Aligning Our Values with God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing God's Kingdom Over Worldly Pursuits

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught between the values of the world and the values of God. The world esteems wealth, power, and pleasure, but these are contrary to what God values. As believers, we are called to live by a different set of values, ones that align with God's kingdom. The world's values are like an unflushed toilet in God's eyes, detestable and abominable. We must learn to use the things of the world without becoming absorbed by them, for they can easily lead us away from a simple devotion to Christ. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize God's kingdom over worldly pursuits. [01:29]

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where worldly values have taken precedence over God's values. What practical steps can you take today to realign this area with God's kingdom?

Day 2: Guarding Our Hearts Against Corruption

In the last days, people will be lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. This is a warning for us to examine our own lives and ensure that our love for God surpasses all else. We must be careful about what we allow into our minds and the minds of our children, as even a small amount of corruption can have lasting effects. By guarding our hearts and minds, we protect ourselves from the subtle influences that can lead us away from God. [08:18]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific influence (media, relationships, etc.) that you need to guard against to protect your heart and mind? How can you take action today to minimize its impact?

Day 3: Embracing God's Sovereignty Over Evil

Nobody can harm us except ourselves. The devil was defeated on the cross, and his power over believers was taken away. We should not fear him or anyone else, for God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Even the greatest evils can be turned into the greatest goods, as demonstrated by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Embracing this truth allows us to live without fear, trusting in God's sovereignty over all circumstances. [33:56]

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you trust in God's sovereignty and look for the good He might bring out of it?

Day 4: Cultivating a Deep Relationship with God

Knowing God intimately is the secret to being strong. Eternal life is not just about living forever; it's about knowing God deeply and personally. This knowledge comes through a relationship with Him, cultivated by listening to His word and communicating with Him regularly. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we become stronger and more capable of helping others. [47:39]

"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can deepen your relationship with God this week? Consider setting aside dedicated time for prayer, Bible study, or worship.

Day 5: Seeking and Fulfilling God's Perfect Plan

God has a perfect plan for each of our lives, prepared before we were born. Our task is to seek His plan and fulfill it, rather than pursuing our own desires or the approval of others. Even if we have wasted years of our lives, God can restore what was lost and use the remainder of our lives for His glory. Trusting in His plan allows us to live with purpose and direction. [02:48]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current life path. Are you pursuing God's plan or your own desires? What is one step you can take today to align more closely with God's purpose for your life?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught between the values of the world and the values of God. The world esteems wealth, power, and pleasure, but these are contrary to what God values. As believers, we are called to live by a different set of values, ones that align with God's kingdom. The world's values are like an unflushed toilet in God's eyes, detestable and abominable. We must learn to use the things of the world without becoming absorbed by them, for they can easily lead us away from a simple devotion to Christ.

The pursuit of money, self, and pleasure can be particularly dangerous. In the last days, people will be lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. This is a warning for us to examine our own lives and ensure that our love for God surpasses all else. We must be careful about what we allow into our minds and the minds of our children, as even a small amount of corruption can have lasting effects.

Moreover, we must recognize that nobody can harm us except ourselves. The devil was defeated on the cross, and his power over believers was taken away. We should not fear him or anyone else, for God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Even the greatest evils can be turned into the greatest goods, as demonstrated by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Knowing God intimately is the secret to being strong. Eternal life is not just about living forever; it's about knowing God deeply and personally. This knowledge comes through a relationship with Him, cultivated by listening to His word and communicating with Him regularly. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we become stronger and more capable of helping others.

Finally, God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. Before we were born, He prepared specific good works for us to walk in. Our task is to seek His plan and fulfill it, rather than pursuing our own desires or the approval of others. Even if we have wasted years of our lives, God can restore what was lost and use the remainder of our lives for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. The world's values are contrary to God's values, and we must learn to use worldly things without becoming absorbed by them. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize God's kingdom over worldly pursuits. [01:29]
2. In the last days, people will be lovers of self, money, and pleasure rather than lovers of God. We must examine our lives to ensure that our love for God surpasses all else, guarding our hearts and minds against corruption. [08:18]
3. Nobody can harm us except ourselves. The devil was defeated on the cross, and God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Even the greatest evils can be turned into the greatest goods. [33:56]
4. Knowing God intimately is the secret to being strong. Eternal life is about knowing God deeply and personally, which comes through a relationship with Him, cultivated by listening to His word and communicating with Him regularly. [47:39]
5. God has a perfect plan for each of our lives, prepared before we were born. Our task is to seek His plan and fulfill it, trusting that He can restore what was lost and use the remainder of our lives for His glory. [02:48]
** [02:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Greetings and Introduction
[00:35] - Recap of Previous Sessions
[01:29] - The World's Values vs. God's Values
[03:25] - What the World Esteems
[06:20] - Managing Worldly Things
[07:08] - Lovers of Self, Money, and Pleasure
[09:13] - The Impact of Media
[12:01] - Protecting Our Children
[14:14] - The Real Danger in the Last Days
[19:02] - Faithfulness with Money
[27:43] - Serving God or Money
[33:56] - Nobody Can Harm Us
[47:39] - Knowing God Intimately
[02:48] - God's Perfect Plan for Our Lives

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 John 2:15-17
Luke 16:15
2 Timothy 3:1-4

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 John 2:15-17, what are the three things that characterize the world, and how are they contrary to God's values? [02:28]
In Luke 16:15, Jesus mentions something that is highly esteemed among men. How does He describe it in the sight of God? [03:25]
What are the four types of "lovers" mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, and how do they contrast with being a lover of God? [08:18]
How does the sermon describe the world's values in relation to an unflushed toilet, and what does this metaphor suggest about our engagement with worldly things? [05:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon suggest believers should manage worldly things without becoming absorbed by them? What practical steps can be taken to ensure this balance? [06:20]
The sermon mentions that nobody can harm us except ourselves. How does this perspective change the way we view challenges and adversities in life? [33:56]
What does it mean to know God intimately, and how does this knowledge contribute to a believer's strength according to the sermon? [47:39]
The sermon states that God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. How can believers discern and pursue this plan amidst their own desires and societal pressures? [02:48]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there any worldly values or pursuits that you find yourself esteeming more than God's values? How can you realign your priorities to reflect God's kingdom? [01:29]
In what ways have you allowed media or entertainment to influence your values or those of your family? What changes can you make to guard your heart and mind against corruption? [09:13]
Consider a recent challenge or adversity you faced. How did you respond, and how might the belief that "nobody can harm us except ourselves" change your approach to similar situations in the future? [33:56]
How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with God in your daily life? What specific practices can you implement to know Him more intimately? [47:39]
Reflect on a time when you pursued your own desires over God's plan. What was the outcome, and how can you seek God's guidance more intentionally in your future decisions? [02:48]
Identify one area of your life where you feel you have wasted time or resources. How can you trust God to restore what was lost and use the remainder of your life for His glory? [02:48]
Think of a person in your life who may be struggling with worldly values. How can you support and encourage them to prioritize God's values over the world's? [01:29]

Sermon Clips

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world and here is a very serious statement if anyone loves the world he cannot say that he loves God the love of the Father is not in him he's fooling himself and what is the world all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh which is various lusts in our flesh which includes sexual lust pride and not pride but other lusts and the lust of the eyes which is the lust to possess everything we see money for example and the boastful pride of life these are the three things that characterize the world and none of these are from the Father all this is from the world and the world is passing away and also it's lusts but the one who does the will of God abides forever." [00:19:38]

"We have to use many things in the world but if you get absorbed in them invariably it takes you away from God you have to learn to use them without getting absorbed in them because it will carry you away and that is what has taken many people away from a simple devotion to Christ it's taken many people away from being useful in God's kingdom we need to learn how to manage these things without them sticking to us it's very easy for things in the world to stick to us you've got to handle them with loose hands so that if the Lord takes them away take it away it's fine." [00:06:10]

"In the last days difficult times will come ii timothy 3 verse 1 and when we think of difficult times we think of not enough food in the stores cost of living going up inflation stock market is down this is the things the world thinks of and difficult hardships or some people think of persecution of christians but that's not what is talking about at all that's not even mentioned here it's difficult because men will be three types of lovers number one they'll be lovers of self number two they'll be lovers of money and verse four they'll be lovers of pleasure lovers of self lovers of money lovers of pleasure instead of being verse four lovers of God." [00:07:27]

"Be careful about the type of even so-called clean movies are not so clean and nowadays I hear that even the so-called children's movies made by Disney are not clean they've got transgender stuff and all that type of stuff coming up I believe so the world is going headlong towards hell towards destruction and we have to live in this world we have to be very very cautious very very careful and your children four or five years old when they see those things may not worry bother too much about it but they get into the habit of it by the time they get in 14 15 14 15 young boy watches this type of stuff you have put something into his mind and stimulated him just want to see more and he'll watch it when you're not knowing it when you're not watching." [00:10:40]

"Nobody can harm us except we ourselves we just saw how the pursuit of money can harm us we must believe that nobody in the world can harm me no matter what they do are you convinced about that I've heard people say oh brother zach my boss is harming me or my or the devil's harassing me the devil was defeated on the cross do you believe that the bible says the god of peace romans 16 20 will crush satan under your feet there's a place that that god is determined for the devil you know what it is you say it's hell that's finally but before he's sent into the lake of fire what is the place that that god almighty has determined for the devil today romans 16 20. under the feet of believers." [00:33:56]

"Knowing God intimately is the secret of being strong knowing God intimately is the secret of being strong daniel 11 32 says the people who know their God will be strong and not knowing God second hand you know when you hear God hear about God from a preacher you're knowing him second hand it must be first-hand knowledge before you got married somebody told you wonderful things about your wife I know I heard many wonderful things about my wife from other people and that's I wanted to find out the best I could to see she was a whole audit disciple so I heard many many second-hand information about her from others but now I know her myself and it's the same with God when you're newly converted you don't know much about God but now that you've known the Lord for so many years you should have known God intimately." [00:47:39]

"John 17 3 is the clearest definition of eternal life to the average Christian eternal life means I live forever no living forever is quite another thing eternal life is not quantity of life but quality of life living for eternity that's length of life but eternal life is not referring to length of life it's a certain quality of life which only one who had no beginning and no end that's eternal eternal means no beginning no end you and I don't have eternal life unless God gives it to us a person who's born into the world will live for eternity that's not eternal life they go to hell but they don't have eternal life they live for eternity in hell or in the lake of fire but eternal life is a certain quality of life and that is comes through knowing God." [00:48:39]

"God has got a perfect plan for each of our lives ephesians 2 and verse 10. ephesians 2 verse 10 I don't know whether you know this that before you were born God made a plan for your life and it says in ephesians and chapter 2 and verse 10 we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for what born again for what here's the purpose with which you were born again for certain good works not any good works for certain particular good works which God prepared beforehand from eternity so that you should walk in them today I believe that I believe every day of my life was planned if long before I was born prepared beforehand certain specific good works not any good works I feel choosing oh there's a need over there Lord let me go and do that." [00:02:48]

"God's plan for your life is the very best okay let's pray now heavenly father please help us to be gripped by the truths we heard and help us to honor you in our lives we pray in Jesus name amen." [01:15:14]

"God's ways are not our ways he can use you when you're broken he's got a plan for your life but if you're seeking your own honor or you love money or comfort or the approval of men you will never fulfill that plan I want to say that to you and if you love comfort or money or the approval of men I can tell you in Jesus name today you will never fulfill that plan you'll stand before the Lord with a wasted life but you give up all that and say Lord your plan is the best for me you will fulfill God's plan for your life if you bow down and say Lord whatever you choose I bow down to you I'll take up the cross every day." [01:09:25]

"Nobody can harm us not the devil and not anybody else romans 8 28 is a well-known verse which we must believe it's not for everybody God so loved the world that he gave the holy begottens and that's for everyone I told you john 17 23 is only for the disciples of Jesus he said in john 17 I'm not praying this for the world I'm only praying for these who are committed to me and here also all things work together for good not for everybody to those who love God and you remember we just read that you cannot love God and money but to those who love God and whose aim in life is to fulfill his purpose for their life verse 28 every single thing will work together for their good." [00:39:36]

"Romans 8 28 is a great verse which teaches us that God overrules all the things that people I could tell you numerous examples in my own life the very things that people try to do to me and my wife worked for our good I'll give you one example when my wife was a college student in the medical college one of the top medical colleges in India this is long before I married her in her final examination she had to go from velour which is a small town where a college was located to the big city of madras where the the practical examinations for obstetrics and gynecology were held she did her theory that was her best subject she topped the class but she had to go for her practical examination which was only a five-minute examination to another medical college in madras a big city." [00:40:00]

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Aligning Our Values with God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing God's Kingdom Over Worldly Pursuits

Day 2: Guarding Our Hearts Against Corruption

Day 3: Embracing God's Sovereignty Over Evil

Day 4: Cultivating a Deep Relationship with God

Day 5: Seeking and Fulfilling God's Perfect Plan

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Aligning Our Values with God's Kingdom

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