Embracing a New Normal: Ruined for God's Purposes

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace a New Normal—Don’t Go Back

God is calling His people to step out of the comfort of what is familiar and refuse to settle for a “normal” that lacks His power and presence. The temptation to return to old patterns, routines, or ways of thinking is strong, especially after seasons of revival or encounter, but the Spirit is inviting us to live in a continual state of risk, faith, and expectation. Like Peter, who could have gone back to fishing after his failures, we are called to move forward, carrying the authority and anointing that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. The world doesn’t need another normal church; it needs a people so ruined by God’s love and power that they cannot be satisfied with anything less than His supernatural life breaking out in and through them. [32:02]

Acts 3:1-8 (ESV)
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Reflection: What is one “normal” habit, comfort, or routine God is asking you to leave behind so you can step into a new level of faith and risk with Him today?

Day 2: Dangerous Places Are Safe Places in God’s Kingdom

In the kingdom of God, the places that seem most risky or intimidating are often the very places where God’s presence and power are most evident. The world may label certain environments, conversations, or assignments as “dangerous,” but for those who are ruined for Jesus, these are opportunities to bring light, healing, and transformation. God is raising up a people who are not threatened by darkness but are themselves the threat to darkness—people who are trusted with trouble and who see every challenge as a chance for God to show Himself strong. When you step into the places others avoid, you discover that God’s authority and peace go with you, making you unstoppable for His purposes. [57:04]

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to step into a “dangerous” or uncomfortable place this week, trusting that His presence will make it safe and fruitful?

Day 3: He Is the God of Right Now

God is not just the God of the past or the future—He is the God of right now, ready to move in power and bring transformation in this very moment. When we surrender to His lordship and make ourselves available, He can do the impossible through us, whether it’s in our city, our nation, or our own hearts. The stories of nations being changed, miracles breaking out, and lives being restored are not just for history books—they are for today. God is looking for people who will believe Him for the miraculous, who will ask big, bold things, and who will act in faith, knowing that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. [01:02:48]

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Reflection: What is one area of your life or community where you need to believe that God wants to move “right now”? How can you partner with Him in faith today?

Day 4: Ruined by Encounter—Letting God Mark Your Life

To be “ruined” in the kingdom sense is to be so deeply marked by an encounter with Jesus that nothing else can satisfy or distract you. When God ruins you, the things of this world lose their grip, and you become available for His purposes in ways you never imagined. This kind of transformation cannot be manufactured by self-effort, therapy, or worldly wisdom—it comes only from surrendering to the love and lordship of Christ. When you allow God to ruin your plans, your comfort, and your expectations, He fills you with His Spirit and uses you to bring hope, healing, and breakthrough to others. [26:08]

Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God asking you to surrender control so He can “ruin” you for His purposes? What would it look like to say yes?

Day 5: Demonstrate, Don’t Just Present—Living Out the Gospel

The world is not changed by words alone but by the demonstration of God’s power and love through His people. It is not enough to talk about what Jesus can do; we are called to step out and let Him work through us in real, tangible ways. Whether it’s praying for healing, sharing your testimony, or meeting practical needs, God wants to use you to make the gospel visible and irresistible. When you are ruined for Jesus, you become a vessel for His miracles, and your life becomes a living testimony that points others to Him. [53:05]

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV)
And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally serve, pray for, or share your story with this week so that the gospel is demonstrated, not just presented?

Sermon Summary

There is a unique and powerful sense of God’s presence in this house—a sense that Bethesda is not just a church, but a gathering of eagles, a people marked by sacrifice, unity, and a hunger for more of God. Like Isaac re-digging the wells, this community has pressed through seasons of argument and hostility, and now stands at the threshold of breakthrough and victory. This is a new season, a turning of the page, where the “normal” of the past will not suffice for the challenges and opportunities ahead. God is calling us to dig deeper, to let Him establish a new normal—one marked by miracles, boldness, and a willingness to be “ruined” for His purposes.

To be “ruined” in the kingdom is not to lose value, but to be so transformed by an encounter with Jesus that the world’s enticements lose their grip. It means being so marked by God’s love and power that we cannot go back to business as usual. Like Peter, who after his failures and restoration, walked in a new authority, we are called to step into situations with what we carry from God, not just what we possess in the natural. The world doesn’t need more programs or affluence; it needs the power and presence of God demonstrated through His people.

This call to be ruined is a call to risk, to step into dangerous places with the confidence that in the kingdom, dangerous places are actually the safest. We are not the threatened—we are the threat to darkness. God is looking for those who will let Him disrupt their comfort, who will not settle for a manageable, predictable faith, but will be bold enough to bring heaven to earth in every sphere of influence. The stories of radical obedience—whether washing the feet of a stranger or a student releasing miracles in a public school—remind us that God moves through those who are willing to be interrupted, inconvenienced, and sent.

Now is the time to refuse to go back to normal, to recognize that God is the God of right now, and to let Him ruin us for anything less than His purposes. The church is called not just to save and serve, but to solve, to be the most sustainable vehicle of transformation in the world. When we surrender fully to the Lordship of Jesus, He takes our ordinary and makes it extraordinary, using us to impact eternity in ways we could never imagine.

Key Takeaways

1. Let God Ruin Your “Normal” God is inviting us into a season where the old patterns and comforts are no longer sufficient. To be “ruined” is to be so transformed by His presence that the world’s distractions and temptations lose their appeal. This is not about losing value, but about being set apart for a higher purpose, where our hunger for God outweighs our desire for comfort or predictability. [26:08]
2. Don’t Settle for Sunday-Only Faith True revival and transformation cannot be contained to Sunday mornings or church programs. God is calling us to carry His presence and power into every day, every place, and every relationship. If our faith only works in the sanctuary and not in the streets, schools, or workplaces, we have missed the point of being the church. [28:35]
3. Dangerous Places Are Safe in the Kingdom The places that seem most risky or intimidating are often the very places where God’s power is most evident. We are not called to retreat from darkness, but to invade it with light. When we step out in obedience, even in the face of opposition or uncertainty, we discover that God’s authority and protection are with us, making us dangerous to the enemy and unstoppable in our assignment. [42:03]
4. God Moves Through Radical Obedience, Not Just Resources The early church had no silver or gold, but they had the power of God. Today, we may have resources, influence, and technology, but what the world truly needs is a people who will risk everything to obey God’s voice. Miracles, breakthroughs, and transformation flow from those who are willing to be interrupted, inconvenienced, and sent—those who will say yes to God’s call, no matter the cost. [37:56]
5. He Is the God of Right Now God is not just the God of our past or our future—He is moving in the present, ready to do the impossible through those who are available. When we surrender to His Lordship, He takes our ordinary lives and writes extraordinary stories of redemption, healing, and impact. The invitation is to let Him have every part of our lives, trusting that He will use us to shape history and eternity. [58:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Honoring Bethesda’s Legacy and Leadership
[03:51] - The Power of Sacrifice and Unity
[05:30] - Embracing a New Normal
[06:09] - Defining Moments: Peter’s Journey
[08:58] - Acts 3: Authority and Miracles
[13:10] - Prayer for a Historic Outpouring
[15:00] - What It Means to Be “Ruined”
[24:16] - Radical Obedience: The Foot-Washing Story
[26:08] - God’s Purpose in Ruining Our Normal
[28:35] - Taking Faith Beyond the Sanctuary
[31:07] - Three Marks of a Ruined Life
[37:56] - Power Over Programs: The Early Church Example
[41:01] - Dangerous Places Are Safe Places
[45:27] - Testimony: Miracles in the Public School
[53:05] - Demonstrating the Gospel, Not Just Presenting
[58:21] - God of Right Now: Transforming Nations
[66:08] - Surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus
[71:00] - Prayer of Salvation and Commissioning

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 3:1–10 (ESV) — 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Observation Questions

In Acts 3:6, what does Peter say he has to offer the lame man, and what is the result?
According to the sermon, what does it mean to be “ruined” for God? ([26:08])
What was different about Peter’s response to the lame man this time, compared to all the other times he had seen him? ([32:02])
What are some examples from the sermon of “radical obedience” that led to God moving in powerful ways? ([24:16])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter emphasize “what I do have I give to you” instead of focusing on what he lacks? What does this reveal about how God works through us? (Acts 3:6)
The sermon says being “ruined” means being so transformed by Jesus that the world’s enticements lose their grip. Why is this kind of transformation necessary for the church today? ([26:08])
The speaker claims that “dangerous places are safe places in the kingdom.” What does this mean, and how does it challenge our usual approach to risk and comfort? ([42:03])
The early church had no silver or gold, but they had the power of God. What does this suggest about the difference between resources and spiritual authority? ([37:56])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to let God “ruin” our normal. Is there an area of your life where you sense God wants to disrupt your comfort or routine? What would it look like to let Him do that? ([26:08])
Peter didn’t have money, but he gave what he had—faith and the authority of Jesus. What is something you “have” from God that you can offer to someone in need this week? ([32:02])
The speaker shared stories of radical obedience, like washing a stranger’s feet or a student praying for miracles at school. When was the last time you felt prompted to do something risky for God? Did you do it? Why or why not? ([24:16])
The sermon says, “Don’t settle for Sunday-only faith.” How can you carry God’s presence and power into your daily life—at work, school, or in your neighborhood? ([28:35])
“Dangerous places are safe in the kingdom.” Is there a “dangerous” or uncomfortable place God might be calling you to step into? What would it take for you to trust Him and go? ([42:03])
The church is called not just to save and serve, but to solve. What is one practical need or problem in your community that you could help address as part of God’s mission? ([58:21])
The sermon ends with a call to surrender fully to the Lordship of Jesus. Is there any area of your life you have not fully surrendered? What is holding you back, and what step could you take this week to give it to Him? ([01:07:39])

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Transcript

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