Embracing Freedom and Purpose Through God's Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Freedom

Freedom is found in the presence of Jesus, who breaks the chains of depression, anxiety, and unworthiness, inviting us into relationship and transformation. When we gather and lift up the name of Jesus, we are reminded that He walks among His people, offering freedom not just corporately but personally, calling us to surrender and listen for the Holy Spirit’s whisper. As sons and daughters, we have access to all the benefits of being in God’s family, and we are invited to position ourselves to receive the freedom that only He can give. [35:54]

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel bound or weighed down? Take a moment today to invite the Holy Spirit into that place and ask Him to bring His freedom.

Day 2: Know God—From Knowledge to Relationship

God’s desire is not just that we know about Him, but that we truly know Him—experiencing His presence, hearing His voice, and being changed by His love. When we gather as a church, we create a space for people to encounter God personally, whether for the first time or after decades of faith, and every act of welcome and hospitality is missional, helping others move from head knowledge to heart relationship. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, when we truly know God, our lives are transformed and we become catalysts for change in our communities. [01:03:00]

Acts 22:14 (ESV)
"And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to move from knowing about God to truly knowing Him? How can you help create a welcoming space for them to encounter Jesus this week?

Day 3: Find Freedom—Transformation Through Community

True freedom comes when we see Jesus and allow ourselves to be transformed by Him, often in the context of authentic, vulnerable community. Just as Zacchaeus found freedom not just by seeing Jesus but by joining Him in a small group, we too are set free as we confess, share, and walk together in circles rather than rows. In these spaces, we exchange stories of victory and struggle, and God uses our openness to bring healing and release us from the burdens of our past. [01:09:00]

James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Is there a struggle or burden you’ve been carrying alone? Consider reaching out to someone you trust this week to share your story and invite God’s healing through community.

Day 4: Discover Purpose—Alignment with God’s Assignment

Each of us has a unique assignment from God, and discovering our purpose requires coming into alignment with His will and voice. Like Paul, who was told to go and wait for his assignment, and like Ananias, whose simple obedience changed the world, we are called to listen for God’s direction and step out in faith, trusting that our obedience—no matter how small—can have eternal impact. Alignment with God brings peace, clarity, and the confidence to walk in the authority He has given us. [01:21:22]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: What is the last thing you sensed God asking you to do? Are you in alignment with that assignment, or have you been drifting? Take a step today to realign with His purpose for you.

Day 5: Make a Difference—Becoming a Witness

We are called to be witnesses for Jesus, sharing what we have seen and heard so that others may know Him and experience His transforming power. Making a difference doesn’t require a platform or title; it simply requires being present, rooted in community, and willing to echo the stories of God’s faithfulness—both our own and those of others. As we position ourselves in God’s presence and respond in obedience, our lives become testimonies that can change families, neighborhoods, and cities for the glory of God. [01:24:00]

Acts 22:15 (ESV)
"For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard."

Reflection: What story of God’s work in your life—or in your church community—can you share with someone this week to encourage their faith or invite them closer to Jesus?

Sermon Summary

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. This is the promise that greets every person who walks into the presence of God—freedom from depression, anxiety, and the lies of unworthiness. Jesus walks among His people, both corporately and individually, longing to do a transformative work in each heart. As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, we invite Him to call out to us, to move us forward, and to shape us into the sons and daughters God has called us to be.

Life with Jesus is meant to be an adventure, far from comfort and complacency. Just as climbing a mountain changes your perspective, encountering God at new heights gives you stories worth telling and memories that sustain you in the valleys. The will of God is often found outside our comfort zones, and the stories of faith that emerge from these places are meant to be shared, inspiring others and building a community marked by God’s presence.

God is moving in our midst—attendance is at an all-time high, prayer gatherings are growing, youth and men’s ministries are thriving, and new leaders are stepping up. These are not just statistics; they are stories of lives being changed, of people finding purpose, and of a church stepping into its calling to know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. The vision is not just for a building or a program, but for a people who are aligned with God’s assignment for their lives.

Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus, as recounted in Acts 22, reveals a pattern for every believer: to know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. Each of us has an assignment from God, but to fulfill it, we must come into alignment with Him. Like a vehicle out of alignment, our lives can drift if we neglect this. Alignment brings peace, clarity, and the ability to stay in our lane, fulfilling the unique role God has designed for us.

Obedience, not prominence, is what God rewards. Ananias, a seemingly minor character, changed the world by simply obeying God’s voice. Our legacy is not measured by the size of our assignment but by our willingness to listen and obey. In community, through small groups and authentic relationships, we find freedom and healing. As we position ourselves to witness God’s work—by being present, listening, and sharing our stories—we become agents of transformation in our city and beyond. The invitation is to come into alignment, to be made by God, and to let our lives echo His goodness to the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Freedom is Found in God’s Presence True freedom is not the absence of struggle but the presence of the Lord. When we encounter Jesus, the chains of depression, anxiety, and unworthiness are broken—not by our effort, but by His authority. This freedom is available to all who draw near, and it is the foundation for every other work God wants to do in us. [35:54]
2. Adventure and Growth Require Leaving Comfort The will of God is rarely found in the shallow waters of comfort and complacency. Like climbing a mountain, spiritual growth demands that we leave what is familiar and pursue the heights God calls us to. The stories that shape us and inspire others are born in these places of risk and faith, and they become the testimony that sustains us and our community. [43:34]
3. Alignment with God’s Assignment is Essential Each person has a unique assignment from God, but fulfilling it requires alignment—bringing our hearts, habits, and priorities into sync with His will. Just as a misaligned vehicle drifts, so too do our lives when we neglect spiritual alignment. The cost of delay is real, but the reward of alignment is peace, clarity, and effectiveness in our calling. [56:07]
4. Obedience, Not Visibility, Determines Legacy God measures our lives not by the size of our platform but by the faithfulness of our obedience. Ananias, though largely unknown, played a pivotal role in Paul’s story and, by extension, in the spread of the gospel. Our willingness to obey God’s last instruction, even when it seems small or unseen, can have generational impact and eternal reward. [81:22]
5. Transformation and Purpose Flourish in Community Freedom and healing are most often found in the context of authentic relationships. Small groups and spiritual friendships provide the space for vulnerability, confession, and encouragement. As we share our victories and struggles, we help one another discover purpose and become witnesses to God’s work, making a tangible difference in our city and beyond.

** [45:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:54] - Freedom in the Presence of God
[36:57] - Surrendering to the Holy Spirit
[38:33] - The Call to Adventure and Faith
[40:56] - Building Community Through Adventure
[43:34] - Stories that Shape Us
[45:16] - The Danger of Comfort and Complacency
[48:30] - Vision and Growth at Colorado Church
[51:10] - Updates on Ministries and Leadership
[54:00] - Transforming Our Space for Community
[56:07] - Alignment with God’s Assignment
[60:00] - The Power of Obedience: Ananias and Paul
[65:00] - Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, Make a Difference
[70:00] - Freedom and Healing in Small Groups
[77:06] - Wrestling with Discouragement and Finding God’s Voice
[81:22] - The Reward of Obedience and Living as Witnesses
[85:00] - Responding in Worship and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 22:6-16 (ESV) — 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’
11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;
15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’”

Observation Questions

According to Acts 22, what specific things did Ananias say Paul was appointed to do?
In the sermon, what are some of the ways the pastor described “freedom” that comes from God’s presence? [[35:54]]
What was the pastor’s analogy about vehicle alignment, and how did he connect it to our spiritual lives? [[56:07]]
How did the story of Ananias and Paul illustrate the importance of obedience, even when the assignment seems small or unnoticed? [[01:21:22]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul’s story on the road to Damascus is used as a pattern for “knowing God, finding freedom, discovering purpose, and making a difference”? [[49:33]]
The sermon says, “Freedom is not the absence of struggle but the presence of the Lord.” What does this mean for someone who is still struggling with anxiety or depression? [[35:54]]
The pastor said, “Obedience, not prominence, is what God rewards.” How does this challenge the way people usually think about success or legacy? [[01:21:22]]
Why is community, like small groups, so important for finding freedom and healing, according to the sermon? [[45:16]]

Application Questions

The pastor said, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Is there an area of your life where you need to experience this freedom? What would it look like to invite God’s presence into that area this week? [[35:54]]
The sermon talked about leaving comfort and complacency to pursue God’s adventure. What is one “comfort zone” you feel God might be calling you to step out of? How can you take a practical step this week? [[43:34]]
The analogy of vehicle alignment was used to describe our spiritual lives. Is there a place where you feel “out of alignment” with God’s assignment for you? What is one thing you could do to realign? [[56:07]]
Ananias obeyed God in a way that changed history, even though he wasn’t famous. Is there a “small” act of obedience God is asking of you right now? What’s holding you back from doing it? [[01:21:22]]
The sermon emphasized that transformation and purpose flourish in community. Are you currently in a small group or spiritual friendship where you can be honest and encouraged? If not, what’s one step you could take to find or build that kind of community? [[45:16]]
The pastor shared about sharing stories of faith to inspire others. Do you have a story of God’s work in your life that you could share with someone this week? Who might need to hear it? [[43:34]]
When you feel discouraged or unworthy, what is one practical way you can remind yourself of your identity as God’s son or daughter? [[01:19:46]]

Sermon Clips

My desire for all of us is that this place would be a place that calls us upward and onward, because I want you to see and experience the presence of God. I want you to hear his voice so that it changes you when you have to go through the rest of what you're called and tasked to do. Jesus has invited each and every one of us on an adventure. And I want you to be on your adventure. [00:44:02]

I truly think that Christians should be known for their stories. Like I think Christians should have the best stories. I love it when I stand in my front yard and I just talk with my neighbor, Mike, if we're both out at the same time and then he'll come over and, and he typically is like, all right, what's, what's your story now? Because he loves to hear the stories of you guys in this place and what God's doing. [00:44:40]

If you plug yourself into life giving community that's centered around Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, you will have your own stories. The will of God for your life is found far from comfort and complacency. And I think it's easy in a country like ours to just get comfortable. All of a sudden you look up and you realize you've been complacent for too long. [00:45:16]

We can so easily get discouraged like God's not doing anything in my life, God's not doing anything through my life, but if you're part of Colorado Church, you're part of all these stories and so I just want to, I just want to tell you a little bit about what's going on. [00:46:45]

When the men of a church get together and seek after God and align themselves with what God is doing the devil can't stop that church from accomplishing the will of God for that church and changing a city for the name of Jesus. [00:49:27]

What I have, what I see in my mind is a church that has totally transformed what God has given to us so that it looks more like heaven than anywhere else around. [00:52:27]

Colorado Church exists to compel everyone in our region to know God, find freedom, discover purpose and make a difference. And if you've been running with us for a while, you know that that's a mantra that you'll hear from time to time. [00:54:27]

The reality—and maybe you weren't expecting this walking into church because this is more of what you would get Monday through Friday in a school setting—but you have an assignment and it's time to stop procrastinating and do your assignment. [00:57:14]

Each of us have an assignment and in order to receive that assignment and operate in that assignment we must get into alignment with our assignment. We have to be in alignment with our assignment. [00:57:44]

There's a lot of believers, we know Jesus, we proclaim Jesus as Lord of our life, we show up on Sundays and we worship, but if we were to admit it, we have a bit of drift in our life and we've got to get into alignment with our assignment. [00:59:31]

Before you were born God had a dream of how he wanted to transform the world and his answer, his solution to his own dream was you. So he's like, man, it would be great if my creation was restored in this way and then it's like, what do I need to restore my creation? I need you and he created you for such a time as this. [01:01:09]

There's so many of us that are waiting for like title and position and finances and assurance and like just okay this is exactly what I'm supposed to do and to me I think Ananias teaches us no no no just obey what God says like what's the last thing God told you to do go do that so your obedience has the potential to outlive you. [01:02:58]

Heavenly rewards are not in direct correlation to our assignments. Heavenly rewards are in direct correlation to our obedience. So let me say it this way: somebody with a big assignment—Paul—does not necessarily get more rewards than Ananias who was told to do basically one thing and he did it and his one thing changed the world. [01:04:50]

Stop comparing your calling to someone else and just get busy obeying like what's the last thing God asked you to do just go do that. I guarantee you Ananias didn't know the end at the beginning so why should we think that God's going to tell us the end at our beginning. [01:05:20]

We gather on Sunday mornings so that people can know God. Now you might say, well Evan, I'm here but I already know God. Absolutely, that means you're here to help tend the garden, cultivate the soil so that when somebody comes in here who doesn't know God—and by the way it happens all the time and by the way it's happening right now—that people come in today and they know about God but they don't know God. [01:06:24]

When one person knows God they can transform a city and so that's my desire is that we do this over and over and over and over again and watch what God does in us and through us and even in our city. [01:09:58]

I want us to get our eyes off of our problems and go God can you help me see me through your eyes right. [01:11:44]

That's what I believe about small groups is that circles are better than rows. So you guys are all listening right now in rows but if we get into circles then all of a sudden we do a life exchange in a place where we can feel vulnerable to admit certain things and also tell the testimony of victory of what God's done in our life. [01:12:55]

God is fulfilling his purpose in you but if you come into alignment with your purpose he'll expedite that. You know each and every one of us was put on earth for such a time as this. [01:15:40]

The closer you are to me, the more sure you will be of your identity and your assignment. What I am doing in another person cannot always be perceived. You must trust that I am always at work, molding, shaping, forming for my glory and for their good. Ask, and I will give to you from my abundance. It pleases me when you ask of me. I delight to give. And when I give, it is always with a generous heart. In me is no lack. So where you are experiencing lack, lean into me, my ways, my word and my blessing will overwhelm you. Alignment with me is the place of peace and the foundation of my kingdom. Call heaven to earth from a place of alignment and it will come upon you. [01:21:10]

All of us want our life to count for something but in order for you and I to be a witness we must see something or hear something. A witness who wasn't really present is no witness at all so position yourself to be a useful witness. Get into his presence, open his word, open up your journal, write it down, do whatever it takes. [01:23:14]

If you don't have your own stories then you can borrow mine, you can borrow the stories of this place, you can tell your friends and family God is doing something amazing at Colorado Church and not even in an attempt to get them to come to our church just to prove to yourself and remind yourself but you know what be a great echo and you will eventually be trusted with your own story like just echo the stories of what God is doing amongst the people in your life. [01:24:17]

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