Trusting God's Truths: Living in His Love and Power
Summary
This morning, we gathered to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We began with a few announcements, including a missions trip fundraiser garage sale and an upcoming night of worship. We also encouraged everyone to download the Church Center app to stay connected with church activities and events. After the announcements, we stood together in prayer, lifting our voices to God, acknowledging His greatness, and seeking His presence among us.
We then delved into the Word, focusing on Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in the book of Ephesians. Paul’s prayer is a profound example of what we should pray for ourselves and others. He prays for three critical truths: the hope we have in Christ, our inheritance in Him, and His immeasurable power. These truths are not just for intellectual understanding but are meant to sustain us through life's challenges. Paul emphasizes that knowing these truths deeply will help us stand firm in our faith, especially when life throws us curveballs.
We explored the analogy of trusting our instruments, much like a pilot trusts their instruments to navigate safely. Similarly, we must trust the truths declared by God about us, even when our feelings might suggest otherwise. Our feelings can be deceptive, but God's Word is steadfast and true. This trust in God's declaration about us is crucial for our spiritual well-being.
We also reflected on the scene from the movie "Cars," where Lightning McQueen acknowledges a dilapidated truck named Fred. This scene illustrates how God knows us by name and loves us even at our worst. Despite our flaws and sins, God calls us to His table, offering us grace and love. This truth brings glory to God and should fill us with gratitude and awe.
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is not just about understanding these truths but also about living in light of them. Knowing the truth is one thing, but living it out is another. We need the Holy Spirit's help to apply these truths in our daily lives. Paul prays for a deeper love among believers, gratitude for God's work in others, and a greater understanding of our hope, inheritance, and God's power. These prayers are essential for our spiritual growth and for sustaining us through life's trials.
We concluded with a call to respond to God's Word. If anyone felt moved by the message, they were encouraged to speak with one of the pastors after the service. We closed in prayer, thanking God for His redeeming work in our lives and asking for His help to live faithfully in response to His love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trusting God's Truth Over Our Feelings: Just as a pilot trusts their instruments, we must trust God's declarations about us, even when our feelings suggest otherwise. Our emotions can be misleading, but God's Word is steadfast and true. This trust is crucial for our spiritual well-being and helps us navigate life's challenges with confidence. [31:41]
2. God Knows and Loves Us at Our Worst: The scene from "Cars" where Lightning McQueen acknowledges Fred illustrates how God knows us by name and loves us even at our worst. Despite our flaws and sins, God calls us to His table, offering us grace and love. This truth brings glory to God and should fill us with gratitude and awe. [01:03:13]
3. Living in Light of God's Truths: Knowing the truth is one thing, but living it out is another. We need the Holy Spirit's help to apply the truths of our hope, inheritance, and God's power in our daily lives. This application is essential for our spiritual growth and for sustaining us through life's trials. [01:09:21]
4. Praying for a Greater Love Among Believers: Paul prays for a deeper love among believers and gratitude for God's work in others. We should regularly pray for an increased love for fellow believers and give thanks for their testimonies and the work God is doing in their lives. [01:07:04]
5. God's Redeeming Work is Empowering: Understanding God's redeeming work in our lives empowers us to stand against the enemy and face life's challenges. Knowing that Jesus is with us gives us the strength to press on, even when it feels like He is asleep at the helm. This assurance enables us to withstand all the schemes of the devil. [01:06:19]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:38] - Announcements
[03:42] - Opening Prayer
[10:45] - Worship Begins
[29:29] - Introduction to the Sermon
[31:41] - Trusting God's Truth Over Our Feelings
[33:21] - Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians
[41:08] - Understanding Our Hope, Inheritance, and Power
[46:52] - Living in Light of God's Truths
[51:23] - Praying for Others
[55:06] - Closing Prayer and Call to Respond
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 1:15-23 (Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians)
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three critical truths Paul prays for the Ephesians to understand? ([33:21])
2. How does the analogy of a pilot trusting their instruments relate to our spiritual lives? ([31:41])
3. What scene from the movie "Cars" was used to illustrate God's love for us, and what does it signify? ([01:03:13])
4. What does Paul emphasize about knowing and living out the truths of our hope, inheritance, and God's power? ([01:09:21])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to trust God's declarations about us over our feelings? How can our feelings be deceptive? ([31:41])
2. How does the scene from "Cars" help us understand God's unconditional love and grace? ([01:03:13])
3. What does it mean to live in light of God's truths, and why is it essential for our spiritual growth? ([01:09:21])
4. How can praying for a greater love among believers and gratitude for God's work in others impact our faith community? ([01:07:04])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your feelings misled you. How can you practice trusting God's Word over your emotions in similar situations? ([31:41])
2. Think of a moment when you felt unworthy of God's love. How does the illustration from "Cars" change your perspective on God's grace? ([01:03:13])
3. Identify one truth about your hope, inheritance, or God's power that you struggle to live out. What steps can you take to apply this truth in your daily life? ([01:09:21])
4. How often do you pray for an increased love for fellow believers? What specific actions can you take this week to show love and gratitude towards them? ([01:07:04])
5. Consider a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can the assurance of God's redeeming work empower you to stand firm and press on? ([01:06:19])
6. Who in your life can you pray for, asking God to enlighten their heart to understand and believe the good news of Jesus? ([01:08:40])
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are living in light of the truths of your hope, inheritance, and God's power? ([01:09:21])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Truth Over Our Feelings
Our feelings can often be misleading, causing us to doubt our worth and God's promises. Just as a pilot relies on their instruments to navigate safely, we must trust the truths declared by God about us, even when our emotions suggest otherwise. God's Word is steadfast and true, providing a reliable foundation for our spiritual well-being. By anchoring ourselves in His declarations, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence and assurance. Remember, our emotions are temporary and can change, but God's truth remains constant and unchanging. [31:41]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your feelings led you to doubt God's promises. How can you remind yourself of His unchanging truth in similar situations moving forward?
Day 2: God Knows and Loves Us at Our Worst
In the movie "Cars," Lightning McQueen acknowledges a dilapidated truck named Fred, illustrating how God knows us by name and loves us even at our worst. Despite our flaws and sins, God calls us to His table, offering us grace and love. This truth brings glory to God and should fill us with gratitude and awe. Understanding that God loves us unconditionally, even when we feel unworthy, can transform our relationship with Him and with others. Embrace this truth and let it shape your identity and actions. [01:03:13]
Isaiah 43:1 (ESV): "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's love. How does knowing that God loves you at your worst change your perspective on His grace and your identity in Him?
Day 3: Living in Light of God's Truths
Knowing the truth is one thing, but living it out is another. We need the Holy Spirit's help to apply the truths of our hope, inheritance, and God's power in our daily lives. This application is essential for our spiritual growth and for sustaining us through life's trials. By living in light of these truths, we can experience the fullness of God's promises and be a testimony to others. Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to help you embody these truths in your actions, decisions, and interactions with others. [01:09:21]
Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to live out God's truths. What practical steps can you take to align your actions with His promises today?
Day 4: Praying for a Greater Love Among Believers
Paul prays for a deeper love among believers and gratitude for God's work in others. We should regularly pray for an increased love for fellow believers and give thanks for their testimonies and the work God is doing in their lives. This practice not only strengthens our relationships within the church but also fosters a spirit of unity and encouragement. By lifting each other up in prayer and expressing gratitude, we can build a supportive and loving community that reflects Christ's love. [01:07:04]
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (ESV): "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."
Reflection: Think of a fellow believer who has been a blessing in your life. How can you pray for them and express your gratitude for God's work in their life today?
Day 5: God's Redeeming Work is Empowering
Understanding God's redeeming work in our lives empowers us to stand against the enemy and face life's challenges. Knowing that Jesus is with us gives us the strength to press on, even when it feels like He is asleep at the helm. This assurance enables us to withstand all the schemes of the devil and remain steadfast in our faith. Embrace the power of God's redemption and let it fuel your perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. [01:06:19]
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Reflection: Recall a recent challenge where you felt overwhelmed. How can the knowledge of God's redeeming work and His presence with you empower you to face similar challenges with confidence and hope?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Friends, have you ever been thrown a curveball in life? Have you ever had it feel like the world was falling out from under your feet? You get a diagnosis, you lose a job, you have a loss in your life. Those moments, the world, our flesh, and the devil are prone to saying, he doesn't love you. He doesn't care about you. Why would he do that to you if he cares about you? But if we know these truths, if these things are true, then they will sustain us in the midst of those storms." [01:01:41]
2. "He is good, and his plan is good. And it is beautiful. It is adorning. It is wonderful. That he would love us and call them to himself when we were unlovely. That he would die, not just for his friends, but for his enemies. That he would lay down his life for those who were hostile towards him. And friends, it is also empowering. Because it will enable you to stand against the enemy, to fight and press on and move forward, because we know who is with us." [01:04:42]
3. "If Jesus is with you, you can charge the hill. If Jesus is with you, you can stand the enemy. If Jesus is with you, you can withstand all the troubles and trials of this life, because you know that if you are in the boat with Jesus in the midst of the storm, it will be okay, even if it feels like he is asleep at the helm." [01:06:19]
4. "Friends, we need to trust our instruments. We need to trust what has been declared as true about us, even in those moments where it doesn't feel like it. God's declaration about us is more important than our feelings. Our feelings can lie to us. It can be the pizza from the night before, or the fact that our blood sugar has dropped, and we need a Snickers bar. We need to trust what is true. And it is also good. These truths are good." [01:04:02]
5. "Friends, if the Lord has put anything on your heart this morning in a way that you would like to respond to his word, we would love to talk with you after service. You can see myself or Pastor Allen or Pastor Craig and we would love to help you as you seek to walk faithfully with him." [01:13:20]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul is praying this for other believers, that they would have a deeper understanding, a deeper knowledge, more wisdom in regard to these three truths, that we have a hope in Christ, that we are his inheritance, and that he has immeasurable power. Friends, do you long to grow in understanding these truths? oh, I want to know this better. I want to have a better understanding of this." [01:08:40]
2. "We should also pray and ask to grasp our hope, his inheritance, and his immeasurable power. Friends, those things will carry you through all circumstances. And then lastly, we should pray that we would live in light of them. It doesn't do you any good if you know a truth that you don't live in light of. If you know it, you'll want to live in light of it. And the Holy Spirit will help us. We need his help. And if we ask, he will help us." [01:09:21]
3. "Friends, we can pray for a greater love towards all the saints. How often do you pray that God would increase your love for other believers? I don't pray that very often. But I should. should pray that the Lord would work in me to love other believers more. We should also give thanks for other believers. Paul is giving thanks for them because of the work of God in their life. When's the last time you thanked God for another believer's life? For their testimony of how God saved them or the work?" [01:07:04]
4. "God, you have done amazing things. You have called us. You have adopted us. If we are yours, you have blessed us every spiritual blessing, not just some of them, not just part of it, but all of them that we might need. All the ones in the heavenly places. God, you loved us before we breathed our first breath. You loved us before you began knitting us together in our mother's wombs. You loved us with an incomparable love. God, your plan of redemption, your work in our lives is amazing." [01:10:58]
5. "It's amazing that god has immeasurable power we should want to know that that he has worked in our lives to call us to himself that we were once dead in our trespasses and now we are alive in christ that we once saw jesus and thought that was that seems foolishness it's a stumbling block you And yet now we believe his plan is astounding that he picked us not on the basis of our righteousness, but simply because he wanted to. It's sustaining." [01:00:06]
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