Aligning Our Lives: Spiritual Adjustments for Discipleship
Summary
In my recent sermon, I explored the theme of making spiritual adjustments in our lives, drawing from various biblical examples and personal testimonies to illustrate the transformative power of aligning our actions with God's will. I began by discussing the importance of adjustments, using the analogy of sports where coaches instruct players to alter their techniques to improve performance. This concept translates into our spiritual lives, as seen in Luke 9:23, where Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. This requires a conscious decision to pivot from our ways to God's ways, acknowledging that His thoughts and plans are higher than ours, as stated in Isaiah 55:8.
I shared my personal journey, highlighting the pivotal moments at six years old when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and at eighteen when I fully surrendered to Him as Lord. The distinction between Savior and Lord is crucial; while it's comforting to have Jesus as our Savior, true transformation occurs when we submit to His lordship with full authority, surrender, and submission. This is not always easy, as it challenges us to relinquish control over every aspect of our lives, but it is essential for genuine discipleship.
Throughout the sermon, I emphasized that God's will is not an accessory to our lives but should be the central guiding force. Jesus modeled this when He prayed, "Your will be done," demonstrating complete submission to the Father. Our actions must reflect this submission, as they loudly proclaim the lordship of Christ in our lives.
I then delved into the practical aspects of making adjustments, categorizing them into four areas: ambitions, habits, relationships, and possessions. Ambitions should align with God's purposes rather than our own desires for success or recognition. Habits, even seemingly innocuous ones like biting fingernails, can become obstacles to hearing God's voice if He calls us to change them. Relationships are influential; we should surround ourselves with people who draw us closer to God. Lastly, possessions should not own us or hinder our walk with God, as exemplified by the story of the rich young ruler who was unable to follow Jesus because of his attachment to wealth.
I shared a powerful testimony about a woman named Linda who obeyed God's prompting to give up coffee, which led to the early detection of a health issue that could have been life-threatening. This story illustrated how seemingly small adjustments can have significant impacts when we are obedient to God's voice.
In conclusion, I urged the congregation to consider what adjustments they need to make in their lives to fully trust and follow the Lord. As we approach the final installment of this series next week, it is my hope that each person will take to heart the call to make these spiritual adjustments, trusting in God's perfect plan for their lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. True discipleship involves a daily decision to deny ourselves and follow Jesus, which means our ambitions, habits, relationships, and possessions must align with His will. This surrender is not a one-time event but a continuous process that requires our constant attention and willingness to make necessary changes. [11:01]
2. The lordship of Jesus is not just a title we ascribe to Him; it demands our full submission and obedience. Our actions must broadcast His lordship louder than our words, reflecting a life truly surrendered to His authority. [04:02]
3. God's ways are often mysterious and require faith to follow. Biblical figures like Noah, Abraham, and Gideon made significant adjustments to obey God's commands, even when they didn't fully understand the plan. We too must be willing to trust and obey, even when the path is unclear. [07:07]
4. Relationships have a profound impact on our spiritual growth. To follow God's calling, we must be intentional about forming and maintaining relationships with those who are also committed to pursuing Him. This may mean adjusting the amount of time we spend with certain individuals to ensure we are encouraged and challenged in our faith. [14:19]
5. Our possessions should not be a barrier to hearing from God or following His will. The story of the rich young ruler reminds us that our attachment to material things can prevent us from fully embracing the life God has for us. We must be willing to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him. [16:13]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 9:23 - "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"
2. Isaiah 55:8 - "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord."
3. Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says to "deny yourself and take up your cross daily" in Luke 9:23?
2. How does Isaiah 55:8 help us understand the need for making spiritual adjustments in our lives?
3. According to Luke 6:46, what is the significance of calling Jesus "Lord" and not following His commands? [03:38]
4. What are the four areas of life mentioned in the sermon where we need to make adjustments? [11:01]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of denying oneself and taking up the cross daily challenge our modern understanding of discipleship? [01:07]
2. In what ways can our ambitions, habits, relationships, and possessions hinder our spiritual growth? [11:01]
3. How does the story of the rich young ruler illustrate the difficulty of making adjustments in our lives to follow Jesus? [16:13]
4. Why is it important to surround ourselves with people who are also committed to pursuing God? [14:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: What specific ambitions do you have that might need to be adjusted to align with God's will? [11:31]
2. Identify a habit in your life that could be an obstacle to hearing God's voice. What steps can you take this week to change or eliminate this habit? [12:03]
3. Think about your relationships. Are there any that are drawing you away from God? How can you adjust the amount of time you spend with these individuals to ensure you are encouraged and challenged in your faith? [14:19]
4. Consider your possessions. Is there anything you own that is taking up too much of your time and attention, hindering your walk with God? What can you do to minimize its impact? [15:15]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt God was asking you to make a small adjustment in your life. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [13:50]
6. How can you practically make Jesus the Lord of every aspect of your life, not just in words but in actions? [04:02]
7. What steps can you take to ensure that God's will is the central guiding force in your life, rather than just an accessory? [04:52]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Daily Discipleship
True discipleship is a daily practice of self-denial and a commitment to follow Jesus. It is a journey that requires a conscious effort to align one's ambitions, habits, relationships, and possessions with the will of God. This process is not a one-time event but a continuous, life-long endeavor. It involves a willingness to examine and adjust these areas of life regularly, ensuring they are in harmony with the teachings and example of Christ. The path of discipleship is marked by moments of decision where one must choose between the comfort of the familiar and the transformative call of the Spirit. It is in these moments that the depth of one's commitment to Christ is truly revealed. [11:01]
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27 ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific habit or ambition in your life that you feel God is calling you to adjust in order to more fully follow Jesus?
Day 2: Living Under Christ's Lordship
Acknowledging Jesus as Lord means more than just a verbal declaration; it requires a life of full submission and obedience. This submission is evident in the way one's actions reflect the lordship of Christ. It is a call to live in such a way that every decision and action broadcasts the transformative power of Jesus' authority in one's life. This surrender is not passive but active, involving a deliberate choice to let go of personal control and trust in the wisdom and guidance of the Lord. It is a life lived not for self-glorification but for the glory of God, where one's deeds speak louder than words. [04:02]
"For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." (Romans 9:6b ESV)
Reflection: How can you demonstrate the lordship of Jesus in your life through your actions this week?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Mysterious Ways
Faith in God often requires one to make adjustments even when the path ahead is not fully understood. The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who obeyed God's commands despite not seeing the full picture. This kind of faith is about trusting in God's character and His promises, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways. It is about stepping out in obedience, confident that God's plans are for good, even when they challenge our comfort zones or defy our logic. This trust is what enables one to make the necessary adjustments in life, guided by the assurance that God is in control. [07:07]
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8 ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where God is asking you to trust Him and make an adjustment, even though you don't understand the full plan?
Day 4: Cultivating Spiritual Relationships
The company one keeps has a profound impact on spiritual growth. It is essential to be intentional about forming and maintaining relationships with those who encourage and challenge one's faith. These relationships can serve as a source of strength, accountability, and inspiration on the journey of discipleship. Adjusting the amount of time spent with certain individuals may be necessary to ensure that one's spiritual well-being is being nurtured. This may involve difficult choices, but the goal is to surround oneself with a community that supports a life lived in pursuit of God. [14:19]
"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV)
Reflection: Are there relationships in your life that you need to adjust to better support your spiritual growth?
Day 5: Releasing Possessions for God's Sake
Material possessions should not become a barrier to one's relationship with God. The story of the rich young ruler serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing wealth and possessions to take precedence over following Christ. It is a reminder to hold loosely to the things of this world and to be willing to let go of anything that hinders one's walk with God. This may require making adjustments in one's lifestyle or priorities, but the reward is a deeper, more authentic relationship with the Creator, unencumbered by earthly attachments. [16:13]
"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys." (Luke 12:33 ESV)
Reflection: What possession or attachment might God be asking you to let go of in order to follow Him more closely?
Quotes
"The Lord told me to stop about a year ago, and I haven't. He goes, okay, because we found some lumps. And that happens a lot with women that drink a lot of coffee. But since you haven't drank coffee in a while, let's do some more tests. But because God told her to give up coffee a year ago, and she did, when they took this test, they didn't just kind of, ah, they're just lumps from coffee. They did some more tests, and it was precancerous." [13:50]
"Number one, your ambitions. Everybody say ambitions. Basically, what I want out of my life. What adjustments do you need to make to your ambitions or what I want out of my life? Ambition. The word ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work." [11:31]
"Number two, your habits. What I do on a regular basis that is hard to stop. You know, I bite my fingernails. Does anybody bite their fingernails? It's a terrible habit. I really wish I could stop. I've tried everything. My wife has yelled at me and slapped me and hit me and I've put bitter stuff in my fingers." [12:03]
"I've got a lot of stuff in my life, y'all. And it's crazy. I really meant to bring the book and show you, but I went through this book in 2017, and at this point in the book, I wrote in there that I'd been spending an exorbitant amount of time researching a concealed carry pistol." [15:15]
"Y'all heard the story of the rich young ruler came to Jesus and said, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus says, blah, blah, blah. You know all this stuff. But at the end of it, he said, sell all your possessions and what? Follow me. And what'd the rich man do?" [16:13]
"And I gave him all, because that's a no-brainer if you want him to save you, but it should be a no-brainer for him to be the Lord of your life. That's the most important thing. That's the most important adjustment you can make about anything in your life, okay?" [02:35]
"The proclamation, Lord, is heard loudest when broadcast through actions. In other words, you can say he's the Lord of my life, but when you follow it up with your actions, it's proclaimed the loudest." [04:02]
"If you play sports, you've heard Coach say, you do the same thing over and over, you mess up. He's like, make an adjustment, right? You know, adjust your swing, tennis player, or your hit volleyball player, or your dribble, or whatever, basketball, or football." [00:39]
"God's plans don't always make sense, but that's why we make adjustments and do what he calls us to do. And listen, I didn't put this on your handout, and it's not going to be on the screen, but write down Isaiah 55.8. Isaiah 55.8." [08:28]
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