Awakening to Holiness: Pressing On in Faith
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of staying awake and alert in my spiritual journey. The speaker emphasized the need for revival and awakening, drawing from the biblical reference of blowing the trumpet in Zion. The sermon highlighted the ultimate goal of our lives as Christians, which is to be holy and without blame before God, driven by love. The speaker stressed the importance of being motivated by love and not being asleep in Zion, as there is much work to be done. The sermon also emphasized that God wants to be all in all, and He wants to be our full life in example.
The sermon further encouraged me to press on towards the goal for the prize, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The speaker referenced Philippians 3:13, urging us to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. The sermon stressed the importance of staying focused and not being distracted by the things of the world. The speaker emphasized the need to condemn sin in the flesh and to be cleansed of all that dwells in our human nature. The ultimate goal is to be finished with sin, to be ready for Jesus, and to attain God's divine nature.
Key Takeaways:
- The ultimate goal of our lives as Christians is to be holy and without blame before God, driven by love. This requires us to stay awake and alert in our spiritual journey. #!!01:25!!#
- We are encouraged to press on towards the goal for the prize, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. #!!03:01!!#
- It is important to stay focused and not be distracted by the things of the world. We must condemn sin in the flesh and be cleansed of all that dwells in our human nature. #!!04:19!!#
- The ultimate goal is to be finished with sin, to be ready for Jesus, and to attain God's divine nature. This requires us to stay focused and motivated in our spiritual journey. #!!04:19!!#
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. God's ultimate goal for us is to be holy, blameless, and driven by love. This is the pathway to revival and awakening. It is a call to be fully alive in God, motivated by love, and not asleep in spiritual complacency. [01:25]
2. The Christian journey is a forward-moving one, where we forget what lies behind and press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This requires a focused mind and a wholehearted attitude. [03:01]
3. The goal of our Christian journey is to finish the work, just as Jesus did. This involves condemning sin in our flesh, being cleansed of all that dwells in our human nature, and pressing towards the mark of God's divine nature. [04:19]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Ephesians Chapter 1
2. Philippians Chapter 3
3. Romans Chapter 8
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In Ephesians 1, what does it mean to be chosen by God to be holy and blameless?
2. In Philippians 3, what does Paul mean by "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead"?
3. In Romans 8, how does Paul describe the process of condemning sin in the flesh?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does being driven by love relate to being holy and blameless before God?
2. What does it mean to press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?
3. How does the condemnation of sin in our flesh lead us towards the goal of God's divine nature?
Application Questions:
1. How can we cultivate a love-driven life that leads us to be holy and blameless before God?
2. What are some practical ways we can forget what lies behind and press on towards the goal of the upward call of God?
3. How can we actively work towards condemning sin in our flesh and pressing towards the mark of God's divine nature?
Devotional
Day 1: The Need for Focus and Condemnation of Sin
In our spiritual journey, it is easy to lose focus due to the distractions of the world. These distractions often lead us to sin, which separates us from God. It is important to remember that God calls us to focus on Him and to condemn sin in our lives.
Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you lost focus on your spiritual journey due to a distraction. How could you have handled it differently to maintain your focus? Additionally, consider a sin that you struggle with. How can you actively condemn and cleanse this sin from your life?
Day 2: The Mission to Condemn Sin
Jesus came to earth with a mission to condemn sin and to set us free from its bondage. As followers of Christ, we are also called to condemn sin in our lives and to rejoice in the tribulations that come with this process.
Romans 8:3 - "For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh."
Reflection: Can you identify a sin in your life that you feel called to condemn, similar to Jesus' mission? How can you rejoice in tribulations knowing that this sin is being removed from your life?
Day 3: The Desire for More of the Divine Life
God desires for us to have more of the divine life. This requires a strong desire on our part to seek Him and to avoid spiritual complacency.
Psalm 42:1-2 - "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
Reflection: Do you feel a strong desire for more of the divine life? If not, what steps can you take to stir up this desire within you? How can you keep this goal in front of your eyes and avoid spiritual complacency?
Quotes
1. "This is the avenue for revival. This pathway we've heard now keeps me from being asleep in Zion - - blow the trumpet in Zion; - sound the alarm among My holy people. Because if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will be stirred up for battle? This word today has awakened us for conflict." - 00:01
2. "What a goal for our life, to be holy and without blame! To be before God in love. Driven by love. Compelled by love. Motivated by love. Oh, how that awakens my need." - 01:25
3. "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it; but one thing I do - - forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, - - I press on toward the goal for the prize, this upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let as many as are wholehearted, have this attitude of mind." - 03:01
4. "In order to press toward the mark, I have to stay focused. There are so many things now that are getting us to be without a focus. We become so shifting in our thoughts. But this message we've heard today is to put us on track, for being focused. Sin in the flesh has to be condemned. I must be cleansed of all that dwells in my human nature." - 04:19
5. "God sent His Son into the world to condemn sin in the flesh, and that is our mission. That's our challenge while we're here. That's our task. So that we too can rejoice in all tribulations, because the sin is gone. Oh, what a hope we have! What a joy there is in our hearts. That this is not an ideology - not a fairytale. We will arrive if we hear what we've heard today." - 04:19
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