Trusting God: The Path to Direction and Victory

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound wisdom found in Proverbs 3, focusing on the theme of trust and direction in our lives. We began by acknowledging the importance of aligning our lives with God's calling, understanding that our direction, not our intentions, determines our destination. This principle, known as the "principle of the path," reminds us that our actions and choices must align with our desire to grow closer to Christ. We reflected on the story of Einstein, who, despite knowing who he was, didn't know where he was going, illustrating the necessity of having a clear direction in life.

We delved into Proverbs 3:5-7, emphasizing the need to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not rely on our own understanding. This trust is rooted in a deep relationship with God, which precedes our understanding and vision for life. We discussed the importance of submitting to God in all our ways, acknowledging that submission precedes direction. By surrendering our lives to God, we allow Him to make our paths straight, leading us toward His glory and transformation.

Furthermore, we explored the concept of humility, recognizing that humility precedes victory. By humbling ourselves before God, we shun evil and align our lives with His will. We were reminded of the example of William Carey, whose humility and submission to God led to a significant impact on the world through the modern mission movement.

As we concluded, we were called to examine our lives, identify areas where we may be off course, and humbly submit to God's direction. This invitation to return to a vibrant and authentic relationship with God is an opportunity for renewal and transformation.

Key Takeaways:

- Trust in God is foundational to our journey. Our relationship with Him should guide our understanding and vision for life. Trusting God means relying on His omniscience and power rather than our limited understanding. [44:02]

- Submission to God is essential for direction. By acknowledging Him in all our ways, we allow Him to guide our paths. Submission is an act of surrender, recognizing that God's plan is greater than our own. [59:20]

- Humility is the key to victory over evil. By humbling ourselves before God, we align our lives with His will and shun evil. Humility allows us to be used by God for His glory and transformation. [01:06:20]

- The principle of the path teaches us that our direction, not intentions, determines our destination. Aligning our actions with our desire to grow closer to Christ is crucial for spiritual growth. [40:41]

- Knowing where we are going is vital. Like Einstein, we must have a clear direction in life, rooted in our identity as followers of Christ. This clarity helps us navigate life's crossroads with faithfulness. [42:33]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:36] - Announcements and Opportunities
[15:13] - Upwards Season and Volunteer Call
[17:35] - Prayer and Worship Invitation
[38:52] - Introduction to Proverbs 3
[40:41] - Principle of the Path
[42:33] - Einstein's Story and Direction
[44:02] - Trust in the Lord
[49:14] - God's Calling and Trust
[51:55] - Limited Understanding vs. God's Omniscience
[53:03] - Upwards Ministries and Community Engagement
[55:56] - Leaning on God
[57:29] - Relationship Precedes Understanding
[59:20] - Submission and Direction
[01:06:20] - Humility and Victory
[01:09:28] - Invitation to Submit and Follow

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 3:5-7

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Proverbs 3:5-7 instruct us to do with our hearts and understanding? How does this relate to the concept of trust discussed in the sermon? [44:02]

2. How does the story of Einstein illustrate the importance of knowing our direction in life? [42:33]

3. What role does humility play in aligning our lives with God's will, according to the sermon? [01:06:20]

4. How does the sermon describe the "principle of the path," and why is it significant for our spiritual journey? [40:41]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does trusting in the Lord with all our hearts challenge our natural inclinations to rely on our own understanding? [44:02]

2. How does the sermon suggest that submission to God can lead to a clearer direction in life? What might this look like practically? [59:20]

3. The sermon mentions William Carey as an example of humility leading to victory. How does his story inspire us to live humbly before God? [01:07:07]

4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between our identity as followers of Christ and having a clear direction in life? [42:33]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you rely more on your own understanding or trust in God's guidance? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [44:02]

2. Identify an area in your life where you feel off course. What steps can you take to submit this area to God's direction and align it with His will? [01:09:28]

3. Consider a situation where you struggled with humility. How can you practice humility in your daily interactions to align more closely with God's will? [01:06:20]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing where we are going in life. What practical steps can you take to ensure your life's direction is aligned with your identity in Christ? [42:33]

5. How can you incorporate the "principle of the path" into your spiritual growth? What specific actions can you take to ensure your direction aligns with your intentions to grow closer to Christ? [40:41]

6. Think of a time when you resisted God's calling or direction. What was the outcome, and how can you learn from that experience to trust and submit to God more fully in the future? [49:14]

7. How can you actively shun evil in your life by practicing humility and submission to God? What changes might you need to make to ensure victory over evil influences? [01:06:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting Beyond Understanding
In our journey of faith, trusting in God is foundational. Proverbs 3:5-7 urges us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding. This trust is not blind but is rooted in a deep relationship with God, which precedes our understanding and vision for life. By surrendering our limited perspective and relying on God's omniscience and power, we open ourselves to His guidance and wisdom. Trusting God means acknowledging that His ways are higher than ours and that He sees the bigger picture. This trust is a daily choice, inviting us to rely on His strength and direction rather than our own. [44:02]

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." (Isaiah 26:4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you struggle to trust God fully? How can you begin to rely on His understanding rather than your own today?


Day 2: Submission as a Pathway to Guidance
Submission to God is essential for receiving His direction in our lives. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, allowing Him to guide our paths. Submission is an act of surrender, recognizing that God's plan is greater than our own. It involves laying down our desires and ambitions to align with His will. By submitting to God, we invite Him to lead us on a path that brings glory to Him and transformation to our lives. This act of submission is not a one-time event but a continual process of yielding to His guidance and trusting in His perfect plan. [59:20]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to submit to God's will? What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him?


Day 3: Humility as the Key to Victory
Humility is the key to victory over evil and aligning our lives with God's will. By humbling ourselves before God, we shun evil and open ourselves to His transformative power. Humility allows us to be used by God for His glory, as seen in the example of William Carey, whose submission to God led to a significant impact on the world through the modern mission movement. Embracing humility means recognizing our limitations and relying on God's strength. It is through humility that we experience true victory, as we align our lives with His purposes and shun the temptations of pride and self-reliance. [01:06:20]

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your daily interactions? How can you allow God to use your humility for His glory today?


Day 4: The Principle of the Path
The principle of the path teaches us that our direction, not intentions, determines our destination. Aligning our actions with our desire to grow closer to Christ is crucial for spiritual growth. This principle reminds us that our choices and actions must reflect our commitment to following Christ. It is not enough to have good intentions; we must actively pursue a path that leads us closer to Him. By examining our lives and making intentional choices, we can ensure that our direction aligns with our ultimate goal of growing in our relationship with Christ. [40:41]

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to align your life more closely with your desire to grow in Christ? How can you ensure that your direction reflects your intentions?


Day 5: Clarity in Direction
Knowing where we are going is vital for navigating life's crossroads with faithfulness. Like Einstein, who knew who he was but not where he was going, we must have a clear direction in life rooted in our identity as followers of Christ. This clarity helps us make decisions that align with our faith and values. By seeking God's guidance and understanding our purpose in Him, we can navigate the challenges and opportunities of life with confidence and faithfulness. Clarity in direction empowers us to live intentionally and purposefully, reflecting our identity in Christ. [42:33]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: How clear is your sense of direction in life? What steps can you take to seek God's guidance and align your path with your identity in Christ today?

Quotes

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him or acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord and shun evil." [00:44:25]

"Einstein, the famous physicist, was traveling back from Princeton one day, and he got on the train that took him to his home. And he got on the train, looked around, and fumbled through his pockets to find his ticket, because the ticket puncher would be coming by soon. And so the ticket puncher came by and looked at him, and he's still fumbling, couldn't find his ticket." [00:42:02]

"God has a calling for your life. And some of you, I don't know, may be a pastor. You may be a schoolteacher like my wife. You may work in some office complex. You may work for the city or the state, but I want to let you know that God has a calling for your life that's greater than a position. He's calling you to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ and to give God glory with all of your life." [00:48:26]

"Because when we have that confidence, as the Hebrew word here for trust really raises up, then we can live our life boldly. We can boldly follow God. Because I know that no matter what, He has me. He's creating my life. He's going to supply for me, but He's also going to use me. Trust in the Lord. The word Lord is the word Yahweh here, Jehovah. It is a name of God." [00:49:33]

"Your relationship with God will always precede your understanding. Out of your relationship flows your understanding. Your relationship with God will always precede your vision for life. So we want a vision, but have a vision. I ain't got relationship. Brothers and sisters, I'm calling you back now today to a vibrant, pure, and right relationship with God, because out of that flows everything else." [00:57:09]

"Submission will always precede direction if God's understanding is all and you need to submit to that before you get it if you don't get it if you don't submit to it you won't get the direction submission precedes direction verse seven do not be wise in your own eyes do not think that you have every single answer don't don't go down that path and instead do not be the only person that has skill according to what you think because that may mean that you will not submit your life to god if you think you have all the answers then you will probably not go god give me direction in my life if you think you have all the answers then you're probably not catch this gonna gather in a bible study group with two or three or four and and look to them to give you direction because they're godly people as well instead you're gonna live by your own authority you're gonna act independently of your relationship with god do not be wise in your in your own eyes do not be wise in your own eyes do not be wise in your own eyes do not be wise in your own eyes fear the lord the fear of the lord is the beginning of all wisdom it is a position of reverence that that i realize that god is the master of the universe and his one and only son is the king of all kings and he is the king of my life and if he's going to be my king that i'm going to respect i'm going to honor his pathway and follow it do not be wise in your own eyes instead be humble you see out of this type of a relationship i figured something out in this like i'm i'm looking at the these three couplets here and i'm trying to to to get a pick grasp on what this is saying and this is really what it's saying you've got two choices in life are you ready the wrong way and the right way every single way that is void of the direction of god is the wrong way everyone there's only one right way you can choose your own way or somebody else's way or the cultural way the pathway that leads to success the pathway that you think makes you happy or joyful but let me tell you if it's not his way it's the wrong way so this is what i figured out is i'm i'm really struggling up against this way and i'm not going to do it again i'm not going to do it again i'm not going to do it again i'm not going to do this with my life this with my life this with my life is that as john the baptist said in john is that as john the baptist said in john is that as john the baptist said in john chapter 3 verse 30 chapter 3 verse 30 chapter 3 verse 30 i must become lesser i must become lesser i must become lesser and he must become greater and he must become greater and he must become greater if there's if there's only one way and if there's if there's only one way and i don't want to fight against that i don't want to fight against that i don't want to fight against that anymore don't submit to it anymore don't submit to it anymore don't submit to it i've got to have a position of i've got to have a position of excuse me, not insignificant." [01:02:24]

"Humility. Humility, humility will always precede your victory. And what's the victory? It says at the end of verse seven, that I will shun evil. This is my battlefield. I don't want to live a path that is evil. Now, last week I defined evil. Do you remember what that was? Something that doesn't have to do with God." [01:06:05]

"And that's what makes evil sneaky. Sometimes it doesn't have to do with God, but it still looks good. It doesn't look dark. It doesn't look bad. And sometimes it does look dark and it does look bad, but it's devoid of God. Therefore, it's still evil. I want to have victory over evil in my life. And so the way that I do that is to live humbly before God and surrender my life to him and acknowledge who he is." [01:06:33]

"William Carey is the father of the modern mission movement. He has my heart because I would serve anywhere, anytime. If God called me to China today, I say, let's go. Thankfully, I'm called to Florence. And William Carey was once being interviewed by somebody and that somebody that was interviewing him said, I heard that you were a shoemaker." [01:07:14]

"His response to that man was, I was not a shoemaker. I was only a shoe repairman. Why is that significant? I mean, William Carey, could have said, sleight of hand, yeah, I made a few shoes here and there, put a few things back together. But instead, humbly, he recognized his position." [01:07:47]

"God took him and started a movement that is lasting us until today. Out of such humility, God rose him up and used him to change the face of our planet for his glory, not for our own. Humility will always precede victory. So this calls us today, are we willing to be humble before God? Will we submit to him? Are we leaning hard on God with whatever it takes? Because those are the type of people that God uses for his glory." [01:08:10]

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Transcript
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