What has God taught you through this season?
Notes
Transcript
Jesus knew the cross was coming - Nothing takes God by surprise
He prepared the disciples for this time, but that evening would expose what the disciples had learned
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
God demonstrates through Peter what the disciples had taken to heart
Learning to drive on the 1985 Chrysler Lebaron - 4 door turbo coupe - manual
Driving up the hill - the drive shaft would break
We replaced the half-shaft 3 times from different companies
Every time we approached that hill of the drive, the half-shaft would break
The hill did not move - that was always there, but the hill exposed that there was a problem deeper than what we knew - the problem exhibited itself in the drive shaft breaking, but the problem was a broken motor mount
Once we fixed the deeper problem, replaced the drive shaft for the last time, the hill was not an issue!
In January, no one would have expected the course of events that have brought us to where we are today in 2020
2020 has exposed what is in our heart
“A crisis doesn’t actually cause our problems - it simply reveals them.” - Jeff Redlin
The arrest, questioning, and the beating of Jesus revealed what was in Peter’s heart. He had a choice in this time: learn what God was teaching Him or reject what God was doing
What did Peter do?
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Gamaliel stood up imploring the Pharisees to learn from what God was revealing in their hearts:
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Peter learned from what God revealed in his heart
2020 didn’t take God by surprise. Through this God has been teaching us.
What has God taught you through this season?
The Power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
How God has taken churches, like SBC, that preached the Gospel and placed us into a position that the only way to continue to have church was to livestream through social media means
The testimonies of those coming to know Christ as Saviour because of a livestream someone shared with them, an advert they “happened” to click on, a curiosity in their heart for what a church service looks like, or a heart that was looking for answers is incredible
As I talk and listen to what other pastors say, It is incredible to hear how God has used this time to further the Gospel
Untold numbers will be in Heaven one day because of the power of the Gospel
God has taught me that my vision to reach the world is not as grand as His.
David - Sand - small shovel building a hill - I take a bucket fill it with sand and show him what could be done - looked up like - WOW! That’s incredible!
Samuel - How to build something a little bigger - no, that’s not what I want
God’s desire to reach the world with the Gospel eclipses my desire!
Reset relationship priorities
God - Man
1 Cor 1:9
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Man - Wife
Parents - Children
Ministry
Rest is important to God
2 Chron 36:20-21
And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
God did not make us to run non-stop - God built in us the need to rest
Lev 23:3
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.
Each of us need rest
As we live in a society that seemingly never stops, part of this very well may be to cause us all to stop and rest
God provides in unexpected ways
Dan 3:17
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Daniel - shut the lion’s mouth
Provided victory through a teenager facing a giant with 5 smooth stones
Kept a family alive through a flood with an ark
Over and over again we see God providing for His people through some of the most unexpected means
This year I have seen God provide for His church in ways that I never expected!
God has provided!
It is in those moments that we can clearly see the handiwork of our God!
He is still teaching me, but I have begun to understand how little I have to do with anything that God does
Too often we get so proud of a result or an accomplishment, and forget to give the glory to God
I encourage you to not waste this season. Get a journal. Open your notes app. Record the things that God has spoken to your heart about during this time. Let God teach you.
God knows the deep things in our heart that our broken. Let Him reveal what is broken and teach you.