Aligning Our Will to Know Jesus Deeply

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Our Will with God's Will

True knowledge of Jesus begins with a heart aligned to God's will. This alignment is not a mere intellectual assent but a profound transformation of our desires and priorities, enabling us to see Jesus for who He truly is. When our will is aligned with God's, we are open to understanding His teachings and recognizing His divine nature. This transformation is a journey that requires us to continually seek God's will above our own, allowing His desires to shape our lives. [03:12]

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to align your will with God's? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?

Day 2: Judging with Righteous Judgment

We are often tempted to judge by appearances, whether it's miracles or eloquence. However, Jesus calls us to judge with righteous judgment, seeking the deeper truths that reveal God's glory rather than superficial admiration. This requires us to look beyond the surface and discern the heart of matters, recognizing the divine source behind actions and teachings. By doing so, we can appreciate the true nature of Jesus' mission and His relationship with the Father. [08:20]

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where you judged someone or something by appearances. How can you approach this situation with righteous judgment instead?

Day 3: Embracing Humility in Our Lives

Jesus consistently deflected praise to God, modeling a life of humility and service. This deflection is a demonstration of His perfect manhood, living for God's glory rather than human praise, and it challenges us to do the same. Embracing humility means recognizing that our achievements and talents are gifts from God, and using them to serve others and glorify Him. By following Jesus' example, we can live a life that reflects His love and grace to those around us. [10:26]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your daily interactions with others? How can you deflect praise to God in your life?

Day 4: Experiencing Transformation Through the New Birth

To truly know Jesus, our will must be transformed to align with God's will. This transformation, often described as the new birth, is a work of God that enables us to love His glory more than our own. It is not merely an intellectual change but a deep heart transformation that affects every aspect of our lives. By experiencing this new birth, we are empowered to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. [33:29]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own spiritual journey. How have you experienced the transformation of the new birth in your life? What areas still need to be transformed?

Day 5: Delighting in God's Glory

We are encouraged to make God's glory our greatest pleasure. This involves immersing ourselves in His Word, spending time with those who love God, and continually gazing upon His revelation, especially in Jesus Christ. By doing so, we cultivate a deeper appreciation for His glory and allow it to shape our desires and actions. This pursuit of God's glory becomes the driving force in our lives, leading us to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His love to others. [39:49]

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." (Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make God's glory your greatest pleasure today? What practical steps can you take to immerse yourself in His Word and presence?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound relationship between our will and our ability to truly know Jesus. The central theme is drawn from John 7:17, where Jesus states that if anyone's will is to do God's will, they will know whether His teaching is from God. This challenges the common assumption that knowledge precedes faith. Instead, Jesus suggests that a heart aligned with God's will is the foundation for true understanding. This was a transformative realization for me, first encountered during my college years, and it continues to shape my spiritual journey.

We examined the tendency of people, including Jesus' own brothers and the crowds, to judge by appearances rather than seeking deeper truths. They were impressed by miracles and learning but failed to recognize the divine source behind them. This superficial admiration is contrasted with the call to judge with righteous judgment, to see beyond the surface and discern the heart of matters.

The sermon also delved into the nature of Jesus' mission and His relationship with the Father. Jesus consistently deflected praise from Himself to God, modeling a life of humility and service. This deflection is not a denial of His divinity but a demonstration of perfect manhood, living for God's glory rather than human praise.

The key to knowing Jesus lies in a profound transformation of our will. By nature, we are inclined to seek our own glory, but to truly know Jesus, our will must align with God's will, which is centered on His glory. This transformation is not merely intellectual but a deep heart change, often described as the new birth. It is a work of God that enables us to love His glory more than our own.

Finally, we are encouraged to strive for a deeper appreciation of God's glory, making it our greatest pleasure. This involves immersing ourselves in His Word, spending time with those who love God, and continually gazing upon His revelation, especially in Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The Foundation of Knowing Jesus: True knowledge of Jesus begins with a heart aligned to God's will. This alignment is not a mere intellectual assent but a profound transformation of our desires and priorities, enabling us to see Jesus for who He truly is. [03:12]
2. Judging Beyond Appearances: We are often tempted to judge by appearances, whether it's miracles or eloquence. However, Jesus calls us to judge with righteous judgment, seeking the deeper truths that reveal God's glory rather than superficial admiration. [08:20]
3. The Role of Humility in Jesus' Ministry: Jesus consistently deflected praise to God, modeling a life of humility and service. This deflection is a demonstration of His perfect manhood, living for God's glory rather than human praise, and it challenges us to do the same. [10:26]
4. Transformation Through the New Birth: To truly know Jesus, our will must be transformed to align with God's will. This transformation, often described as the new birth, is a work of God that enables us to love His glory more than our own. [33:29]
5. Striving for a Deeper Appreciation of God's Glory: We are encouraged to make God's glory our greatest pleasure. This involves immersing ourselves in His Word, spending time with those who love God, and continually gazing upon His revelation, especially in Jesus Christ. [39:49]
** [39:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Prayer for Righteous Judgment
[01:32] - Introduction to God's Will
[02:23] - The Astonishment of Willing and Knowing
[04:03] - Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission
[05:43] - The World's Hatred and Jesus' Purpose
[07:21] - Surface Admiration vs. True Understanding
[09:10] - Deflecting Praise to God
[10:56] - The Question of Jesus' Authority
[14:30] - The Foundation of Right Knowing
[17:05] - The Relationship Between Willing and Knowing
[20:07] - The Change Required in Our Will
[23:11] - The Misuse of the Law
[29:27] - The Heart of the Law
[31:47] - Applications and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 7:17-18
- Matthew 22:37-39

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#### Observation Questions

What does John 7:17 suggest about the relationship between our will and our knowledge of Jesus? How does this challenge the common assumption that knowledge precedes faith? [02:23]
In the sermon, how did Jesus' brothers and the crowds judge Him, and what was their mistake according to the pastor? [04:57]
How did Jesus respond to the admiration of the crowds regarding His teaching, and what does this reveal about His character? [09:10]
What is the significance of Jesus deflecting praise to God, and how does this relate to His mission and identity? [10:26]

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#### Interpretation Questions

How does aligning our will with God's will lead to a deeper understanding of Jesus' teachings, according to John 7:17? [14:59]
What does the pastor mean by "shell gazers," and how does this concept relate to the way people perceive Jesus and His teachings? [12:20]
How does the pastor describe the transformation required in our will to truly know Jesus, and what role does the new birth play in this process? [33:29]
How does the pastor interpret the relationship between seeking God's glory and knowing Jesus as true, based on John 7:18? [21:31]

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#### Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you judged someone or something by appearances. How can you practice "righteous judgment" in your daily life? [05:13]
The pastor emphasizes the importance of aligning our will with God's will. What specific steps can you take this week to align your desires with God's desires? [22:51]
Jesus deflected praise to God, modeling humility. In what areas of your life can you practice humility by deflecting praise to God? [10:26]
The sermon discusses the transformation of our will as a profound heart change. What practical actions can you take to invite this transformation in your life? [33:29]
How can you strive to make God's glory your greatest pleasure? Identify one activity or practice you can incorporate into your routine to deepen your appreciation of God's glory. [36:30]
Consider the role of community in your spiritual growth. How can spending time with those who love God help you in aligning your will with His? [38:53]
The pastor encourages prayer for a heart that treasures God's glory. What specific prayer can you incorporate into your daily routine to cultivate this heart posture? [34:17]

Sermon Clips

"Don't judge by appearances judge with a righteous judgment the brothers had judged by appearances the crowds had judged by appearances so God grant that we here would not judge by appearances we wouldn't think on the surface of things that we've see through deeds and see through words to the heart of things to the reality of things." [00:00:11]

"God grant that your people would so love your glory that they would be a god exalting people rather than a self-exalting people and so have within them the moral grounds for knowing Jesus I ask this now in his great name Amen." [00:01:17]

"Willing is the basis of knowing really I thought I thought you had to know Christ in order to form a abolition about his truthfulness what is this Jesus how can he say this that before you can know Christ and whether he's true your will must come into alignment with God's will these are very profound things shook me up big time." [00:02:49]

"The world cannot hate you but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil so my time for glory there's glory coming but my time for glory isn't here yet and it's certainly not here in the way you think it's coming so you go up the world's not gonna hit you." [00:05:49]

"Judge with right judgment not with appearances see through here through move through their their amazement was not a godly amazement it wasn't a spiritual amazement something about his teaching wowed them learning scholarly literary articulate profound whatever it was they say how does this man have learning when he's never stood he was impressive he was impressive to them and they were not touched at all spiritually." [00:08:04]

"He deflected their admiration to God verse 16 so jesus answered them my teaching is not mine but his who sent me so we're gonna admire something directed to God of course he could have said couldn't he you wonder why you're wowed at my teaching I'm God what do you expect." [00:09:00]

"You will discern that Jesus is a reliable spokesman from God when your will deeply and profoundly comes into sync with God's will that's the true general truth of verse 17 you will know Jesus you will recognize him for who he is as a true spokesman for God when your will is brought into sync with God's will." [00:16:55]

"The mark of his truth is a passion for God exaltation not self exaltation but that the that's forsaking the mark of his truthfulness is a passion for God exaltation not self exaltation now for me to see that and be drawn to it and recognize it as the mark of truth I've got to be changed." [00:21:45]

"Realize Bethlehem that the deepest obstruction to knowing the truth of Jesus is a heart obstruction not a head obstruction let this let this land on you with great force the deepest obstruction to our knowing Jesus for who he really is is not a head obstruction it's not because you're not smart enough it's a heart obstruction." [00:31:47]

"The new birth is not a decision the new birth is beneath decisions the new birth is the work of God to take out a heart that loves human phrase more than it loves God's praise and put in a heart that loves the praise of God more than the praise of man that is the new birth." [00:33:29]

"Strive to increase your spiritual taste for the glory of God as your favorite pleasure I just know how many of you are sitting there right now thing I'm just so far from what you're talking about well not when I say strive to increase your taste for the glory of God as your favorite pleasure." [00:36:21]

"Study God spend time with lovers of God no errs of God you'll listen to God and you will look at God and you will gaze and gaze and gaze at the revelation of God especially in his word and most pointedly in the face of Jesus Christ his son." [00:38:41]

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Aligning Our Will to Know Jesus Deeply

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Our Will with God's Will

Day 2: Judging with Righteous Judgment

Day 3: Embracing Humility in Our Lives

Day 4: Experiencing Transformation Through the New Birth

Day 5: Delighting in God's Glory

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Aligning Our Will to Know Jesus Deeply

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