Aligning Our Hearts with God's Will and Grace
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the first chapter of Colossians, where Paul prays for the church in Colossae. This prayer is not just for them but also for us at TC3. Paul’s prayer is a profound reminder that our primary focus should be on knowing God's will through the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. Often, we find ourselves asking, "God, what is your will for my life?" But perhaps the better question is, "God, what is your life for my will?" This shift in perspective helps us understand that God's will is less about specific plans and more about the posture of our hearts.
Paul prays that we may live a life worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God. This involves seeking His presence, knowing His heart, and being strengthened with His power to endure with patience and joyful thanks. Our qualifications come not from our actions but from God, who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His Son. This redemption is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our failures but by God's grace.
I shared a personal story about a time when I felt utterly unqualified and ashamed, yet experienced the tangible redemption of God through my father's unconditional love. This story illustrates that our worth and qualification come from God, who calls us His children and is proud of us despite our shortcomings. As we continue to pray Paul's prayer, let us ask for the courage to do the next right thing, the faith to endure obstacles, and the patience to love those who are hard to love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Shift in Perspective on God's Will: Instead of asking, "God, what is your will for my life?" consider asking, "God, what is your life for my will?" This shift helps us focus on aligning our hearts with God's presence rather than seeking specific plans. It’s about living in a way that reflects His character and love. [54:34]
2. Living a Life Worthy of the Lord: Paul’s prayer emphasizes living a life that pleases God, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God. This involves seeking His presence and knowing His heart intimately. It’s not about our achievements but about our relationship with Him. [56:01]
3. Strengthened with Patience and Joyful Thanks: We are called to endure with patience and give joyful thanks, even in difficult circumstances. This strength comes from God’s power, not our own. It’s a reminder that our endurance and patience are rooted in our relationship with Him. [57:36]
4. Redemption and Qualification: Our qualification comes from God, not from our actions or resume. He has rescued us from darkness and brought us into His kingdom. This redemption is a powerful reminder that we are defined by God’s grace, not our failures. [59:15]
5. Unconditional Love and Redemption: The story of my father’s unconditional love during a time of personal failure illustrates the tangible redemption of God. It’s a reminder that we are loved and valued by God, who calls us His children and is proud of us despite our shortcomings. [01:02:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[52:12] - Introduction and Gratitude
[53:25] - Understanding God's Will
[54:34] - Shifting the Question
[56:01] - Living Worthy of the Lord
[57:36] - Strengthened with Patience
[59:15] - Redemption and Qualification
[01:00:33] - Personal Story of Failure
[01:02:01] - Unconditional Love and Redemption
[01:03:45] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 1:9-14
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Micah 6:8
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul pray for the church in Colossae in Colossians 1:9-10?
2. According to Colossians 1:11-12, what qualities does Paul desire for the believers to have?
3. How does Paul describe the transformation that believers undergo in Colossians 1:13-14?
4. In the sermon, what shift in perspective about God's will does the pastor suggest? [54:34]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives? How can this be applied in our daily lives? [52:12]
2. How does the concept of living a life worthy of the Lord challenge our usual understanding of success and achievement? [56:01]
3. What is the significance of being strengthened with all power according to God's glorious might, especially in terms of endurance and patience? [57:36]
4. How does the pastor's personal story of redemption illustrate the concept of God's unconditional love and our qualification through His grace? [01:02:01]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the shift from asking "God, what is your will for my life?" to "God, what is your life for my will?" How can this change in perspective impact your daily decisions and relationship with God? [54:34]
2. Paul prays for the believers to live a life worthy of the Lord. What specific actions can you take this week to bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God? [56:01]
3. Endurance and patience are highlighted as qualities to be strengthened by God's power. Identify a current challenge in your life where you need God's strength to endure with patience and joyful thanks. How can you seek His presence in this situation? [57:36]
4. The pastor shared a personal story of feeling unqualified and experiencing redemption through his father's love. Think of a time when you felt unqualified or ashamed. How did you experience God's grace in that situation, or how can you seek His grace now? [01:02:01]
5. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude and joyful thanks in your daily life, even in difficult circumstances? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's goodness and your inheritance as His child? [57:36]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of knowing God's heart and seeking His presence. What specific practices (e.g., prayer, Bible study, worship) can you incorporate into your routine to deepen your relationship with God?
7. Reflect on the idea that our qualifications come from God and not our actions. How does this truth affect your self-worth and the way you approach your responsibilities and relationships? [59:15]
Devotional
### Day 1: Aligning Our Hearts with God's Presence
Paul's prayer in Colossians 1 challenges us to shift our perspective on understanding God's will. Instead of focusing on specific plans or directions, we are encouraged to ask, "God, what is your life for my will?" This question redirects our attention from seeking detailed instructions to aligning our hearts with God's presence and character. It emphasizes the importance of living in a way that reflects God's love and wisdom, which the Spirit provides. This shift in perspective helps us to see that God's will is more about the posture of our hearts and our relationship with Him than about specific actions or decisions. [54:34]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: Think about a recent decision you had to make. How would your approach change if you focused on aligning your heart with God's presence rather than seeking a specific answer?
### Day 2: Living a Life Worthy of the Lord
Paul's prayer for the Colossians emphasizes living a life that pleases God, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God. This involves seeking His presence and knowing His heart intimately. It’s not about our achievements but about our relationship with Him. Living a life worthy of the Lord means that our actions, thoughts, and attitudes reflect His character and love. It’s a call to be intentional in our daily walk, ensuring that our lives are a testament to His grace and truth. [56:01]
Ephesians 4:1-2 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily routines and interactions. How can you intentionally live in a way that reflects God's character and love today?
### Day 3: Strengthened with Patience and Joyful Thanks
We are called to endure with patience and give joyful thanks, even in difficult circumstances. This strength comes from God’s power, not our own. It’s a reminder that our endurance and patience are rooted in our relationship with Him. When we face challenges, it is easy to become discouraged or impatient. However, Paul’s prayer encourages us to rely on God’s strength to endure and to maintain a heart of gratitude. This perspective helps us to see our trials as opportunities to grow closer to God and to witness His power at work in our lives. [57:36]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you rely on God's strength to endure with patience and maintain a heart of gratitude?
### Day 4: Redemption and Qualification
Our qualification comes from God, not from our actions or resume. He has rescued us from darkness and brought us into His kingdom. This redemption is a powerful reminder that we are defined by God’s grace, not our failures. Often, we may feel unworthy or inadequate, but Paul’s prayer reassures us that our worth is found in God’s love and grace. This understanding frees us from the pressure of trying to earn God’s approval and allows us to rest in the assurance of His redemption. [59:15]
Titus 3:4-5 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy or inadequate. How does understanding that your qualification comes from God’s grace change your perspective on that experience?
### Day 5: Unconditional Love and Redemption
The story of a father's unconditional love during a time of personal failure illustrates the tangible redemption of God. It’s a reminder that we are loved and valued by God, who calls us His children and is proud of us despite our shortcomings. This understanding of God’s unconditional love helps us to see ourselves through His eyes and to extend that same love and grace to others. It encourages us to embrace our identity as God’s beloved children and to live out that identity in our relationships and actions. [01:02:01]
1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to experience God’s unconditional love. How can you be a tangible expression of that love to them today?
Quotes
1. "What if that's the wrong question? Maybe that's the wrong question. Maybe the question needs to look more like God, what is your life for my will? Maybe we're missing something that even though we want to know the plan, if you're like me, I like to know the plan. I want it all spread out and laid out plan. The plan never goes according to plan. And God never gives me what I want. He goes, I see your plan, but this is, here you go." [54:34] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It seems to me that God's will for your life is not a career path. It's not knowing the future. It's the posture of your heart. This is Paul's prayer for this church in Colossae. And I believe too for TC three. Why does Paul pray this? He continues in verse 10 so that you may live. A life worthy of the Lord. Oh, that's tough one. And to please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." [56:01] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In other words, so that you and I can please our heavenly father to live a life worthy of the Lord, to know him intimately, to seek his presence, to spend time with him, to know his heart. It prompts me all the time. God, is this what you want? Like, I just want to be close to you. I just want to be close to you. Jesus, just your presence is what I'm longing for." [56:01] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Endurance, patience, joyful thanks. And I'm like, nope, not me. That's not, that does not define Mike DeLuca. Endurance. I like how NC Wright puts it. What faith, hope, and love bring to an apparently impossible situation. Endurance. When I think of patience, I think what we show to an apparently impossible person or something, someone or something. Now don't, don't elbow nudge that person next to you. Yeah, you're the one I need to grow patience with. No." [57:36] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Why? Because we have an inheritance as sons and daughters of the most high God and my inheritance. I love this. Thank you. God for this is not based on me. I'm not qualified. It's not my resume. It's not my actions. It's that has nothing to do with it. It's not my good works or not. He qualifies me. He qualifies you. You don't qualify me. He qualifies you. And I feel unqualified all the time." [57:36] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "See God through Jesus makes us fit in whatever office he puts us in. So whatever office you're in right now, whatever family life you're in right now, whatever situation it is right now for you, he qualifies you for those situations. Don't run away from it. Don't grumble through it. Endure with patience and joyful thanks." [59:15] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Redemption is a tangible word for me. Maybe it's a tangible word for you, or maybe it hasn't been, but it can be the redemption out of the dominion of darkness so that we live a life worthy of the Lord with patience, endurance, and joyful. Thanks. This is Paul's prayer to Colossae. This is Paul's prayer. Maybe to us, us as a team, we've been praying this. We're going to continue to pray this through our series." [01:02:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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