Embracing Divine Release: Witnessing God's Transformative Power
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the theme of "release" and how it relates to our spiritual journey and service to God. We celebrated Volapalooza Day, a time to honor our volunteers who embody the spirit of showing up and serving. This celebration is a reminder of the importance of responding to God's call by worshiping, obeying, and acting in service. God is in the business of restoration, and He desires to remove hindrances from our lives so we can move forward in His purpose. This year can be a year of release if we pursue God wholeheartedly, allowing Him to release burdens that hinder our progress.
We discussed the concept of divine release, which is God's promise to free us from anything that holds us back. Release occurs when the life of God within us grows and multiplies, enabling us to bless others. This multiplication is evident in our church community, where we see growth and the fulfillment of God's command to be fruitful. We reflected on Luke 10, where Jesus sent out 70 disciples, emphasizing that His strategy is to work through His people. This mission continues today as we are called to be witnesses, sharing our testimonies and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The early church understood the cost of being a witness, often equating it with martyrdom. Despite the challenges, they stood firm in their faith, leaving us a legacy of the Nicene Creed, which affirms our belief in the triune God. We are reminded that the world is watching, seeking truth, and we are the witnesses of God's goodness. Our lives should reflect the difference Jesus has made, and we should actively release His love and power into the world.
As we move forward, we are encouraged to seek a deeper saturation of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide and empower us in our witness. This call to action is not just for our benefit but for the world that needs to see the light of Christ through us. Let us embrace this opportunity to be vessels of God's love and truth, knowing that He has a wonderful plan for each of us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Responding to God's Call: Our response to God's call involves worship, obedience, and service. By removing hindrances through practices like fasting, we allow God to work in us, leading to a divine release that propels us forward in His purpose. [01:41]
2. The Power of Witness: Being a witness is not just about sharing our testimony but living a life that reflects the transformative power of Jesus. The early church understood this, often equating witness with martyrdom, showing the depth of commitment required. [18:57]
3. Multiplication and Growth: God's life within us is meant to grow and multiply, impacting those around us. This multiplication is a sign of a living church, fulfilling God's command to be fruitful and multiply, both spiritually and in community. [06:40]
4. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, empowering us to be effective witnesses. As we seek more of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to release God's love and power into the world, fulfilling our mission. [36:58]
5. Standing Firm in Faith: The legacy of the early church reminds us of the cost of discipleship and the importance of standing firm in our faith. Despite challenges, we are called to be witnesses of God's goodness, sharing His love and truth with the world. [24:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:41] - Responding to Release
- [06:40] - Joy in Service
- [11:09] - Releasing Our Witness
- [15:08] - The Power of Testimony
- [18:57] - Witness and Martyrdom
- [20:02] - The First Christian Conference
- [24:13] - Battle and Blessing
- [25:31] - The Nicene Creed
- [27:24] - The Reward of Suffering
- [28:08] - Living as Witnesses
- [30:11] - Representing God's Goodness
- [32:29] - The Legacy of Witnesses
- [34:38] - The Holy Spirit's Role
- [36:58] - Saturation of the Holy Spirit
- [41:34] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 10:1-20
2. Acts 5:32
3. Mark 1:8
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 10, what was Jesus' strategy for spreading His message, and how did the disciples respond to their mission? [06:40]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the term "release" in the context of our spiritual journey? [01:41]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to be witnesses? [36:58]
4. What historical event does the sermon reference to illustrate the commitment of early Christians to their faith? [20:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "divine release" relate to the removal of hindrances in our lives, and what practices can facilitate this release? [01:41]
2. The sermon mentions the early church's understanding of witness and martyrdom. How does this historical perspective challenge modern believers in their faith journey? [18:57]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that multiplication and growth are signs of a living church, and how can this be applied to our community? [06:40]
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between the Holy Spirit and believers in fulfilling their mission as witnesses? [36:58]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal response to God's call. What specific actions can you take this week to worship, obey, and serve more wholeheartedly? [01:41]
2. Consider the power of your testimony. How can you share your story of transformation with someone in your life this week? [15:08]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being fruitful and multiplying. What steps can you take to contribute to the growth and vitality of your church community? [06:40]
4. How can you seek a deeper saturation of the Holy Spirit in your life, and what changes might this bring to your daily interactions and witness? [36:58]
5. Reflect on the legacy of the early church and their commitment to faith despite challenges. How can you stand firm in your faith in the face of modern-day obstacles? [24:13]
6. Identify a specific burden or hindrance in your life that you need to release. What practical steps can you take to allow God to remove it and move forward in His purpose? [01:41]
7. How can you actively participate in being a vessel of God's love and truth in your community, and what impact do you hope to see as a result? [28:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine Release
In our spiritual journey, responding to God's call involves worship, obedience, and service. By removing hindrances through practices like fasting, we allow God to work in us, leading to a divine release that propels us forward in His purpose. This release is not just about letting go of burdens but about embracing the freedom to pursue God's purpose wholeheartedly. As we celebrate Volapalooza Day, we are reminded of the importance of showing up and serving, embodying the spirit of release in our daily lives. [01:41]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Reflection: What is one hindrance in your life that you can release today to better respond to God's call?
Day 2: Living as a Witness
Being a witness is not just about sharing our testimony but living a life that reflects the transformative power of Jesus. The early church understood this, often equating witness with martyrdom, showing the depth of commitment required. Our lives should reflect the difference Jesus has made, and we should actively release His love and power into the world. This is a call to live authentically, allowing others to see the impact of Christ in our lives. [18:57]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate the transformative power of Jesus in your daily interactions with others today?
Day 3: Multiplication of God's Life
God's life within us is meant to grow and multiply, impacting those around us. This multiplication is a sign of a living church, fulfilling God's command to be fruitful and multiply, both spiritually and in community. As we see growth in our church community, we are reminded of the importance of nurturing the life of God within us, allowing it to bless others and bring about positive change. [06:40]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: In what ways can you nurture the life of God within you to impact your community positively?
Day 4: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, empowering us to be effective witnesses. As we seek more of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to release God's love and power into the world, fulfilling our mission. This empowerment is not just for our benefit but for the world that needs to see the light of Christ through us. Let us embrace this opportunity to be vessels of God's love and truth. [36:58]
Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."
Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in a specific area of your life today?
Day 5: Standing Firm in Faith
The legacy of the early church reminds us of the cost of discipleship and the importance of standing firm in our faith. Despite challenges, we are called to be witnesses of God's goodness, sharing His love and truth with the world. This call to action is a reminder that the world is watching, seeking truth, and we are the witnesses of God's goodness. Let us stand firm, knowing that God has a wonderful plan for each of us. [24:13]
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV): "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."
Reflection: What is one challenge you are facing where you need to stand firm in your faith, and how can you rely on God's strength to overcome it?
Quotes
"So good to be in the house of the Lord. So good to feel His joy and His presence. And man, we're here. You know, one thing about... We've been talking about release. And I want to talk a little bit today about responding to release. Release. Today's Volapalooza Day. I don't even know really what a Volapalooza is. They try to tell me it's a celebration. So we just kind of added volunteer. So we celebrate our volunteers. I mean, that's a very important group of people to celebrate is those who volunteer, that just show up. And I always tell my people, my staff, I said, the most important people are the ones who show up. And people who show up, when you're trying to do something, and so we're thankful today for that. And so anyway, we're celebrating that today. But I think it's important in the hours we live in to be..." [00:00:17] (52 seconds)
"The reason why we do what we do, you'll hear that a lot today about why, if you go to the Volapalooza, and that's just if you're not a part of anything we're doing right now as far as volunteering, just show up anyway. We'll just learn about it and just see what we're doing. There's no problem in that. But there's so many different ways that God reveals himself. God reveals himself through divine encounters. How many believe that God can just show up in divine encounters? I mean, he just speaks to you through his word or through his service like this, no matter what he does." [00:01:09] (32 seconds)
"And when you ask them, can you pray, everybody needs something, whether they want to or not, or they feel outside their realm or not. But that's what they did. They went door to door and basically went there. And they said, they don't want it. They don't want anything you got. Then shake the dust off your feet and just go home. What does that mean? If they're offended because you asked them that, then don't let their offense get on you and just go. That's a battle, right? Don't let other people's offense get on you. People can be offended. Just don't let that get on you. And so they left. Anyway, they did that and they had some good and they had some bad and they came back. And I just want to show this in 17, Luke 10, verse 17. In the 70, we turn with joy. Everybody say joy." [00:07:17] (38 seconds)
"against God, and God threw him out. It wasn't a big struggle. It wasn't a big battle. He rebelled against God, and God just flicked him out. Everybody say, flicked him out. See, he didn't say that a long time ago. He just flicked him out. There wasn't no battle. See, we think when the enemy comes up against you, there's a big battle between the enemy and God. There is no battle against devil and God. You only have one adversary, and he's not a match for God. How many is thankful today that you only have one adversary, and that's the devil, and Jesus is already defeating him, and there's no battle, no tug -of -war over your life going on between God and the devil? If you just give your heart to God, the tug -of -war is over, man. God wins every single time. And so he saw that. So that's the meaning. This is another meaning here. Jesus is sitting. He's up on a hill, and he sees the village where he sent out the 70. He sent them out. He says, go through the doors. Go knock on the doors and tell them who you are. Tell them who you're working with. Tell them what's going on. And they come back, and they were full of joy because people... People was getting healed, and people was getting delivered, and people was getting set free, and people was getting saved, and family was completely changing, and they came back. And, man, they were like, man, God, that was so good. Man, that was awesome. That was awesome. And Jesus says, ho, ho, ho, ho. He says, I know, I know. I was sitting up here on this hill, and I saw it. I saw everything. But what I saw was Satan like lightning just being removed from that place. What does that mean? It means that every demonic spirit, every spirit of oppression, every spirit of suppression, every spirit of anxiety, every spirit of sickness, every spirit of rebellion that was over those houses, that when those Christians came and knocked on the door, he said, just like I saw Satan like lightning leave the throne room of God, I saw Satan like lightning leave those houses. How many wants to be a part of seeing like lightning? Spirit of oppression, spirit of depression, spirit of oppression, spirit of suppression." [00:08:40] (117 seconds)
"Seeing the enemy just hold upon people being released from people's lives today. I don't know about you, but I do. That's why I'm here this morning. How about you? I don't know why you're here, but that's why I'm here. Amen." [00:10:38] (12 seconds)
"And so that's what Jesus told them, and that's what we're doing. And so we really want to ask this question to us is simply, is what are we releasing?" [00:10:50] (11 seconds)
"What are we releasing from the world today? And as Christians, you have power no matter what position that God has given you into." [00:11:01] (8 seconds)
"We're releasing our personal witness, the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit that has given us. How many of you know that God has given you power and gifts from the Holy Spirit? When you got saved, he just didn't give you a free ticket to heaven, which you have, but he also gave you gifts and talents. You better do something for his kingdom. Amen. Amen, preacher." [00:11:09] (22 seconds)
"And that's what he did. We are releasing the kingdom of God right here on earth. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the kingdom of darkness. I'm tired of the kingdom of woke. I'm tired of the kingdom of liberalism. I'm tired of the kingdom of liberalism. I'm tired of the kingdom of God, and he is. He's taking over this earth today, and I want to be a part of it. He's using us. So how do we do it? Let me give you a couple of things. We release our witness, which means share your testimony." [00:11:31] (29 seconds)
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