Embracing Future Glory Through Faith and Humility
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of future glory and God's unwavering commitment to bringing us to that state. We began by acknowledging the snowy weather and expressing gratitude for those who braved the conditions to join in worship, as well as those participating online. We shared announcements about upcoming events, including a birthday fellowship dinner and a ministry at the care center, and encouraged everyone to prepare for the Easter celebrations.
Our worship was centered around Isaiah 12:4-6, which calls us to give thanks and proclaim God's deeds. We sang praises, acknowledging God's faithfulness and goodness, and prayed for various needs within our community, including those struggling with addiction, illness, and homelessness. We emphasized the importance of interceding for others and recognizing God's sovereignty in our lives.
The heart of our discussion focused on Romans 8:29-30, where we examined the six verbs that describe God's actions toward our future glory: foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified, and solidified. We emphasized that God's devotion to our future glory is rooted in His desire to express and honor His own glory. This understanding calls us to humility, recognizing that God's love for us is not based on our worthiness but on His perfect nature.
We explored the idea that future glory is a state where we will be perfectly satisfied in God, and He will be perfectly glorified in us. This future state is assured for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, as God's commitment to our future glory is unwavering and certain. We concluded by encouraging everyone to surrender to God, put their faith in Christ, and walk with the Spirit, trusting in God's eternal plan for our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Glory and Our Future Glory: Our future glory is deeply intertwined with God's glory. God's primary motive for our future glory is to express and honor His own glory. This understanding calls us to humility, recognizing that God's love for us is rooted in His perfect nature, not our worthiness. [51:41]
- The Assurance of Future Glory: For those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, future glory is a done deal. God's actions—foreknowing, predestining, calling, justifying, and glorifying—ensure that our future glory is certain. This assurance is not based on our actions but on God's unwavering commitment. [01:08:12]
- The Role of Faith and Humility: Embracing the truth of God's devotion to our future glory requires both faith and humility. We must discard our own glory and trust in God's perfect plan, recognizing that His existence demands our love and devotion. [55:03]
- Intercession and Community: Our prayers and intercessions for others are a vital part of our faith journey. We are called to be aware of the needs around us and to pray for those struggling with addiction, illness, and other challenges, trusting in God's sovereignty and grace. [32:10]
- Surrender and Trust: In response to God's eternal commitment to our future glory, we are called to surrender to Him, put our faith in Christ, and walk with the Spirit. This journey involves learning, being guided, and running the race set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus. [01:11:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [10:39] - Call to Worship
- [21:35] - Prayer and Thanksgiving
- [24:18] - Sharing Gratitude
- [32:10] - Intercessory Prayer
- [39:27] - Devotion to Future Glory
- [45:54] - Definition of Future Glory
- [48:56] - God's Commitment to Our Glory
- [51:41] - God's Glory and Our Humility
- [55:03] - Faith and Humility
- [58:30] - Six Verbs of God's Action
- [01:08:12] - Assurance of Future Glory
- [01:11:04] - Surrender and Trust
- [01:14:18] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 12:4-6
- Romans 8:29-30
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the six verbs mentioned in Romans 8:29-30 that describe God's actions toward our future glory? How do these verbs illustrate God's commitment to us? [58:30]
2. In Isaiah 12:4-6, what are the inhabitants of Zion encouraged to do, and why is this significant in the context of worship? [10:39]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's glory and our future glory? What is the primary motive for God’s actions according to the sermon? [51:41]
4. What specific needs within the community were highlighted during the intercessory prayer, and how does this reflect the church's role in supporting one another? [32:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of future glory as described in Romans 8:29-30 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's plan for believers? [45:54]
2. The sermon emphasizes humility in recognizing that God's love is based on His perfect nature rather than our worthiness. How does this perspective influence one's relationship with God? [55:03]
3. In what ways does the assurance of future glory, as discussed in the sermon, provide comfort and motivation for believers in their daily lives? [01:08:12]
4. How does the act of interceding for others, as mentioned in the sermon, align with the biblical call to love and serve our community? [32:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the six verbs from Romans 8:29-30. Which of these actions by God resonates most with you, and how can you respond to it in your daily walk with Christ? [58:30]
2. The sermon calls for humility in acknowledging God's glory. What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility in your spiritual journey? [55:03]
3. Consider the assurance of future glory. How can this certainty impact the way you face current challenges or uncertainties in your life? [01:08:12]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of intercession. Identify one person or group in your community who is struggling. How can you commit to praying for them this week? [32:10]
5. The sermon encourages surrender and trust in God's eternal plan. What is one area of your life where you struggle to surrender control, and how can you begin to trust God more fully in that area? [01:11:04]
6. How can you actively participate in your church community to support those dealing with addiction, illness, or homelessness, as mentioned in the sermon? [32:10]
7. Reflect on the call to worship from Isaiah 12:4-6. How can you incorporate a spirit of gratitude and praise into your daily routine, even amidst challenges? [10:39]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Glory and Our Future Glory
Our future glory is deeply intertwined with God's glory. This connection is not about our worthiness but about God's perfect nature and His desire to express and honor His own glory. Understanding this calls us to humility, as we recognize that God's love for us is rooted in His perfect nature, not in anything we have done. This perspective shifts our focus from ourselves to God, inviting us to live lives that reflect His glory. By acknowledging that our future glory is a reflection of God's glory, we are encouraged to live humbly and gratefully, knowing that our worth is found in Him. [51:41]
Isaiah 43:7 (ESV): "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from seeking personal glory to reflecting God's glory in your daily actions and decisions?
Day 2: The Assurance of Future Glory
For those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, future glory is assured. This assurance is not based on our actions but on God's unwavering commitment to us. The six verbs in Romans 8:29-30—foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified, and solidified—describe God's actions toward our future glory. These actions ensure that our future glory is certain, providing us with a profound sense of security and hope. This assurance invites us to live confidently, knowing that our future is secure in God's hands. [01:08:12]
2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV): "who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."
Reflection: How does the assurance of your future glory in Christ influence the way you face challenges and uncertainties today?
Day 3: The Role of Faith and Humility
Embracing the truth of God's devotion to our future glory requires both faith and humility. We are called to discard our own glory and trust in God's perfect plan, recognizing that His existence demands our love and devotion. This journey of faith and humility involves letting go of our own desires and ambitions, and instead, aligning ourselves with God's will. By doing so, we acknowledge that our lives are not about us, but about glorifying God and fulfilling His purposes. [55:03]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of personal ambition and trust in God's plan? How can you begin to do that today?
Day 4: Intercession and Community
Our prayers and intercessions for others are a vital part of our faith journey. We are called to be aware of the needs around us and to pray for those struggling with addiction, illness, and other challenges, trusting in God's sovereignty and grace. Interceding for others not only brings their needs before God but also strengthens our sense of community and compassion. It reminds us that we are part of a larger body of believers, called to support and uplift one another in prayer. [32:10]
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: Who in your community is in need of prayer today? How can you commit to interceding for them regularly?
Day 5: Surrender and Trust
In response to God's eternal commitment to our future glory, we are called to surrender to Him, put our faith in Christ, and walk with the Spirit. This journey involves learning, being guided, and running the race set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Surrendering to God means trusting in His eternal plan for our lives, even when we don't understand it fully. It requires us to let go of control and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in every aspect of our lives. [01:11:04]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
"Father, we are often, as we bow to pray, moved upon by your Spirit to intercede for the lives of others. And I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful that you give us here at Cornerstone a heart for the people who are around us, who live in our communities and our families, who are part of the world in which we interact on a daily basis." [00:31:59]
"I'm grateful that you are not allowing us to become totally self-focused and self-concerned. And we have things, Lord, that we would certainly pray about for ourselves and for our specific congregation. But, Lord, it is a privilege and an honor that we have in Christ through the Spirit, that we can bow in prayer for others and know that you are hearing and answering those prayers according to your sovereign will." [00:32:25]
"Lord, we are asking that you will grant strength for those who need it to start in freedom, for those who need it to obtain freedom, and for those, Lord, who have freedom to continue in it. Lord, we think of things like the kind of addictions that we hear about in our world, and we know that there are chemical ones, there are substance addictions, but we realize that people can become addicted to a variety of behaviors." [00:33:40]
"God's primary motive for our future glory is to express and to honor the worthiness of his own glory. We need to get a hold of that before we look at how devoted God is, committed he is to our future glory. As with everything else God does, God's primary motive for our future glory is to express and honor the worthiness of his own personal glory." [00:50:21]
"God's love for you is real. It is genuine. It is authentic. It is free. It is unconditional. It is adequate. It is immeasurable. But God loves us first and foremost for the sake of his glory as an expression of how glorious he is. God saves us. God redeems us. God justifies us. God sanctifies us. God delivers us." [00:53:13]
"God loves you. You need to know this. You need to trust your life to this truth. God loves you. But listen, God loves you because of who he is with all of his perfections, not because of who you are with all of your imperfections. John Calvin once wrote, we never truly glory in him until we have utterly discarded our own glory." [00:54:44]
"God devotes Himself to our future glory for the sake of His personal glory. And folks, that is the best news ever, because that means that God's devotion to our future glory will be perfect. It will be successful. It will be unwavering. It will be right. God's devotion to our future glory will be absolutely certain." [00:57:21]
"God's devotion to our future glory will be absolutely certain. When God says that He does what He does for the sake of His glory, that means that God honors the innate worthiness of His own being to be worshipped by all others. So that tells us that God's devotion to His own glory, that fact of God's existence, assurance assures us of His devotion to our future glory." [00:57:51]
"Through faith in Christ, we find forgiveness with God and with an eternal life. And God counts us worthy of future glory because of Christ. God did that. You didn't do that. I didn't do that. God did that. God knew in his heart what he was going to do. He made a decision about it. He made a decree for it. And then he worked it to make it true." [01:05:53]
"When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, future glory is a done deal. I had a young man text me this week. Graduating from college, might wind up here in Cook County. And he had a question for me. He said, I just want to know, I'm trying to find maybe a church, I'm trying to find out of a church if I maybe go into the communities where I've got opportunities." [01:06:36]
"Future glory is a done deal for those who put their faith in Christ. Sins are forgiven. The Spirit is sent. Life becomes a preparation for future glory. The Apostle Paul said, John says, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." [01:07:36]
"Surrender to God. Surrender to God who is fully devoted to bringing you to future glory. Put your faith in Christ. Yield to the Spirit. Walk with Him. Learn of Him. Be guided by Him. Follow Him. The author of the Hebrews says, run the race that is set before you, fixing your eyes upon Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith." [01:12:59]
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