Trusting God's Unseen Work and Embracing New Beginnings
Summary
Taking a moment to reflect on today's message, we are reminded of the unwavering power and presence of God in our lives. God is always at work, even when we cannot see it. Just as a seed is planted in the ground and seems dormant, God is nurturing and preparing it to burst forth into a harvest. This is a powerful metaphor for our lives; we may not always see the progress, but God is continuously working behind the scenes. We are encouraged to trust in His timing and His plan, knowing that He never stops working on our behalf.
The story of Joshua stepping into leadership after Moses' death serves as a poignant reminder that while mourning is a natural and necessary process, we must not allow it to paralyze us. God calls us to rise and move forward, embracing the new opportunities and purposes He has set before us. Our struggles are not in vain; they are part of God's strategy to lead us to our established destiny. We must trust in His plan, even when we cannot trace His hand.
As we navigate through life's challenges, we are reminded to be strong and courageous. God promises to be with us, just as He was with Moses and Joshua. We are called to own our lives now, stepping boldly into the purpose God has for us. This requires us to know our territory, the unique path God has laid out for us, and to walk confidently in it, knowing that no enemy can stand against us when we are aligned with God's will.
Finally, we are encouraged to meditate on God's word, keeping it at the forefront of our minds and hearts. This is the key to experiencing everyday success and prosperity. By aligning our lives with God's word, we position ourselves to receive His blessings and fulfill the purpose He has for us.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Unseen Work: Just as a seed grows unseen beneath the soil, God is working in our lives even when we cannot see it. Trust in His timing and His plan, knowing that He never stops working on our behalf. [51:23]
2. Mourning and Moving Forward: Mourning is a natural process, but we must not let it paralyze us. God calls us to rise and embrace the new opportunities He has for us, trusting that our struggles are part of His strategy to lead us to our destiny. [01:11:26]
3. Strength and Courage: In the face of fear and uncertainty, God calls us to be strong and courageous. He promises to be with us, just as He was with Moses and Joshua, guiding us through our challenges and into His promises. [01:18:41]
4. Owning Your Territory: Discover the unique path God has laid out for you and walk confidently in it. When you know your territory and align with God's will, no enemy can stand against you. [01:15:27]
5. Meditating on God's Word: Keep God's word at the forefront of your mind and heart. This is the key to experiencing everyday success and prosperity, as it aligns your life with God's blessings and purpose. [01:20:46]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [0:51:23] - God's Unseen Work
- [01:03:05] - The Battle is Not Yours
- [01:09:32] - Struggle as Strategy
- [01:11:26] - Mourning and Moving Forward
- [01:13:22] - Metabolizing Loss
- [01:15:27] - Owning Your Territory
- [01:17:30] - God's Presence in Testing
- [01:18:41] - Strength and Courage
- [01:20:07] - Everyday Success
- [01:20:46] - Meditating on God's Word
- [01:22:12] - Crossing Your Jordan
- [01:22:47] - Walking Through the Valley
- [01:24:42] - Closing Prayer
- [01:29:36] - Invitation to Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 1:1-9
Observation Questions:
1. What was the situation Joshua found himself in after the death of Moses, and what did God instruct him to do? [01:11:26]
2. How does the metaphor of a seed growing unseen relate to God's work in our lives, as mentioned in the sermon? [51:23]
3. What does God promise Joshua regarding the land and the challenges he will face? [01:15:27]
4. How does the sermon describe the process of mourning and moving forward in the context of Joshua's story? [01:13:22]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might God have emphasized the need for Joshua to be strong and courageous multiple times? How does this relate to the challenges Joshua was about to face? [01:18:41]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our struggles can be part of God's strategy for our lives? [01:09:32]
3. How does the concept of "owning your territory" apply to the unique path God has for each individual? [01:15:27]
4. What role does meditating on God's word play in achieving success and prosperity according to the sermon? [01:20:46]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like a seed planted in the ground, unable to see progress. How can you trust in God's unseen work in your life right now? [51:23]
2. Have you experienced a period of mourning that has held you back from moving forward? What steps can you take to embrace new opportunities God has for you? [01:11:26]
3. In what areas of your life do you need to be strong and courageous? How can you remind yourself of God's promise to be with you during these times? [01:18:41]
4. Identify your "territory" or the unique path God has laid out for you. How can you walk more confidently in it, knowing that God is with you? [01:15:27]
5. How can you incorporate meditating on God's word into your daily routine to align your life with His blessings and purpose? [01:20:46]
6. Think of a current struggle you are facing. How might this be part of God's strategy to lead you to your established destiny? [01:09:32]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to "own your life now" and step boldly into the purpose God has for you? [01:11:26]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Hidden Work
In life, much like a seed planted in the ground, there are times when progress seems invisible. Yet, beneath the surface, God is actively working, nurturing, and preparing us for the harvest to come. This unseen work requires us to trust in His timing and His plan, even when we cannot perceive any change. Just as a seed must remain in the soil to grow, we must remain steadfast in faith, believing that God is orchestrating our lives for His glory and our good. Trusting in God's unseen work means acknowledging that He is always at work on our behalf, even when we cannot see it. [51:23]
"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 feel stagnant or uncertain? How can you practice trusting in God's unseen work in this area today?
Day 2: Rising from Mourning to Embrace New Beginnings
Mourning is a natural and necessary process, but it should not paralyze us. The story of Joshua stepping into leadership after Moses' death illustrates that God calls us to rise and move forward, embracing the new opportunities and purposes He has set before us. Our struggles and losses are not in vain; they are part of God's strategy to lead us to our established destiny. By trusting in His plan, even when we cannot trace His hand, we can find the strength to move beyond mourning and into the future God has prepared for us. [01:11:26]
"Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel." (Joshua 1:2, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a loss or struggle in your life that you need to move forward from? What new opportunity might God be calling you to embrace today?
Day 3: Strength and Courage in the Face of Fear
In times of fear and uncertainty, God calls us to be strong and courageous. Just as He was with Moses and Joshua, He promises to be with us, guiding us through our challenges and into His promises. This strength and courage are not born from our own abilities but from the assurance of God's presence and faithfulness. By relying on Him, we can face any obstacle with confidence, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [01:18:41]
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one fear or challenge you are currently facing? How can you draw strength and courage from God's promise to be with you?
Day 4: Owning Your God-Given Territory
Each of us has a unique path that God has laid out for us, a territory to own and walk confidently in. When we align ourselves with God's will and know our territory, no enemy can stand against us. This requires us to understand and embrace the specific purpose God has for our lives, stepping boldly into it with faith and determination. By owning our territory, we position ourselves to fulfill the destiny God has designed for us. [01:15:27]
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses." (Joshua 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is the unique path or territory God has given you? How can you step more confidently into this purpose today?
Day 5: Meditating on God's Word for Success
Keeping God's word at the forefront of our minds and hearts is the key to experiencing everyday success and prosperity. By aligning our lives with His word, we position ourselves to receive His blessings and fulfill the purpose He has for us. Meditating on God's word means more than just reading it; it involves internalizing and living it out in our daily lives. This practice transforms our thoughts and actions, leading us to the success and prosperity that God desires for us. [01:20:46]
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate meditation on God's word into your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to align your life more closely with His teachings today?
Quotes
1. "Is that your life right now? You know you're planting a seed But all you see is dirt Well, what's happening is He is working And even though you don't see it He's still working And if you keep going back One day it's going to spring forth And bust forth a seed of harvest Hallelujah Just because you don't see it Don't mean he's not working He's working He's working, he's working He's working" [51:23] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The battle is not yours the battle belongs to the Lord and the Lord has never never never lost the battle Wow glory never lost the battle never will lose the battle never never never you won't lose your mind you won't lose your mind this won't take you out look towards the hills from which comes your help all of your help comes from the Lord who created you who created you who created the heavens and the earth it's not by power not by might but by my spirit says the Lord" [01:03:05] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Your struggle is God's strategy to get you to your established destiny don't manipulate the struggle for in manipulating the struggle you manipulate the strategy I'm gonna say it one more time your struggle is God's strategy to get you to your established destiny here's the key thing it's already established it just waited for you to get there so the struggle you may be going through God's going to somehow use that as a strategy because we understand as believers all things work together for the good of them that love him" [01:09:32] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "He says, as I was with Moses, I'm going to be with you. Mama, daddy, God says, as I was with my other leaders, as I was with Mary and Joseph, I'm going to be with you too. Somebody need to hear that today because you think the Lord is not with you. You think God is not with you. You know, God is with you. Like Job said, when I went forward, I couldn't see him. When I looked behind me, I couldn't sense him. I looked to my left and my right. I could not perceive him." [01:17:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of you are going through some turbulence right now. And you have made up in your mind, this thing ain't going to work. It ain't going to come together. I'm telling you, you're going to make it if you do not quit. I'm closing right here. He says this here. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Somebody say everyday kind of success." [01:20:07] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You want your stuff right now, but you think it's on this side. But it's on that side. Oh, God. Watch this right here. My wife said, you better preach faster. Watch this here. He said, take these people across this Jordan River. So that tells me one thing. Sandwich in between where he is at and where he wants to be is a problem. The Jordan was the problem. He said, if you could get across this problem. If you could get across this Jordan." [01:22:12] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "He didn't say stand in the valley. He said, yea, though I walk through the valley. Somebody need to start walking today. Walk, walk through your trouble. Walk through your pain, knowing that God is with you. Can we give God a praise for his word on today?" [01:23:16] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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