Trusting God's Faithfulness: Building His Kingdom Together
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's unwavering faithfulness, even when circumstances seem bleak. We began by reflecting on a personal story about a seemingly dead tree that, despite appearances, was very much alive. This story serves as a metaphor for our lives, reminding us that even when we feel barren or lifeless, God is at work beneath the surface, nurturing and preparing us for a season of renewal and growth. Worship is our response to this truth, a declaration of trust in God's promises and His eternal faithfulness.
We delved into the concept of being builders for God's kingdom, drawing inspiration from biblical figures like Moses, David, Solomon, Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Each of these individuals had a unique role in God's plan, emphasizing that every one of us has a part to play in building His kingdom. Jesus, the master builder, exemplified this through His life and teachings. He was always about His Father's business, demonstrating that our primary focus should be on fulfilling God's will rather than conforming to human expectations.
We are called to build God's kingdom by living out the fruit of the Spirit and sharing the message of repentance and grace. This involves recognizing our unique gifts and using them to serve others, whether in the church or in our daily lives. It's not about seeking personal advancement or recognition but about submitting to God's will and contributing to His eternal kingdom.
As we navigate our roles, we must resist the temptation to compare ourselves to others or to measure our worth by worldly standards. Instead, we should seek God's guidance through prayer and scripture, trusting that He has equipped us for the tasks He has set before us. By embracing our God-given roles, we can experience the fulfillment and joy that comes from being part of something greater than ourselves.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Faithfulness in Every Season: Just as a tree may appear dead but is alive beneath the surface, our lives may seem barren, yet God is working in unseen ways. Trust in His faithfulness, knowing that He is preparing us for renewal and growth. [23:00]
- Worship as a Declaration of Trust: Worship is not just singing; it's a declaration of trust in God's promises. Even when we can't see His work, we can be confident that He is moving and fulfilling His word. [35:53]
- Every Role is Vital in God's Kingdom: Like the biblical builders, each of us has a unique role in God's plan. No role is insignificant; all contribute to the advancement of His kingdom. Embrace your calling and serve with joy. [54:59]
- Building According to God's Blueprint: Jesus taught us to focus on God's will rather than human expectations. By spending time with God, we receive the blueprints for our lives and can build according to His purpose. [01:02:18]
- Submitting to God's Will: Jesus exemplified submission to God's will, even when it was difficult. We are called to do the same, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own desires. [01:25:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:00] - The Tree Metaphor
[35:53] - Worship and Trust
[39:36] - God's Healing Presence
[42:23] - Trusting God's Word
[47:40] - Spiritual Focus
[51:08] - Daily Dependence on God
[52:15] - Time with God Multiplies
[53:49] - Builders Series Overview
[54:59] - Biblical Builders' Roles
[57:11] - Jesus' Example of Building
[01:02:18] - Building God's Kingdom
[01:05:21] - The Call to Repentance
[01:09:07] - Understanding Our Role
[01:25:24] - Submitting to God's Will
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:45-49
2. Matthew 6:9-13
3. Isaiah 9:6-7
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 2:45-49, what was Jesus doing when Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple, and how did He respond to their concern? [57:11]
2. According to Matthew 6:9-13, what are the key elements of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, and how do they relate to building God's kingdom? [01:02:18]
3. How does the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7 describe the nature of the Messiah's kingdom, and how does this contrast with the expectations of the people during Jesus' time? [01:12:55]
4. What metaphor was used in the sermon to illustrate God's faithfulness, and how does it relate to our personal experiences of feeling barren or lifeless? [23:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' response to Mary and Joseph in Luke 2:49 reflect His understanding of His role in God's plan, and what can we learn from this about our own roles? [57:11]
2. In what ways does the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 guide us in aligning our lives with God's will and purpose? [01:02:18]
3. How might the misunderstanding of the messianic prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7 have affected the people's expectations of Jesus, and what does this teach us about aligning our expectations with God's plans? [01:12:55]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of not comparing ourselves to others. How can we practically apply this principle in our daily lives to focus on our unique roles in God's kingdom? [01:09:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like the tree in the sermon metaphor—barren or lifeless. How did you see God's faithfulness at work beneath the surface during that season? [23:00]
2. Jesus taught us to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done. What specific area of your life do you need to surrender to God's will this week? [01:02:18]
3. Consider the roles you currently play in your church or community. How can you embrace these roles with joy, knowing that every role is vital in God's kingdom? [54:59]
4. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that you want to cultivate more in your life. What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate this fruit in your interactions with others? [01:03:18]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of not seeking personal advancement but submitting to God's will. Is there an area in your life where you are tempted to seek recognition? How can you shift your focus to serving God's kingdom instead? [01:25:24]
6. How can you resist the temptation to compare yourself to others and instead focus on the unique gifts and calling God has given you? [01:09:07]
7. Think of a person in your life who may not know about God's faithfulness. How can you share the message of repentance and grace with them this week? [01:05:21]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Trusting in God's Hidden Workings
In life, we often encounter seasons that feel barren or lifeless, much like a tree that appears dead. However, beneath the surface, God is at work, nurturing and preparing us for renewal and growth. This unseen work is a testament to His unwavering faithfulness, reminding us that even when we cannot perceive it, God is actively involved in our lives. Trusting in His faithfulness means believing that He is preparing us for a future season of fruitfulness, even when our current circumstances seem bleak. [23:00]
"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant." (Job 14:7-9, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that feels barren or stagnant. How can you trust that God is working beneath the surface to bring about renewal and growth?
Day 2: Worship as an Act of Trust
Worship is more than just singing songs; it is a profound declaration of trust in God's promises and His eternal faithfulness. Even when we cannot see His work, worship allows us to express our confidence that God is moving and fulfilling His word. It is an act of surrender, acknowledging that God's plans are greater than our understanding. By engaging in worship, we align our hearts with His truth and open ourselves to His transformative power. [35:53]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)
Reflection: During your next time of worship, focus on one promise of God that you find difficult to trust. How can you use worship as a way to declare your trust in that promise today?
Day 3: Embracing Your Unique Role in God's Kingdom
Each of us has a unique role to play in God's kingdom, much like the biblical figures who contributed to His plan. No role is insignificant, and every contribution advances His kingdom. Embracing your calling means recognizing your unique gifts and using them to serve others, whether in the church or in your daily life. It is not about seeking personal advancement or recognition but about submitting to God's will and contributing to His eternal kingdom with joy and purpose. [54:59]
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one unique gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift to serve others and contribute to God's kingdom this week?
Day 4: Building According to God's Blueprint
Jesus taught us to focus on God's will rather than human expectations. By spending time with God, we receive the blueprints for our lives and can build according to His purpose. This involves seeking His guidance through prayer and scripture, trusting that He has equipped us for the tasks He has set before us. By aligning our lives with His blueprint, we can experience the fulfillment and joy that comes from being part of something greater than ourselves. [01:02:18]
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are trying to build according to your own plans. How can you seek God's blueprint for this area and align your actions with His will?
Day 5: Submitting to God's Will
Jesus exemplified submission to God's will, even when it was difficult. We are called to do the same, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own desires. This submission involves letting go of our own expectations and embracing the path God has set before us. By doing so, we can experience the peace and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with His purpose. [01:25:24]
"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'" (Matthew 26:39, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to submit to God's will. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to Him and trust in His greater plan?
Quotes
I got a visual picture of a tree in my backyard, and I'm reminded of the scripture that says that as long as there is time, there will be seed time and harvest time, and this song kept saying, and your faithfulness will remain, and we planted this tree, and it was beautiful, and it had these green leaves and these beautiful flowers on it, and one day, I walked into my backyard, and the tree was bare. [00:22:33] (27 seconds)
I need us to understand this morning, this is what worship is about. It is worship to the king of kings. It is lifting exaltation to the one who is sitting on the throne, and even when we don't see what's happening, God's moving because he's faithful, because he remains, and even though in my natural eye, it looked like I had a stick in the grass, it was really a tree that was producing inside until it broke forth. [00:23:53] (30 seconds)
God is good and God is faithful. He will never leave you. He'll never forsake you. He is in complete control. I don't want to fall down, so I'm tying my shoe, all right? God is good, faithful. He is in control. He will never leave. He will never forsake you. He will sustain you. He holds it all together. [00:40:49] (19 seconds)
The vision of our church. We say it. We say it this way. We exist to get people to a place where they will acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily. You and I need him every day. And can I tell you something really, really, really cool about our God? He will have a moment like this that we just experienced individually with every single one of us every single day should we choose to encounter him. [00:51:37] (27 seconds)
We talked about Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. How throughout a span of about 100, 120 years after they had been in Babylonian captivity, they're used by God to rebuild the temple and rebuild the walls of the temple. Again, with individual people that were given specific tasks. And we learn from all of these men and women that we are called to build, that we've got to spend time with God to get the blueprints, and then we've got to execute that which God has for our life. [00:55:50] (33 seconds)
God's builders are about God's business. God's builders are about without God's business. We look in the scripture in the book of Luke chapter two, go to Luke chapter two. In Luke chapter two, Jesus, along with his entire family, had gone over to the temple. And when they were going back, or I'm sorry, they were returning back from Nazareth, they're going and they're walking for three days and Mary and Joseph think Jesus is in the group. [00:56:45] (36 seconds)
Every role is important sometimes we think that our role is less important than the other one because nobody sees what we did but it's important and let me put it to you in a tangible manner every role at 3w church is equally important to my role at the pulpit on this altar the person who vacuumed the sanctuary so it would be clean, the person who cleaned the bathrooms, who mopped the floors, who threw away the trash, the person who got here at 7 .30 in the morning and prepared a coffee pot and cut pastries and did different things to prepare it, the person who got here early to open the door to let you in, the musicians that are gifted and practice their craft to come and be used by God. [00:59:49] (50 seconds)
We have allowed corporate America mentality, if you would, business mindset from the world to filter its way into the body of Christ and the church. And so we begin to see areas of service or ministry as stepping stones. We're authentic. We're authentic. We're authentic. We're authentic. We're authentic. We're authentic. I'm called to pastor. So let me find where they're hiring kids pastor. So I can go there and then I'll find a bigger opportunity to go there and then another one to go youth pastor because that's the next progression. [01:14:17] (44 seconds)
You weren't born by mistake in this time period. you weren't born by mistake into that family yeah the devil might have lied to you through somebody and said you were a mistake the devil might to try to kill your purpose by saying that you shouldn't have been born the devil might have tried to lie to you and tell all these things to bring in weights and bitterness and and arguments and and and all kind of offense and all these things so that we don't walk into our call embrace it walk into the call build his kingdom don't go by man's expectations. [01:27:22] (49 seconds)
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