Discerning Truth: Engaging with Jesus' Teachings

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging Deeply with Jesus' Teachings

To truly discern the truth about Jesus, one must move beyond superficial judgments and engage deeply with His teachings. This involves a commitment to understanding His words and allowing them to challenge and transform preconceived notions. In John 7, we see a variety of reactions to Jesus, from marveling at His wisdom to outright mockery. These reactions highlight the importance of not judging by appearances but with right judgment, as Jesus instructs in John 7:24. By listening to the Word of God, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and the truth He embodies. [08:12]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What preconceived notions about Jesus might be hindering your understanding of His teachings? How can you allow His words to challenge and transform these notions today?

Day 2: Seeking Divine Assistance in Understanding

Recognizing our limitations in understanding spiritual truths is crucial. We must humbly seek God's assistance, acknowledging that true discernment comes from God revealing Himself to us. This requires a posture of humility and openness to divine guidance. In John 7, Jesus emphasizes the need for right judgment, which can only be achieved through divine assistance. By asking for God's help, we admit our need for His wisdom and guidance in discerning the truth about Jesus. [21:21]

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your spiritual life do you need to seek God's help for better understanding? How can you cultivate a posture of humility and openness to His guidance today?

Day 3: Aligning Our Will with God's

A desire to do God's will is essential for knowing the truth about Jesus. This means that our pursuit of truth is not merely intellectual but involves a willingness to follow God's path. Jesus teaches that true knowledge of Him comes from a heart aligned with God's will. By submitting to God's will, we allow our desires to align with His, opening ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus' words and presence. [29:26]

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" (Psalm 143:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God's will? What would aligning this area with His will look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 4: Overcoming Barriers to Faith

Barriers to belief often stem from misunderstandings or prejudices. By getting to know Jesus better, we can overcome these obstacles, as deeper knowledge of Jesus reveals the truth of who He is and the life He offers. In John 7, the diverse reactions to Jesus highlight the importance of moving beyond initial barriers to faith. By engaging deeply with His teachings and seeking to understand Him, we can overcome these barriers and grow in our faith. [12:21]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What barriers or prejudices might be hindering your faith journey? How can you actively work to overcome these obstacles by getting to know Jesus better?

Day 5: The Role of Humility in Faith

Humility is key in our journey of faith. It allows us to be teachable, to listen to Jesus' words, and to seek God's guidance. God promises to lead and teach the humble, bringing them to a true knowledge of Him. In John 7, Jesus' call for right judgment underscores the need for humility in discerning the truth. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus' teachings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. [27:06]

"He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way." (Psalm 25:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a spirit of humility in your daily life? What steps can you take to ensure you remain teachable and open to God's guidance?

Sermon Summary

In John 7, we explore the diverse reactions to Jesus during the Feast of Booths. Jesus, despite his brothers' advice to publicly reveal himself, chooses a discreet approach, teaching in the temple's outer courts. This setting becomes a microcosm of the world's varied responses to Jesus: some marvel at his wisdom, others mock him, and still others are divided, with opinions ranging from him being the Christ to having a demon. This division over Jesus is timeless, reflecting the ongoing challenge of discerning truth amidst competing voices.

The central question we face is how to discern truth in a world filled with conflicting opinions about Jesus. Jesus himself provides guidance in John 7:24, urging us not to judge by appearances but with right judgment. This calls for a deeper engagement with Jesus' teachings rather than superficial assessments. To aid in this discernment, three questions are proposed: Are we listening to the Word of God? Are we asking for God's help? Are we submitting to God's will?

Listening to the Word of God involves moving beyond surface-level judgments and engaging deeply with Jesus' teachings. This is exemplified by those who, despite initial barriers or prejudices, come to faith by getting to know Jesus better. Asking for God's help acknowledges our limitations in understanding spiritual truths on our own. It requires humility, recognizing that true discernment comes from God revealing himself to us. Finally, submitting to God's will is crucial. Jesus teaches that a desire to do God's will precedes true knowledge of him. This means that knowing the truth is not just an intellectual pursuit but involves a willingness to follow God's path.

In a world of diverse opinions, these principles guide us toward a deeper understanding of Jesus and the truth he embodies. By listening, seeking divine assistance, and aligning our will with God's, we open ourselves to the transformative power of Jesus' words and presence.

Key Takeaways

1. Listening to the Word of God: To discern truth, we must engage deeply with Jesus' teachings, moving beyond superficial judgments. This involves a commitment to understanding Jesus' words and allowing them to challenge and transform our preconceived notions. [08:12]
2. Asking for God's Help: Recognizing our limitations, we must humbly seek God's assistance in understanding spiritual truths. True discernment comes from God revealing himself to us, and this requires a posture of humility and openness to divine guidance. [21:21]
3. Submitting to God's Will: A desire to do God's will is essential for knowing the truth about Jesus. This means that our pursuit of truth is not merely intellectual but involves a willingness to follow God's path, allowing our desires to align with his. [29:26]
4. Overcoming Barriers to Faith: Barriers to belief often stem from misunderstandings or prejudices. By getting to know Jesus better, we can overcome these obstacles, as deeper knowledge of Jesus reveals the truth of who he is and the life he offers. [12:21]
5. The Role of Humility in Faith: Humility is key in our journey of faith. It allows us to be teachable, to listen to Jesus' words, and to seek God's guidance. God promises to lead and teach the humble, bringing them to a true knowledge of him. [27:06]
** [27:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Jesus' Brothers' Advice
[00:32] - Jesus' Discreet Journey to Jerusalem
[01:04] - Jesus Teaching in the Temple
[02:33] - Diverse Reactions to Jesus
[03:21] - Marveling and Mocking
[04:22] - Division Among the People
[05:36] - How to Know the Truth
[07:25] - Three Questions for Discernment
[08:12] - Listening to the Word of God
[12:21] - Overcoming Barriers to Faith
[21:21] - Asking for God's Help
[29:26] - Submitting to God's Will
[33:47] - Stories of Faith and Obedience
[42:38] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the different reactions to Jesus' teachings during the Feast of Booths as described in John 7? [02:33]
How did Jesus respond to his brothers' advice about revealing himself to the world? [00:17]
What does John 7:24 say about judging by appearances, and how does it relate to the diverse opinions about Jesus? [06:34]
How did the temple guards react to Jesus' words, and what was their response to the Pharisees? [19:46]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to "judge with right judgment" as instructed by Jesus in John 7:24, and how can this be applied in discerning truth today? [06:54]
How does the story of Nicodemus illustrate the importance of humility in seeking truth about Jesus? [16:49]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that barriers to faith can be overcome by getting to know Jesus better? [12:21]
How does the sermon explain the role of humility in understanding spiritual truths, as referenced in Psalm 25:9? [27:06]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you judged someone or something by appearances. How can you apply Jesus' teaching to "judge with right judgment" in your daily life? [06:54]
Are there any barriers or prejudices that have affected your faith journey? How can you actively work to overcome them by getting to know Jesus better? [12:21]
How often do you seek God's help in understanding spiritual truths? What steps can you take to cultivate a posture of humility and openness to divine guidance? [21:21]
Consider your current understanding of God's will. How can you align your desires with God's will to deepen your knowledge of Jesus? [29:26]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to submit to God's will. What practical steps can you take this week to surrender that area to God? [29:26]
Think of a situation where you felt divided in your opinion about Jesus or his teachings. How can you engage more deeply with the Word of God to find clarity? [08:12]
How can you encourage others in your community to listen to Jesus' words and seek God's help in their spiritual journey? What role can you play in supporting them? [20:21]

Sermon Clips

"How can you know what is true in a world of competing voices? Because we are still living today in a world in which there are all kinds of opinions about Jesus Christ. We are living in a world in which relentless voices are proclaiming opinions to us, and the question that we live with is this: how can you discern how can you know what is true in a world of multiple competing and contradictory opinions?" [00:05:42]

"Do not judge by appearances Jesus says, but judge with right judgment. People are making all kinds of judgments about Jesus and here's how he responds. He says do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. Now the obvious question is how do you do that? How do you judge with right judgment in a world of many competing voices?" [00:06:34]

"Am I listening to the word of God? You want to make a right judgment you want to be able to discern and to know and to be confident in what is true. Ask this question of yourself am I listening to the word of God because the person who judges by appearances Jesus says do not do that don't judge by appearances the person who judges by appearances makes superficial judgments about Jesus." [00:08:01]

"The way to overcome every barrier to believing is to get to know better Jesus Christ. I was speaking to a woman just this week she used such a striking phrase she had grown up in an abusive home her father was an alcoholic and he was often violent and this is what she said to me this week she said I painted my father's face unto God." [00:12:38]

"Am I asking for the help of God? Here's the second thing you want to do as you seek the truth especially as it relates to Jesus you listen to his words and then you ask for God's help in understanding and again let me put the principle this way that those who judge by appearances assume very simply assume their own competence to judge." [00:21:19]

"Now the Bible is very very clear on this point that as human beings we do not in and of ourselves as fallen human beings have the capacity to rightly discern the truth. Listen to how it stated in first Corinthians chapter two the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." [00:22:06]

"Am I submitting to the will of God and here the principle again is very simple the person who judges by appearances focuses on opinion the person who judges with right judgment knows the power of the will and I want you to see the very important statement of verse 17 listen to what Jesus says if anyone's will is to do God's will he will know." [00:29:26]

"In order to know you have to will you say now isn't it the other way around don't we have to work it all out do we have to get it all settled don't we have to know it all before we're going to desire to do no Jesus says you're never going to come to a true and settled knowledge you will never come to a true knowledge of Jesus Christ unless and until there is a desire in your heart to follow after the path on which he leads you." [00:30:02]

"Knowing the truth can never be a purely intellectual quest because what you think will always be shaped by what you desire and if you are to come to know the truth with regards to the Lord Jesus Christ there has to be within the will a desire to follow after God's way this is what Jesus said a little earlier in John in chapter 5 and verse 44." [00:30:32]

"Do you then really want to know the truth about Jesus do you not everyone does some people do not want to know the truth we're told that in Romans in chapter one very clearly men who by unrighteousness suppress the truth Paul says some people actually push the truth down if there really is a God I don't want to know him because that would have profound implications for my life that I am not willing to consider." [00:31:53]

"It is simply not possible to find the knowledge of God and the peace and joy that he offers if your heart is bent on sinning it's just not possible blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God in order to know you have to will and that's why in the Old Testament we have this marvelous prophecy of Jeremiah you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart that's when you'll find me." [00:32:56]

"Listen to the word of God ask for the help of God submit yourself to the will of God for he says you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart father take away pretense remove our supposed barriers to faith that sometimes are held onto and our prejudices against faith and our suppression of the truth because we don't want to contemplate the possible consequences." [00:42:38]

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