lead us into a state of despair. Yet, in the midst of this, we are reminded of the enduring promise of hope that God offers to His people. This hope is not a fleeting emotion but a steadfast assurance rooted in our covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on 2 Chronicles 7:14, we see a call to humility, prayer, and seeking God's face. This passage, originally addressed to the Israelites returning from exile, serves as a timeless reminder of God's faithfulness and His readiness to heal and restore. The historical context of the Israelites, who faced a desolate Jerusalem and a broken temple, mirrors our own moments of despair. Yet, just as God was faithful to them, He remains faithful to us today.
We are encouraged to remember and share our stories of God's faithfulness, much like the Israelites were reminded of their history. These stories serve as testimonies of hope, reminding us and others of God's unchanging nature. In doing so, we become agents of hope, living out the kingdom life and reflecting God's love and presence in our communities.
The message also emphasized the importance of our identity as God's people, called by His name. This identity is not just a label but a profound relationship that calls us to live in a manner worthy of His name. It is a call to prayer, to seek God's presence earnestly, and to embody His love and hope in our daily lives.
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, we are reminded to share our stories and testimonies, to gather with others, and to extend the love and hope of Christ to those around us. Even in moments of loneliness or loss, we are encouraged to reach out, to connect, and to carry the legacy of those who have gone before us. In doing so, we honor God and continue the work of His kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
- Hope Amidst Uncertainty: In times of financial and societal challenges, we are called to remain steadfast in hope, trusting in God's faithfulness and His promises to heal and restore. This hope is not based on circumstances but on our covenant relationship with God. [05:52]
- The Power of Prayer and Humility: 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us of the importance of humility, prayer, and seeking God's face. These actions open the door for God's healing and forgiveness, both individually and collectively. [09:02]
- Remembering and Sharing Our Stories: Just as the Israelites were reminded of their history, we are encouraged to share our testimonies of God's faithfulness. These stories serve as a source of hope and encouragement for ourselves and others. [12:57]
- Our Identity as God's People: Being called by God's name signifies a deep relationship and responsibility. We are to live in a manner that reflects His love and presence, becoming agents of hope in our communities. [16:30]
- The Legacy of Love and Hope: As we approach Thanksgiving, we are reminded to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before us, sharing their stories and the love of Christ. Even in moments of loneliness, we are called to connect and extend hope to others. [43:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:08] - A Call for Hope
- [07:18] - The Power of Prayer
- [09:02] - 2 Chronicles 7:14
- [10:51] - The Israelites' Despair
- [12:57] - The Importance of History
- [14:49] - Sharing Our Stories
- [16:30] - Our Identity in Christ
- [19:52] - Seeking God's Face
- [23:13] - God's Promises
- [25:10] - The Power of Testimony
- [28:06] - Thanksgiving and Legacy
- [30:37] - Worship and Hope
- [35:14] - The Vision of Hope
- [43:38] - Carrying the Legacy
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific actions does 2 Chronicles 7:14 call God's people to take in order to receive His healing and forgiveness? [09:02]
2. How does the historical context of the Israelites returning from exile relate to the message of hope in the sermon? [10:51]
3. What role do personal stories and testimonies play in the sermon’s message about hope and identity? [12:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the identity of being "called by God's name"? [16:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the call to humility, prayer, and seeking God's face in 2 Chronicles 7:14 apply to modern-day believers? [09:02]
2. How can remembering and sharing stories of God's faithfulness impact a believer's sense of hope and community? [12:57]
3. What does it mean to live in a manner worthy of being called by God's name, according to the sermon? [16:30]
4. How does the sermon suggest believers can carry on the legacy of love and hope, especially during the Thanksgiving season? [43:38]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced uncertainty. How did you find hope in God during that period, and how can you apply that experience to current challenges? [05:52]
2. What practical steps can you take to humble yourself and seek God's face more earnestly in your daily life? [09:02]
3. Identify a personal story of God's faithfulness in your life. How can you share this story with others to encourage them? [12:57]
4. Consider your identity as someone called by God's name. What changes might you need to make to live more fully in this identity? [16:30]
5. As Thanksgiving approaches, who in your life could benefit from hearing a story of hope or receiving an act of love from you? [43:38]
6. How can you ensure that you are not alone during the holiday season, and what steps can you take to include others who might be feeling isolated? [45:22]
7. Think of someone who has left a legacy of faith in your life. How can you honor their memory by continuing their legacy of love and hope? [43:38]
Devotional
Day 1: Hope Beyond Circumstances
In times of financial and societal challenges, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and lose hope. However, the hope that God offers is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in our covenant relationship with Him. This hope is a steadfast assurance that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises to heal and restore. As we navigate life's uncertainties, we are called to remain steadfast in this hope, trusting in God's unchanging nature and His enduring promise to His people. [05:52]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel hopeless? How can you actively choose to trust in God's promises today?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Prayer and Humility
2 Chronicles 7:14 highlights the importance of humility, prayer, and seeking God's face. These actions are not just religious rituals but are transformative practices that open the door for God's healing and forgiveness, both individually and collectively. By humbling ourselves and earnestly seeking God, we align ourselves with His will and invite His presence into our lives. This passage serves as a reminder that God is ready to heal and restore when we turn to Him with sincere hearts. [09:02]
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and seek God's presence more intentionally this week?
Day 3: The Power of Remembering and Sharing Our Stories
The Israelites were often reminded of their history and God's faithfulness to them. Similarly, we are encouraged to remember and share our testimonies of God's faithfulness in our lives. These stories serve as a source of hope and encouragement, not only for ourselves but also for others. By sharing our experiences of God's unchanging nature, we become agents of hope, inspiring those around us to trust in Him. [12:57]
"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children." (Deuteronomy 4:9, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when God was faithful in your life. How can you share this story with someone who needs encouragement today?
Day 4: Embracing Our Identity as God's People
Being called by God's name signifies a deep relationship and responsibility. It is not just a label but a call to live in a manner that reflects His love and presence. As God's people, we are to embody His love and hope in our daily lives, becoming agents of transformation in our communities. This identity calls us to live with purpose and intentionality, seeking to honor God in all that we do. [16:30]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live out your identity as God's child in a specific area of your life today?
Day 5: Carrying the Legacy of Love and Hope
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, we are reminded to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before us, sharing their stories and the love of Christ. Even in moments of loneliness or loss, we are encouraged to reach out, connect, and extend hope to others. By doing so, we honor God and continue the work of His kingdom, becoming a beacon of hope and love in our communities. [43:38]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." (Hebrews 10:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the love and hope of Christ? How can you reach out to them this week?
Quotes
We need to be a people that are answering the clarion call to hope, to tell our stories, to pass along the good, the bad, and the ugly, and don't dwell on the bad and the ugly, but dwell on what Jesus did through it all. My people, my people. I like the sound of that. And when I looked that up in Hebrew, I was surprised. I was surprised because the Hebrew word for people signifies a collective group bound together in a covenant relationship with God. And in a broader sense, it can be, it can be applied to all of us who are in a covenant relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, his son, God, the father, God, the son, God, the Holy Spirit. [00:14:49] (71 seconds)
And the temple in Jerusalem was ruined and the presence of the Lord was not there because that's why he had built the temple so that the presence and when the glory of the Lord came in, the people couldn't even, the Levites even had trouble. But what the Lord reminded me is our story is beyond the cross. It's on the other side. we are on the other side of the cross and so the covenant relationship with Jesus Christ who we now know who he is and on the other side of the cross once the apostles got the word out once through the letters the epistles the new testament God the word out and we learned the other side and the significance of the cross in ways that we couldn't even imagine we are on the other side of the cross and when you says he's called by my name my people who are called by my name it underscores an identity and a privilege to be associated with God God's name in Hebrew it implies being summoned or named it signifies ownership and a special relationship with the owner indicating that the people bear his reputation and are representatives here on earth. [00:16:00] (107 seconds)
And we are called to live the kingdom life we are called to live in a manner worthy of the name that is above all names and when he said if my people would pray that's an act of communication with God on the other side of the cross we have direct communication the Lord of Lord the King of Kings and the Holy Spirit once we accepted once we said we want to be we want to be a part of the church we want to be a part of the church we want to be a part of the church we want to be a part of the church we want to have your name as an individual it was sealed inside of each and everybody and the contrary and the presence of god lies within us and the word says that we are the temple so now even though this is a beautiful temple it is part of the collective we are the temple now And in the communities and in our families, we must emanate when they see us. They must see the Holy Spirit and Jesus when you're called by his name, when you're called by his name. [00:17:47] (89 seconds)
And it says to seek my face. It implies that Jesus has an earnest desire for you to discover his presence in your life. The Hebrew word means to strive, to search after, seeking and seeking and not giving up, wanting an intimate relationship, not just a casual glance or not to know of Jesus, but to know Jesus, to have a relationship that when he hears my voice, he knows I know exactly who that is, Michael. I know exactly who that is, Rosie. He knows exactly who that is. And it's a vital component of seeking his face and being in oneness through the Holy Spirit. And when we come together collectively to pray, we collectively become one. My people become one in the spirit of a living God because we are one. We are on the other side of the cross. [00:19:15] (74 seconds)
When I was a little girl, I remember the first time I encountered the Lord, that intimate moment that I didn't know at the time what it was. There was an awful fight in my house. I was about four and I could hear the screams of my mother and I could hear the screaming of my father. And I got so scared that I ran under the bed and I was alone there and I hid. And all of a sudden, I felt these arms. I felt warmth. I felt an assurance. It was like, Mom, Dad, I said, when are you here? You're holding me? I'll never forget that moment. It's been years and I still remember the first encounter. But it wasn't until I was seven that I went to Catholic school and mother thought that would be a good idea in second grade. That's another story. [00:20:29] (79 seconds)
But I remember the nuns were special. special, and they didn't believe in disciplining the one who did. They believed in disciplining everybody, and they weren't nice about it, and so I used to run like I did when I heard the screaming in the house. I ran into the chapel. I would sit in the sanctuary, and there was always a statue of Jesus and a statue of Mary holding Jesus, and I would sit there and sit there and connect and connect, and the same feeling that I had back when I was forced, the same feeling I was getting when I was there, just staring intently, and if my people who are called by my name have an identity and a connection with me, they will always have that feeling. No matter what, all they need to do is to gaze on me because we're on the other side of the cross. [00:21:48] (60 seconds)
And you see, this passage reveals the heart, the heart and the promises that the Lord maintained with his people because, you see, this passage was a response to the prayers that King Solomon sent up to the Lord. He said, Lord, would you be there with our people no matter what? Will your presence always be with them? Will you answer their cries? Would you forgive them when they mess up? Because your word says you were supposed to be obedient. Sometimes that doesn't work out, but when we catch ourselves because we have the Holy Spirit saying, you want to think about that a minute? And we take it to the Lord and we confess. He will forgive, but we have to confess and repent. And it's done out of love because God is love. We learn that more and more on the other side of the cross when we've seen his work in our lives, in our families, in our communities, in our history. [00:22:53] (82 seconds)
Now, let me tell you something about the remnant of the people. In chapter six of Second Chronicles, and leading up, it tells of the celebration that they had of the completion of the temple. It talked about how the people had instruments and they worshiped and they praised instrument. The King David himself had fashioned and passed on to his son Solomon in anticipation that God would keep his promise and his son Solomon would build the temple. And so it was built on the plan with every detail. And the very people, the remnant of the people had forgotten that some of them may even had been involved in that celebration and brought back. How quickly we can forget our history. How quickly we could be there, see it, see it happen, witness it, and yet forget or not testify. [00:24:15] (63 seconds)
That's why when the children of Israel crossed over the river, they were able to see it. They were able to see it. They were able to see it. The children of Israel crossed over the river Jordan. They said, put down these rocks, Joshua 4, 12 rocks representing. And they said, why? So the generations won't forget that I brought you out, that the God of mercy and love and grace brought you out. You have to tell the stories. Because the Lord said, I will hear. I will communicate. I will respond to the prayers of my people. And I will listen with intent and attention. And I will forgive their sins, remove the guilt and restore the relationship. In fact, the willingness to forgive is a central theme in the scripture. It highlights his mercy and his grace, but it's a two -way street. You have to give it up and say, I don't want to go down and do this again, Lord. I've done it once. I don't want to do it again. [00:25:18] (72 seconds)
And it's through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. It says, in our advocate, Jesus says, he or she's sincere. And the Holy Spirit, then I will help her or him to change. And he says, and I will heal their land. You see, when the Lord heals, he heals not just the land, but spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He's the same God yesterday, today, and he is tomorrow. and so we need to understand we need to encourage because what the writers of chronicle the writer ezra what he wanted to show the people that god has been faithful throughout history to deliver those who cried out to him some of the people in the remnant despaired may have been some of the same people that were crying out to god and don't even realized he had answered because sometimes when god answers prayer you want to call it a coincidence you want to test it out to see if it's really him you want to take ownership well if i was the one i did this i don't touch god's glory because it's not about you and that's why sometimes you'll pray and it takes a while to get it right and it takes a while to get it right and it takes a while to get it right a while because God is working all the details out. [00:26:30] (96 seconds)
So when it comes to pass, it will be without a shadow of a doubt. Who did it? And most importantly, it's because of his love, because of my people who are called on by my name. I will heal him. Has God kept promises to you? Have you cried out to him and he's delivered you? And give him thanks daily. Thanksgiving is not just one day out of the year. It's every day. It's every moment. It's every waking moment. And I know some of my people who are called by my name, even in their sleep, they're praying for you. And I know some of praying thank you. Even their dreams, they're saying thank you. Share your stories. Give your testimonies. My people are perplexed in times of uncertainty. Perplexed. It says in 2 Corinthians, I like the way Paul wrote. He said, we're pressed down on every side by troubles, but we're not crushed. We're perplexed, but not driven to despair. [00:28:06] (91 seconds)
It sounds sweet in my ears and it's a fragrance. And my nostrils. That if my people who are called by my name will sing and worship, trust me brothers and sisters, he hears. And to him is a sweet, sweet sound. And so it doesn't matter if you can't carry a note. I'll share something with you. I played the violin for four years and I was tone deaf. And you said how did you play the violin? I said I was tone deaf. Ow. Did you? I didn't pick up the violin. I said I had the young boys in the class tune it up for me. And then I would watch the girls in the class where they position their fingers and that's how I play for four years. And that's how I played for four years. And despair, despair is an absolute. sense of hope. And that's why God says, my people who are called by my name need to have hope. They can be perplexed in times of certainty, but not discouraged. Can get a little rocky sometimes, but they remain steadfast, anchored in the promises of God. [00:31:09] (94 seconds)
And if you're alone in a hospital room or alone online, know this, that God's love can still flow through you. So whoever enters the room, better watch out because you may be hit by someone who's showing you something you have rarely seen is that unconditional love. And this Thanksgiving, as we go into the holidays, there are people in our lives that are hard. to love. And I'm going to ask you now to pray and to ask the Lord to show them to you as he sees them. Because you see, God's people are seen by God. He sees your potential. He doesn't see you as you are now. He sees how you're evolving more and more and more until you fulfill the likeness of Jesus. It's not a mystery. You have the power through the Holy Spirit that dwells within you. Hope, to find, is a visionary picture of a preferred future that is transformed by the power of God. Transformed by the work of the Lord. [00:34:14] (92 seconds)
You know, hope is the ability to see beyond where you are and to know that God has better for you. Hope is the ability to see yourself as God sees you and to know that God has a better, more perfect picture of you if you trust him. You see, in Romans 8, 24, it says, for we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one still hope for what they see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. So if you don't see yourself in this moment as God sees you, persevere. Persevere. Because he will make the lens clearer and clearer. On who he designed you to be and who you are. Not who your mentors told you you are. Not who your parents told you you are, which are all good if it's positive. But sometimes out of love, people will say some harsh things to you. But the Lord always speaks to you in love. [00:35:45] (82 seconds)
I was wondering at times, why do you love me? Why do you love me? Why do you love me? Why do you love me? Why do I have a pity party? And I turned to Psalms 43, 5, and I saw where the Psalms said the same thing. He was having a pity party. And he says, why, my soul, are you downcast? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Sometimes you have to do an introspection. Sometimes you have to remind yourself to put your hope in God. You have to remind yourself to stand firm. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, why am I in despair? Why? And let me tell you something about your why's. The Lord will always answer. And sometimes when you step into a room or step into the presence of someone that you see in their eyes, they seem downcast and you say something that the Lord told you to say. [00:37:11] (68 seconds)
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