Trust the Results

INTRODUCTION:

Two weeks ago, I preached a message titled "Trust the Process."

It was a stern message — with a sobering use of the belt of truth.

We looked at how God is the potter and we are the clay — He takes our former life and shapes us in His image

And even we we resist him — he disciplines us, as a loving Father — but never gives up on us

And once we are surrendered and shaped — God places us the fire — not to punish us but to strengthen

All this, we said, was so that God can use us mightily for His designed purpose

THE SOLUTION: Transition into objective of sermon

But we didn’t really talk about the results.

What happens when the process is complete?

What should we expect after we’ve been shaped, tested, and cured?

Today’s message is titled: “Trust the Results.”

And we’re going to look at three key indicators that you’ve truly been refined by God

Transition to next point: The first sign that God’s process is working is the release of supernatural power.

1. The Release of Power

A. Enriched Uranium

Illustration:

There a mineral — that is found in certain rocks — In it’s natural state it’s mostly inactive — 99% of it doesn’t really do much

But hidden within it — is less than 1% of something rare and powerful

Scientist take this mineral and refine it through a long, difficult process — isolating and concentrating that 1% until it becomes what’s called weapons-grade uranium

Which is how atomic bombs are made — with more power than thousands of tons of explosives

What if I told you that — hidden within each one of you is a power even greater than that — waiting to be released

But you don’t just wake up one day and walk in that kind of power — It has to be refined

B. Jesus’ season of preparation

In Luke chapter 3 — we read about the baptism of Jesus — John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God” — The Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove — The heavens open — God’s voice is heard from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”

Jesus was 30 years old at this point — living his life quietly and humbly as an ordinary man — even though he was the Son of God

Jesus knew who he was as early as age 12 — when his parent’s lost him to the temple and when they found him he says to them, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

But he didn’t rush the process — he was obedient and patient —

And the for the next 18 years, the only thing we read about Jesus is that he, “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

For Jesus, this was his shaping and curing season — walking obediently and patiently according to God’s will

Takeaway

We can learn so much from this — Jesus waited patiently until he was 30 to step into his calling

I’m sure there may be some of you here who feel that your time has been delayed — you feel ready, but God is still saying wait

Let me encourage you with this: Perhaps you have underestimated your calling

The greater the assignment — the greater the preparation time

Jesus didn’t care about making it to the 30 under 30 list — he wasn’t fazed when everyone around him was starting families, and building their careers, and moving up in life — He trusted God’s process

And now after 30 years of preparation his moment came — He is anointed by the Holy Spirit and commissioned for ministry

B. Jesus filled with the Spirit

But even after this awesome affirmation and divine encounter — Jesus had one more step of refinement to undergo

Luke 4:1–2 “1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”

One moment, the heavens are open, God is speaking , the Holy Spirit is descending — The next moment he is in the wilderness

Jesus is thoroughly tested by the devil — He was tested about his identity, his authority, and his loyalty

Takeaway

You see this is the final critical moment of refinement — that final 1% — that was going to release the explosive power hidden inside all of that preparation — all the filling

We are all familiar with this moment

There is always this moment, after a life changing encounter with God

Or after you’ve spent months or years preparing for an assignment — something God has called you to do — or something God has been preparing you for — a vision, a calling

There will come a moment that will test whether or not you have truly embodied all the shaping that God has done with your life

You have to embrace that moment — for that moment is the catalyst that will release the power of God in your life

Nothing will be the same after that moment.

For Jesus, this was that moment — He prepared 30 years for this moment — he was filled with the Spirit of God and anointed by God for this moment — but until he faced this final refining moment, his power had not yet been released

The greater the refining — the greater the power

Finish strong

C. Jesus’s power released

Luke 4:14 “14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.”

This word, “Power” is the Greek word, “Dynamis” — it’s where we get the word Dynamite from

Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Spirit — but he came out in the explosive power of the Holy Spirit —

It says that news about him spread through the whole countryside — That’s what the power of God does — it cannot be contained

God’s power is explosive — Once you’ve been been prepared, once you’ve been refined, and once this power is released, it going to impact everything and everyone around you.

God is preparing you for this very moment — And if you would only trust Him with the process — he will show you the results

Transition to next point: Once this power is released — with it comes the release of purpose — Because God never releases power without attaching it to a purpose.

2. The Release of Purpose

Focus: There is a purpose for the power

A. Jesus’ purpose

After Jesus returns in the power of the Spirit — He begins his ministry and teaching in synagogues

He then goes back to his hometown in Nazareth

Luke 4:16–19 “16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””

The passage from Isaiah reveals 2 things

1. A Release of Power: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed”

But the passage doesn’t end there — Because there is a purpose for this anointing — There is a purpose of this power

God does not release His power — without releasing purpose

2. A Release of Purpose: “to proclaim good news to the poor … to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind … to set the oppressed free … to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”

Power and purpose are released together

Pause

B. Power without purpose

Many people today seek power—whether it’s influence, authority, or ability — They want anointing, they want platforms, they want visibility.

But what they often lack is a godly purpose for that power — it’s driven by selfish gain and ego rather than purpose

There is a story in Acts 8:18-19 about a magician named Simon who saw that when the Apostles laid their hands on people — those people would get filled with the Holy Spirit — and he wanted this power — and he offers the Apostle money to get this power

Peter rebukes him in Acts 8:20–21 “20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.”

God’s power is not for sale — You cannot buy God’s anointing — nor can you earn it

God’s power and anointing is a gift — and it’s given to us freely by God — but it is given to us for the good of others

It’s given to us so that we can fulfill His purpose — to serve, to heal, to lift others up, to set people free.

Pause

C. From common to calling

And when God releases power and purpose into your life — you go from being an ordinary, common, clay vessels — into carrying the all-surpassing power of God within you

2 Corinthians 4:7 “7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Power without purpose is destructive — but power with purpose is transformative

And This transformation became publicly evident in Jesus’ life when He read from Isaiah.

Jesus was at his local synagogue — he grew up there — It says that he stood up to read, “as was his custom”

Everybody knew him at this synagogue — in fact in verse 22, the people said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son”

But there was something different about Jesus this time

He was no longer just Joseph’s Son — He was a man on a mission — Anointed by God — tried and tested in the wilderness, now walking in purpose.

And when he read that passage — everyone in the room could sense it — this was not just another Shabbat service reading — this was a public declaration of His divine assignment

Luke 4:20–21 “20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””

This was His moment

And the same will happen for you

The release of your purpose is the fulfillment of what God has spoken over your life

There will come a day when everything God whispered in the secret place

Those personal Scriptures you’ve highlighted and journaled

The promises of God you’ve prayed over and cried over

Will all be fulfilled in front of others—not just privately, but publicly—when you are released in your purpose.

You’re not just going to be so-and-so’s son or daughter — or “that girl from the worship/prayer team.”

You will be a man or woman of God, walking in power and purpose.

D. Tom Rhodes

Illustration

There is this pastor who tells the story of a man named Tom Rhodes, an architect in his church.

One Sunday, Tom heard there was a need for volunteers to serve children with special needs.

He had no background in that—but he said yes.

He gave up his Sundays and started serving—just because there was a need.

And over time, he fell in love with it.

Later, he heard about a mission to serve children with special needs in East Asia—and again, he said yes.

He’s now gone five times, spending thousands of his own dollars—because he discovered something deeper.

When asked why he kept doing it, he gave this powerful response:

“It’s difficult to just go back to normal every day Sunday once you’ve tasted purpose.”

That’s what’s waiting for you—on the other side of the shaping, the waiting, the testing:

Power. Anointing. Purpose.

And when you taste purpose, you won’t want to go back to “normal” church.

You won’t want to just sit in rows and sing the songs.

You’ll be on mission for God.

Transition to next point: But if purpose is going to last — Then there needs to be one more release—the release of perseverance.

3. The Release of Perseverance

Focus: Power and purpose may launch you, but only perseverance will sustain you.

A. A product of trials

This last point may not be the most exciting — but I believe it’s the most important.

Unlike power and purpose which can feel explosive and incredibly impactful when released

Perseverance has a more gradual and continual release:

It doesn’t seem like much at first, but it grows over time like a mutual fund or retirement fund

You don’t see the results immediately. But over time, small deposits turn into a future that’s secure and strong.

The Apostle James tells us that perseverance is a direct result of testing

But not only that — it’s something that keeps developing and working on our behalf until we reach a point where we lack nothing

James 1:3–4 “3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Let me ask you:

Are you letting perseverance finish its work in you? Is it even on your radar?

Or are you always looking for the next spiritual high, the next opportunity, the next platform?

So while you’re asking God for more power — while you’re praying and fasting for your purpose

Don’t forget about perseverance — Because perseverance is what finishes the race.

B. God first

Because here’s the common trap with anointing and purpose

You have an anointing on your life — You answer the call of God to pursue your purpose

And over time, without knowing it — You start to think that what you’re doing is more important that who you are becoming

Let’s look at Jesus again — As powerful and purposeful as Jesus was in ministry — he prioritized his time with his Father more than his ministry

Luke 5:15–16 “15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to solitary places and prayed.”

Don’t let your anointing and calling make you think that you are now exempt from needing God

If anything — you need God more now than ever

There is a famous quote my Martin Luther — when a friend asked him about his plan for the next day

"Work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer"

Let’s be honest — we’re the complete opposite — “I have so much to do, God will understand if I skip prayer today” — as if the prayer is for Him

And we wonder why we lack perseverance — why we struggle with burn-out

C. Perseverance will sustain you

Many gifted men and women are captivated by the excitement of power and purpose — only to stumble because they didn’t have perseverance

Jesus on the other hand knew better

In Luke 4:22 “22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.”

He had power. He had purpose. He had momentum.

But Jesus didn’t get caught up in the hype — He wasn’t moved by the applause

He knew this was a marathon, not a sprint

Luke 4:23 “23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ””

He’s basically saying, “I know what’s coming. I know how this ends.” — And He was right!

Jesus’ ministry may have begun with praise — but it eventually led to betrayal, abandonment, and a cross

But because he didn’t give up — because he persevered — it didn’t end on the cross — it ended in resurrection

Pause — Finish Strong

Your anointing may empower you

Your purpose may impact those around you

But it’s your perseverance that will sustain you and reward you in the end.

And that’s what James meant when he said, “mature and complete, not lacking anything”

Whether people praise you or hate you

Whether you go through seasons of highs or lows

Regardless of what’s happening around you

It’s perseverance that will remind you of your purpose

It’s perseverance that will continue to draw that power within you

It’s perseverance that will get you across the finish line

Hebrews 10:36 “36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Transition to end: Listen to me church — He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it

REVIEW: Objective and rationale

The shaping process you've been through? It has a purpose.

The refining fire you've endured? It has results.

The waiting season you've walked through? It has an end.

And when God releases you — when He says "It is time" — you will walk in:

The explosive power of the Holy Spirit

The clear purpose He has designed for your life

The perseverance to sustain it all until the end

Some of you have been trying to manufacture power without going through refinement.

Some of you have been seeking purpose without embracing the preparation.

Some of you want the anointing without the accountability.

And some of you have gone through all the process — and yet you are afraid to face the moment that will change everything

So I'm calling you today to make a decision:

Will you trust the process? And will you trust the results?

And step into what God has for you

PRAYER:

Salvation call

Dear God,

I confess that I’m a sinner,

and I ask for your forgiveness.

I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

I believe that You raised him from the dead

From this day forward,

I surrender my life,

I surrender my will

to Jesus Christ

I pray this in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time: Text LIVING to 94000