Called to Distinction: Embracing Our Inheritance in God

 

Summary

In the sermon, the focus is on the profound spiritual truths found in Solomon's prayer, particularly the concept of separation and inheritance as it applies to the people of God. Solomon's prayer, as recorded in 1 Kings 8:53, is a rich tapestry of Old Testament references and promises that extend to the Church today. The sermon explores how Israel, as a type of the Church, was separated by God to be His inheritance, a theme that resonates deeply with the identity and purpose of believers.

The sermon begins by establishing the theological foundation that the promises made to Abraham and his descendants are fulfilled in those who walk in the faith of Abraham, not merely through physical descent but through spiritual rebirth. This separation is not just historical but is a present reality for the Church, which is called to be distinct from the world. The separation is rooted in God's eternal purpose and is manifested through the effectual calling of believers, who are drawn by God's grace into a new life in Christ.

The sermon emphasizes the importance of this separation, not as a means of isolation, but as a call to holiness and a life that reflects God's character. The believer's life is to be marked by a distinctiveness that is evident in their actions, motivations, and relationships. This separation is not about external markers or rituals but about an internal transformation that results in a life of integrity, love, and service.

Furthermore, the sermon highlights the concept of believers as God's inheritance, underscoring the intimate relationship between God and His people. This relationship is characterized by God's delight in His people, His commitment to them, and His expectation that they live for His glory. The sermon calls believers to recognize their identity as God's possession and to live in a way that honors this high calling.

Finally, the sermon extends an invitation to those who feel like strangers to the faith, encouraging them to seek God and find their place in His family. It assures them that God's grace is available to all who call upon Him, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

1. Spiritual Separation and Identity: Believers are called to be distinct from the world, not through external rituals but through an internal transformation that reflects God's holiness. This separation is rooted in God's eternal purpose and is a manifestation of His grace in our lives. It calls us to live with integrity and love, setting us apart as God's people. [06:18]

2. Inheritance and Relationship with God: As God's inheritance, believers are cherished and valued by Him. This relationship is characterized by God's delight in His people and His commitment to their well-being. We are called to live for His glory, recognizing that our lives are not our own but belong to Him. [22:20]

3. Effectual Calling and Conversion: The process of conversion is a profound work of the Holy Spirit, drawing individuals from spiritual death to life. This calling is unique and personal, leading to a radical transformation that aligns us with God's purposes. It is a reminder of God's intimate knowledge and love for us, even before we knew Him. [10:38]

4. Holiness in Daily Life: True holiness is not confined to religious activities but permeates every aspect of life. It involves living with integrity, honesty, and love in all our dealings, reflecting God's character in our everyday actions. This holistic approach to holiness challenges us to integrate our faith into every part of our lives. [20:05]

5. Invitation to the Stranger: God's grace is extended to all, including those who feel far from Him. The invitation to become part of God's family is open to everyone, regardless of their past. This call to salvation is a testament to God's boundless mercy and love, offering hope and transformation to all who seek Him. [41:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Solomon's Prayer
- [01:07] - Israel as a Type of the Church
- [02:23] - The Power of God's Words in Prayer
- [03:51] - The Plea of God's Inheritance
- [05:07] - The Significance of Separation
- [06:18] - Spiritual Distinction and Identity
- [08:01] - God's Eternal Purpose and Calling
- [10:38] - Effectual Calling and Conversion
- [13:34] - Holiness and New Nature
- [15:32] - Living a Distinctive Life
- [19:27] - The Call to Holiness
- [22:20] - Inheritance and Relationship with God
- [29:15] - Pleading in Prayer
- [41:32] - Invitation to the Stranger

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 8:53
2. Romans 4:16-17
3. Romans 9:8

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 8:53 reveal about the relationship between God and His people? [04:06]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of spiritual separation for believers today? [06:18]
3. In Romans 4:16-17, how is the promise to Abraham extended to those who walk in faith? [01:23]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the idea of believers being God's inheritance? [22:20]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon interpret the concept of spiritual separation as a call to holiness rather than isolation? [05:50]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers' lives should reflect their identity as God's inheritance? [23:19]
3. How does the sermon explain the process of effectual calling and conversion as a personal and transformative experience? [10:38]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of God's grace in inviting those who feel like strangers to become part of His family? [41:32]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways do you feel distinct from the world, and how does this reflect your spiritual identity? [06:18]
2. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of being God's inheritance in your daily actions and decisions? [22:20]
3. Think about a recent situation where you felt called to live out your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [19:27]
4. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with holiness. What practical steps can you take to align this area with God's character? [20:05]
5. Consider someone in your life who feels like a stranger to faith. How can you extend God's grace and invitation to them this week? [41:32]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dry or distant from God. What actions or prayers helped you reconnect with Him? [33:16]
7. How can you ensure that your life, in all its aspects, is a testament to God's glory and purpose? [23:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Distinction and Identity
Believers are called to be distinct from the world, not through external rituals but through an internal transformation that reflects God's holiness. This separation is rooted in God's eternal purpose and is a manifestation of His grace in our lives. It calls us to live with integrity and love, setting us apart as God's people. This distinctiveness is not about isolation but about being a light in the world, showing others the character of God through our actions and relationships. The transformation is a continuous process, inviting us to grow deeper in our faith and understanding of God's will. [06:18]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you demonstrate your distinct identity in Christ in your workplace or community today?


Day 2: Inheritance and Relationship with God
As God's inheritance, believers are cherished and valued by Him. This relationship is characterized by God's delight in His people and His commitment to their well-being. We are called to live for His glory, recognizing that our lives are not our own but belong to Him. This understanding of being God's possession should influence how we view ourselves and our purpose in life. It is a call to live in a way that honors God, acknowledging His sovereignty and love in every aspect of our lives. [22:20]

"For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession." (Psalm 135:4, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing you are God's cherished possession change the way you approach your daily responsibilities and relationships?


Day 3: Effectual Calling and Conversion
The process of conversion is a profound work of the Holy Spirit, drawing individuals from spiritual death to life. This calling is unique and personal, leading to a radical transformation that aligns us with God's purposes. It is a reminder of God's intimate knowledge and love for us, even before we knew Him. This effectual calling is not just a one-time event but a continuous journey of growing closer to God and understanding His will for our lives. It challenges us to respond to God's call with obedience and faith, trusting in His plan for us. [10:38]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt God's calling in your life. How can you continue to respond to His call today?


Day 4: Holiness in Daily Life
True holiness is not confined to religious activities but permeates every aspect of life. It involves living with integrity, honesty, and love in all our dealings, reflecting God's character in our everyday actions. This holistic approach to holiness challenges us to integrate our faith into every part of our lives. It is about being consistent in our walk with God, ensuring that our actions align with our beliefs and values. Holiness is a daily commitment to live in a way that honors God and serves others. [20:05]

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to live out holiness. What practical steps can you take to align this area with God's character?


Day 5: Invitation to the Stranger
God's grace is extended to all, including those who feel far from Him. The invitation to become part of God's family is open to everyone, regardless of their past. This call to salvation is a testament to God's boundless mercy and love, offering hope and transformation to all who seek Him. It is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love and that His grace is sufficient for all. This invitation encourages us to share the message of God's love with others, inviting them to experience the same grace and transformation we have received. [41:32]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about God's invitation of grace? How can you share this message with them today?

Quotes

"Israel was the type of the Church of God, the Apostle in the epistle to the Romans clearly shows that Abraham was the father not of the circumcision only but of all those who walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham and that the promise that he should be heir of the world was not to Abraham or his seed through the law but through the righteousness of faith." [00:00:19]

"Israel never prospered when it forgot its separateness for the promise was Israel then shall dwell in safety alone when they followed the customs of their neighbors they had bitter cause for lamentation but all things went well when they remembered how the Lord had said ye shall be holy unto me for I the Lord am Holy and have severed you from other people that ye should be mine." [00:05:25]

"All around us is the world's wide Wilderness and Yonder is the spot enclosed by Grace which the Lord of all has set apart to be his garden before us lies the great and troubled sea which cannot rest whose Waters cast up mire and dirt but we see also the rock on which he has built his church which God has settled and made to stand fast by his eternal power." [00:06:21]

"Let us speak of it that separation commenced in the Eternal purpose of God or ever the Earth was he had set apart unto himself a people whom he looked upon in the glass of his foreknowledge and viewed with infinite affection moreover whom he did for no he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son." [00:07:48]

"All the world belongs to God the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell therein get out of the mass he has chosen his own beloved of whom he says you only have I known of all the nations of the Earth the Queen of England May Traverse the whole of these islands and say all this is mine." [00:22:34]

"Beloved ye are the inheritance of God ye are the Lord's own portion sooner than give you up the only begotten shared his heart's blood you were his and he will not lose you who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our lord." [00:26:24]

"Do you not remember Brethren when first the sacred voice sounded in your inner ears it said Thou Art in a far country my child Thou Art poor and hungry Thou Art sick and faint Thou Art feeding swine Thou Art disgraced and Dishonored come back to thy father's house well do I remember how that voice Charmed me to consideration to humiliation to confession and to resolve until my heart cried out I will arise and go on to my father." [00:11:21]

"Believers become separate from the hour of their conversion by possessing a new nature do not think I am too bold when I say that the distinction between the child of God and the carnal man is as great as the difference between a man and a beast as man possesses an intellectual life which is denied to the Beast so the regenerate are endowed with a third and loftier principle called the spirit which lifts them into a higher sphere of existence." [00:13:40]

"The Christian man is endowed with the nature above that of other men and is conscious of a life with which they cannot sympathize dear hero do you know anything of this deep vital radical essential distinction from the world you must know it or you cannot belong to Christ for he says of his disciples they are not of the world even as I am not of the world." [00:15:07]

"God has made choice of a people who are to be called The Lord's portion the lot of his inheritance by which is meant that he would have a peculiar interest in them all the world belongs to God the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell therein get out of the mass he has chosen his own beloved of whom he says you only have I known of all the nations of the Earth." [00:22:34]

"Now before I go further I want to ask have we realized our separated condition and our being holy the Lords certain regiments in the Army counted a great honor to be called the Queen's own oh Brethren what an honor to be God's Own to be Jesus Christ's own I would like to be the Branded slave of Christ like Paul who when he looked upon the scars which commemorated his sufferings said let no man trouble me I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." [00:26:44]

"Stranger utter your heart's desire ask of the Lord great things for whatsoever Thou shalt ask believingly Thou shalt receive the Queen of Sheba was not sent away empty-handed by Solomon and thou shall not be sent away hungry by Jesus Christ the lord breathe thou thy prayer now does thou want pardon ask it now which thou be saved pray for salvation now for the Lord will certainly hear thee." [00:43:14]

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Transcript
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