Thriving Through Faith: Overcoming Obstacles to Fruitfulness
Summary
God desires for us to thrive and be fruitful in every aspect of our lives. This weekend, we explored the concept of thriving, which is deeply rooted in the biblical idea of fruitfulness. From the beginning, God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, not just biologically, but in all areas of life. This call to fruitfulness is a divine mandate for us to utilize our talents and abilities fully, not to remain stagnant or settle for mediocrity. We are encouraged to go the entire distance, just as Abram was called to journey to Canaan without stopping halfway.
The story of the man at the pool of Bethesda illustrates the power of faith and the immediacy of God's intervention. After 38 years of waiting, a simple command from Jesus transformed his life in an instant. This narrative reminds us that God wants to break the cycles of stagnation and propel us into a new dimension of fruitfulness right now. We must overcome past experiences and barriers, believing that God is ready to move us into a thriving life.
In Mark 11, Jesus teaches us about the power of faith in overcoming obstacles. He uses the example of the fig tree and the temple to highlight the absence of expected fruitfulness. Jesus then shifts the focus to mountains, symbolizing the blockages that prevent us from thriving. He instructs us to have faith in God, who is bigger than any mountain we face. This faith is not complicated; it is as simple as a mustard seed and as trusting as a child's heart.
We are equipped with the faith needed to deal with our mountains. Just as David faced Goliath with confidence in God's power, we too can confront our challenges by speaking to them with authority. The language of faith is the currency of heaven, and when we align ourselves with God's will, we can declare His promises over our lives. By speaking to our mountains, we assert our God-given authority and claim the space God has ordained for us to thrive.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Call to Fruitfulness: From the beginning, God has called us to be fruitful in every area of our lives. This divine mandate is not just about biological multiplication but about utilizing our talents and abilities to their fullest potential. We are encouraged to go beyond mediocrity and strive for excellence in all we do. [01:08:20]
2. Immediate Transformation through Faith: The story of the man at the pool of Bethesda teaches us that God's intervention can transform our lives instantly. Despite 38 years of waiting, a simple command from Jesus changed everything. This reminds us that God is ready to break cycles of stagnation and propel us into a new dimension of fruitfulness right now. [01:10:28]
3. Overcoming Mountains with Faith: Jesus teaches us that faith in God is the key to overcoming obstacles. Mountains symbolize the blockages that prevent us from thriving, but with faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move them. This faith is not complicated; it is simple and childlike, yet powerful enough to change our circumstances. [01:12:39]
4. Equipped with Faith to Confront Challenges: We already possess the faith needed to deal with our mountains. Just as David faced Goliath with confidence in God's power, we too can confront our challenges by speaking to them with authority. Our faith, instilled by God, is sufficient to overcome any obstacle we face. [01:25:02]
5. Speaking to Mountains with Authority: The language of faith is the currency of heaven. When we align ourselves with God's will, we can declare His promises over our lives. By speaking to our mountains, we assert our God-given authority and claim the space God has ordained for us to thrive. This act of faith is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. [01:35:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:08:20] - God's Call to Fruitfulness
- [01:10:28] - Immediate Transformation through Faith
- [01:12:39] - Overcoming Mountains with Faith
- [01:20:19] - Equipped with Faith to Confront Challenges
- [01:23:12] - Speaking to Mountains with Authority
- [01:25:02] - The Simplicity of Faith
- [01:32:15] - Instinctual Faith in Action
- [01:35:05] - The Power of Speaking to Mountains
- [01:41:46] - David's Faith Against Goliath
- [01:45:40] - The Authority of Faith in Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Thriving in Faith and Fruitfulness
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:28 - "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'"
2. John 5:1-9 - The story of the man at the pool of Bethesda.
3. Mark 11:22-25 - "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the first command God gave to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28, and how does it relate to the concept of thriving? [01:08:20]
2. In the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda, what was Jesus' simple question to the man, and how did the man initially respond? [01:10:28]
3. According to Mark 11:22-25, what does Jesus say is necessary to move mountains, and how does this relate to the obstacles we face in life? [01:12:39]
4. How does the story of David and Goliath illustrate the power of faith in overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges? [01:41:46]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the biblical mandate to be fruitful extend beyond biological multiplication to other areas of our lives? [01:08:20]
2. What does the immediate transformation of the man at the pool of Bethesda teach us about the nature of faith and God's intervention? [01:10:28]
3. In what ways do mountains symbolize the blockages that prevent us from thriving, and how can faith as small as a mustard seed help us overcome them? [01:12:39]
4. How does David's confidence in God's power, as demonstrated in his battle with Goliath, serve as a model for confronting our own challenges? [01:41:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on an area of your life where you feel stagnant. What steps can you take to move towards fruitfulness and thriving, as God desires? [01:08:20]
2. Consider a past experience or barrier that has held you back. How can you apply the lesson from the man at the pool of Bethesda to overcome it and embrace immediate transformation? [01:10:28]
3. Identify a "mountain" in your life that seems insurmountable. How can you exercise faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to begin moving that mountain? [01:12:39]
4. Think about a challenge you are currently facing. How can you speak to this challenge with authority, as David did with Goliath, and declare God's promises over it? [01:41:46]
5. What specific action can you take this week to align yourself with God's will and declare His promises over your life, especially in areas where you desire to thrive? [01:35:05]
6. How can you cultivate a childlike faith in your daily life, trusting God with the simplicity and confidence that Jesus describes? [01:25:02]
7. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's intervention in your life. How can you use that testimony to encourage your faith and the faith of others in your small group? [01:32:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Call to Fruitfulness
God's call to fruitfulness is a divine mandate that extends beyond mere biological multiplication. From the beginning, God instructed Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, which encompasses all areas of life. This call is an invitation to utilize our talents and abilities to their fullest potential, striving for excellence rather than settling for mediocrity. Just as Abram was called to journey to Canaan without stopping halfway, we are encouraged to go the entire distance in our pursuits. This divine call challenges us to break free from stagnation and embrace a life of thriving and fruitfulness. [01:08:20]
Genesis 1:28 (ESV): "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
Reflection: What specific talents or abilities have you been holding back from fully utilizing? How can you take a step today to embrace God's call to fruitfulness in that area?
Day 2: Faith Transforms Instantly
The story of the man at the pool of Bethesda is a powerful illustration of how faith can lead to immediate transformation. After 38 years of waiting, a simple command from Jesus changed his life in an instant. This narrative serves as a reminder that God is ready to break cycles of stagnation and propel us into a new dimension of fruitfulness right now. We are encouraged to overcome past experiences and barriers, believing that God is ready to move us into a thriving life. [01:10:28]
John 5:8-9 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel stuck or stagnant? How can you invite God's transformative power into that situation today?
Day 3: Faith Moves Mountains
In Mark 11, Jesus teaches us about the power of faith in overcoming obstacles. Mountains symbolize the blockages that prevent us from thriving, but with faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move them. This faith is not complicated; it is simple and childlike, yet powerful enough to change our circumstances. Jesus encourages us to have faith in God, who is bigger than any mountain we face. [01:12:39]
Mark 11:22-23 (ESV): "And Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.'"
Reflection: What is a "mountain" in your life that seems insurmountable? How can you exercise childlike faith to speak to that mountain today?
Day 4: Equipped with Faith to Confront Challenges
We are already equipped with the faith needed to deal with our mountains. Just as David faced Goliath with confidence in God's power, we too can confront our challenges by speaking to them with authority. Our faith, instilled by God, is sufficient to overcome any obstacle we face. This confidence in God's power enables us to face our challenges head-on, knowing that we are not alone. [01:25:02]
1 Samuel 17:45-46 (ESV): "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.'"
Reflection: What challenge are you currently facing that requires you to speak with authority? How can you remind yourself of God's power and presence as you confront this challenge?
Day 5: Speak to Your Mountains with Authority
The language of faith is the currency of heaven. When we align ourselves with God's will, we can declare His promises over our lives. By speaking to our mountains, we assert our God-given authority and claim the space God has ordained for us to thrive. This act of faith is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal, enabling us to overcome obstacles and live a life of fruitfulness. [01:35:05]
Matthew 17:20 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Reflection: What promise from God do you need to declare over your life today? How can you use the authority given to you by God to speak to your mountains and claim the space He has ordained for you?
Quotes
"The Bible tells a story about Abram and how that his father left to go uh he was going to go to Canaan but he stopped and he stayed in Torah and he died there he didn't make the journey all the way he stopped thriving he stopped moving but I know I'm talking to some people this morning who ain't about to stop I'm talking to some people who this morning says you know what we are going to go the entire distance we're going to make the journey and so I want to do is I want to encourage you I've done this all three times this will be the third time I've done it since I've been speaking this message I want to encourage you to let your faith arise let your faith arise" [01:02:43] (46 seconds)
"today we're talking about thriving we're talking about how God wants your life to be fruitful how God wants your life to progress and many times when we talk about thriving or God wants to do something I'm not talking about three years from now four years from now five years from now I'm talking about right now come on look at your neighbor tell him right now right now this this this is the one of them long things you got to wait for years for it to come to pass this is a right now thing right now God wants to move you into a pathway of thriving right now God wants to unleash a new dimension of fruitfulness right now and so what had to happen in that man's life was there was a barrier he had to overcome and that was his past experience he had to overcome his past experience 38 years of not being able to get up and walk by himself 38 years of having to have somebody help him get to where he needs to go 38 years of not being able to function the way he would desire 38 years of looking at other people run and go where they want to go 38 years he had all of this experience in past reality but in two or three minutes two or three minutes Jesus broke it" [01:06:53] (87 seconds)
"The scripture says, Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth. If anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself into the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. It will be done for her. It will be done for you. It will be done for us. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins." [01:10:04] (44 seconds)
"Jesus said you can deal with the mountain and he just tells them some simple ways in terms of what they can do to deal with that mountain Peter asked about a tree Jesus says deal with the mountain that blocks thriving deal with the mountain that blocks fruitfulness how do you move the mountain Jesus says this verse 22 have faith in God the way that you deal with the mountain is by having faith in God God who is bigger than your mountain God who has the ability to move your mountain and God who cares about the mountain that you face let me say this I say this all the time God is bigger than any mountain you or I face God God is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the universe come on somebody he has never lost a battle he has never lost a fight he has never lost a war he has never been defeated he's never been knocked out God is bigger than your mountain" [01:16:05] (78 seconds)
"Jesus said have faith in him because he's bigger than your mountain come on somebody when you get a good God -sized view let God get in your vision let God get in your mind let God get in your spirit let Jesus get in your soul let Jesus get inside your thoughts and you begin to see how listen don't tell me how big the mountain is let me tell you how big my God is oh come on somebody see a mountain can only be one place at one time but God is omnipresent he could be everywhere at all times come on a mountain can't reach up to the sky but God says I'm in the sky he says the heaven is my throne and the earth is my foot stool my God we need to realize we serve a big God we serve a big God" [01:18:06] (60 seconds)
"god is there i just need you to show up father just show yourself you just said have faith in god now this is the thing about faith this is the thing about faith we we we make things so very very complicated we do i mean i make stuff complicated sometimes we we we we give these long discourses and you can talk a lot about you can write a lot about it i mean there's so many uh different ins and outs and depths when you talk about faith but jesus says have faith and when you think about what jesus how jesus spoke about faith it was pretty simple he says in terms of quantity all you need is a mustard seed in terms of the attitude in the heart that you need for church for faith just be like a child so jesus did not over complicate faith he says have this much and be like a child not complicated not difficult but what i believe god says is this to us this morning he wants you to know that you had already have you already have said with me i already have all the faith i need to deal with the mountain" [01:25:02] (82 seconds)
"right now you have all the faith you need to deal with the mountain when you said yes to jesus you put your faith in jesus you put your trust in jesus you have all the faith you need right now to deal with the mountain jesus said have faith in god when you got saved sure your faith is going to grow your faith is going to deepen your faith is going to mature but you've got the the kernel the seat there for everything you need in order to deal with every mountain you face" [01:26:26] (32 seconds)
"What's my point? My point is this. Your father has already equipped you with the faith to deal with the mountains. You might not think it's there, but it's already there. You already got what it takes to have the faith to deal with the mountain because God has already put it in you. Come on, somebody. You already have it. Jesus said, have faith in God. You just got to stir it up and activate it and walk like you have it. You know, you don't have to be all puffed up, but you just, you know, you just kind of have your swag." [01:32:15] (53 seconds)
"Then Jesus said this. Have faith in God. And then secondly, he says this. Speak to the mountain. Now, this is the truth right here. If you don't speak to the mountain, the mountain is going to speak to you. And the mountain will tell you, it's not, the mountain is not going to give you a positive sermon. The mountain is going to tell you, you can't make it. It's not going to work. It's not going to happen. You're going to lose your house. You're going to lose your family. You'll never be able to walk the right way. You'll never have joy. Life is over. My life has always been that. The mountain will talk to you. I know it. I've heard a few mountains talk to me. In fact, I might have one trying to talk to me right now for all you know." [01:33:39] (45 seconds)
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