Trusting God's Timing and Embracing His Promises

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's faithfulness to His promises, as illustrated in Acts 1:6-11. We began by acknowledging the human tendency to desire specific timelines and details about God's plans, much like the disciples who asked Jesus about the restoration of Israel's kingdom. Jesus' response, emphasizing that it is not for us to know the times or seasons, redirects our focus from the "when" to the assurance that God will fulfill His promises. This calls us to trust in His timing and character rather than our understanding.

We delved into the concept of the "already, not yet" kingdom of God, where the kingdom is present through Jesus' teachings and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, yet not fully realized until His return. This dual reality invites us to live as ambassadors of reconciliation, sharing the good news and embodying kingdom values while awaiting the complete fulfillment of God's promises.

The sermon also highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit as the source of power for carrying out God's mission. Unlike worldly endeavors that rely on human strength and planning, the work of the kingdom is empowered by the Spirit, who testifies to Jesus and guides us in truth. This reliance on the Spirit challenges our cultural inclination towards self-sufficiency and independence, urging us to lean into divine guidance and strength.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of active waiting, recognizing that God's timing often involves periods of preparation and growth. Just as the apostles waited for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we too are called to wait on God's promises, trusting that He is working in and through us during these times. This waiting is not passive but involves living out our mission with faith and anticipation.

Finally, we were reminded of the ultimate promise of Jesus' return, which fuels our mission to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. As a community, we are called to work together, empowered by the Spirit, to share the message of salvation and invite others into the grace and redemption offered through Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- God's faithfulness to His promises does not always come with specific timelines. Our focus should be on trusting His character and the assurance that He will fulfill His word, rather than on the details of when and how it will happen. [13:14]

- The kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future hope. We are called to live as ambassadors of this kingdom, embodying its values and sharing the good news, while awaiting its full realization at Jesus' return. [19:13]

- The Holy Spirit is the source of power for fulfilling God's mission. Our reliance should be on the Spirit's guidance and strength, rather than our abilities or plans, as we carry out the work of the kingdom. [25:22]

- Active waiting is a crucial part of our faith journey. During times of waiting, God prepares and grows us, inviting us to trust in His timing and purposes, even when they are not immediately apparent. [30:22]

- The promise of Jesus' return motivates our mission to spread the gospel. As a community, we are empowered by the Spirit to work together in sharing the message of salvation and inviting others into the grace of God. [33:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Opening Prayer
- [02:00] - Daylight Savings Reflection
- [04:30] - Introduction to God's Promises
- [06:15] - Acts 1:6-11 Overview
- [08:00] - The Already, Not Yet Kingdom
- [10:45] - Trusting God's Timing
- [13:14] - Faith Over Details
- [15:30] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [19:13] - Active Waiting
- [22:00] - The Power of the Spirit
- [25:22] - Leaning on the Spirit
- [28:00] - God's Faithfulness in Waiting
- [30:22] - The Promise of Jesus' Return
- [33:46] - Our Mission as a Church
- [36:00] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 1:6-11

Observation Questions:
1. What question did the disciples ask Jesus in Acts 1:6, and how did Jesus respond to their inquiry about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel? [13:14]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the "already, not yet" concept of the kingdom of God? [19:13]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers for God's mission? [25:22]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of waiting on God's promises, as illustrated by the apostles' experience before Pentecost? [30:22]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have chosen not to reveal the specific times or seasons for the fulfillment of God's promises to the disciples? How does this relate to the concept of faith? [13:14]
2. How does the "already, not yet" understanding of the kingdom of God affect the way believers live out their faith today? [19:13]
3. In what ways does the reliance on the Holy Spirit challenge cultural values of self-sufficiency and independence? [25:22]
4. How can periods of waiting be seen as opportunities for growth and preparation in a believer's life? [30:22]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were eager to know God's specific plans for your life. How did you handle the uncertainty, and what did you learn about trusting God's timing? [13:14]
2. The sermon discusses living as ambassadors of the kingdom. What are some practical ways you can embody kingdom values in your daily interactions? [19:13]
3. Consider your current reliance on the Holy Spirit. Are there areas in your life where you tend to depend more on your own strength rather than seeking the Spirit's guidance? How can you shift this reliance? [25:22]
4. Think about a current situation where you are waiting on God. How can you actively engage in your faith during this waiting period, rather than being passive? [30:22]
5. The promise of Jesus' return is a motivator for spreading the gospel. Identify one person in your life who you can share the message of salvation with this week. What steps will you take to initiate that conversation? [33:46]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to trust in God's promises, especially during times of uncertainty or waiting? [30:22]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on community and collective mission. How can you contribute to your church's mission to spread the gospel and invite others into God's grace? [33:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God's Timing Over Our Understanding
God's faithfulness to His promises often challenges our desire for specific timelines and details. Like the disciples who asked Jesus about the restoration of Israel's kingdom, we too can become fixated on the "when" and "how" of God's plans. However, Jesus redirects our focus, reminding us that it is not for us to know the times or seasons. Instead, we are called to trust in God's character and the assurance that He will fulfill His word. This requires a shift from relying on our understanding to placing our confidence in His perfect timing and faithfulness. [13:14]

"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 in your life where you are struggling to trust God's timing? How can you actively choose to trust His character over your understanding today?


Day 2: Living in the "Already, Not Yet" Kingdom
The kingdom of God is a profound reality that is both present and future. Through Jesus' teachings and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the kingdom is already here, yet it awaits full realization at His return. This dual reality calls us to live as ambassadors of reconciliation, embodying kingdom values and sharing the good news. As we await the complete fulfillment of God's promises, we are invited to participate in His mission, living out the hope and transformation that the kingdom brings. [19:13]

"And he said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.'" (Mark 4:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the values of God's kingdom in your daily interactions? What is one practical way you can act as an ambassador of reconciliation today?


Day 3: Relying on the Holy Spirit's Power
The Holy Spirit is the source of power for fulfilling God's mission. Unlike worldly endeavors that rely on human strength and planning, the work of the kingdom is empowered by the Spirit. The Spirit testifies to Jesus and guides us in truth, challenging our cultural inclination towards self-sufficiency and independence. As we carry out the work of the kingdom, we are urged to lean into divine guidance and strength, trusting the Spirit to lead us in fulfilling God's purposes. [25:22]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than the Holy Spirit's power? How can you invite the Spirit to guide and empower you today?


Day 4: Embracing Active Waiting
Active waiting is a crucial part of our faith journey. During times of waiting, God often prepares and grows us, inviting us to trust in His timing and purposes. Just as the apostles waited for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we too are called to wait on God's promises, living out our mission with faith and anticipation. This waiting is not passive but involves a dynamic engagement with God's work in and through us, even when His plans are not immediately apparent. [30:22]

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively engage in God's work during a season of waiting? What is one step you can take today to embrace active waiting in your faith journey?


Day 5: Motivated by the Promise of Jesus' Return
The promise of Jesus' return fuels our mission to spread the gospel. As a community, we are empowered by the Spirit to work together in sharing the message of salvation and inviting others into the grace and redemption offered through Christ. This promise not only gives us hope but also motivates us to live with urgency and purpose, knowing that our mission is to reach the ends of the earth with the good news. [33:46]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of Jesus' return influence your daily life and priorities? What is one way you can participate in spreading the gospel in your community today?

Quotes



"And then all throughout Jesus' ministry, he talks a lot about this idea of the kingdom. And Jesus' disciples, they've been made aware of the reality of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom, the kingdom, the kingdom. King Jesus talks about his kingdom. Even in Matthew, we see all throughout this example of Jesus just sharing with his disciples, he says, from that time, Jesus began to preach saying, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [00:04:34] (23 seconds)


"So it's important for us to kind of understand today, what is this kingdom? What does this look like? What are we kind of talking about here? And I want to just give us a little bit of like a theological perspective on the kingdom of God. And the reality is how scholars really look at it, it's through this idea of this already not yet posture, this this already not yet, where yes, the kingdom is here now." [00:06:33] (25 seconds)


"Here's the thing, there's a difference in being responsible in our stewarding and our obedience than being responsible for coming up with a plan on how the perfect plan for how Jesus will build his church. And here's the reality, the church that Jesus builds, this is, I don't always love this word, but the church is a faith -based institution." [00:13:45] (23 seconds)


"The beauty of that promise is that he's actually so faithful to it. But I wanted to share just an example of just his faithfulness, of God providing for this church as he's building his church. As we were preparing to make this move, we were just recognizing that we were desiring certain things to kind of help us in the process to get adapted and to just kind of make it a little bit of what we were visioning." [00:15:14] (30 seconds)


"And in that, he showed us just even how we could even be a blessing. Right? I don't know if we shared, but we were able to give other chairs away to a church in Massachusetts, a church in Newark. We were able to give, just provide certain kids equipment and things like that for Hillside Preschool. Like, the furthering of the kingdom. And here's the thing. If the church is going to be this outpost for the gospel, we're going to have to rely that the Lord is going to be the one who's going to build it." [00:16:54] (31 seconds)


"God's promise calls us to be willing to actively wait as He fulfills His plans for His people. He calls us to be willing to actively wait as He fulfills His plans. So, verse 8 gives us this promise for the apostles. It says something really interesting. It says that you will receive the power of the Spirit. Meaning, right at that moment, that promise didn't take place right then and there. It meant that God called the disciples in that moment for a period of waiting." [00:27:40] (32 seconds)


"How about waiting in traffic as the DOT tries to do their best to fix the sinkhole? Like, I mean, waiting is definitely not our favorite pastime. But yet, you know, how often when we rush, when we don't wait on God, how often do we miss a greater dependence and a greater trust that God is faithful to His promise?" [00:28:47] (24 seconds)


"And these apostles and us today, we both live in the same reality that we're still being called to wait. And what are we waiting for? We're waiting for the return of King Jesus. Look what it says. When they had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up and on a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven, as he went out, behold, two men standing in them in white robes and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?" [00:31:50] (26 seconds)


"This mission isn't a solo project. The beauty of the mission is the power comes from the Holy Spirit, this promise to move in us and through us. And we get to do that collectively and to ordain opportunities to share the good news of the gospel, to share good news of the kingdom, to share the good news of King Jesus. And listen, if you're here today and you've never came to understand that good news or you've never heard the good news, here's what it is. It's that Christ came to save and rescue sinners. He came to forgive." [00:33:59] (36 seconds)


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Transcript
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