Trusting God's Plan: Embracing Unexpected Deliverance and Leadership

Devotional

Day 1: Praying for Leaders

Regardless of political affiliations, it is crucial to pray for our leaders. God can work through anyone, just as He did with Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. Our prayers should focus on asking God to grant them wisdom and humility. [01:18]

In times of political tension, it is easy to become disheartened or frustrated with our leaders. However, the Bible teaches us the importance of praying for those in authority. By lifting our leaders in prayer, we acknowledge that God is ultimately in control and can work through anyone to accomplish His purposes. Just as God used leaders like Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, who were not always righteous, He can use our current leaders to bring about His will. Our prayers should be for their wisdom, humility, and guidance, trusting that God can influence their decisions for the greater good.

Praying for our leaders is an act of faith and obedience. It requires us to set aside our personal opinions and trust that God’s plan is greater than our understanding. By doing so, we align ourselves with God’s will and open our hearts to His peace, knowing that He is sovereign over all nations and rulers.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Reflection: Think of a leader you struggle to support. Can you commit to praying for them daily this week, asking God to grant them wisdom and humility?

Day 2: Trusting God’s Unconventional Plans

The Israelites expected a political savior, but God sent Jesus, who defied their expectations. Similarly, God’s plans for us may not align with our desires, but His ways are higher and ultimately for our good. [07:26]

The Israelites longed for a political savior who would free them from Roman oppression. However, God’s plan was far different from their expectations. He sent Jesus, not as a military leader, but as a humble servant who would bring spiritual salvation. This unexpected approach often confounded those who were looking for a different kind of Messiah. In our own lives, we may have specific expectations of how God should answer our prayers or intervene in our situations. Yet, His plans are often unconventional and may not align with our desires.

Trusting in God’s wisdom and timing requires faith and patience. It means believing that His ways are higher and ultimately for our good, even when we cannot see the bigger picture. By surrendering our expectations and embracing His plan, we open ourselves to the unexpected blessings and deliverance that He has in store for us.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "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: 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 3: The Power of Forgiveness

Holding onto grudges can hinder our spiritual growth. By choosing to forgive those who have wronged us, we release ourselves from the bondage of bitterness and allow God’s healing to flow into our lives. [50:31]

Forgiveness is a powerful act that can transform our hearts and lives. When we hold onto grudges and refuse to forgive, we become trapped in a cycle of bitterness and resentment. This not only hinders our spiritual growth but also affects our relationships and overall well-being. By choosing to forgive those who have wronged us, we release ourselves from this bondage and open the door for God’s healing and peace to flow into our lives.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning the wrong or forgetting the hurt. It is a conscious decision to let go of the desire for revenge and to trust God with the outcome. As we forgive, we reflect the character of Christ, who forgave us even when we were undeserving. This act of grace can bring about reconciliation and restoration, both in our hearts and in our relationships.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 4: God’s Deliverance

The story of Moses and the Israelites teaches us that God’s deliverance may come in unexpected ways. The parting of the Red Sea was unimaginable, yet it was God’s perfect plan. Trusting in His methods, even when they seem improbable, is essential. [39:50]

The story of Moses and the Israelites is a powerful reminder of God’s ability to deliver His people in miraculous and unexpected ways. When the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, it seemed like an impossible situation. Yet, God parted the sea, providing a way of escape that no one could have imagined. This act of deliverance was a testament to God’s power and faithfulness.

In our own lives, we may face situations that seem insurmountable. We may feel trapped or hopeless, unable to see a way out. However, God’s methods of deliverance are often beyond our understanding. He can make a way where there seems to be no way, and His timing is always perfect. Trusting in His methods, even when they seem improbable, requires faith and reliance on His promises.

Exodus 14:21-22 (ESV): "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you trust God’s deliverance and look for His unexpected ways of providing a solution?

Day 5: Gentle Leadership of Jesus

Unlike human leaders who may use harsh methods, Jesus leads us with gentleness. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Embracing His leadership brings peace and rest to our souls. [49:02]

Jesus’ leadership stands in stark contrast to the harsh methods often employed by human leaders. He leads with gentleness, compassion, and humility. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, offering us rest and peace for our souls. This gentle leadership invites us to follow Him, not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and trust.

Embracing Jesus’ leadership means allowing Him to guide us in every aspect of our lives. It means surrendering our burdens and anxieties to Him, knowing that He cares for us deeply. By following His example of humility and gentleness, we can experience true freedom and peace, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today? How can you embrace Jesus’ gentle leadership and find rest for your soul by surrendering these burdens to Him?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the importance of trusting God’s plan, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations. We began by acknowledging the political tensions and the need to pray for our leaders, regardless of our personal opinions. This led us to reflect on the biblical story of Moses and the Israelites, who were enslaved for over 400 years. Despite their bondage, they longed for freedom and God heard their cries. Moses, despite his flaws and initial reluctance, was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This journey was fraught with challenges, including the skepticism of the Israelites and the pursuit by Pharaoh’s army. Yet, God’s deliverance came in unexpected ways, such as the parting of the Red Sea.

We also discussed the portrayal of Jesus in "The Chosen" series, emphasizing that while it is a fictional account, it captures the essence of the Gospel. Jesus did not come as a political leader or a military general, but as a humble servant. This humility and unexpected approach often confounded those who were looking for a different kind of Messiah. Similarly, in our lives, God’s answers to our prayers may not come in the ways we anticipate. We must trust in His wisdom and timing.

The sermon concluded with a call to forgive those who have wronged us and to allow Jesus to lead us gently, unlike the harsh methods of human leaders. By embracing His yoke, which is easy and light, we can find true freedom and peace.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Praying for Leaders: Regardless of political affiliations, it is crucial to pray for our leaders. God can work through anyone, just as He did with Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. Our prayers should focus on asking God to grant them wisdom and humility. [01:18]
2. Trusting God’s Unconventional Plans: The Israelites expected a political savior, but God sent Jesus, who defied their expectations. Similarly, God’s plans for us may not align with our desires, but His ways are higher and ultimately for our good. [07:26]
3. The Power of Forgiveness: Holding onto grudges can hinder our spiritual growth. By choosing to forgive those who have wronged us, we release ourselves from the bondage of bitterness and allow God’s healing to flow into our lives. [50:31]
4. God’s Deliverance: The story of Moses and the Israelites teaches us that God’s deliverance may come in unexpected ways. The parting of the Red Sea was unimaginable, yet it was God’s perfect plan. Trusting in His methods, even when they seem improbable, is essential. [39:50]
5. Gentle Leadership of Jesus: Unlike human leaders who may use harsh methods, Jesus leads us with gentleness. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Embracing His leadership brings peace and rest to our souls. [49:02]
### [49:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:18] - Praying for Our Nation
[02:52] - The Chosen Series
[04:49] - Struggling with Sermon Topics
[07:26] - Misconceptions About the Messiah
[09:28] - Trusting God’s Plan
[11:21] - The Israelites’ Bondage
[14:07] - Longing for Freedom
[19:48] - Moses’ Burning Bush Experience
[23:12] - Moses’ Reluctance
[27:24] - God Hears Our Cries
[31:01] - The Ten Plagues
[36:29] - Crossing the Red Sea
[41:01] - Strength in Adversity
[45:07] - God’s Unexpected Deliverance
[49:02] - Jesus’ Gentle Leadership
[50:31] - The Power of Forgiveness
[51:17] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reaction of the Israelites when they saw Pharaoh’s army pursuing them at the Red Sea? ([36:29])
How did God demonstrate His power and deliverance for the Israelites at the Red Sea? ([38:07])
According to the sermon, how is Jesus’ leadership different from human leaders? ([49:02])
What does the sermon suggest about the importance of praying for our leaders, regardless of our political views? ([01:18])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the Israelites struggled to trust Moses and God’s plan during their escape from Egypt? ([30:28])
How does the story of the parting of the Red Sea illustrate the concept of trusting in God’s unconventional plans? ([39:50])
In what ways does Jesus’ gentle leadership provide a contrast to the harsh methods of human leaders, as discussed in the sermon? ([49:02])
How can the act of forgiveness, as mentioned in the sermon, lead to spiritual freedom and peace? ([50:31])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you had to trust God’s plan even though it didn’t align with your expectations. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? ([09:28])
How can you actively pray for the leaders of your nation, regardless of your political stance? What specific prayers can you offer for their wisdom and humility? ([01:18])
Think of someone who has wronged you. What steps can you take this week to begin the process of forgiveness and release any bitterness you may hold? ([50:31])
Jesus’ yoke is described as easy and His burden light. What burdens are you currently carrying that you need to surrender to Jesus? How can you practically do this? ([49:02])
How can you cultivate a mindset of trust in God’s unconventional methods, especially when facing challenges that seem insurmountable? ([39:50])
Discuss a situation where you expected a certain type of leadership but received something different. How did this experience shape your understanding of leadership and trust? ([07:26])
Identify one area in your life where you need to let go of control and allow God to lead. What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to Him? ([23:12])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The joy of the Lord is our strength. Amen. That's all it is to it. He's good and His mercy endures forever. Amen. But my heart has kind of been heavy in some ways. And I'm not that guy that likes to talk about politics. I don't tell you to vote for anything like that. That's not me. And so, over the course of the last few days, people have been joking at some things that were perceived as funny. you've got one side of the political aisle and another side of the political aisle. And I'm going, is this the best we have to offer? But, that being said, I refuse to make fun of a man. But I will pray for our leaders." [01:18] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When the son of God makes a show in your life. And I tell you, and this is the hardest thing, whether you can admit it or not, is to actually trust him with your life, with your family. Because I'm just going to go ahead and tell you, especially for those of you that are new, when he takes over, he ain't going to run your show the way you think he ought to. Amen. He ain't going to veer from the word of God." [08:51] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The closer you get to the fire of God, the more apt you are to hear His voice. Now I'm gonna tell you as a human, don't get too close, because once you hear His voice, you're accountable for what you heard. But as a man of God, I gotta tell you now, you get as close as you can. Well, I'm afraid of what it might cost me. I'm afraid of the price I'll pay if I don't pay the price that it'll cost me. Because I found out that He already bought and paid for it." [21:29] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Some of the things that you've been through that were bonded, some of the things that you've been through in life, you're still, it's brought you to this place where you're stronger. I've just got to tell you, you're stronger than you think you are. You've got more in you than you think you do. You can take this thing, and when you submit what God has given you, when you submit who you are, physically, mentally, emotionally, and you mix it with His Holy Spirit, He can take you further than you ever dreamed." [41:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He may not be answering your prayer the way you told him to. Don't act like you didn't tell him how to do it. He may not be leading you exactly how you want to be led. It's hard. It's hard to pray, how many of you have ever broken a horse? Probably not many in this crowd, but some of y'all have. How many of y'all have ever rode a horse? How many of you know what a horse is? How many of you have ever... You were born of a woman." [45:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "But this morning, as I was. Not please hear me, not grieving for our nation, not yet. But almost and burdened for our nation, burdened for my family, burdened for our church family. And many thought Jesus, the Messiah. In the first century. as you know, if you read the Bible and you kind of kind of got a grasp of the gospel. That first century, the Romans had come in that were a godless nation, that were an idolatrous nation. You're going to worship Caesar or we're going to kill you. Kind of that kind of thing, you know, and it had overthrown Jerusalem and in Israel and put them just under their thumb and go. We're going to let you live, but we're going to tell you what to do. We're going to let you live. We can pretend to worship your God. But don't take it too far." [05:49] (88 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You may have, come on mamas, come on daddies. You may have been calling out to God on behalf of your descendants. You may have been calling out to God for your situation and calling out to God and calling out to God and calling out to God. And it seems like he has not heard. I came here to tell you this morning, God has heard your cry. God has heard your prayer. And he is taking notice as we speak. The answer's on the way. It may not be the way you think it's going to be. It may not be the order you thought you put in." [27:24] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The same God that got you to this place is not the God that's going to drop you. The same God that brought you here is the same God that's going to bring you through. Across. Pharaoh hot on the hills. Pharaoh was right behind them. I don't know how close he was, but, the Red Sea ain't that big. And most people say that where they crossed over was a little, kind of toward the end of it. So, they're booking. Oh, I'm glad I was a slave because I'm in good shape. I can run. I'm not going to wear down. See, some of the things that you've been through that were bonded, some of the things that you've been through in life, you're still, it's brought you to this place where you're stronger." [40:30] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The disciples in Jesus' day, were looking for something that the Lord had no interest in. Children of Israel were looking for a leader to do something that the Lord had no interest in. And let me tell you something. It worked out far better for them than anything they could ever dream of. He can do more. He can bring more than you can ask or think. Hallelujah. He can take you farther than what you ask for. He can do more than you can think of. That's my Jesus." [45:07] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Some of our problem is people have tried to break you. People have tried to do you the way only God should have done you. And so therefore, you blow up. Therefore, you're hesitant. Therefore, you get angry. And you don't want to be broken because it involves pain. But then Jesus comes along. just wants to lead you. Yeah. He says, take my yoke upon you. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. And it's been so hard for me in my life to allow him to lead me. And it's been even harder for some of you because you got broken way worse than I ever did. Life handed you something that was right. Religion handed you something that was right. His yoke is easy and his burden is light." [48:28] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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