Aligning Desires with God's Will for Soul's Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: Desires Untethered from God Lead to Idolatry

Desires, when disconnected from God's will, can lead us into idolatry, as they become destructive forces that wage war against our souls. The "flesh" represents the part of human nature that rebels against God, seeking satisfaction in worldly things rather than in Him. This is the essence of idolatry—placing anything above God in our lives. When our desires are not aligned with God's will, they can lead us away from Him, depriving our souls of their true source of life and joy. The soul's life is found in being satisfied with God, and when desires are untethered from Him, the soul is deprived of its true source of life and joy. [06:07]

"For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one desire in your life that you have pursued independently of God? How can you begin to realign this desire with His will today?

Day 2: The Rebellious Nature of the Flesh

The "flesh" in the New Testament often signifies the rebellious part of human nature, devoid of the Holy Spirit's influence. When desires of the flesh become sovereign, they entice the soul to seek satisfaction in worldly things rather than in God, which is a form of idolatry. This rebellion against God leads to a war against the soul, as the soul is drawn away from its true source of life and joy. Understanding the nature of the flesh helps us recognize the importance of aligning our desires with God's will, rather than allowing them to lead us into idolatry. [02:58]

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed the desires of the flesh to become sovereign in your life? How can you begin to set your mind on the things of the Spirit today?

Day 3: Transforming Desires Through Knowledge of Christ

True knowledge of Christ's infinite worth and beauty transforms our desires, aligning them with God's will and leading to the salvation of our souls. This knowledge is the key to countering the destructive desires of the flesh. By recognizing Christ's infinite worth and beauty, our desires are transformed, and we are drawn into a deeper relationship with Him. This transformation leads to the salvation of our souls, as our desires are aligned with God's will, and we are liberated from the destructive desires of the flesh. [07:07]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your knowledge of Christ's worth and beauty today? What practical steps can you take to align your desires with God's will?

Day 4: Embracing Christ as Our Ultimate Treasure

The counter-warfare against the desires of the flesh is to pursue a deep understanding of Christ's glory and to embrace Him as our ultimate treasure. This leads to a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, anchoring the soul in its true source of life. By seeing Christ for who He truly is, we are liberated from the desires of ignorance and drawn into the freedom of desires rooted in the knowledge of His glory. This transformation is essential for the salvation of our souls, as it leads us to embrace Christ as our ultimate treasure. [09:40]

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8, ESV)

Reflection: What are some things you currently treasure more than Christ? How can you begin to embrace Him as your ultimate treasure today?

Day 5: Liberation from Ignorant Desires

By seeing Christ for who He truly is, we are liberated from the desires of ignorance and drawn into the freedom of desires rooted in the knowledge of His glory. This transformation is essential for the salvation of our souls, as it leads us to embrace Christ as our ultimate treasure. The freedom that comes from knowing Christ's glory allows us to live in alignment with God's will, liberated from the destructive desires of the flesh. This liberation is a vital part of our spiritual journey, as it leads us to a deeper relationship with God and a more fulfilling life in Him. [09:09]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel trapped by ignorant desires? How can you seek liberation through a deeper understanding of Christ's glory today?

Sermon Summary

In today's discussion, we delve into the profound insights of 1 Peter 2:11, exploring how the passions of the flesh wage war against the soul. The term "passions" or "desires" in this context refers to the cravings that can either be good or bad, depending on their alignment with God's will. The key to understanding this lies in the phrase "of the flesh," which signifies desires that are disconnected from God and driven by our rebellious human nature. These desires become destructive when they operate independently of God's guidance, leading us away from Him and towards idolatry.

The "flesh" in the New Testament often represents the part of human nature that is in rebellion against God, devoid of the Holy Spirit's influence. When desires of the flesh become sovereign, they entice the soul to seek satisfaction in worldly things rather than in God, which is a form of idolatry. This is the war against the soul that Peter warns about. The soul's life is found in being satisfied with God, and when desires are untethered from Him, the soul is deprived of its true source of life and joy.

Peter further illustrates this in 1 Peter 4:3, urging believers to live not for human desires but for the will of God. Desires become destructive when they are not subject to God, choosing their own path and satisfaction apart from Him. The rescue from this warfare is found in a true knowledge of Christ, recognizing His infinite worth and beauty. This knowledge transforms our desires, aligning them with God's will and leading to the salvation of our souls.

The counter-warfare against the destructive desires of the flesh is to pursue a deep understanding of Christ's glory and to embrace Him as our ultimate treasure. This leads to a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, anchoring the soul in its true source of life and everlasting pleasure. By seeing Christ for who He truly is, we are liberated from the desires of ignorance and drawn into the freedom of desires rooted in the knowledge of His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Desires of the flesh become destructive when they operate independently of God's will, leading to idolatry and a war against the soul. The soul's true life is found in satisfaction with God, and when desires are untethered from Him, the soul is deprived of its source of life and joy. [06:07]
2. The "flesh" represents the rebellious part of human nature, devoid of the Holy Spirit's influence. When desires of the flesh become sovereign, they entice the soul to seek satisfaction in worldly things rather than in God, which is a form of idolatry. [02:58]
3. True knowledge of Christ's infinite worth and beauty transforms our desires, aligning them with God's will and leading to the salvation of our souls. This knowledge is the key to countering the destructive desires of the flesh. [07:07]
4. The counter-warfare against the desires of the flesh is to pursue a deep understanding of Christ's glory and to embrace Him as our ultimate treasure. This leads to a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, anchoring the soul in its true source of life. [09:40]
5. By seeing Christ for who He truly is, we are liberated from the desires of ignorance and drawn into the freedom of desires rooted in the knowledge of His glory. This transformation is essential for the salvation of our souls. [09:09]
** [09:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Question
[00:23] - Understanding Passions of the Flesh
[00:51] - Good vs. Bad Desires
[01:17] - The Meaning of Flesh
[02:00] - Innocent Desires of the Body
[02:27] - Flesh as Rebellious Nature
[03:11] - When Desires Become Evil
[04:01] - Sovereign Desires and Idolatry
[05:01] - Living for God's Will
[06:07] - The War Against the Soul
[07:07] - Rescue Through Knowledge of Christ
[08:07] - Joy in Christ's Worth
[09:09] - Freedom from Ignorant Desires
[10:11] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 2:11
- 1 Peter 4:3
- Romans 8:7

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Observation Questions:

What does the term "passions of the flesh" mean in 1 Peter 2:11, and how are these passions described as waging war against the soul? [00:23]
How does the sermon describe the difference between innocent desires of the body and desires of the flesh that become destructive? [02:00]
According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in influencing the desires of the flesh? [02:58]
In 1 Peter 4:3, what does Peter urge believers to live for, and how does this contrast with living for human desires? [05:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the concept of desires becoming sovereign and independent of God? What are the implications of this for a believer's life? [03:45]
What does it mean for desires to be "untethered" from God, and how does this lead to idolatry according to the sermon? [06:07]
How does the knowledge of Christ's infinite worth and beauty transform our desires, as discussed in the sermon? [07:07]
What is the significance of the phrase "desires of your former ignorance" in 1 Peter 1:14, and how does it relate to the transformation of desires? [06:51]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when your desires were not aligned with God's will. How did this affect your spiritual life, and what steps can you take to realign your desires with God's will? [05:49]
The sermon discusses the danger of desires becoming sovereign. Identify an area in your life where your desires might be leading you away from God. What practical steps can you take to submit these desires to God's guidance? [03:45]
How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of Christ's glory in your daily life to counter the destructive desires of the flesh? Consider specific practices or habits you can adopt. [09:24]
Think about a desire you have that might be rooted in ignorance of God's worth. How can you seek knowledge and understanding to transform this desire? [07:07]
The sermon emphasizes the joy found in Christ's worth. How can you intentionally seek this joy in your everyday life, especially during challenging times? [08:07]
Identify a specific worldly desire that competes with your satisfaction in God. What changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with God over this desire? [04:30]
How can you support others in your small group or community in their journey to align their desires with God's will? What role can accountability play in this process? [09:40]

Sermon Clips

The word flesh can mean simply the human body, as it does for example in first Peter 4:1 where it says that Christ suffered in the flesh. There's nothing evil about Christ's flesh, his body, and so not all desires of the body or the flesh would necessarily be evil. Right, Jesus had the desire for food when he was hungry, he had the desire for water when he was thirsty, he had the desire for rest when he was tired. These desires of the body or the flesh are not evil. [00:16:04]

The flesh is seen as that part of human nature which is without the Holy Spirit and in the sway of sin and cannot submit to God. Flesh is man in rebellion, without God, without the Spirit. So what makes the desires of the flesh evil and dangerous is when they cross over from being innocent wishes for food and drink and rest and or any legitimate pleasure, cross over into the service of the rebellious human self. [00:28:19]

The desires of the flesh become evil when they are disconnected from the will of God and become sovereign or independent with their own will, their own desires that don't have any reference to God's desires or God's will. I will be satisfied and I don't care what God says about the guidance or the limits of my desires. [00:35:11]

When the desires of the body, which themselves may be innocent, become sovereign and independent of God, now the soul is enveloped in a sea of desires that are communicating to the soul continually that it should join them in the pursuit not of God, but of this world as the source of satisfaction and that is idolatry and that is deadly and destructive. [00:42:47]

The reason such renegade, untethered, insubordinate sovereign desires wage war against the soul is that the life of the soul is found in being satisfied with God. But when desires are cut loose from God and go after every other kind of idol, the soul is starved of what gives it life, namely dependence on God, satisfaction in God, delight in God, feeding on God for its life and joy in God. [00:57:49]

We get an even clearer picture of what this warfare is like when we consider how Peter describes the rescue of the soul from such warfare or destruction. Here's what he says in chapter 1 verse 14: as obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. That's an amazing phrase. Notice that what we need to be set free from is desires that flow from ignorance. [01:04:31]

When we don't know the infinite desirability of God and how he's for us in Christ, our desires will inevitably latch on to lesser things and drag the soul down away from Christ. So the way out of soul-destroying into soul-saving truth is to see Christ and have a true knowledge of him and his beauty and his worth so that the soul embraces him and with him a whole new constellation of desires. [01:11:19]

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. This is counter warfare right, this is the opposite of the destruction of the soul finding Jesus infinitely worthy of love finding Jesus infinitely worthy of believing. [01:18:07]

We're not in the grip of the desires of ignorance anymore. We are in the freedom of the desires rooted in true knowledge of Christ's glory. So our counter-attack on the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul, our souls, is to pursue a true knowledge of the infinitely desirable Christ and then to obey this truth by embracing it as our treasure, embracing him as our treasure. [01:25:36]

The desires of the flesh draw us away from the all-satisfying Christ, but God opens our eyes and draws us through the true glory and the one warfare leads to destruction, the counter-attack of truth leads to salvation. The desires of the flesh draws away from the all-satisfying Christ. [01:32:40]

The counter-warfare against the desires of the flesh is to pursue a deep understanding of Christ's glory and to embrace Him as our ultimate treasure. This leads to a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, anchoring the soul in its true source of life and everlasting pleasure. By seeing Christ for who He truly is, we are liberated from the desires of ignorance and drawn into the freedom of desires rooted in the knowledge of His glory. [01:39:12]

The rescue from this warfare is found in a true knowledge of Christ, recognizing His infinite worth and beauty. This knowledge transforms our desires, aligning them with God's will and leading to the salvation of our souls. The counter-warfare against the destructive desires of the flesh is to pursue a deep understanding of Christ's glory and to embrace Him as our ultimate treasure. [01:45:56]

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Aligning Desires with God's Will for Soul's Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: Desires Untethered from God Lead to Idolatry

Day 2: The Rebellious Nature of the Flesh

Day 3: Transforming Desires Through Knowledge of Christ

Day 4: Embracing Christ as Our Ultimate Treasure

Day 5: Liberation from Ignorant Desires

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Aligning Desires with God's Will for Soul's Salvation

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