Trusting in the Power of Jesus' Name
Summary
### Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the power and significance of the name of Jesus. We began by invoking His name to dispel fear, anxiety, and darkness, emphasizing that Jesus' name is above all names and that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. We were reminded to focus on Jesus, not the enemy, and to let Him silence our fears. The worship team, despite their personal battles, led us into His presence where hope resides.
We celebrated the church's generosity, highlighting our contributions to the Vineyard and the upcoming regional conference. We also shared a touching story about a member who experienced God's personal touch through an unexpected provision of biscuits and gravy, illustrating how God cares about the details of our lives.
The core of the message revolved around trust, delight, commitment, and waiting on the Lord, as outlined in Psalm 37. Trusting in the Lord is foundational for making wise decisions. Delighting in the Lord means finding joy in Him, which shapes our desires to align with His will. Committing our way to the Lord involves rolling our burdens onto Him, trusting that He will act. Finally, being still and waiting patiently for the Lord requires us to hush our spirits and expectantly wait for His timing.
We shared personal stories of leaps of faith, such as moving to Cape Coral and purchasing the church building, to illustrate these principles. These stories underscored that trusting God often involves stepping into the unknown, but He is faithful to guide and provide. We concluded by inviting those who have not yet trusted Jesus to take that leap of faith and surrender their lives to Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trust in the Lord: Trusting in God is the foundation of our faith journey. It means relying on Him for our salvation and daily needs. Trust is not a one-time act but a continuous process of leaning on Jesus, especially when life gets challenging. Trusting God allows us to make wise decisions and navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. [39:44]
2. Delight in the Lord: Delighting in the Lord means finding joy and satisfaction in His presence. When we delight in Him, He shapes our desires to align with His will. This process of sanctification transforms our hearts, making us want what He wants. It's about loving what God loves and allowing Him to change our desires. [54:42]
3. Commit Your Way to the Lord: Committing our way to the Lord involves rolling our burdens onto Him and trusting that He will act. This means surrendering our plans and anxieties to God, knowing that He is capable of handling them. It's a call to let go of control and allow God to do the heavy lifting in our lives. [52:15]
4. Be Still and Wait Patiently: Being still before the Lord and waiting patiently for Him is crucial. It requires us to hush our spirits and listen for His guidance. Waiting on God is not passive but an expectant and hopeful anticipation of His intervention. It's about trusting His timing and believing that He will come through. [01:14:06]
5. God's Faithfulness: Throughout our journey, we are reminded of God's unwavering faithfulness. He has never failed us and never will. This assurance allows us to trust Him more deeply, delight in His presence, commit our burdens to Him, and wait patiently for His perfect timing. God's faithfulness is the anchor that holds us steady in every season of life. [01:13:24]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:20] - Invoking the Name of Jesus
[28:56] - Worship and Warfare
[32:22] - Personal Battles and Hope
[33:08] - Generosity and Giving
[33:50] - Barnabas Award and Regional Conference
[34:54] - Fun and Fellowship at the Conference
[35:43] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
[37:11] - God's Provision and Personal Stories
[38:52] - Trusting Jesus with Your Life
[39:44] - Trust in the Lord
[42:13] - Personal Story of Trust
[44:33] - Trust and Provision
[52:15] - Commit Your Way to the Lord
[54:42] - Delight in the Lord
[01:14:06] - Be Still and Wait Patiently
[01:20:42] - God's Timing and Faithfulness
[01:26:51] - Invitation to Trust Jesus
[01:34:52] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 37:3-7 (NIV)
> Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four key actions mentioned in Psalm 37:3-7 that believers are encouraged to take?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of invoking the name of Jesus in times of fear and anxiety? ([28:20])
3. How did the worship team demonstrate their faith despite personal battles, as mentioned in the sermon? ([32:22])
4. What personal story was shared in the sermon to illustrate God's care for the details of our lives? ([38:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does trusting in the Lord help us make wise decisions, according to the sermon? ([39:44])
2. What does it mean to delight in the Lord, and how does this shape our desires? ([54:42])
3. In what ways can committing our way to the Lord relieve us of our burdens? ([52:15])
4. Why is being still and waiting patiently for the Lord considered an active form of trust? ([01:14:06])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to trust in the Lord during a challenging situation. How did that experience shape your faith? ([39:44])
2. What are some practical ways you can delight in the Lord daily? How might this change your desires to align more with His will? ([54:42])
3. Think about a burden you are currently carrying. How can you commit this burden to the Lord and trust Him to act? ([52:15])
4. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to be still and wait patiently for the Lord? How can you practice being still this week? ([01:14:06])
5. The sermon mentioned personal stories of leaps of faith, such as moving to Cape Coral and purchasing the church building. What leap of faith is God calling you to take, and how can you trust Him in this process? ([38:52])
6. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in your daily life, especially during times of uncertainty? ([01:13:24])
7. Identify one specific fear or anxiety you are facing. How can invoking the name of Jesus help you overcome it? ([28:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God in Uncertainty
Trusting in God is the foundation of our faith journey. It means relying on Him for our salvation and daily needs. Trust is not a one-time act but a continuous process of leaning on Jesus, especially when life gets challenging. Trusting God allows us to make wise decisions and navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. When we trust in the Lord, we acknowledge that He is sovereign and in control, even when we cannot see the full picture. This trust is built through a relationship with Him, where we learn to depend on His promises and faithfulness.
In moments of uncertainty, it is crucial to remember that God is our refuge and strength. He is always present and ready to help us. Trusting Him means surrendering our fears and anxieties, knowing that He will guide us through every situation. As we trust in the Lord, we can experience His peace that surpasses all understanding, allowing us to face life's challenges with courage and hope. [39:44]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that feels uncertain. How can you actively choose to trust God with this situation today?
Day 2: Finding Joy in God's Presence
Delighting in the Lord means finding joy and satisfaction in His presence. When we delight in Him, He shapes our desires to align with His will. This process of sanctification transforms our hearts, making us want what He wants. It's about loving what God loves and allowing Him to change our desires. Delighting in the Lord is not about seeking temporary happiness but finding deep, abiding joy in our relationship with Him.
As we spend time in God's presence through prayer, worship, and reading His Word, we begin to experience His joy. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in who God is. When we delight in the Lord, we are filled with His peace and contentment, knowing that He is our ultimate source of satisfaction. This joy empowers us to live out our faith with passion and purpose, reflecting God's love to those around us. [54:42]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can delight in God's presence this week? How can you make time to experience His joy daily?
Day 3: Surrendering Control to God
Committing our way to the Lord involves rolling our burdens onto Him and trusting that He will act. This means surrendering our plans and anxieties to God, knowing that He is capable of handling them. It's a call to let go of control and allow God to do the heavy lifting in our lives. When we commit our way to the Lord, we acknowledge that His plans are higher and better than our own.
Surrendering control to God requires humility and faith. It means recognizing our limitations and trusting in God's infinite wisdom and power. As we commit our way to the Lord, we can experience His peace and assurance, knowing that He is working all things together for our good. This act of surrender allows us to live with greater freedom and confidence, trusting that God is leading us on the right path. [52:15]
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Waiting on God's Timing
Being still before the Lord and waiting patiently for Him is crucial. It requires us to hush our spirits and listen for His guidance. Waiting on God is not passive but an expectant and hopeful anticipation of His intervention. It's about trusting His timing and believing that He will come through. In a world that values instant gratification, waiting on God teaches us patience and dependence on Him.
As we wait on the Lord, we learn to trust in His perfect timing. God's delays are not denials; they are opportunities for us to grow in faith and character. Waiting on God allows us to see His hand at work in ways we might have missed if we rushed ahead. It also deepens our relationship with Him, as we learn to rely on His strength and wisdom. [01:14:06]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to wait on God's timing? How can you practice being still and trusting in His perfect timing today?
Day 5: Remembering God's Faithfulness
Throughout our journey, we are reminded of God's unwavering faithfulness. He has never failed us and never will. This assurance allows us to trust Him more deeply, delight in His presence, commit our burdens to Him, and wait patiently for His perfect timing. God's faithfulness is the anchor that holds us steady in every season of life. Remembering His past faithfulness gives us confidence for the future.
God's faithfulness is evident in His promises and actions throughout history. He is a covenant-keeping God who fulfills His word. As we reflect on His faithfulness, we are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that He is always with us. This remembrance strengthens our trust in Him and inspires us to live out our faith with boldness and conviction. [01:13:24]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in your life. How can this memory encourage you to trust Him in your current circumstances?
Quotes
1. "Sometimes when you follow Jesus, he's going to call you to make it. But I want to tell you something. The biggest leap of faith you'll ever make is giving your heart to Jesus Christ. When you if you can make that, if you can say yes to Jesus and trusting with your eternity, if you can say yes to Jesus and trusting with your soul, you can say yes to Jesus and trusting that his sacrifice on that cross. Was sufficient to pay for your salvation. If you can make that leap, it's not a leap in the dark. It's a leap on the word of God. It's a leap on the promises of God. It's not a leap on emotions or feel good. It's a leap on the certainty that God promised." [38:52] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Trust. When I was I brought you all the way to Sanibel for a reason, because at 22, I preached a forgettable message and I would go to the back door. There was only one way out. And you shook everybody's hand on the way out. Just back then. That's what you did. And you kiss the babies, which back then I did. But now I'd go take that snotty nose kid out of my face because I'm not going to kiss one lady, shoved her kid into my face. And he had literally green under his nose. Kiss the pastor. And I didn't know you could say no back then. I didn't know you could say stop it. That's creepy. Get him away from me. You shouldn't even have brought him to church. Now my kid will be sick. Stay home. Anyway, I didn't say any of that. But I kiss." [42:13] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you trust him for your salvation. Why can't we trust him for our provision. If we can trust him for eternal life. Why can't we trust him in the midst of a hurricane. If we can trust him with our soul and our being the way in is the way on. When you come to Jesus, you come with trust or you don't get to Jesus. You don't get to Jesus without trust. Trust is what connects us. It's it's the glue of. The kingdom. It puts our heart into his hands and says I'm in your care. I trust you. I'm no longer trusting me. I'm no longer putting faith in me." [44:33] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Will God give you more than you can handle? Absolutely. If you don't trust him, but if you trust him, then you're letting him do the heavy lifting first word, trust second word, delight. Verse four, delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Now, listen, one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. It doesn't mean this delight in the Lord and you'll get whatever you want. Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? Oh, you're not going to. Yeah, I get it that none of my son, you know, as a pastor, Jason's preaching last week, he's saying stuff I never heard of. I'm like, dude, I've never heard of that. He said, what do you think I think about all your stories? I don't know. I've never I don't know any of those music groups." [53:03] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you want to get the will of God right in your life, don't focus on the will of God. If you want to make wine. These decisions don't focus on the decision. What this verse means is that if you will learn to make your soul happy with Jesus, like what we just did, what you just did, if you were engaged and surrendered and speak in the name of Jesus and your mind was off of whatever it is that you've got to when you delight in the Lord, when you find joy with you and Jesus, God will shape your desires. It's not that God's going to give you what you want. He's going to give you what he wants you to want. He changes sanctity." [54:42] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If you love somebody, you'll love what they love. If you can't love what somebody else loves, you're a self-absorbed person that's not very fun to live with. That was me basically when I first got married because I felt like my wife should accommodate all of the things I like to do, and she really tried hard at that and went places that some men probably wouldn't have walked in and down slopes and waterfalls. And and she didn't know she could have told me no back then. And and now she's long since learned that that's more than her prerogative to say no. But she tried to accommodate me. But there are certain things that, you know, you're just not wired to do. But let me tell you this. When you love someone, I've learned to accommodate my wife. Why? Because I want to be with her. You have a choice." [56:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Basically, you can love God and do whatever you want, because if you truly love God, you're not going to ever do something that would hurt him, disgrace him. You're not going to ever do anything that would hurt him or to cause him any sense of heartbreak in this, you want to please him, you want to honor that delight in the Lord and he'll shape your heart, your heart will change. You got to shape your heart and leaps of faith. If you focus on the leap and not on the delight, you're going to be paralyzed with fear. When we came to Cape Coral, we came here. We gave up our job on on Sanibel. We gave up the church. We came over here knowing nothing. We rented a we were meeting in the life center at the hospital. And then we started on Sunday at Trafalgar Middle School. I preached at both churches for a while." [59:50] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If you want to be on time, which my dad taught me. If you're not early, it's sin and you didn't care about anything else. But be on time, son. Be on time. Fifteen minutes early. That's what he trained. I train my staff same way. Drives me insane when they walk up here on the stage and it's two seconds left to get him. It's like you should have been up there ten minutes earlier. This is my dad comes out of me. I'm sorry, but but but that didn't work well in marriage. And it was what's more important, being on church on time or honoring your wife? Let me help you. If you if you're trying to figure that out, you're already in trouble. You're you're if it's like I don't know which way to go there. I don't know. Stupid versus wisdom. I don't know. I'm going to feel good in everybody's eyes." [01:17:10] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If God's worth waiting on, wait on him. Don't wait on him with dread and dread and despair. Radar, wait on him pregnant with the promise that he is coming. He will do it. He will break through. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. He'll not let you drown. Trust never gets easier than that. Trust is always heavy lifting. Trust. Get your eyes off of you, off of others. Trust the light. That's that's a big that's that's just have fun with Jesus. When you start loving the things that he loves. I said I've had the Lord tell me things, places I love to go. And they're just I don't know why I love to go there. I just love to go there. And I was talking to the Lord about that because I don't know if I'm going to be able to get back there and he said, son, I love this place more than you do. I had nowhere to put that. He said, why do you think you're here? You're You're here because I love this. And I put that love in you to love this. You love it as much. No, I love it more than you. When you learn to love what he loves, you're delighting in him." [01:18:44] (82 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If you're here and you feel just like your faith has been shipwrecked, come get some prayer. These folks would love to pray for you. If you're a guest, I'd love to meet you. I'll be at the front. Lord, let me bless you. Father, would you help us this week to trust you in a greater way to delight in you? Lord, forgive us where we've made needing decisions wisdom. We made that more important. You getting answers. We've made it more. Help us delight to delight in you this week. Just to love you, Jesus, without asking you for things. I know you don't mind that, but sometimes it's good for us. Father, just to praise you, just to love you and not ask you for things. And then we just choose to roll our burdens on you because you can handle it. We can. And Lord, we're going to choose to wait on you. You're worth waiting on. But we're going to wait as an expectant mother that the birth is coming, that you're going to come through with what we're waiting you waiting on you for. So bless your people, Lord. Let them go in your protection and your blessing in Jesus name. And all God's people said, please feel." [01:36:39] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Sep 29, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?