Deepening Our Faith: A Call to Intimacy with God

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound journey of faith and the calling to know God intimately. We began by expressing gratitude for the abundant life given to us through Jesus Christ, acknowledging the blessings that surpass our expectations. This gratitude sets the stage for our mission to make a difference in the world daily. Our journey took a personal turn as I shared my encounter with Brian, a minister whose approach to evangelism and teaching resonated deeply with me. His focus on not just witnessing miracles but teaching others to live in that power inspired our upcoming event in March, where he will minister and teach us to walk in the supernatural.

We delved into John 17:3, a verse that transformed my understanding of eternal life as knowing God personally, not just knowing about Him. This revelation has fueled my pursuit of a deeper relationship with God, akin to Moses' friendship with Him. This pursuit has been the foundation of my ministry since 1992, when I became a youth pastor. Our youth group grew rapidly, but a humbling experience at a conference revealed that I needed to let the youth grow spiritually. This led to a shift in focus from entertainment to spiritual growth, resulting in a smaller but more committed group, many of whom are now in ministry.

The vision for revival in the River Valley has been a driving force since the early 1990s. Through prayer and seeking God's guidance, we have seen the establishment of churches and ministries, each step guided by divine direction. The prophecy of a revival starting at the St. Croix River's headwaters and spreading southward has been a beacon of hope and purpose. Our mission is to prepare for this revival by planting churches and training leaders, ensuring that when the revival comes, the infrastructure is ready to support it.

As we look to the future, our goal is to continue planting churches and raising leaders, trusting in God's timing and provision. This vision is not just about numbers but about people—training, equipping, and empowering them to fulfill God's purpose. We invite everyone to partner with us in this mission, whether through prayer, service, or giving, as we seek to impact lives and communities for God's glory.

Key Takeaways:

- Intimacy with God: Knowing God personally is the essence of eternal life. It's not about knowing facts but experiencing a deep, transformative relationship with Him. This intimacy is what fuels our faith and ministry, as seen in the life of Moses, who spoke with God face to face. [49:54]

- Empowering Others: True ministry goes beyond performing miracles; it involves teaching others to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. This empowerment allows individuals to minister in their daily lives, bringing healing and hope to those around them. [45:21]

- Revival Begins Within: Revival is not just a series of meetings; it starts in the heart of each believer. As we seek God and allow Him to transform us, we become catalysts for change in our communities, paving the way for a broader move of God. [59:38]

- Vision and Obedience: God's vision for our lives often unfolds through obedience and prayer. As we align ourselves with His purpose, He guides us in establishing His kingdom on earth, whether through church planting or other forms of ministry. [01:22:34]

- Partnership in Ministry: Being part of God's work involves partnership—supporting the local church and broader ministry efforts. This partnership can take many forms, from financial support to active involvement in church planting and outreach. [01:32:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Gratitude and Worship
- [01:15] - Encounter with Brian
- [02:45] - John 17:3: Knowing God
- [03:30] - Youth Ministry Transformation
- [04:45] - Vision for Revival
- [05:30] - Prophecy of the River Valley
- [06:15] - Church Planting Journey
- [07:00] - Empowering Leaders
- [07:45] - Future Goals and Vision
- [08:30] - Partnership and Involvement
- [09:15] - Closing Prayer and Dedication

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 17:3

Observation Questions:
1. What does John 17:3 reveal about the essence of eternal life? How does this verse redefine our understanding of knowing God? [49:01]
2. How did the pastor's encounter with Brian influence the upcoming event in March? What specific aspect of Brian's ministry resonated with the pastor? [45:21]
3. What was the pastor's initial approach to youth ministry, and how did it change after the conference in Oklahoma City? [52:32]
4. What prophecy has been a guiding vision for the pastor's ministry in the River Valley, and how has it shaped their mission? [01:23:36]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of knowing God personally, as described in John 17:3, challenge the traditional view of eternal life? What implications does this have for a believer's daily life? [49:54]
2. In what ways does empowering others to live in the power of the Holy Spirit differ from merely witnessing miracles? How can this empowerment transform a community? [45:21]
3. What lessons can be learned from the pastor's experience of shifting focus from entertainment to spiritual growth in youth ministry? How did this change impact the youth group? [56:51]
4. How does the prophecy of revival in the River Valley influence the church's strategy for planting churches and training leaders? What role does obedience play in fulfilling this vision? [01:23:36]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with God. How can you deepen your intimacy with Him beyond just knowing about Him? What steps can you take this week to cultivate this relationship? [49:54]
2. Consider the people in your life who could benefit from being empowered to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. How can you support and encourage them in this journey? [45:21]
3. Think about an area in your life or ministry where you might be focusing more on entertainment than spiritual growth. What changes can you make to prioritize spiritual development? [56:51]
4. How can you actively participate in preparing for revival within your community? What practical steps can you take to align yourself with God's vision for your area? [01:23:36]
5. In what ways can you partner with your local church or broader ministry efforts to support the mission of planting churches and training leaders? How can you contribute through prayer, service, or giving? [01:32:59]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt called to obey God's direction in your life. How did obedience lead to a deeper understanding of His purpose for you? [01:22:34]
7. Identify one person in your community who might be open to learning about God's love. How can you engage them in a meaningful conversation or invite them to a church event this week?

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God Beyond Knowledge
Knowing God personally is the essence of eternal life. It's not about knowing facts but experiencing a deep, transformative relationship with Him. This intimacy is what fuels our faith and ministry, as seen in the life of Moses, who spoke with God face to face. The journey of faith is not merely about acquiring knowledge about God but about cultivating a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is characterized by a deep sense of intimacy and connection, where one experiences God's presence and guidance in everyday life. The essence of eternal life is found in this personal knowing, which transforms how we live and interact with the world around us. [49:54]

"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to deepen your personal relationship with God, moving beyond knowledge to experience His presence?


Day 2: Living in the Power of the Spirit
True ministry goes beyond performing miracles; it involves teaching others to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. This empowerment allows individuals to minister in their daily lives, bringing healing and hope to those around them. The call to ministry is not just about witnessing the miraculous but about equipping others to live empowered by the Holy Spirit. This empowerment is transformative, enabling believers to carry the presence of God into their daily interactions, offering healing and hope to those they encounter. By living in the Spirit's power, individuals can become conduits of God's love and grace in their communities. [45:21]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to live in the power of the Holy Spirit today, allowing His presence to influence your interactions with others?


Day 3: Revival Starts Within
Revival is not just a series of meetings; it starts in the heart of each believer. As we seek God and allow Him to transform us, we become catalysts for change in our communities, paving the way for a broader move of God. True revival begins with personal transformation, where individuals open their hearts to God's work within them. This internal revival then extends outward, impacting communities and creating a ripple effect of change. By allowing God to transform us from the inside out, we become agents of His love and power, preparing the way for a larger movement of His Spirit. [59:38]

"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life need transformation to become a catalyst for revival in your community?


Day 4: Aligning with God's Vision
God's vision for our lives often unfolds through obedience and prayer. As we align ourselves with His purpose, He guides us in establishing His kingdom on earth, whether through church planting or other forms of ministry. The unfolding of God's vision requires a heart of obedience and a commitment to prayer. As believers align themselves with God's purposes, they are guided in establishing His kingdom on earth. This alignment involves a willingness to follow God's leading, whether through church planting, ministry, or other avenues, trusting in His timing and provision. [01:22:34]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you align your daily actions and decisions with God's vision for your life, ensuring that you are part of His kingdom work?


Day 5: Partnering in God's Mission
Being part of God's work involves partnership—supporting the local church and broader ministry efforts. This partnership can take many forms, from financial support to active involvement in church planting and outreach. The mission of God invites believers into a partnership that extends beyond individual efforts. This partnership involves supporting the local church and engaging in broader ministry initiatives. Whether through financial contributions, active participation in church planting, or outreach efforts, believers are called to join in God's mission, impacting lives and communities for His glory. [01:32:59]

"For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you partner with your local church or ministry to further God's mission in your community?

Quotes



So John chapter 17, verse 3. The reason I'm putting that verse up there is this is the verse that after I came back to the Lord, ministered to me the deepest. I mean, I'm talking days. It was after I rededicated my life to the Lord, and I'm reading the Bible, just even wondering if God liked me anymore, could stand me, wanted me around, because I had pretty much rejected him. I had rejected him. [00:49:07] (24 seconds)


And I came across this verse, and it's, this is eternal life. To know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent. When I read that, it changed me. Paul, it's okay if you cry. I mean, it's okay to get emotional. He got me going this morning already. But it changed me. It brought an understanding that God wants us to know him. Not just know about him. Not just once in a while hear a story. He wants us to literally know him. [00:49:31] (44 seconds)


I read in the Old Testament where Moses was a friend, a friend of God. He would go into the Holy of Holies. He'd go into the Tent of Meeting, and he would talk to God face to face. And we all know the story how he spent 40 days on the mountain. He came down, he was glowing. Well, you spend 40 days in the presence of God, you'll be glowing. But he talked to God face to face. And I realized, I want that. I want that. I want... I want that in my life. I want to know him. And to know what he's doing, who he is, and what he's doing, and why he's doing it. And so for the last however many years, 38, 39 years, literally been seeking him. [00:50:05] (52 seconds)


And in 1993, I went to a minister's meeting, a youth pastor meeting down in Oklahoma City. And while I was down there, there was a whole bunch of people, different people speaking. And one guy got up one day, and he started, this is how he started his talk. He said, he goes, you know, I really don't know why they have me here speaking. And I'll be honest with you, because I have to be. I thought, yeah, I don't know why they have you speaking either. You start out like that. And he said, yeah, he says, well, he says, you know, actually, I do know why they're having me speak, because I have the largest youth group in America. And at the time, it was in Cleveland, Ohio. I mean, that's where the church is. And at that time, I don't know what they're doing now. He goes, I have the largest youth group in America. He says, I have over 2 ,000 kids coming every Wednesday night. [00:53:20] (57 seconds)


He says, we bus them in from communities all around, and they come in. And he says, here's the deal. I don't do anything. I'm just going to be honest with you. I don't do anything. He says, I, you know, a couple hours before service, he said, 300 kids. Come to the church, and they all meet in front of the altar. And they pray for the service. And then the worship team comes, and they practice and get ready, and they lead worship. And the service starts. People are, there's ushers, and there's greeters. There's people that are bringing, you know, come in, and everybody comes in and fills up. And then the worship starts, and he says, after about, you know, 35 to 40 minutes of worship, he says, I come on. I come on and speak for 25 minutes, and then I leave the stage. And he says, our worship, or I'm sorry, our prayer team comes. They're all teenagers, and they lay hands on the sick. They pray for people to get saved. They pray for deliverance. He says, these are all teenagers. Hundreds of them do this. [00:54:57] (72 seconds)


And he says, he goes, that goes on week after week. And then our team, we have teen teams who go out into these neighborhoods and do evangelism and bring more people in. And I'm sitting there the whole time. If I was actually sitting, I could show you, but I kept slouching more, because the conviction was so deep. And so he gets all done, and now it's lunchtime. He was the last speaker before lunch, and everybody that I was with got up and said, hey, let's go grab lunch. And I said, guys, I'm not really hungry. You guys go ahead. So they got up, they left. Everybody left the auditorium, the sanctuary where we were at, and I was the only one sitting. my seat because I couldn't move. And I was just like, I'm just like, wow. My goodness. Who did I think I was? And I still remember praying this because I have to be honest because I have to be. I said, Lord, what's wrong with my kids? What's wrong with the kids? How come they don't come before and pray? How come they're not leading worship? How come they're not praying for the sick? Lord, what's wrong with the kids? And the Holy Spirit, I love the Holy Spirit. He goes, John, you're the problem. [00:55:47] (79 seconds)


And I literally said to God, I'm the problem? And he goes, yeah, you're the problem. I said, why am I the problem? He goes, because you won't let them grow up. You don't expect anything out of them. And I repented. I repented. I said, all right, what do we got to do? And he goes, well, you're going to go back. And he says, number one, you're not going to play any more games. Because we used to play games, really fun games, really go crowd breaker stuff. And I, okay, here's the deal. I'm not talking about anybody else. I'm not talking about any other youth group. I'm not even talking about our youth group. I don't know if they, do you guys play games? Keep playing games. Keep playing games. This is, this is, this is God dealing with me in that moment. He goes, you're not going to play any more games. He says, I used to sit on a stool and teach the lesson. You know, everybody would sit where on couches. We had couches and, you know, all kinds of stuff. And I used to sit on a stool and, and teach. He says, from now on you're going to stand up, you're going to have a lectern, you're going to preach. [00:56:34] (61 seconds)


And then, and then after that, after each of the meetings, we would, we would, I said, hey, you guys, we're going to stick around and we're going to pray. Because that's one of the things God told me early on. He says, be a man of prayer. I want you to be a man of prayer. I want you to pray unceasingly. And he's taught me how to pray unceasingly. And so, I said, you know, I did that. I came back the first Wednesday night. I said, okay, guys, we're not going to play any games tonight. We're just going to, we're going to sing some, you know, some songs. We're going to worship. Then I'm going to preach. And then afterwards, after you're dismissed, then we're going to, we're going to, you know, have a time of intercessory prayer. And the youth group went from 60 to 70, somewhere around there, down to 50, 40, 30, 20. It actually kind of leveled off at 13. We leveled off at 13. Now, here's the thing you need to know about those 13, is those 13, almost all of them are in ministry today. Almost all of them are following a call of God on their life. [00:57:50] (72 seconds)


And so I came back from that and, and we were still praying on Wednesday nights. And every once in a while they would come out. He was, you know, Lord, I pray for revival in the River Valley. And then as, as that went on and I, now I'm, I'm, I'm, you know, experienced revival but now I began to study revivals. I started reading all the books. I started reading John Knox, books about John Knox and Smith Wigglesworth and Finney and, and uh, you know, you name them. I read them. The, the Great Awakening. Uh, uh, uh. John Knox and Jonathan Edwards and, and, you know, other revivals around the world but also here in America. And I began to pray more directly. We began to pray more directly and praying for, for outpouring of God. Signs and wonders. For the power and plan of God to be, fill this valley. [01:01:11] (55 seconds)


And he said, well, he says, you know, we've only got 14 people. He says, we're in this church. And he's just like, you know, I can't afford anything else. And it just, it's so oppressive being there. And he said, I, we're just going to quit. We're just going to shut it down. And I said, really? I said, is there nothing else? There's nothing else you can do. There's nothing else, nowhere else you can go. And he goes, well, you know, he says, I got a guy in the church who has a warehouse building over in Somerset, Wisconsin. He said, we could use that for, for free. And I, and for those of you that really know me, I don't tell people what to do. I, you know, I'll say, Hey, you pray about it. You'd be led by the Lord. You just do whatever God tells you to do. And, uh, but on that day, I couldn't, couldn't help it. I literally stood up at the table. Everybody else is eating, put my hands on the table. I looked him right in the eye and said, Bill, you got to move your church to Somerset, Wisconsin. And he goes, Oh, okay. Why? And then I, so I told him the story that I've been praying and driving and praying and that I knew God wanted to put a church there. [01:06:31] (60 seconds)


And so, uh, he talked with his people. They get the two, three weeks later, they moved over to the other side. We gave them a lot of some, probably a lot of the chairs you're sitting in. We're actually their first chairs over there. We like to move chairs around in, uh, in this vision. So we moved the chair, gave him some chairs, gave him a pulpit. We gave him a bunch of stuff we had upstairs that we didn't need. And we just, we helped him. Plus we gave him a, well, I'll tell you, it doesn't matter. At this point, we gave him a thousand dollars. We gave him a thousand dollars. We gave him a thousand dollars. We gave him a thousand dollars. We just said, here, go start a church, go start. We restart this church. And one year later, they were running over a hundred people. They now that they now he's now retired, but he threw that ministry because they kept going. There are Bible schools all over small Bible schools and villages all over the world. God has a plan and a purpose. [01:07:30] (54 seconds)


Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Feb 10, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?