Trusting God's Presence and Timing in Our Lives

 

Summary

Building a spiritual history with God is a journey filled with moments of seeking, hearing, and receiving answers from Him. God is a faithful Father who listens and responds, though not always in the timing we desire. His timing is perfect, even if it seems slow to us. As we walk with Him, we learn to trust His pace and His plans. Our community, the Vineyard, is actively involved in helping those in need, such as through our support of Convoy of Hope, which aids people affected by disasters like the California fires. This is a testament to the power of collective generosity and the impact of giving.

Generosity is a discipline that must be cultivated. Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches us to honor the Lord with our wealth, giving Him our first and best. This principle of firstfruits is about trusting God with what we have, knowing that He will provide abundantly in return. It's not about buying blessings but opening ourselves to receive from Him. Training our hearts to be generous is essential because our natural inclination is towards selfishness. Generosity is an act of faith and obedience, not just an emotional response.

Understanding God's omnipresence is crucial. Psalm 139 reminds us that God is everywhere, and there's no place we can go where He isn't present. This truth is both comforting and challenging. It means that in our darkest moments, when we feel alone or abandoned, God is still with us. His presence is not just a theological concept but a reality that offers guidance and support. We are never truly alone, and His presence is a source of strength and comfort.

In Hebrews 13, we are reminded of God's promise never to leave or forsake us. This assurance is vital in battling the cultural sins of sexual immorality and greed. Contentment comes from knowing that God is with us, providing for us and guiding us. His grip on us is firm, and He will not let us go, even when we falter. This promise is a foundation for living a life of faith and trust in His provision and presence.

As we face the unknown, we can step forward with confidence, knowing that God is with us. His presence is not passive; He is actively involved in our lives, ready to help and guide us. We are called to invite Him into every area of our lives, allowing His presence to transform us and lead us into deeper intimacy with Him.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Perfect Timing: Trust in God's timing, even when it seems slow. His plans are perfect, and His faithfulness ensures that He hears and answers our prayers. Our spiritual history with Him is built on these moments of seeking and receiving. [00:00]

2. The Discipline of Generosity: Generosity is a learned discipline, rooted in faith and obedience. By giving God our first and best, we open ourselves to His abundant provision. It's not about the amount but the heart behind the giving. [30:31]

3. The Comfort of God's Omnipresence: God's omnipresence means we are never alone. In our darkest moments, His presence offers comfort and guidance. This truth challenges us to live with the awareness that He is always with us. [38:02]

4. Contentment Through God's Promise: True contentment comes from knowing God will never leave or forsake us. This promise empowers us to overcome the temptations of sexual immorality and greed, trusting in His provision and presence. [56:25]

5. Inviting God Into Every Area: We are called to invite God into every aspect of our lives, allowing His presence to transform us. This invitation leads to deeper intimacy and a life marked by His guidance and help. [01:14:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Building a Spiritual History
- [02:30] - God's Faithfulness in Answering Prayers
- [05:00] - The Power of Collective Generosity
- [07:15] - Understanding Biblical Generosity
- [10:00] - Honoring God with Firstfruits
- [12:30] - Training the Heart to be Generous
- [15:00] - God's Omnipresence and Comfort
- [18:00] - The Reality of God's Presence
- [20:30] - God's Promise of Never Leaving Us
- [23:00] - Battling Cultural Sins with Contentment
- [26:00] - Inviting God into Every Area of Life
- [29:00] - The Transformative Power of God's Presence
- [32:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 3:9-10
2. Psalm 139:7-10
3. Hebrews 13:4-5

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Proverbs 3:9-10, what are the results of honoring the Lord with our wealth and firstfruits?
2. In Psalm 139:7-10, what does the psalmist say about God's presence and where it can be found?
3. What are the two cultural sins mentioned in Hebrews 13:4-5, and how does the passage suggest we combat them? [44:53]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Convoy of Hope in relation to the Vineyard community's generosity? [30:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "firstfruits" in Proverbs 3:9-10 relate to the idea of trusting God with our resources? [32:16]
2. What does the psalmist's question in Psalm 139:7-10 reveal about human tendencies to hide from God, and how does this relate to the story of Jonah mentioned in the sermon? [38:02]
3. In Hebrews 13:4-5, how does the promise of God's presence provide a foundation for contentment, especially in the face of sexual immorality and greed? [56:25]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of inviting God into every area of our lives, and what impact does this have on our spiritual journey? [01:14:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with God's timing. How can you remind yourself of His perfect timing in your current situation? [49:33]
2. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart of generosity, especially when your natural inclination is towards selfishness? [32:16]
3. How can you become more aware of God's omnipresence in your daily life, especially during challenging times? [38:02]
4. In what ways can you actively combat the cultural sins of sexual immorality and greed in your life, relying on the promise of God's presence? [56:25]
5. Identify an area of your life where you have not fully invited God in. What steps can you take this week to welcome His transformative presence? [01:14:01]
6. Think of a person or situation where you need to trust God's provision and presence. How can you practically express this trust in the coming days? [01:08:28]
7. How can you support your community, like the Vineyard's involvement with Convoy of Hope, in a way that reflects collective generosity and faith in action? [30:31]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
Building a spiritual history with God involves trusting in His perfect timing, even when it seems slow to us. God is a faithful Father who listens and responds to our prayers, though not always in the timing we desire. His plans are perfect, and His faithfulness ensures that He hears and answers our prayers. As we walk with Him, we learn to trust His pace and His plans, knowing that our spiritual history with Him is built on these moments of seeking and receiving. This trust is a foundation for a deeper relationship with God, where we can confidently rely on His wisdom and timing. [00:00]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?


Day 2: Cultivating the Discipline of Generosity
Generosity is a discipline that must be cultivated, rooted in faith and obedience. Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches us to honor the Lord with our wealth, giving Him our first and best. This principle of firstfruits is about trusting God with what we have, knowing that He will provide abundantly in return. It's not about buying blessings but opening ourselves to receive from Him. Training our hearts to be generous is essential because our natural inclination is towards selfishness. Generosity is an act of faith and obedience, not just an emotional response. By giving God our first and best, we open ourselves to His abundant provision. [30:31]

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one way you can practice generosity today, whether through your time, resources, or talents. How can this act of giving help you grow in faith and obedience?


Day 3: Embracing the Comfort of God's Omnipresence
Understanding God's omnipresence is crucial, as it means we are never alone. Psalm 139 reminds us that God is everywhere, and there's no place we can go where He isn't present. This truth is both comforting and challenging. It means that in our darkest moments, when we feel alone or abandoned, God is still with us. His presence is not just a theological concept but a reality that offers guidance and support. We are never truly alone, and His presence is a source of strength and comfort. This awareness challenges us to live with the understanding that He is always with us, providing comfort and guidance. [38:02]

"Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of God's presence in your daily life, especially during challenging times? How does this awareness change your perspective on your current struggles?


Day 4: Finding Contentment Through God's Promise
In Hebrews 13, we are reminded of God's promise never to leave or forsake us. This assurance is vital in battling the cultural sins of sexual immorality and greed. True contentment comes from knowing that God is with us, providing for us and guiding us. His grip on us is firm, and He will not let us go, even when we falter. This promise is a foundation for living a life of faith and trust in His provision and presence. By trusting in His promise, we can overcome the temptations of sexual immorality and greed, finding true contentment in His presence. [56:25]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with contentment. How can you lean on God's promise to never leave or forsake you to find peace and satisfaction in this area?


Day 5: Inviting God Into Every Area of Life
As we face the unknown, we can step forward with confidence, knowing that God is with us. His presence is not passive; He is actively involved in our lives, ready to help and guide us. We are called to invite Him into every area of our lives, allowing His presence to transform us and lead us into deeper intimacy with Him. This invitation leads to a life marked by His guidance and help, where we can experience the transformative power of His presence. By inviting God into every aspect of our lives, we open ourselves to His transformative work and deeper intimacy with Him. [01:14:01]

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have not fully invited God in? What steps can you take today to open this area to His presence and guidance?

Quotes

"He's a faithful Father, though, and when you seek Him, He'll hear you, and He'll answer you. Not always as quickly as we'd like Him to. One of the characteristics, I think, of God is that He's slow, but He gets it done, and His timing is perfect. But to me, He's slow. And so I try to speed Him up, He gets a little bit of road rage, and He puts the brakes on, and He just slows down. You can't speed God up. He's got perfect timing." [00:29:02] (32 seconds)


"If you don't train your heart to be generous, guess what? You won't. Nobody wakes up out of bed and goes, I'm going to be generous. When I'm talking about generous, I'm talking about Bible generosity. I'm talking about the kingdom of God. I want to give you a little promise. I love this promise in the Word in Proverbs 3, verse 9. It says, Honor the Lord with your wealth." [00:30:31] (27 seconds)


"Firstfruits, tithe, and the sacred portion. And what it means, the tithe or the firstfruits, we use the language here, give God your first and your best. This is what a tithe means. And I know a lot of people confuse it. Some people think of the word tithing means giving. No, it means the sacred portion that belongs to God. So if I was a sheep farmer, and I was going to honor the Lord with my firstfruits, then my firstborn sheep goes to God." [00:32:16] (27 seconds)


"Psalm 139, we looked at last week, we started with the big thought that God is omniscient, knows everything. Now, we brought that thought down to practicality that God not only knows everything, he cares for what he knows. He knows what you need before you ask. Remember we said he's numbered the hairs on our head?" [00:35:02] (24 seconds)


"That's a lot of hair. He numbered every one of them for every one of us. That's because he cares. It's not just that he knows and he could win Jeopardy or win the game. It's not that he knows, it's that he knows in knowing a loving heart caring for us as our Father. Now, this next pillar is the big word is omnipresence." [00:36:31] (27 seconds)


"Because God has said, I will never leave you. Never forsake you. Now, the writer of Hebrews pulls this verse out of the context in the Old Testament that Moses has died and young Joshua now is going to lead Israel into the promised land. And God says to Joshua, I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. Now, the writer of Hebrews brings this promise into the New Testament, into available for all. But I want you to get this. Because the negatives that are a positive, it doesn't come out in the English as well. But it's really, it's he said, never, and I mean never. That's the idea here. Will I leave you?" [00:56:25] (58 seconds)


"Live in the mystery, live in the mystery. Cause I have no idea where I was going, but the thought that he'll never let go of me, he'll never drop me. The fear is my salvation. Security is not in how hard I can hold onto his hand. It's how hard he holds onto mine. And when he says, I'm telling you. Never." [01:00:58] (28 seconds)


"When you're at your lowest point, you can't feel God, see God, hear God. You can't, you just know that he's promised. It's not just a presence that he's kind of manifested to you. That's powerful. When he turns the volume up, this is deeper. This is a no. This is a knowing without feeling. This is a knowing without evidence. This is a knowing based on one thing, our God promised." [01:03:19] (32 seconds)


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Transcript
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