Stepping into the Unknown: Faith and Courage

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Invitation

A simple invitation can be a catalyst for profound spiritual transformation. It is often through these seemingly ordinary moments that God orchestrates life-changing encounters. When someone extends an invitation to experience God's love, it can lead to a deeper understanding of His purpose for our lives. This is not just about personal transformation but also about stepping into a mission of serving others and spreading the message of Christ. The power of invitation is a reminder that God uses us to reach others, and we should never underestimate the impact of inviting someone to experience His love. [45:03]

"Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find." (Matthew 22:9, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life could you invite to experience God's love this week? How can you extend an invitation that might lead to a transformative encounter with God?

Day 2: Trusting God in the Unknown

Faith often requires stepping into the unknown, trusting that God will guide us even when we cannot see the full picture. Like Moses, who left the comforts of Pharaoh's palace to lead the Israelites, we are called to trust in God's plan for our lives. This journey of faith is marked by moments of fear and doubt, but it is through these challenges that we experience God's miracles and guidance. Trusting God in the unknown allows us to grow in our faith and witness His power in our lives. [51:43]

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel uncertain? How can you trust God to guide you through this unknown territory today?

Day 3: Courage Over Fear

The story of the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, exemplifies the courage to prioritize reverence for God over fear of man. Their defiance of Pharaoh's orders changed the course of history, reminding us that acts of faith, no matter how small, can have a significant impact. Courage over fear is about trusting in God's strength and provision, even when facing earthly powers. It is a call to live boldly for God, knowing that our faith can influence the world around us. [54:57]

"But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are letting fear of others dictate your actions? How can you choose to act with courage and prioritize God's will today?

Day 4: The Journey of Continuous Formation

Our spiritual journey is a lifelong process of formation, where God continually shapes us to fulfill His purposes. Just as Moses matured over time, we too are being transformed by God to become more like Christ. This journey involves learning, growing, and being open to God's leading in every season of life. Continuous formation is about embracing the process of becoming who God has called us to be, trusting that He is at work in us. [01:00:15]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you see God shaping you in this season of your life? How can you embrace this process of continuous formation?

Day 5: The Adventure of Obedience

Embracing God's call often leads us into adventures beyond our imagination. Whether it's a call to ministry or another vocation, obedience to God opens doors to new experiences and growth. This adventure of obedience is about stepping out in faith, trusting that God equips us for the tasks He sets before us. It is a journey of discovering God's purpose for our lives and experiencing the joy of following His lead. [01:07:51]

"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area where you feel God is calling you to step out in obedience? How can you take a step of faith today to follow His lead?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, I shared a personal journey of faith and transformation, emphasizing the power of God's call and the courage to step into the unknown. Reflecting on my own story, I recounted how a seemingly ordinary invitation to a church meeting led to a life-changing encounter with God. This encounter was not just about a personal transformation but also about stepping into a lifelong mission of serving others and spreading the message of Christ. The narrative of Moses from Hebrews 11 served as a backdrop, illustrating how faith can lead us through the unknown and into God's purposes.

Moses' story is a testament to the power of faith and the courage to face the unknown. His journey from the comforts of Pharaoh's palace to leading the Israelites out of Egypt is marked by moments of fear, doubt, and ultimately, faith. The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, exemplify the courage to defy earthly powers out of reverence for God, changing the course of history. Their story reminds us that no act of faith is too small to make a significant impact.

I also shared the importance of not letting fear of man dictate our actions. The fear of man can be a snare, but trusting in God keeps us safe. This theme resonates with the story of Moses, who initially fled in fear but later returned to face Pharaoh with God's strength. Our lives are a continuous journey of formation, where God calls us to step into the unknown, trusting Him to guide us.

As we navigate our own unknowns, we are reminded that God often places us in situations where we need miracles, encouraging us to lean into His strength and provision. Whether it's a call to ministry, teaching, or any other vocation, the key is to be obedient to God's call, knowing that He equips us for the tasks He sets before us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Invitation: A simple invitation can lead to a profound encounter with God. Just as I was invited to a church meeting that changed my life, we should never underestimate the power of inviting others to experience God's love. [45:03]
2. Faith in the Unknown: Like Moses, we are often called to step into the unknown. Our faith journey involves trusting God even when we don't see the full picture. This trust allows us to experience God's miracles and guidance. [51:43]
3. Courage Over Fear: The midwives' story teaches us to prioritize reverence for God over fear of man. Their courage in defying Pharaoh's orders reminds us that our faith can have a lasting impact on history. [54:57]
4. Continuous Formation: Our spiritual journey is a lifelong process of formation. Just as Moses matured over time, we too are continually being shaped by God to fulfill His purposes. [60:15]
5. Obedience and Adventure: Embracing God's call often leads us into adventures beyond our imagination. Whether it's a call to ministry or another vocation, obedience to God opens doors to new experiences and growth. [67:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Celebrating Cape Coral Vineyard
[03:00] - Personal Journey of Faith
[10:00] - The Invitation That Changed Everything
[15:00] - Encounter with God
[20:00] - The Story of Moses
[25:00] - Faith in the Unknown
[30:00] - Courage of the Midwives
[35:00] - Overcoming Fear
[40:00] - Continuous Spiritual Formation
[45:00] - Embracing God's Call
[50:00] - The Adventure of Obedience
[55:00] - Breaking Chains of Fear
[60:00] - Invitation to Begin Your Journey
[65:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Sermon Clips

"People who aren't running a sprint, running a marathon, getting in the game, staying in the game. I mean, it takes so many people just to have a church service here for a weekend. It's a marvelous thing. And they gather over in the corner and it's like they're here. They expect to hear that bell ringing. So, you know, the culture, you can be a church with great strategy and good tactical thinkers and planners, but culture will dominate." [00:37:24] (34 seconds)

"Well, come to find out the reason I got invited was that the missionary had told the church, the young people in the church the day before, go to your high schools and invite the most messed up kids in your high school. I got seven invitations to that meeting and I went. It was and I didn't, I'd never been to a Christian meeting and they're all sitting around in a circle and this old missionary guy was cross-legged sitting on the floor and he said, let's say a prayer." [00:43:51] (31 seconds)

"After about the fifth one, I said, did that chick write that book? How does she know where all of those verses are? Well, come to find out, she'd been reading this her whole life. And we had a little bit, you know, a little more argument, back and forth, back and forth. And finally, I said, well, I'm going to go home. I'm going to think it over. And tomorrow morning, I'll receive Christ. She goes, wonderful. That's great news, Phil. But what if you die tonight?" [00:45:30] (28 seconds)

"Now, when you're 16, you talk about being thrown into the unknown. And unfortunately, every unknown that we've walked into in our life, I look at you and say, I'm so sorry, honey. We've done it again. We are way in over our heads. I don't know what we're, oh, my goodness. The night we were asked to be the national directors, we got back to the hotel late, late, late. One, two. And we're just laying in bed, giggling like two little kids." [00:49:24] (29 seconds)

"Midwives had no fear of the king. Powerful. They had reverence for God and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. In the book of Hebrews, it says, by faith the parents of Moses did such and such. But actually, that such and such, Moses' parents would have lost that son had the midwives obeyed the king. Fear of man. It's a snare to the soul." [00:54:57] (34 seconds)

"These, these, this is the way I think about it. They left them out of the narrative. These two women. Shiphrah and Puah. I love those names. What's your mother's name? Puah. Just sounds good. Oh, we're just midwives. We're just midwives. We, you know, we helped the, the, well, they didn't. They didn't help the Hebrew, if it was born a boy, they saved it. They hid it. They changed history. Two unknown, obscure women changed history." [00:55:30] (41 seconds)

"That's why Ruth Haley Barton's book on strengthening the soul of your leadership is really the story on how the formative walk that Moses had with God to be able to see all of these things. Sometimes we just got to, we've got to let God be God and take us into impossible situations. And we don't want to say, I'm just a midwife. Well, I read a letter probably 20 years ago now, but it stuck with me." [01:00:54] (30 seconds)

"On the way to the unknown, salute no man. Fear no man. Hang on. Enjoy the ride. Let's stand. Thank you. Amen. Okay, let's pray. I'm going to lead you in a very simple prayer. Maybe a prayer with a little more faith than my original one. Because now I believe God exists, so I have a little more faith now." [01:18:47] (27 seconds)

"But I know there's some folks here that you haven't taken that step to give your life to the Lord, to say yes to Jesus, come into my life. It's not hard. Now, the walk for the next 30, 40 years, that could be testy. But getting started in your journey of faith is really, Lord, I'm in. Forgive me, but I'm in. I don't really care what the words are. I don't think it's not the words. It's the posture of your heart." [01:19:39] (33 seconds)

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