Embracing Change: Drawing Closer to God in 2025
Summary
In this new year of 2025, we are embarking on a journey of change, focusing on drawing closer to God. The essence of this journey is encapsulated in James 4:8, which encourages us to "draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." This year, we are called to break free from spiritual stagnation and embrace a deeper relationship with God. It's a call to action, urging us to step out of our comfort zones and make intentional changes in our spiritual lives. Just as physical exercise requires commitment and intentionality, so does our spiritual journey. We must actively seek God, cleanse our hands, and purify our hearts to align with His will.
God's love for us is everlasting, as stated in Jeremiah 31:3, and He views us as the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Despite where we currently stand in our spiritual walk, God is calling us to do more and to be more. This requires us to step out of our comfort zones, whether it's in our personal lives or in our service to God. We are challenged to not only shout "Amen" on Sundays but to live a life of service and responsibility throughout the week.
The journey of drawing closer to God involves breaking up the fallow ground of our hearts, as mentioned in Hosea 10:12. This means letting go of sin and living a life that is pleasing to God. It's about being consistent in our walk with God, not just on Sundays but every day. We must be willing to let go of the old ways and fully commit to God, avoiding the trap of being double-minded.
As we move forward, we are reminded that God is making Himself available to us, and we must do the same. This year, let's make a conscious effort to draw near to God, to serve Him with all our hearts, and to be open to the changes He wants to make in our lives. By doing so, we can expect a year filled with blessings and spiritual growth.
Key Takeaways:
1. Intentional Change: Change requires intentionality. Just as physical exercise demands commitment, so does our spiritual journey. We must actively seek God and make deliberate changes to draw closer to Him. [05:13]
2. God's Everlasting Love: God's love for us is everlasting, and He desires a deeper relationship with us. We are the apple of His eye, and He calls us to step out of our comfort zones and do more for Him. [08:38]
3. Breaking Up Fallow Ground: To draw closer to God, we must break up the fallow ground of our hearts. This involves letting go of sin and living a life that is pleasing to God, not just on Sundays but every day. [19:39]
4. Consistency in Christ: Being consistent in our walk with God means avoiding the trap of being double-minded. We must fully commit to God and live a life that reflects His love and grace. [27:04]
5. Availability to God: As God makes Himself available to us, we must do the same. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones, serving God with all our hearts, and being open to the changes He wants to make in our lives. [29:36]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:16] - Year of Change
[03:49] - Drawing Nigh to God
[05:13] - Intentional Change
[08:38] - Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
[11:03] - Spiritual Maturity
[13:35] - Consistency in Christ
[15:08] - Living for God Daily
[16:34] - Pleasing God
[19:39] - Breaking Up Fallow Ground
[21:41] - Purifying Our Hearts
[22:41] - Submitting to God
[25:14] - Being a Witness
[27:04] - Avoiding Double-Mindedness
[29:36] - Total Commitment to Christ
[31:14] - Planning for the Year Ahead
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:8 - "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded."
2. Jeremiah 31:3 - "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
3. Hosea 10:12 - "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does James 4:8 suggest about the relationship between drawing near to God and personal purification? [05:13]
2. How does Jeremiah 31:3 describe God's love for us, and what impact does this have on our spiritual journey? [08:38]
3. According to Hosea 10:12, what actions are necessary to prepare our hearts for God's righteousness? [19:39]
4. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the need for intentional change in our spiritual lives? [05:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "breaking up fallow ground" in Hosea 10:12 be applied to one's personal spiritual life? [19:39]
2. What does it mean to be "double-minded" as mentioned in James 4:8, and how can this affect one's relationship with God? [27:04]
3. How does understanding God's everlasting love, as described in Jeremiah 31:3, influence a believer's willingness to step out of their comfort zone? [08:38]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that consistency in our walk with God can lead to spiritual maturity? [11:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What steps can you take this week to draw closer to God and break free from that stagnation? [05:13]
2. Identify a comfort zone in your life that God might be calling you to step out of. What practical steps can you take to respond to this call? [08:38]
3. Consider your daily routine. How can you intentionally incorporate time for prayer and Bible study to ensure consistency in your walk with God? [11:03]
4. Think about an area in your life where you might be double-minded. What changes can you make to fully commit to God's will in that area? [27:04]
5. How can you actively demonstrate God's love to others in your community this week, reflecting the everlasting love described in Jeremiah 31:3? [08:38]
6. What are some specific sins or habits you need to let go of to break up the fallow ground of your heart? How will you address these this week? [19:39]
7. How can you make yourself more available to God, as He makes Himself available to you, in your daily life and interactions? [29:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Intentional Spiritual Transformation
In the journey of faith, intentionality is crucial. Just as physical exercise requires dedication and effort, so does our spiritual growth. To draw closer to God, one must actively seek Him, making deliberate changes in life to align with His will. This involves stepping out of comfort zones and embracing new spiritual disciplines. The call to action is clear: break free from spiritual stagnation and pursue a deeper relationship with God. This year, let the commitment to spiritual transformation be as strong as any other goal you set. [05:13]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)
Reflection: What specific spiritual discipline can you commit to this week to intentionally draw closer to God?
Day 2: Embracing God's Everlasting Love
God's love for us is unending, and He desires a deeper relationship with each of us. We are cherished by Him, as the apple of His eye, and He calls us to step out of our comfort zones to do more for Him. This involves not just acknowledging His love but responding to it by living a life of service and responsibility. The challenge is to move beyond mere words of faith and to embody that faith in our daily actions, reflecting God's love in all we do. [08:38]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you step out of your comfort zone this week to show God's love to someone in need?
Day 3: Breaking Up the Fallow Ground
To draw closer to God, one must break up the fallow ground of the heart. This means letting go of sin and living a life that is pleasing to God, not just on Sundays but every day. It requires a willingness to let go of old ways and fully commit to God, avoiding the trap of being double-minded. Consistency in our walk with God is essential, and it involves a daily commitment to live according to His will. [19:39]
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to break up the fallow ground and seek God's righteousness?
Day 4: Consistency in Christ
Being consistent in our walk with God means avoiding the trap of being double-minded. It requires a full commitment to God and living a life that reflects His love and grace. This consistency is not just for Sundays but is a daily endeavor. It involves aligning our actions, thoughts, and intentions with God's will, ensuring that our faith is evident in every aspect of our lives. [27:04]
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your daily life consistently reflects your faith in Christ?
Day 5: Availability to God
As God makes Himself available to us, we must do the same. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones, serving God with all our hearts, and being open to the changes He wants to make in our lives. By making ourselves available to God, we open the door to spiritual growth and blessings. This year, let us commit to being fully present for God, ready to serve and embrace the transformation He desires for us. [29:36]
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make yourself more available to God this week, and what steps can you take to serve Him wholeheartedly?
Quotes
"Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. And so this is where we're going to use this as a springboard. And we're going to use that to show us, number one, we want to always remember God loves us. Each and every one has got to remember the very love of God and how much God cares for you. And so it's not God's desire that you continue in this stagnated spiritual self that maybe you've gone through a couple years because of distractions, problems, and whatever. And you're not as close to God as God wants you to be." [00:05:21] (31 seconds)
"But if we have to intentionally change in our exercise program, how much more in our spiritual journey? All right. Now, Jeremiah 31 in verse 3 tells us, The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. And therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee. This, again, is we start looking at drawing nigh to God. Why are we trying to draw nigh to God? Why has God drawn us? Because God loves you so much. You're loved with an everlasting love." [00:07:42] (30 seconds)
"While God is making himself available to us, God has to, we have to do the same thing. God has drawn nigh to man. And so as the people of God, we've got to draw nigh to God. Again, this is going to go contrary to our comfort zone and contrary to the things we like to do. It'd be easy sometimes to sit back and let everybody else shout in church. It'd be easy to sit around and let everybody else knock on the door. And pass out all the cards and all that. But at some point, we have to take the responsibility that God's called me to be a worker for God." [00:11:47] (29 seconds)
"There are some that try to live in sin and out of, in church, and maybe one day they're at one foot in sin, and one day they're in the church shouting praise the Lord and hallelujah. At some point along the line, when you want to draw close to God, when you want to mean business with God, you've got to make your mind enough is enough. I'm not going to play on both sides. I want to give my heart and mind to God, and so I know there are those that have a concept of going to church, and we live holy Sunday mornings, but as soon as we leave the doors, we go back to doing the same old thing." [00:15:07] (31 seconds)
"We can have a new life. We can have a wonderful year as we begin to dedicate our heart and mind to God, and as we begin to change, instead of a little bit of sin and a little bit of serving God, a little bit of sin, a little bit of coming to church and giving Him praise, why don't we just go ahead and give God all the praise and all the glory. In fact, serve God with all that is within you. Now, Hosea 10 and 12 says, Hosea 10 and 12, Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord till He come, and rain righteousness upon you." [00:18:12] (35 seconds)
"At some point, you just got to look at yourself and just make things right. You're a certain weight. You got to eat like the doctor's telling you. You got to lose weight. But as long as we keep going back and forth, and we don't have a conviction, and we don't have a conviction in our heart, man, we're going to do all kinds of justification. How many of you have ever justified something that you wanted to do? Why? Because of what you want to do. At some point, you've got to realize it's not about what I want to do. It's what's right." [00:21:59] (24 seconds)
"He's very much decided to destroy you, so he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And so different ones begin to sometimes equivocate, and they don't want to do this, and they don't know if they really get religious. They don't know if they're really to let go of all their friends. If I start serving God, Pastor Tucker, I'm going to lose all my friends. And so going back and forth on that, make up your mind. Is he the Lord of all, or is he not Lord at all?" [00:28:21] (26 seconds)
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