Transforming Pain: Elevate Your Expectations in Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "Elevate Expectations," focusing on how encounters with Jesus can transform our lives, especially when we face persistent pain or challenges. We began by acknowledging that life often presents us with enduring struggles, whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual. These persistent pains can become so ingrained in our lives that they start to feel like a part of our identity. However, the message today is one of hope and transformation through Jesus Christ.
We delved into Matthew chapter 8, examining three stories of individuals who faced significant, persistent issues and found healing through their encounters with Jesus. The first story was about a man with leprosy who approached Jesus with faith, asking to be made clean. His willingness to kneel before Jesus and express his need led to his healing. This teaches us the importance of surrendering our struggles to Jesus and trusting in His willingness to heal.
The second story involved a Roman centurion who demonstrated great faith by believing that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. This centurion understood the authority of Jesus and trusted in His power, which resulted in the healing of his servant. This story encourages us to elevate our understanding of Jesus' authority and to trust in His word for our healing and transformation.
The third story was about Peter's mother-in-law, who was healed when Jesus entered their home. This illustrates the power of inviting Jesus into our lives and homes, allowing His presence to bring healing and restoration. It reminds us that Jesus seeks out our pain and desires to bring us wholeness.
As we reflect on these stories, we are reminded that Jesus is still our healer, provider, and deliverer today. We are encouraged to elevate our expectations, to not accept persistent pain as normal, and to invite Jesus into our lives for healing and transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- Surrender at Jesus' Feet: The story of the leper teaches us that the beginning of healing is found in surrendering at the feet of Jesus. When we approach Him with faith and openness, we invite His transformative power into our lives. [01:16:24]
- Trust in Jesus' Authority: The centurion's faith in Jesus' authority reminds us that we can trust in the power of His word. When we elevate our understanding of who Jesus is, we open ourselves to the miraculous. [01:24:26]
- Invite Jesus into Your Life: Peter's mother-in-law was healed when Jesus entered their home. This illustrates the importance of inviting Jesus into our lives and allowing His presence to bring healing and restoration. [01:30:17]
- Elevate Your Expectations: Persistent pain can become a part of our identity, but Jesus invites us to elevate our expectations and trust in His ability to heal and transform. We are encouraged to see beyond our struggles and believe in His promises. [01:25:28]
- Prayer Changes Things: We are reminded that prayer is powerful and can move mountains. By coming to Jesus in prayer, we invite His healing and transformative power into our lives, breaking the chains of persistent pain. [01:37:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [44:27] - Announcements and Community Connection
- [46:33] - Preparing for the Message
- [01:01:57] - Introduction to "Elevate Expectations"
- [01:03:59] - Personal Story: The Pain That Persists
- [01:06:14] - Embracing Pain as Normal
- [01:09:16] - Be Strong and Courageous
- [01:12:00] - Matthew Chapter 8: Stories of Healing
- [01:14:21] - The Leper's Faith and Healing
- [01:17:26] - Jesus' Willingness to Heal
- [01:22:04] - The Centurion's Great Faith
- [01:25:28] - Elevating God Over Pain
- [01:30:17] - Inviting Jesus into Our Homes
- [01:33:30] - Jesus Carries Our Weaknesses
- [01:37:54] - Prayer and Healing Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Elevate Expectations
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 8:1-17
- Joshua 1:6-9
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 8, what actions did the man with leprosy take to seek healing from Jesus? How did Jesus respond to him? [01:13:01]
2. How did the Roman centurion demonstrate his faith in Jesus' authority, and what was Jesus' reaction to this faith? [01:23:13]
3. What was the significance of Jesus entering Peter's house and healing his mother-in-law? How did this event unfold? [01:30:17]
4. According to Joshua 1:6-9, what instructions and promises did God give to Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites?
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the leper's approach to Jesus teach us about the importance of surrender and faith in seeking healing? [01:16:24]
2. How does the centurion's understanding of authority relate to our perception of Jesus' power and ability to heal? [01:24:26]
3. In what ways does inviting Jesus into our lives, as illustrated by Peter's mother-in-law's healing, impact our personal and spiritual well-being? [01:31:14]
4. How can the encouragement to be "strong and courageous" in Joshua 1:6-9 be applied to our own struggles with persistent pain or challenges?
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a persistent pain or challenge in your life. How can you practice surrendering this issue at the feet of Jesus, as the leper did? [01:16:24]
2. Consider the authority of Jesus in your life. How can you elevate your understanding of His power and trust in His word for your healing and transformation? [01:25:28]
3. What steps can you take to invite Jesus more fully into your daily life and home, allowing His presence to bring healing and restoration? [01:31:14]
4. Identify a specific area where you have accepted persistent pain as normal. How can you elevate your expectations and seek Jesus' healing in this area? [01:37:54]
5. How can you incorporate prayer into your routine to invite Jesus' transformative power into your life and break the chains of persistent pain? [01:37:54]
6. Think about a time when you felt discouraged by a persistent issue. How can the promise of God's presence in Joshua 1:9 encourage you to remain strong and courageous?
7. What practical steps can you take this week to remind yourself of Jesus' willingness and ability to heal and transform your life? [01:19:24]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Surrendering Opens the Door to Healing
When we face persistent struggles, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, they can become so ingrained in our lives that they start to feel like a part of our identity. However, the story of the leper in Matthew 8 teaches us that the beginning of healing is found in surrendering at the feet of Jesus. The leper approached Jesus with faith, kneeling before Him and expressing his need to be made clean. This act of surrender and faith invited Jesus' transformative power into his life, resulting in healing. We are encouraged to bring our struggles to Jesus, trusting in His willingness to heal and transform us. [01:16:24]
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Trusting in the Authority of Jesus
The Roman centurion's story in Matthew 8 highlights the power of recognizing and trusting in Jesus' authority. The centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word, demonstrating great faith in Jesus' power. This story encourages us to elevate our understanding of who Jesus is and to trust in His word for our healing and transformation. By acknowledging Jesus' authority, we open ourselves to the miraculous and invite His power into our lives. [01:24:26]
Matthew 8:8-10 (ESV): "But the centurion replied, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, "Go," and he goes, and to another, "Come," and he comes, and to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.' When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust more in Jesus' authority? How can you remind yourself of His power and promises today?
Day 3: Inviting Jesus into Our Lives
The healing of Peter's mother-in-law in Matthew 8 illustrates the power of inviting Jesus into our lives and homes. When Jesus entered their home, His presence brought healing and restoration. This story reminds us that Jesus seeks out our pain and desires to bring us wholeness. By inviting Jesus into our lives, we allow His presence to bring healing and transformation, turning our homes and hearts into places of restoration. [01:30:17]
Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Reflection: How can you intentionally invite Jesus into your daily life and home? What practical steps can you take to create an environment where His presence is welcomed?
Day 4: Elevating Expectations Beyond Pain
Persistent pain can become a part of our identity, but Jesus invites us to elevate our expectations and trust in His ability to heal and transform. The stories in Matthew 8 encourage us to see beyond our struggles and believe in Jesus' promises. By elevating our expectations, we open ourselves to the possibility of healing and transformation, trusting that Jesus is still our healer, provider, and deliverer today. [01:25:28]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: What persistent pain or struggle have you accepted as normal in your life? How can you elevate your expectations and trust in Jesus' ability to bring healing and transformation?
Day 5: The Power of Prayer in Transformation
Prayer is a powerful tool that can move mountains and invite Jesus' healing and transformative power into our lives. The stories in Matthew 8 remind us of the importance of coming to Jesus in prayer, breaking the chains of persistent pain. By elevating our expectations and trusting in Jesus' promises, we can experience His healing and transformation in our lives. [01:37:54]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine? What specific area of your life do you need to bring to Jesus in prayer for healing and transformation?
Quotes
God wants to do something miraculous in your life today. It's amazing and it's gonna be wonderful if our heart, our heart of expectation is open to what he has for us. And so I titled the sermon today, When the Pain Persists. You know, I remember when I was in my early 20s, I was playing soccer with a group of friends. [01:03:38] (21 seconds)
And the pain that we experience, it just persists on and on and on and on. And it gets to the point. Where the pain that persists moves from pain to just something that's normal. It's just normal. It fades into part of, it's like part of our identity. [01:05:34] (25 seconds)
And when the enemy wants to slowly erode your heart and your mind through the pain, you just fill in the blank. He can erode our strength. He can erode our expectation. And we stop being courageous. And we stop trusting. And all of a sudden, we're somewhere where we never thought we'd be. [01:11:28] (24 seconds)
And yet, they elevated their expectation. And they ran to Jesus in different ways. And what happens is, I think if we look at how they ran to Jesus, we can see exactly how to break the pain that persists. And find the freedom God wants for us today. [01:12:38] (15 seconds)
And I think when we're in the place of that brokenness and that pain that persists, the beginning place of the breakthrough, the beginning place of the separation, the beginning place of that elevated expectation is at the feet of Jesus on your knees, full surrendered. All stops. Let go of. I'm in. Jesus, I need to be at your feet. [01:16:24] (20 seconds)
A lot of the time we don't want to surrender. A lot of the time what we want is maybe the benefit without the connection. But in the connection is the healing. In the connection is the freedom. In the connection is the answer. Run to the feet of Jesus. Get on. That's a place of prayer. On your knees. Surrendered. All heart laid out. Surrender the pain. [01:19:54] (36 seconds)
The man sees something different in Jesus. He confesses that he hears the word and he knows. He hears the word of Jesus. Just say the word, Jesus. Just say the word. And everything will change. That's the heart that I need to have. Jesus, I need an encounter with your word. I need an encounter with your voice. I need an encounter with the scriptures. [01:27:48] (19 seconds)
That's the thing, that's the amazing power of an invitational life with Jesus is Jesus seeks out the pain because he is a healer. Jesus seeks out the problem because he is freedom. Jesus seeks out the moment, the encounter because he is our deliverer. That's who he is. That's what he's like. [01:30:17] (20 seconds)
my hope is that we as a body, rather than looking at the pain that persists and just saying, this is my normal, that we would disengage with that and run to the feet of Jesus, would hear the word of Jesus and would invite Jesus into the home and into the pain. That we would invite Jesus into the home and into the pain. That we would invite Jesus into the moment to be healer to us. [01:36:30] (25 seconds)
I don't know what you're facing today. I don't know what the pain that persists is for you, but I would just like to let you know, prayer changes things. Prayer moves mountains. And I even, Jesus said that in the prayer of faith, the James chapter five will heal or save the one who was sick and the Lord will raise him up. [01:37:54] (26 seconds)
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