Connecting Miracles to God's Rest and Joy

Devotional

Day 1: Miracles as a Pathway to Understanding God

Miracles are not the ultimate goal but a means to reveal God's nature and lead us to repentance. They are like dots in a puzzle, meant to guide us to a fuller picture of God as a source of rest and peace. Miracles can captivate us with their wonder, but they are not the destination. Instead, they serve as signposts pointing us toward a deeper understanding of God's character and His desire for us to turn our hearts toward Him. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns that many will claim to have performed miracles in His name, yet He will not recognize them because they practiced lawlessness. This highlights the danger of becoming enamored with miracles without understanding their deeper meaning. We are called to see beyond the miraculous and connect these experiences to the greater narrative of God's love and redemption. [02:46]

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."

Reflection: Consider a recent experience where you witnessed or heard about a miracle. How can you use this experience to deepen your understanding of God's nature and His call for repentance in your life today?

Day 2: The Necessity of Action in True Repentance

True repentance requires action beyond conviction. Like Peter's call to be baptized in Acts 2, we must turn our hearts and lives toward God, embracing His call to a life of rest and joy. Conviction alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by a tangible response that aligns our lives with God's will. In Acts 2, Peter's sermon led many to be pierced to the heart, yet he urged them to repent and be baptized. This call to action is a reminder that genuine repentance involves a transformation of both heart and behavior. It is an invitation to step into a new way of living that reflects God's love and grace. [17:10]

James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel convicted but have not yet taken action. What specific steps can you take today to align your actions with your convictions?

Day 3: Diligence in Seeking God's Rest

The Israelites missed entering God's rest because they failed to believe and connect the miracles they witnessed to God's promise. We are called to be diligent in seeking this rest, living without worry or anxiety. The journey to God's rest requires faith and perseverance, as demonstrated by the Israelites' experience. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, they struggled to trust in God's promises and ultimately missed out on the rest He offered. Hebrews 3 and 4 remind us of the importance of belief and the need to connect our spiritual experiences to God's overarching promise of rest. By diligently seeking this rest, we can live free from worry and anxiety, finding peace in the assurance of God's faithfulness. [06:21]

Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."

Reflection: Reflect on a current worry or anxiety in your life. How can you actively seek God's rest in this area, trusting in His promises and faithfulness?

Day 4: Joy Rooted in Our Eternal Relationship with God

Our joy should be rooted in the assurance that our names are inscribed in heaven, reflecting God's personal love for us. This joy transcends the allure of miracles and sermons. In Luke 10, Jesus cautions against rejoicing in miracles, urging us instead to find joy in our eternal relationship with God. This joy is not dependent on external circumstances but is grounded in the knowledge that we are deeply loved by God. Our names are inscribed on Jesus's hands, symbolizing the personal and enduring nature of His love for us. This assurance allows us to experience a joy that surpasses the temporary excitement of miracles and sermons, anchoring us in the eternal reality of God's love. [11:19]

Isaiah 49:16 (ESV): "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy rooted in your eternal relationship with God, rather than in temporary experiences or achievements?

Day 5: Connecting Spiritual Experiences to God's Love

Spiritual experiences should lead us to a deeper understanding of God's rest and joy, urging us to connect the dots of our spiritual journey to see the bigger picture of God's love. Each spiritual experience, whether a miracle, sermon, or personal encounter with God, is an opportunity to gain insight into His character and His desires for us. These experiences are like pieces of a puzzle, each contributing to a fuller understanding of God's love and the rest He offers. By connecting these dots, we can see the bigger picture of God's plan for our lives, moving beyond the allure of individual experiences to embrace a life of rest and joy in His presence. [27:58]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: Reflect on your recent spiritual experiences. How can you connect these experiences to gain a deeper understanding of God's love and His call to a life of rest and joy?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, I delved into the profound dangers that can accompany great miracles and sermons. These spiritual experiences, while powerful, can sometimes lead us astray if we fail to see their true purpose. In Matthew 7, Jesus warns that many will claim to have performed miracles in His name, yet He will not recognize them because they practiced lawlessness. This highlights the danger of becoming enamored with miracles without understanding their deeper meaning. Miracles are not the end but a means to reveal God's nature and lead us to repentance. They are like dots in a connect-the-dots puzzle, meant to guide us to a fuller picture of God as a source of rest and peace.

Similarly, great sermons can pierce our hearts, but without true repentance and action, they remain incomplete. In Acts 2, Peter's sermon led many to be pierced to the heart, yet he urged them to repent and be baptized, emphasizing that conviction alone is not enough. We must turn our hearts and lives toward God, embracing His call to a life of rest and joy.

The essence of these teachings is to connect the dots of our spiritual experiences to see the bigger picture of God's love and rest. Hebrews 3 and 4 remind us that the Israelites missed entering God's rest because they failed to believe and connect the miracles they witnessed to God's promise. We are called to be diligent in seeking this rest, living without worry or anxiety, and finding joy in the assurance that our names are inscribed in heaven.

In Luke 10, Jesus cautions against rejoicing in miracles, urging us instead to find joy in our eternal relationship with God. This joy is rooted in the personal love of God, as symbolized by our names being inscribed on Jesus's hands. Our spiritual journey should lead us to a deeper understanding of God's rest and joy, transcending the allure of miracles and sermons.

Key Takeaways

1. Miracles are not the ultimate goal but a means to reveal God's nature and lead us to repentance. They are like dots in a puzzle, meant to guide us to a fuller picture of God as a source of rest and peace. [02:46]
2. True repentance requires action beyond conviction. Like Peter's call to be baptized in Acts 2, we must turn our hearts and lives toward God, embracing His call to a life of rest and joy. [17:10]
3. The Israelites missed entering God's rest because they failed to believe and connect the miracles they witnessed to God's promise. We are called to be diligent in seeking this rest, living without worry or anxiety. [06:21]
4. Our joy should be rooted in the assurance that our names are inscribed in heaven, reflecting God's personal love for us. This joy transcends the allure of miracles and sermons. [11:19]
5. Spiritual experiences should lead us to a deeper understanding of God's rest and joy, urging us to connect the dots of our spiritual journey to see the bigger picture of God's love. [27:58]
** [27:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:07] - The Danger of Miracles and Sermons
[00:24] - Warning from Matthew 7
[01:14] - Miracles Without Repentance
[02:14] - Understanding Repentance
[03:42] - Connecting the Dots
[04:11] - God of Rest
[05:18] - Lessons from the Israelites
[06:21] - Entering God's Rest
[07:39] - Life Without Worry
[09:26] - Overwhelmingly Conquering
[10:10] - Rejoicing in Heaven
[11:19] - Joy in Our Eternal Relationship
[17:10] - True Repentance and Action
[22:48] - Beyond the Burning Heart
[27:58] - Connecting to a Life of Rest and Joy

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 7:22-23
Acts 2:36-38
Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:11

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Observation Questions:

In Matthew 7:22-23, what does Jesus say about those who perform miracles in His name? What is the reason He gives for not recognizing them? [00:39]
According to Acts 2:36-38, what was Peter's response to those who were pierced to the heart by his sermon? What action did he urge them to take? [17:10]
What does Hebrews 3:18-19 say about the Israelites' failure to enter God's rest? How does this relate to their belief and understanding of God's promises? [06:05]
In Hebrews 4:11, what are believers encouraged to do in order to enter God's rest? How does this connect to the idea of "connecting the dots" from the sermon? [06:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why might Jesus warn against rejoicing in miracles, as seen in Matthew 7:22-23? How does this relate to the deeper purpose of miracles? [00:59]
In Acts 2:36-38, why is true repentance described as requiring action beyond conviction? How does this challenge common perceptions of repentance? [17:10]
How does the failure of the Israelites to enter God's rest, as described in Hebrews 3:18-19, serve as a warning for believers today? What lessons can be drawn from their experience? [06:05]
What does it mean to be diligent in seeking God's rest, as mentioned in Hebrews 4:11? How can believers apply this diligence in their spiritual journey? [06:21]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you were more focused on the "dots" of miracles or spiritual experiences rather than the bigger picture of God's nature. How can you shift your focus to see the fuller picture of God as a source of rest and peace? [03:42]
Consider the last sermon or spiritual message that pierced your heart. Did it lead to a change in action or behavior? What steps can you take to ensure that conviction leads to true repentance and transformation? [17:10]
The Israelites missed entering God's rest due to unbelief. Are there areas in your life where unbelief is preventing you from experiencing God's rest? How can you address these areas? [06:05]
Jesus cautions against finding joy in miracles and instead urges us to rejoice in our eternal relationship with God. How can you cultivate joy rooted in the assurance that your name is inscribed in heaven? [11:19]
How can you be more diligent in connecting the dots of your spiritual experiences to understand God's love and rest more deeply? What practical steps can you take this week to seek God's rest? [06:21]
Think about a specific situation in your life that causes worry or anxiety. How can you apply the message of living without worry, as discussed in the sermon, to find peace in that situation? [07:39]
Identify one action you can take this week to embrace God's call to a life of rest and joy. How will you hold yourself accountable to this commitment? [27:58]

Sermon Clips

In Matthew Chapter 7, The Sermon on the Mount near the end of The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a warning that we are probably familiar with, where he says in verse 22 that many will say to Jesus on the last day Lord did we not prophesy in your name and in your name cast out demons and in your name perform many miracles and Jesus says I didn't know you I never knew you because you practice lawlessness. [00:00:24]

There's a great Danger in miracles because we can be fooled by seeing Miracle after a miracle red light turned to Green heeleeness he is a sickness turned to Healing Financial poverty turned to Financial Health whatever it may be on and on Miracle after Miracle we can get into that to where we are also performing many miracles and God says I don't even know you. [00:01:08]

What do you think about a child who gets so obsessed with the dot wow look at that dot and you try to tell the child don't don't get stuck on the dot connect all the dots because there's a picture that all those dots are trying to show you some of us maybe if you look from a distance we'll be able to see it but the whole point is for the children to connect the dots. [00:02:56]

Come to me and I will give you rest that's what Jesus was trying to say connect all the dots of the Miracles together so that you can see that God is a god of rest and he sent his son Jesus to show us that we can have a life of rest and what we think is a miracle but is actually a parable it's a story with the meaning. [00:04:06]

The Israelites missed it, they too saw a miracle after Miracle after Miracle with their own eyes maybe much bigger miracles than we've ever seen The Parting of the Red Sea Food coming down from heaven water coming out of a rock different things like that but all of them were just Dr Dot things for them it was supposed to be an exercise for the Israelites to connect the dots to see who God is that God wanted them to have a life of rest. [00:05:18]

The New Covenant message is that God wants us to live a life without worry without anxiety without grumbling and if we do live a life of worry and anxiety and grumbling God says I'm displeased with you and he will say you can't enter my rest because you're grumbling at your six circumstances you're constantly worried. [00:06:30]

Jesus says in verse 20 we may know this verse Luke chapter 10 verse 20 do not rejoice in the Miracles beware I'm warning you I saw Satan fall like lightning he may have done many miracles but then he fell because he thought his miracles made him somebody no don't Rejoice even about all these miracles just like Satan felt like lightning you can fall like lightning too. [00:10:39]

The only source of joy for the Christian is that their names are recorded in heaven that's my guaranteed source of joy and my name is reported in heaven and it has blessed me to think you know it says in Revelation chapter 20 21 somewhere that the Book of Life has all the names of the people who are in heaven and is that book a physical book. [00:11:48]

Peter says I'm not fooled I'm not fooled by all you're crying I'm not fooled by all your tears I'm not fooled by all of this pierced to the heart that you have it's great the holy spirit's working in you but I'm not fooled you're not in the Kingdom of as yet here's what you need to do verse 38 repent what do you mean don't you see I'm crying I've repented no Peter will say no repent is very different than crying and be pierced to the heart. [00:17:12]

The Holy Spirit Will rush into your life not when the pierced heart happens but when we turn around and get baptized immersed in the life of Jesus in the death and the life of Jesus very simple very clear dear brothers and sisters because we hear a lot of messages here that will pierce our hearts it's the wonderful part of going to a church which preaches the truth it'll convict us it'll Pierce our hearts. [00:19:16]

I talked about two kinds of stories in the life of Jesus the people who didn't repent even though they saw the Miracles and their disciples in both those instances I don't have the time to look it up but if you I'll just go to Matthew chapter 11. in verse 25 Matthew 11 25 in these two times Jesus rejoices and says I thank you Father that the entrance to this life the entrance to the true life is not for the sophisticated and the know-it-alls. [00:23:41]

God's still calling over and over again till we die and we don't know if it'll be today or tomorrow or of years from now when God's constantly saying the message Remains the Same come to me and I can give you rest as you take my yoke upon me and you learn that my life is not the happy life it's the humble and the gentle life and I had a life of suffering I was well acquainted with pains and sickness and grief. [00:26:11]

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Connecting Miracles to God's Rest and Joy

Devotional

Day 1: Miracles as a Pathway to Understanding God

Day 2: The Necessity of Action in True Repentance

Day 3: Diligence in Seeking God's Rest

Day 4: Joy Rooted in Our Eternal Relationship with God

Day 5: Connecting Spiritual Experiences to God's Love

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Connecting Miracles to God's Rest and Joy

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