Trusting God's Plan Amidst Disappointment and Growth
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of pouring out our hearts to God and allowing Him to respond. He uses the example of Moses, who despite his complaints and doubts, experienced the power of God in his life. The pastor encourages the congregation to believe that God speaks today and to grasp the significance of the phrase "now you will see what I can do," reminding them that they are on the brink of witnessing God's power like never before.
The pastor then discusses the importance of living a God-centered life and being in community with others. He reflects on the life of Moses and how God developed him spiritually to be guided by fire. The pastor acknowledges that none of us were ready to fulfill God's calling when we first came to Christ, but God is constantly developing and maturing us. He introduces the topic of disappointment in following God's calling and purpose, highlighting that as Christ followers, we may experience disappointments in our lives despite God's work in us.
The pastor addresses the disappointment that many people feel towards God when their prayers are not answered or their situations worsen. He empathizes with the congregation, acknowledging that everyone has experienced a time when things didn't happen as expected, leading to disappointment. The pastor suggests that as Christ followers, it is important to hold onto our expectations loosely and recognize that God's view of the future may differ from ours. He emphasizes that God wants to work in and through us, even if His plans are unknown to us in the present moment.
The pastor emphasizes that God's main priority is our spiritual development and eternal life. He highlights that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and He sees beyond what we can perceive in the moment. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust that God is working in their lives, even when they don't understand what is happening. He reminds them that God is sovereign, in control, and on the throne.
The sermon concludes with the pastor reflecting on the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt. He acknowledges that there are times when we pray for something and it seems to get worse instead of better. He warns that this disappointment can lead to a mentality of disappointment with God, where we focus on when God didn't show up for us instead of recognizing His power and blessings.
Key Takeaways:
- God speaks to us today, and we should pour out our hearts to Him. Just like Moses, we can experience the power of God in our lives if we don't quit or stop believing in Him. God can respond to us in different ways, such as speaking directly to our spirits or using His word, friends, or circumstances. [12:45]
- Living a God-centered life and being in community with others is crucial. God is constantly developing and maturing us to fulfill His calling. However, we may experience disappointments in our lives despite God's work in us. It's important to remember that God's plans for us may not always align with our expectations. [24:30]
- Disappointment towards God often arises when our prayers are not answered or our situations worsen. As Christ followers, we should hold onto our expectations loosely and trust that God is working in and through us, even if His plans are unknown to us in the present moment. [36:15]
- God's main priority is our spiritual development and eternal life. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and He sees beyond what we can perceive in the moment. We should trust that God is sovereign, in control, and on the throne, even when we don't understand what is happening in our lives. [48:00]
- There are times when we pray for something and it seems to get worse instead of better. This can lead to a mentality of disappointment with God, where we focus on when God didn't show up for us instead of recognizing His power and blessings. It's important to remember that many things don't happen in people's lives not because God doesn't want them to happen, but because people stop praying and become disappointed when circumstances worsen. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 5:1-2: "Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’ But Pharaoh said, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.'"
2. Exodus 6:6-8: "Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’"
3. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Observation Questions:
1. What was Pharaoh's response when Moses and Aaron asked him to let the Israelites go?
2. What promises did God make to the Israelites in Exodus 6:6-8?
3. What does John 3:16 reveal about God's love for the world?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Pharaoh's response to Moses and Aaron reflect the attitudes of people who do not know God?
2. How do God's promises to the Israelites in Exodus 6:6-8 reflect His power and sovereignty?
3. How does John 3:16 relate to the concept of eternal life and spiritual development?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt like Moses, doubting and complaining, yet still experienced God's power in your life? How did that experience shape your faith?
2. Have you ever felt disappointed when your prayers were not answered or your situation worsened? How can you hold onto your expectations loosely and trust in God's plans during these times?
3. How can you live a more God-centered life and foster a sense of community with others this week?
4. Can you think of a situation in your life where you focused on when God didn't show up instead of recognizing His power and blessings? How can you shift your perspective in such situations?
5. What is one specific way you can demonstrate your trust in God's sovereignty and control in your life this week?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Communication
God is not silent; He speaks to us today, and we should pour out our hearts to Him. Just like Moses, we can experience the power of God in our lives if we don't quit or stop believing in Him. God can respond to us in different ways, such as speaking directly to our spirits or using His word, friends, or circumstances. [12:45]
Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt God was speaking to you. How did you respond and what was the outcome?
Day 2: Living a God-Centered Life
Living a God-centered life and being in community with others is crucial. God is constantly developing and maturing us to fulfill His calling. However, we may experience disappointments in our lives despite God's work in us. It's important to remember that God's plans for us may not always align with our expectations. [24:30]
Proverbs 16:9 - "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to align your plans with God's? How can you surrender this area to Him?
Day 3: Trusting God Amidst Disappointment
Disappointment towards God often arises when our prayers are not answered or our situations worsen. As Christ followers, we should hold onto our expectations loosely and trust that God is working in and through us, even if His plans are unknown to us in the present moment. [36:15]
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Can you recall a recent disappointment in your life? How can you shift your perspective to trust God's plan in this situation?
Day 4: Prioritizing Spiritual Development
God's main priority is our spiritual development and eternal life. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and He sees beyond what we can perceive in the moment. We should trust that God is sovereign, in control, and on the throne, even when we don't understand what is happening in our lives. [48:00]
1 Peter 1:6-7 - "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life that needs development? How can you actively work on this area this week?
Day 5: Overcoming Disappointment with God
There are times when we pray for something and it seems to get worse instead of better. This can lead to a mentality of disappointment with God, where we focus on when God didn't show up for us instead of recognizing His power and blessings. It's important to remember that many things don't happen in people's lives not because God doesn't want them to happen, but because people stop praying and become disappointed when circumstances worsen. [59:30]
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Can you identify a situation where you stopped praying because of worsening circumstances? How can you recommit to prayer in this area?
Quotes
"God is wanting us to really know what he wants to do in our lives so that you and I can be guided by the spirit of God, the holy spirit in a way that in a different dimension, in a different power that we've never seen before." [05:09]
"There are some moments in Moses's life where he becomes disappointed following the calling and purpose of God... we get this mindset that there should be no disappointments in our lives if God is working in me and through me." [05:54]
"Moses you are on the brink of seeing the power of God in your life like never before #!!30:32!!# family you need to get that that that phrase in your spirit now you will see what I can do let that get in your spirit today let that begin to resonate in your spirit let it jump out at you today because for some of you you're in a state of disappointment for some of you you just want to give up but you are on the brink of seeing the power of God God in your life like never before"
"There are times when you and I will pray about something and it just seems to get worse... maybe I should just stop praying for it because the more I pray for it the worse it gets." #!!19:17!!#
"There is a spiritual warfare that is taking place in that circumstance and in your life because the enemy knows the power of God... he's going to discourage you any way he can... a lot of things they just don't happen in people's life not because God doesn't want it to happen, it's because people have stopped praying for it." #!!20:29!!#
"God wants to go far beyond what you and I can ever imagine, that his ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our eyes, that he goes beyond, he sees beyond what we see in the moment." #!!09:55!!#
"No matter what's happening in our lives, no matter what happens when we are praying... we need to accept as a foundation of our walk with God that he is working in us, that he is Sovereign, that he is in control, he is in charge and we are not." #!!11:08!!#
"Disappointment in God can become a permanent state in a believer's mind that we have to come to a place where we don't wrestle with flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and God is in control that God is working behind the scenes bigger and better than we can imagine." #!!21:38!!#
"Don't decide not to serve God because your circumstances are going from bad to worse... The disappointment happens when our expectations are not met... Things go from bad to worse or it just doesn't turn out like we expected." #!!22:14!!#
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