Deciding what comes after hearing from God!

Feb 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Accepting God's Message, Not Just Hearing It

The journey of faith involves more than simply hearing the word of God; it requires a conscious decision to accept it. Just as a doctor's diagnosis or a parent's warning carries weight, God's message is clear and intended for our well-being. The challenge often lies not in understanding the message, but in embracing it and allowing it to shape our lives. Ignoring what God speaks to us doesn't negate its reality; it only postpones the blessings and growth that come from obedience. [45:12]

2 Timothy 4:10 (KJV)
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

Reflection: When you hear God's word, what is one specific area of your life where you find it challenging to fully accept its message, and what might accepting it look like in practice?

Day 2: The Difference Between Agreement and Obedience

Many people find themselves in agreement with God's word, acknowledging that sin is wrong or that God's ways are righteous. However, agreement alone does not equate to obedience. True faith is demonstrated not just by acknowledging truth, but by actively living it out. This involves a surrender to God's will, even when it conflicts with our own desires or the patterns of the world. [49:14]

Luke 8:13 (KJV)
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for the time believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself agreeing with God's teachings, and where might there be an opportunity to move from agreement to active obedience this week?

Day 3: Truth Has No Value Unless It Is Lived Out

The wisdom of the world teaches us that knowledge alone is insufficient; it must be accompanied by action. This principle applies directly to our spiritual lives. Simply knowing what God desires is not enough; we must be willing to do it. This requires a commitment to apply His word to our daily lives, making conscious choices that reflect our faith, even when those choices are difficult or go against our natural inclinations. [51:47]

James 1:22 (KJV)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Reflection: Consider a truth you know from scripture that you haven't fully integrated into your daily actions. What is one small, practical step you can take this week to begin living out that truth?

Day 4: Surrendering Desires to God's Will

The journey of faith often involves a conflict between our personal desires and God's will. Demas, for example, turned away from Paul because he "loved this present world," indicating a shift in his desires. This internal struggle is common, and it requires a deliberate choice to surrender our own wants and ambitions to God's plan. True transformation happens when we prioritize His will over our own, allowing His message to guide our direction. [01:02:35]

James 4:7 (KJV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Reflection: Where have you recently sensed a conflict between your personal desires and what you believe God is calling you to do, and how can you intentionally choose to align your desires with His will?

Day 5: The Cost of Disobedience and the Choice to Serve

Choosing to follow God's word is not always the easiest path; it can come with costs, such as strained relationships or lifestyle changes. However, the alternative—rejecting God's message—leads to a spiritual drift and a life lived in contradiction. The decision to serve Jesus requires a commitment to obey His word, not just on Sundays, but throughout the week. This involves making a conscious choice to prioritize God's will, recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through costly obedience. [01:04:42]

Luke 6:46 (KJV)
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you chose to follow God's direction even when it was difficult or costly. What did you learn from that experience about the nature of true service to God?

Sermon Summary

The congregation is called to move beyond mere hearing and toward costly obedience. Drawing on the examples of Demas and everyday life, the preacher contrasts exposure to truth with surrendered living: many sit under sound doctrine, sing familiar songs, and can quote scripture, yet fail to let God’s word reshape desires, choices, and daily habits. Scripture references—Philemon, Colossians, and 2 Timothy—frame a warning that affinity with faith communities or biblical knowledge does not guarantee faithfulness; Demas once labored alongside apostles but ultimately “loved this present world” and drifted away. Practical illustrations—ignoring medical advice, clinging to unhealthy food, sentimental attachments to music or status, and succumbing to pride—make clear that the real struggle is not intellectual assent but willful submission.

True discipleship carries a cost: friendships, comforts, reputations, and sometimes careers may be forfeited when obedience demands a different direction. The teaching insists that God’s Word is meant to be obeyed, not merely admired, and that belief and obedience are inseparable—faith that counts is faith that acts. The preacher emphasizes daily dependence on Christ (“Jesus in the morning, in the evening”) and warns that repeated privilege and familiarity can make falling away more tragic because knowing the truth increases responsibility. The altar call reframes hearing into decision: every time God speaks, people either accept and grow or resist and drift. The congregation is urged to examine particular areas where God’s voice has collided with personal desire, to make deliberate choices to trust and apply Scripture, and to take concrete steps—prayer, repentance, altered habits, and commitment to outreach—so blessings follow obedience rather than linger as unfulfilled promise.

Key Takeaways

1. Hearing does not equal acceptance Hearing Scripture or receiving conviction does not automatically change the will. Acceptance requires moving from intellectual agreement to volitional submission: choosing a new direction when God’s Word conflicts with personal preference. Too many live in spiritual proximity—Sunday attendance, familiar doctrine—without surrendering the daily decisions that evidence true allegiance. [43:41]
2. Obedience requires costly, continual surrender Genuine faith demands sacrifices that chip away at comfort and pride, not occasional acts of piety. Obedience is a sustained posture—renouncing habits, reputations, or relationships that undermine devotion and refusing the easy path of half-measures. This kind of obedience refines character and aligns life with Christ’s reign, even when it hurts. [1:10:04]
3. Worldly desires steal spiritual devotion Loving present comforts subtly reroutes affections away from God until service and sincerity erode into performance. The seduction of ease, pleasure, or status doesn’t announce itself dramatically; it persuades incrementally, until a life once anchored in Christ drifts. Vigilant heart-work—confession, reorientation of habits, and accountability—is needed to resist that theft. [42:48]
4. Faith must be lived daily Faith that endures is instantiated in routine choices—what one watches, eats, speaks, and prioritizes—not only in Sundays or prayer-room peaks. Being a “doer of the word” turns doctrines into disciplines: small, repeated acts of obedience that accumulate into spiritual formation. The blessed life follows application, not merely admiration. [56:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:15] - Opening Worship & Prayer
[39:07] - Personal Greetings and Stories
[41:33] - Scripture Readings (Philemon, Colossians, 2 Timothy)
[42:48] - Theme Introduced: Accepting God’s Word
[44:14] - Examples of Ignored Warnings
[47:10] - Exposure vs. Surrender
[51:47] - Knowing Is Not Enough
[56:52] - Be Doers, Not Hearers
[1:00:00] - Personal Testimony: Letting Go of the World
[1:06:52] - The Cost of Following Christ
[1:11:36] - Decision Point: Will You Accept?
[1:14:09] - Altar Call & Prayer
[1:24:02] - Offering, Outreach, and Practical Steps
[1:27:01] - Dismissal and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 4:10: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;..."

Philemon 1:24: "...Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers."

Colossians 4:14: "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."

Observation questions

The sermon mentions Demas by name from Philemon 1:24 and Colossians 4:14, where he is described as a "fellowlabourer" and "greeting you." What does this tell us about Demas's initial involvement and standing within the early Christian community? [41:33]
The sermon contrasts Demas's earlier involvement with his later departure mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:10. What specific reason is given for his departure? [42:00]
The sermon uses the analogy of ignoring medical advice or a parent's warning. What is the core problem identified in these situations, and how does it relate to accepting God's message? [44:14]
The sermon states, "Hearing god is not the same as accepting god." [46:21] What is the difference between merely hearing God's word and truly accepting it, according to the message?

Interpretation questions

The sermon highlights that Demas was "exposed to the truth, involved in ministry like a lot of people do." [47:10] What does it mean to be "exposed to the truth" without necessarily surrendering to it?
The sermon asks, "When god speaks to you, will you accept the message?" [43:41] How does the conflict between God's message and our personal desires make accepting the message difficult?
The sermon quotes Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "Truth has no value unless it is lived out." [51:22] How does this idea connect with the biblical concept that faith without works is dead?
The sermon suggests that Demas "loved this present world" [01:06:52] and that the world offered him "comfort instead of sacrifice." [01:04:42] What are some ways the "present world" can subtly pull our affections away from God?

Application questions

The sermon emphasizes that "Hearing does not equal acceptance." [43:41] In what specific areas of your life have you intellectually agreed with God's word but have not yet fully submitted your will to it?
The sermon states that "Obedience requires costly, continual surrender." [01:10:04] What is one area where you might be holding back from fully obeying God because of the potential cost (e.g., comfort, reputation, relationships)?
The sermon warns that "Worldly desires steal spiritual devotion." [01:03:05] What are some "worldly desires" that might be subtly influencing your daily choices and affections away from God?
The sermon stresses that "Faith must be lived daily." [56:52] What is one small, practical step you can take this week to be a "doer of the word" in your daily routine, rather than just a hearer?
The sermon asks, "What will you do when god's message determines your direction?" [01:10:51] When God's word has recently conflicted with your personal desires or plans, how did you respond, and what could you do differently next time?
The sermon points out that "repeated privilege and familiarity can make falling away more tragic because knowing the truth increases responsibility." [01:05:33] How can you actively guard against becoming complacent or taking your spiritual blessings for granted?
The sermon encourages us to examine "particular areas where God’s voice has collided with personal desire." [01:10:51] What is one specific area where you need to make a deliberate choice to trust and apply Scripture this week?

Sermon Clips

30s

#AcceptTheMessage

“``There are those that have had a parent give a warning. Parent the the child didn't wanna receive the message from the parent, and so they brush it off. There's been times that you go to see a counselor or have counseling high school or whatever and they may speak the truth but the person says, that's not for me. See, the message was clear. The problem was not understanding the message. The problem was accepting the message.”

23s

#DelayMeansConsequences

“And low most of us here, after we've gone through our teenage years and we get out into the world and we start experiencing life a little bit, we understand why our parents said the thing that they said. The message becomes even more clear. But I wanna share this morning that ignoring the message doesn't change the reality of the message. It only delays the consequences.”

32s

#FromHearingToDoing

“See, if you look at this as far as true spirituality is concerned, many people declare they hear the word of god and they'll say, well, god knows my heart. I prayed. God spoke to me which is all wonderful and and and the way it should be but then we gotta go one step further than that and realize many people sit in church also. Many people read the scriptures. The issue is not hearing the word of god. The real issue is when we receive the word of god, what are we gonna do about it?”

27s

#HolySpiritIlluminates

“There's all kind of time that there are people going through issues, having problem to problem and it's not because the word of god is not clear. Somebody said, I can't understand god's word. His word is very clear especially if you have the holy spirit. As you begin to dedicate your heart to god and give god your heart and begin to allow god to move in you and through you and all around you. The spirit of God illuminates our mind of understanding and helps us to understand God's word even more so.”

29s

#PresenceIsntProof

“When we first meet Demus to hear the word of god, it looks like everything's okay. He's a fellow laborer of Paul. He's working with Paul. In fact, at one point, he says, we greet you in the work of god. And so Demas was faithful to god. Philemon says, he's a fellow laborer. Colossians says, he was still present and working with Paul and greeting others in the name of the lord Jesus Christ. He was around the truth, exposed to the truth, involved in ministry like a lot of people do.”

25s

#QuotingIsntEnough

“But you see, somewhere on the line, god began to speak to his heart. Not only was god speaking to his heart, the world was also. You see, we hear the sermons. We know the scripture. There's a lot of people that can quote scripture to you. That's what I've always said. I don't really worry. I'm not really impressed because you can quote John three sixteen. Because you learn a few songs in your life.”

25s

#LiveByTheWord

“What I wanna know is when you hear the message of God, do you walk by the word of God? Do you live John three sixteen? Are you trying to do what God wants you to do? You see, many people walk around, godly people. They've got a godly father, godly mother. They grew up in church. Hearing the message was never the problem. Many people grew up in Sunday school. But yet they still reject god as authority over their life.”

43s

#ApplyGodsWord

“It's not enough to hear from god. Now we started it off the year as far as our our spiritual growth. We started off hearing from god because that's important. You've gotta get yourself a spiritual position in the presence of god. We can hear from god, and god can deal with your heart and mind. You know, when you're out there in sin, you're not receiving any instruction from god. God's able to deal with your heart, and there are those that are destroying their lives based on the sin that they're doing. So that was one of first things we had to be look at, and that is hearing from god. But now once we got to the point where we can hear from god, now the next thing is gonna bless us. Now the next thing is gonna cause us to grow spiritually. The next thing is gonna help us to be received the blessings of god. The miracles of god is when we apply his word to our life.”

Ask a question about this sermon

New Testament Christian Church - Irving, TX This sermon · AI assistant

What separates hearing God's word from obeying?

What makes worldliness more attractive than sacrifice?

How does pride derail long-term spiritual faithfulness?