Trusting God: Miracles Through Our Obedience
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God with our resources and needs, using the biblical story of a widow's miraculous provision of oil as a central theme. The widow, facing debt and the potential loss of her sons, is instructed by the prophet Elisha to gather vessels and fill them with her only possession, a pot of oil. As she obeys, the oil multiplies, allowing her to sell it, pay off her debts, and support her family. This story illustrates the principle that God can use what we consider insignificant to perform miracles when we act in obedience and faith.
The speaker also draws on the example of William Borden, a wealthy young man who forsook his fortune to become a missionary, and a young man who dedicated his life to mission work in northern China, dying alone but leaving a legacy that inspired many. These stories underscore the sermon's message that when we give what we have to God, He can do incredible things, and that trusting God builds resilience and prepares us for future opportunities to trust Him.
The sermon further discusses the importance of taking action in Christianity, referencing James 1:27, which emphasizes caring for the fatherless and widows. It highlights that God often meets our needs through what we already have, and that we should be willing to give it to Him. The speaker also touches on the significance of ordinary objects in the Bible, such as Moses' rod and the boy's loaves and fish, which God used for miraculous purposes.
The speaker encourages the congregation to be involved in church activities, such as the missions team visit, reorganizing the church shed, and Super Saturday. They also stress the importance of reading and signing a children's protection policy for those involved in the children's church ministry.
Key Takeaways:
- The biblical story of the widow's oil teaches us that God can take our seemingly insignificant resources and multiply them when we act in obedience. This principle encourages us to trust God with what we have, no matter how small, and to expect Him to work miracles in our lives. [01:04:12]
- William Borden's and the young missionary's stories remind us that a life fully dedicated to God's service, without holding anything back, can have a profound impact on the world. Their legacies challenge us to consider how we are using our lives for God's purposes. [01:01:50]
- The sermon highlights the importance of practical Christianity, urging believers to not only have knowledge but to take action, especially in caring for the vulnerable such as widows and orphans, as exemplified by the biblical instruction in James 1:27. [42:45]
- Trusting God with our needs and resources is a recurring theme in the sermon. The speaker encourages reflection on past experiences of God's provision, which serves as a testament to His faithfulness and a foundation for future trust. [01:08:36]
- The sermon emphasizes the importance of community involvement and engagement in church activities. By participating in events and serving in various capacities, believers can strengthen their faith and contribute to the church's mission. [09:48]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 2 Kings 4:1-7 (The Widow's Oil)
2. James 1:27 (Caring for the fatherless and widows)
3. Philippians 4:19 (God will supply all your needs)
### Observation Questions
1. What was the widow's initial situation and need as described in 2 Kings 4:1-2?
2. How did the widow respond to Elisha's instructions to gather vessels and pour oil into them? [49:16]
3. According to James 1:27, what does pure and undefiled religion involve?
4. How does Philippians 4:19 assure believers about God's provision?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Elisha asked the widow what she had in her house before performing the miracle? [44:17]
2. How do the stories of William Borden and the young missionary in northern China illustrate the sermon's message about dedicating one's life to God's service? [01:01:50]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between trusting God with our resources and experiencing His miraculous provision? [01:08:12]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you had very little to offer. How did God use what you had in a significant way? [49:16]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of practical Christianity, especially in caring for the vulnerable. How can you personally get involved in caring for the fatherless and widows in your community? [42:50]
3. Trusting God with our needs and resources is a recurring theme. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God more? What steps can you take this week to act in faith? [01:08:12]
4. The widow's story shows that God can use what we consider insignificant to perform miracles. What "insignificant" resources or talents do you have that you can offer to God for His use? [44:17]
5. The sermon encourages community involvement and engagement in church activities. What church event or ministry can you commit to participating in to strengthen your faith and contribute to the church's mission? [09:48]
6. Reflect on the legacy of William Borden and the young missionary. How does their dedication challenge you to consider how you are using your life for God's purposes? [01:01:50]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of reading and signing a children's protection policy for those involved in the children's church ministry. Why is this important, and how can you ensure you are compliant with such policies in your church involvement? [16:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Obedience Multiplies the Insignificant
God delights in using what we perceive as small or insignificant to manifest His glory and provision. The story of the widow's oil demonstrates that when we offer our limited resources to God with obedience, He can multiply them beyond our expectations. This act of faith can lead to miraculous outcomes that not only meet our needs but also bless others. [01:04:12]
2 Kings 4:5-6 - "So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' And he said to her, 'There is not another.' Then the oil stopped flowing."
Reflection: What small resource or ability do you have that you can offer to God in obedience today, trusting Him to multiply its impact?
Day 2: Legacy of Complete Surrender
A life surrendered to God's purpose can leave a profound impact, inspiring others to live with eternal perspective. The examples of William Borden and the young missionary in northern China show that when we give our lives fully to God, without reservation, our influence can extend far beyond our earthly existence. [01:01:50]
Hebrews 11:24-26 - "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward."
Reflection: How can you live a life of complete surrender to God, and what might be the first step in that direction today?
Day 3: Active Faith in Practice
True faith is not passive but is demonstrated through actions, particularly in caring for those in need. The biblical instruction to care for widows and orphans is a call to practical Christianity, where believers are urged to put their faith into action by serving the vulnerable and demonstrating God's love through tangible means. [42:45]
James 2:15-17 - "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Who in your community is in need, and what specific action can you take this week to serve them?
Day 4: Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
Recalling past experiences of God's provision strengthens our faith and prepares us to trust Him with future challenges. Reflecting on how God has met our needs in the past can serve as a powerful testament to His faithfulness and encourage us to rely on Him in all circumstances. [01:08:36]
Psalm 77:11-12 - "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way, and how does that memory influence your trust in Him now?
Day 5: Engaging in Community Service
Active participation in church and community strengthens our faith and contributes to the collective mission. By engaging in activities like missions, church organization, and children's ministry, believers can grow spiritually and play a vital role in the life of the church. [09:48]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: What is one way you can become more involved in your church community this month, and how can you make the first step towards that involvement?
Quotes
"With many Christians, generosity is a lifestyle. It's rooted not in the level of their income but in the level of their faith and their desire to be obedient to God." [55:42] (Download)
"A life of no reserves holds back nothing from God and leads to a life with no regrets." [01:01:50] (Download)
"Even when you have a small resource, That we may consider insignificant, God says, 'Hey, let's start with what you have.' And I can take what you have and multiply it." [57:01] (Download)
"We see sometimes we have such a small idea of what God can do that we hesitate to simply trust and obey Him. But when we experience the joy of trusting God with our resources and freely giving to Him, it becomes a thrill." [01:06:27] (Download)
"Most of the time, God can meet our needs through what we already have if we're willing to give it to Him." [44:17] (Download)
"God is always going to ask us to do by faith what we can do. This not only grows our faith but it gives us the opportunity to be involved in His work rather than simply watching like an impressed bystander." [45:32] (Download)
"Bring it to him in prayer knowing that it is at our most desperate moment when god delights to show his power. And trust god with your resources." [01:09:29] (Download)
"Whatever you have, are you willing to give it to god why because these victories build experience?" [01:10:30] (Download)
"Rather than assuming that we have nothing and can do nothing, we should take inventory. Hey, what do you have? If God were to look at you this morning and say, 'Hey, there is a world around you that needs the gospel. What do you have?'" [51:16] (Download)
"Once we think of what we have, then it is God's will that we deploy what we have for Him. On the other hand, when we begin to rationalize against giving our all to the Lord, something very dangerous happens in our heart." [52:27] (Download)
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