Trusting God's Timing: The Journey of Knowing Him
Summary
### Summary
Today, we embark on a new series titled "Are We There Yet?" which draws a parallel between the impatience of children on a road trip and our own impatience with God's timing in our lives. Many of us are eager to reach the future we envision, but often feel like we're going in circles, making no progress. Our journey begins with Jeremiah 29:11, where God reassures His people that He has plans to prosper them and give them hope. However, these plans come with steps and timing that may not align with our own desires.
The essence of our journey to the future God has for us starts with knowing Him. This isn't about knowing *about* God, but truly knowing Him intimately. Jesus emphasizes this in John 17:3, stating that eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ. This intimate knowledge of God is the foundation for everything else in our lives. God desires a personal relationship with us, as seen throughout the Bible, from Adam and Eve to the teachings of Jesus.
To know God, we must prioritize Him in our daily lives. This involves daily prayer, spending time in the Bible, and regular church attendance. Daily prayer allows us to communicate with God, while reading the Bible helps us understand His character and will. Regular church attendance provides a community where we can grow together, learn from each other, and experience God's presence collectively.
Knowing God is not just a one-time event but a continuous journey. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we become more attuned to His voice and guidance, leading us to the future He has planned for us. This journey requires commitment and intentionality, but the rewards are immeasurable. By making God our priority, we align ourselves with His plans and experience the fullness of life He promises.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Timing and Plans: God's plans for us are perfect, but they come with steps and timing that may not align with our own desires. Trusting in His timing is crucial, as receiving His blessings too early might lead to failure. Understanding and accepting God's timing helps us grow in faith and patience. [02:35]
2. Intimate Knowledge of God: Knowing God intimately is the foundation for everything else in our lives. This goes beyond knowing about Him; it involves a personal, vibrant relationship. Jesus emphasized that eternal life is to know God and Himself, highlighting the importance of this relationship. [06:32]
3. Daily Prayer and Bible Reading: Daily prayer and Bible reading are essential practices for knowing God. Prayer allows us to communicate with Him, while the Bible reveals His character and will. These practices help us grow in our relationship with God and become more attuned to His voice. [24:16]
4. Regular Church Attendance: Regular church attendance is vital for spiritual growth. It provides a community where we can learn, worship, and serve together. Being part of a church helps us experience God's presence collectively and grow in our faith through the teaching of His Word. [34:55]
5. Continuous Growth in Knowing God: Knowing God is a continuous journey that requires commitment and intentionality. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we become more attuned to His guidance and experience the fullness of life He promises. This journey leads us to the future God has planned for us. [22:20]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Introduction: Are We There Yet?
[01:46] - God's Plans for Us
[02:35] - Timing and Steps
[03:17] - From Hardship to Promise
[04:21] - Steps Ordered by the Lord
[05:08] - Knowing God: The First Step
[06:32] - Intimate Knowledge of God
[07:19] - God's Desire for Relationship
[08:04] - Jesus: The Way to Know God
[09:22] - The Greatest Miracle
[10:27] - Rejoicing in Salvation
[12:12] - The Depth of Knowing God
[13:01] - God's Priority: Knowing Him
[14:34] - Paul's Determined Purpose
[15:31] - Boasting in Knowing God
[16:50] - Making God Number One
[17:45] - The Emptiness Without God
[18:38] - God as the Priority
[19:21] - Growing in Knowledge of God
[20:52] - The Closeness of Knowing God
[22:20] - Continuous Growth in Knowing God
[24:16] - Daily Prayer Time
[26:26] - Catching a Wife: A Tangent
[29:18] - Importance of Daily Prayer
[30:10] - Being Spiritually Full
[30:54] - Daily Time in the Bible
[32:38] - Lunch with Jesus
[34:55] - Regular Church Attendance
[36:14] - Reverence for God's Word
[37:44] - The Need for Weekly Church Attendance
[38:30] - The Benefits of Church Community
[39:41] - Bringing Others to Know God
[40:50] - The Highest Purpose: Helping Others Know God
[41:52] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
2. John 17:3 - "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
3. Psalm 37:23 - "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jeremiah 29:11 reveal about God's plans for His people? How does this verse provide comfort during times of uncertainty? [01:46]
2. According to John 17:3, what is the essence of eternal life? How does this verse emphasize the importance of knowing God? [06:32]
3. In Psalm 37:23, what does it mean for the steps of a good man to be ordered by the Lord? How does this relate to the journey of faith described in the sermon? [03:17]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God? [06:32]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How can understanding and accepting God's timing, as mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11, help us grow in faith and patience? [02:35]
2. What are the practical steps mentioned in the sermon that can help us develop an intimate relationship with God? How do these steps align with the teachings in John 17:3? [24:16]
3. How does regular church attendance contribute to our spiritual growth and understanding of God, as discussed in the sermon? [34:55]
4. What does it mean to grow in the knowledge of God continuously, and how can this journey impact our daily lives? [22:20]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with impatience regarding God's timing. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? [02:35]
2. How can you prioritize daily prayer and Bible reading in your life? What specific changes can you make to ensure these practices become a regular part of your routine? [24:16]
3. Think about your current level of church involvement. How can you become more engaged in your church community to foster spiritual growth? [34:55]
4. Identify one area in your life where you feel you need to trust God's timing more. What steps can you take to surrender this area to Him? [02:35]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God? What specific actions will you take this week to know Him better? [06:32]
6. Reflect on the importance of knowing God as the foundation for everything else in your life. How does this perspective change the way you approach your daily activities and decisions? [06:32]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or church community to grow in their knowledge of God? What role can you play in supporting their spiritual journey? [39:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
God's plans for us are perfect, but they come with steps and timing that may not align with our own desires. Trusting in His timing is crucial, as receiving His blessings too early might lead to failure. Understanding and accepting God's timing helps us grow in faith and patience. When we feel impatient or frustrated with the pace of our progress, we must remember that God sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for us. His timing is always perfect, even when it doesn't match our expectations. [02:35]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you are struggling with impatience. How can you trust God's timing and surrender your own desires to His perfect plan today?
Day 2: Developing an Intimate Knowledge of God
Knowing God intimately is the foundation for everything else in our lives. This goes beyond knowing about Him; it involves a personal, vibrant relationship. Jesus emphasized that eternal life is to know God and Himself, highlighting the importance of this relationship. To truly know God, we must seek Him with all our hearts and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. This intimate knowledge of God transforms our lives and aligns us with His will. [06:32]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to deepen your intimacy with Him and truly know Him, rather than just knowing about Him?
Day 3: The Importance of Daily Prayer and Bible Reading
Daily prayer and Bible reading are essential practices for knowing God. Prayer allows us to communicate with Him, while the Bible reveals His character and will. These practices help us grow in our relationship with God and become more attuned to His voice. By dedicating time each day to prayer and Scripture, we open our hearts to God's guidance and wisdom, allowing Him to shape our lives according to His purposes. [24:16]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: Consider your daily routine. How can you incorporate more intentional time for prayer and Bible reading to strengthen your relationship with God and seek His guidance?
Day 4: The Value of Regular Church Attendance
Regular church attendance is vital for spiritual growth. It provides a community where we can learn, worship, and serve together. Being part of a church helps us experience God's presence collectively and grow in our faith through the teaching of His Word. The support and encouragement of fellow believers are essential for our spiritual journey, helping us stay accountable and motivated in our walk with God. [34:55]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Reflect on your commitment to church attendance. How can you make it a priority to be actively involved in your church community and support others in their faith journey?
Day 5: Committing to Continuous Growth in Knowing God
Knowing God is a continuous journey that requires commitment and intentionality. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we become more attuned to His guidance and experience the fullness of life He promises. This journey leads us to the future God has planned for us. By making God our priority and seeking Him daily, we align ourselves with His plans and experience the abundant life He offers. [22:20]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: Think about your spiritual growth over the past year. What specific steps can you take to continue growing in your knowledge of God and deepen your relationship with Him?
Quotes
1. "Sometimes our timing isn't the same as God's timing. We want it now. And God says, not yet. Why? Because he's got this planned perfectly. You get this a little too early, you might blow it up. Right? But the point is that there were some steps that they needed to take to get there. And what's really great about this particular scripture and this particular story is that they did get there." [02:35] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way. So the steps that God has us take lead us to the future that we long for. Not the steps that we decide to take, the steps that he tells us to take. You know, it's like if he puts some steps right here on the stage, those steps, anybody, you know, ever play Frogger?" [03:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you're going to get to the future you long for, you need to know God. And Jesus is saying that here. Hey, this is the way to have eternal life, to know him. And I won't take you once again. There's so many scriptures on this. I really had to try to pare it down. But there's a number of scriptures that reveal that God really wants everyone to know him." [07:19] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The greatest miracle in this world. Isn't. Somebody being healed isn't something you see at a magic show in Las Vegas. It isn't something that you see in nature. The greatest miracle is when somebody becomes a part of God's family. The Bible says that if a person is in Christ, they become a brand new creature. Old things have passed away and all things have become new." [09:22] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Knowing him is the key. Now, for those of us that have been around and particularly since we talked a little bit about church business, I'll go here. Sometimes people look at how we do church and other people do church and they'll say, well, you know, this church isn't deep enough. You know, it's not deep enough. And of course, that tells me you don't go to anything but Sunday morning. So you're not deep enough." [12:12] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God is saying, you need to prioritize knowing me. I prioritize. You knowing me. I want you to make that the number one goal of your life that, you know, it's no different than when, when you get married, you want your spouse to make it to make you number one. It's fine that you, there are other people in your life. It's fine that you have a career. It's fine that you have hobbies, but when it's all said and done and you want and their mind and their actions, you to be number one." [16:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You can see why, you know, a major step to get into the future you long for is to. Know him. He's the engine that drives everything in your heart and in your life. And God says, I want to be the priority. I sent my son to die for you. He rose again. I've been wooing you, chasing you your whole life. I want to be the one that you call number one. I want you to be all about knowing me." [18:38] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "God wants you to grow in your knowledge of him year after year after year after year. I know my wife, every year we're together, I know more about her and she knows more about me. Now, that's not. That's not good for her. But there's just something about being around somebody, you know, day after day, week after week, month after month, situation after situation, year after year. You grow in your knowledge of them." [19:53] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You get to know God through spending time with him in prayer, right? Just like you get to know a man or woman through consistent dates with them. God is looking forward to your date with him every day. He's up ready for you to and how many of us are standing up? God, but then we're saying, I don't have the future. I long for you can't get it without this step. You got to know him." [29:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "One of the reasons why God created church is that you get to know God by spending time with his people. You get to know God by spending time. One of the reasons why God has given us ministers is because we need them to help us to understand the scripture so we can understand him better. Pastor, you trying to say I need you? Yup. You need me. You joking, right? I ain't joking. You do." [37:44] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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