Choosing Life: Our Spiritual Identity and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Order and Spiritual Leadership

God created humanity with a body, soul, and spirit, each serving a unique purpose. The body connects us to the physical world, the soul provides self-awareness, and the spirit enables communion with God. This divine order is essential for fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. When the spirit leads, it guides the soul and body to align with God's will. However, the fall of humanity disrupted this order, leading to a struggle between living for oneself and living for God. Understanding and restoring this divine order is crucial for spiritual growth and purpose. [10:54]

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV): "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your spiritual life to ensure it leads your soul and body in alignment with God's will today?

Day 2: The Fall and the Power of Choice

The narrative of the Garden of Eden presents a profound truth about free will. Adam and Eve's choice between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil symbolizes the ongoing struggle within humanity. Choosing knowledge over divine life led to separation from God, highlighting the importance of choosing to live for God rather than ourselves. This choice is a daily decision, impacting our spiritual trajectory and relationship with God. Understanding the consequences of our choices can lead us to a deeper commitment to live for God. [17:04]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days."

Reflection: What is one decision you face today where you can choose to prioritize God's will over your own desires?

Day 3: Redemption and New Life in Christ

Despite humanity's fall, God's love and purpose for humanity remained unchanged. He prepared a plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, offering us new life through the Spirit. This new life is not just about personal salvation but about being used by God to defeat His enemy. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross restored the possibility of communion with God, calling us to live not for ourselves but for Christ. This redemption invites us to allow Christ's life to mature within us and manifest in our daily actions. [31:37]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: How can you allow the reality of Christ's redemption to influence your actions and decisions today?

Day 4: Living for God vs. Self

The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the choice between living for oneself and living for God. Cain, though dutiful, lived for himself, while Abel lived for God, offering the best of himself to the Lord. This challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we living for ourselves, or are we living for God? The choice we make determines our spiritual trajectory and our effectiveness in fulfilling God's purpose. Reflecting on this story can inspire us to offer our best to God in all aspects of our lives. [45:44]

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV): "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can offer your best to God today, rather than settling for what is convenient or easy?

Day 5: Spiritual Growth and Purpose

Our continued existence on earth after salvation is to demonstrate the life of Christ and defeat the enemy. This requires daily choices to live for God, allowing His Spirit to mature within us. Spiritual growth is a journey of choosing to live for God amidst struggles and temptations. As we allow Christ's life to manifest in us, we fulfill our purpose and contribute to God's kingdom. This journey involves daily surrender and commitment to God's will, leading to a deeper relationship with Him. [39:11]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can choose to grow spiritually today, allowing God's Spirit to mature within you?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delved into the profound truth of our spiritual identity and purpose as believers. We began by exploring the creation narrative, where God formed man with a body, soul, and spirit, each serving a distinct purpose. The body connects us to the world, the soul gives us self-awareness, and the spirit allows us to commune with God. This divine order was established so that our spirit, in contact with God, would guide our soul and body to fulfill His will.

However, humanity's fall in the Garden of Eden disrupted this order. Faced with the choice between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve chose knowledge over divine life, leading to a separation from God. This choice symbolizes the ongoing struggle within us between living for ourselves and living for God. Despite this fall, God's love and purpose for humanity remained unchanged. Before creation, God, in His omniscience, foresaw the fall and prepared a plan of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross restored the possibility of communion with God, offering us new life through the Spirit. This new life is not just about personal salvation but about being used by God to defeat His enemy. We are called to live not for ourselves but for Christ, allowing His life to mature within us and manifest in our daily actions. This is the essence of our spiritual journey: to choose daily to live for God, even amidst struggles and temptations.

The story of Cain and Abel further illustrates this choice. Cain, though dutiful, lived for himself, while Abel lived for God, offering the best of himself to the Lord. This challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we living for ourselves, or are we living for God? The choice we make determines our spiritual trajectory and our effectiveness in fulfilling God's purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Divine Order and Purpose: God created us with a body, soul, and spirit, intending for our spirit to lead us in communion with Him. This divine order is essential for fulfilling God's purpose in our lives. [10:54]
2. The Fall and Free Will: The choice between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge represents our free will. Choosing knowledge over divine life led to separation from God, highlighting the importance of choosing to live for God rather than ourselves. [17:04]
3. Redemption Through Christ: Despite humanity's fall, God's plan of redemption through Jesus Christ offers us new life. This new life is not just for personal salvation but to be used by God to defeat His enemy. [31:37]
4. **Living for God vs. Self:** The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the choice between living for oneself and living for God. Abel's life, dedicated to God, challenges us to examine our own lives and choose to live for Christ. [45:44]
5. Spiritual Growth and Purpose: Our continued existence on earth after salvation is to demonstrate the life of Christ and defeat the enemy. This requires daily choices to live for God, allowing His Spirit to mature within us. [39:11]
** [39:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:08] - Opening Prayer
[02:53] - Introduction to Watchman Nee's Lessons
[05:04] - God's Purpose in Creation
[07:49] - The Spirit, Soul, and Body
[11:36] - The Two Trees in the Garden
[15:23] - The Gift of Free Will
[18:42] - The Fall of Man
[22:18] - God's Purpose and Human Condition
[25:15] - The Plan of Redemption
[30:23] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Our Salvation
[34:35] - The Purpose of Our Earthly Life
[39:11] - The Battle Between Spirit and Soul
[42:10] - Cain and Abel: A Lesson in Living for God
[48:05] - The Call to Live for Christ
[51:32] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 3:6 - "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Genesis 3:6-7 - The account of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
Galatians 5:16-17 - "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

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Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, what are the three components of human creation, and what is their purpose? [05:04]
What choice did Adam and Eve face in the Garden of Eden, and what was the significance of their decision? [17:04]
How does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate the difference between living for oneself and living for God? [45:44]
What does the sermon suggest is the reason God leaves believers on earth after salvation? [39:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the role of free will in the context of the two trees in the Garden of Eden? What implications does this have for believers today? [15:23]
In what ways does the sermon describe Jesus' sacrifice as a restoration of communion with God? How does this relate to the believer's spiritual journey? [31:37]
How does the sermon interpret the ongoing struggle between the spirit and the soul in a believer's life? What does this struggle signify? [39:11]
What does the sermon suggest about the purpose of spiritual growth and maturity in the life of a believer? How is this connected to defeating God's enemy? [38:03]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your daily life: Are there areas where you are choosing knowledge over divine life? How can you shift your focus to living for God instead? [17:04]
Consider the story of Cain and Abel. In what ways might you be living for yourself rather than for God? What changes can you make to align more closely with Abel's example? [45:44]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth. What specific steps can you take this week to allow the Spirit to mature within you? [39:11]
How can you actively choose to live for Christ in your daily actions, especially when faced with struggles and temptations? [48:05]
Identify a situation in your life where the desires of the flesh and the Spirit are in conflict. How can you rely on the Spirit to guide your decision-making in this situation? [36:18]
Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did it align with living for God or for yourself? What would you do differently next time to ensure your choices reflect God's purpose? [46:47]
How can you demonstrate the life of Christ in your interactions with others this week, particularly in challenging circumstances? [35:35]

Sermon Clips

In the beginning, God put man before these two trees and allow man to make his own choice. What is free will if you cannot choose what you want to do? Since God has given us a free will, he will allow us to make our own decision. Unfortunately, men did not guard the garden as he should. [00:17:55]

Brothers and sisters, we are here not just to live for ourselves. We are here to live for God. We have a mission to be fulfilled. God wants each and every one of us to defeat his enemy in our lives so that God's purpose may be fulfilled. [00:36:35]

The Bible tells us the spirit strives against a soul and the soul strives against a spirit. That is experienced in each and every one of us. We who believe in the Lord Jesus, we have the new spirit. Christ is the life of this new spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in our spirit. [00:37:12]

Brothers and sisters, do not think that you live on this earth for no purpose after we are saved. Sometimes you may think, what is the purpose of our continuing on this earth since it just gave us trouble? Why not raptured immediately after we are saved? But God has a definite purpose. [00:38:41]

Cain was not a bad person. We find that he was a dutiful person. He worked in the field very earnestly. He had produced, and he did not forget God because after he had produced, he took the produce to God to offer it to God. He was not bad at all. [00:42:10]

Abel became a shepherd, and we all know that at that time they only ate fruit; they never had meat for their food. Now, why is it that Abel became a shepherd? He got to eat the sheep. So what did he do? We find that he did it to offer to God. [00:43:29]

In other words, Cain lived for himself, but Abel lived for God. Now, brothers and sisters, let us ask ourselves this question: We are all living. Whom do you live for? Do you live for yourself, or do you live for God? You may be a good person, just like Cain. [00:44:39]

Dear brothers and sisters, how do you live? Do you live for yourself, the best of yourself, or do you live for God? That's the difference. If you live for yourself, you will find, like Cain, you thought God must be pleased with you. [00:46:01]

If you live like Abel, you do not live for yourself; you live for him. Then you find God will accept you because you offer Christ to him. So, dear brothers and sisters, here we are. We are still living. There is still a choice to be made. [00:46:39]

There is only one way for us to live: it is to live for Christ. Even if it may mean persecution, and yet the Lord knows he will accept your sacrifice. So my burden this morning is very simple, brothers and sisters. It concerns each and every one of us here. [00:47:39]

We do not doubt that you are saved. We believe that you are the Lord, but what we do want to emphasize is, how are you living? For yourself, or are you living for Christ? There will make a difference, and it will have a difference of heaven and earth. [00:48:51]

May the Lord have mercy upon us, touch our hearts, enable us to give ourselves to Christ and to follow him, even if the way may be difficult because you cannot do what you want to do. But thank God, the life of Christ in you will grow into maturity. [00:49:33]

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Choosing Life: Our Spiritual Identity and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Order and Spiritual Leadership

Day 2: The Fall and the Power of Choice

Day 3: Redemption and New Life in Christ

Day 4: Living for God vs. Self

Day 5: Spiritual Growth and Purpose

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Choosing Life: Our Spiritual Identity and Purpose

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