Embracing God's Faithfulness: Bold Living in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: God's Faithfulness and Love

God is the one who has carried us through our wilderness and deserts, lifting us up and giving us strength. His love came first, and He pursued us through Jesus Christ. Whether we come to Him in celebration or struggle, the Holy Spirit is present to speak words of life and transformation into our hearts. This truth reminds us that we are never alone, and God's love is a constant source of strength and encouragement. Reflect on how God has been faithful in your life, even in the most challenging times, and how His love has been a guiding force.

[40:53]

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: Think of a time when you felt lost or in a "desert" season. How did you experience God's faithfulness and love during that time? How can you remind yourself of His presence in your current circumstances?

Day 2: Boldness in the Face of Persecution

The early church's story in the Book of Acts is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit and the boldness it instills in believers. Despite facing persecution and threats, the apostles continued to preach and teach about Jesus, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to God's mission. Their example challenges us to live out our faith boldly, even in the face of opposition. We are called to stand firm in our faith and trust that the Holy Spirit will give us the courage to speak and act according to God's will.

[46:51]

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV): "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel called to be bolder in your faith? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to stand firm and share the gospel, even when it is difficult?

Day 3: Living Out Our Faith

Sharing our faith should be as natural as recommending a good restaurant or service. The "BLESS" strategy—beginning with prayer, listening, eating together, serving, and sharing our story—provides a practical framework for living out our faith and blessing others. Our identity is found in Christ, and our allegiance to Him should govern every aspect of our lives. By integrating our faith into our daily interactions, we can be a light to those around us and demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways.

[57:44]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not know Christ. How can you use the "BLESS" strategy to build a relationship with them and share your faith in a natural and loving way?

Day 4: Divine Intervention and Obedience

The story of the angel releasing the apostles from jail and instructing them to continue preaching highlights the importance of divine intervention and obedience. Their release was not for their safety but for the sake of the gospel. This reminds us that our purpose is to advance God's kingdom, even if it means facing challenges and opposition. We are called to trust in God's plan and be obedient to His call, knowing that He will provide the strength and guidance we need to fulfill His purposes.

[49:14]

Acts 5:19-20 (ESV): "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 'Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.'"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith and be obedient? How can you trust in His divine intervention and guidance as you take that step?

Day 5: Purpose-Filled Lives

A purpose-filled life is where the Holy Spirit leads us purposefully into the ways of life. Our identity and purpose are found in Christ, and we are called to say "yes" to God's call, trusting that He will lead us and empower us for His purposes. This involves daily surrender and a willingness to follow wherever He leads, knowing that He has plans to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. Embrace the journey of living a purpose-filled life, led by the Holy Spirit, and experience the fulfillment that comes from walking in God's will.

[01:13:16]

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: What does living a purpose-filled life look like for you? How can you daily surrender to the Holy Spirit's leading and trust in God's plans for your future?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we reflected on the faithfulness of God and the journey of the early church as depicted in the Book of Acts. We acknowledged that God is the one who has carried us through our wilderness and deserts, lifting us up and giving us strength. We are reminded of His love, which came first, and His pursuit of us through Jesus Christ. Whether we come to Him in celebration or in struggle, the Holy Spirit is present to speak words of life and transformation into our hearts.

We are on a journey through the Book of Acts, exploring the birth of the church and the mighty acts of God. The early church's story is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit and the boldness it instills in believers. Despite facing persecution and threats from religious authorities, the apostles continued to preach and teach about Jesus, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to God's mission. Their boldness and willingness to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel serve as a powerful example for us today.

We also discussed the importance of living out our faith in everyday life. Sharing our faith should be as natural as recommending a good restaurant or service. The "BLESS" strategy—beginning with prayer, listening, eating together, serving, and sharing our story—provides a practical framework for living out our faith and blessing others. Our identity is found in Christ, and our allegiance to Him should govern every aspect of our lives.

The story of Gamaliel's wise counsel to the religious leaders reminds us that if something is truly of God, it cannot be stopped. The apostles' willingness to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus highlights the depth of their commitment and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to live purpose-filled lives, led by the Holy Spirit, and to say "yes" to God's call, trusting that He will lead us and empower us for His purposes.

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Key Takeaways

1. Filled Lives**: A purpose-filled life is where the Holy Spirit leads us purposefully into the ways of life. Our identity and purpose are found in Christ, and we are called to say "yes" to God's call, trusting that He will lead us and empower us for His purposes. This involves daily surrender and a willingness to follow wherever He leads, knowing that He has plans to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. [01:13:16]
### [73:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:53] - Opening Prayer
[41:39] - Holy Spirit's Presence
[42:31] - Introduction and Greetings
[43:33] - Journey Through the Book of Acts
[45:09] - Acts Chapter 1-3 Overview
[46:17] - Peter and John's Boldness
[46:51] - Apostles' Arrest and Bold Prayers
[47:30] - Ananias and Sapphira
[48:11] - Healing and Miracles
[49:14] - Angel's Intervention
[50:19] - Apostles' Escape and Teaching
[51:27] - Confrontation with Religious Leaders
[52:38] - Facing Ridicule and Persecution
[55:01] - Sharing Our Faith Naturally
[57:44] - Living Out Our Faith
[60:12] - Divine Intervention and Obedience
[63:40] - Identity in Christ
[66:07] - Gamaliel's Wise Counsel
[67:44] - Apostles' Commitment and Suffering
[72:51] - Purpose-Filled Lives
[76:12] - Decision to Say Yes to God
[82:06] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[87:23] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the reaction of the high priest and his officials to the apostles' actions in Acts 5:17-18? ([48:41])
How did the apostles respond to being arrested and commanded not to teach in Jesus' name? ([49:46])
What was Gamaliel's advice to the religious leaders, and what was the outcome? ([01:06:07])
What practical steps does the "BLESS" strategy involve for living out our faith? ([58:16])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the apostles chose to continue preaching despite the threats and arrests? ([49:46])
How does the story of the angel releasing the apostles from jail illustrate the importance of divine intervention and obedience? ([49:14])
What does Gamaliel's counsel teach us about discerning whether a movement is truly from God? ([01:06:07])
How can the "BLESS" strategy help us integrate our faith into everyday interactions? ([58:16])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt God's faithfulness in your life. How did that experience strengthen your faith? ([40:53])
The apostles prayed for boldness instead of safety. How can you incorporate boldness into your prayers and actions this week? ([46:51])
Sharing faith should be as natural as recommending a good restaurant. Identify one person you can share your faith with this week and plan how you will approach the conversation. ([55:44])
Think about a situation where you faced ridicule or opposition for your faith. How did you handle it, and what would you do differently now? ([52:38])
The apostles found their identity and purpose in Christ. What steps can you take to ensure your identity is rooted in Christ rather than in worldly things? ([01:03:40])
How can you use the "BLESS" strategy to bless someone in your community this week? Be specific about who and how. ([58:16])
Are you willing to say "yes" to God's call, even if it means facing challenges or stepping out of your comfort zone? What is one specific area where you feel God is calling you to act? ([01:16:12])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "If you are here, and you're kind of new, or maybe this is your first Sunday, I'm just telling you right now, I would encourage you to give us a hand, and give us three weeks, all right? Just give us three weeks. And if you'll give us three weeks, I think what will happen is that you will discover how much God loves you, you will discover a little bit more about us, and you'll discover about what God wants to do in your life. And in the middle of all of that, you'll make some very, very good friends. And so I hope and pray that you'll plan to be with us." [43:02](

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2. "Listen, if I go to a good restaurant, guess what I do? I tell everybody about it. And I'll even say, if you want to go try it, I'll go try it. If there's some good ice cream somewhere, right? Y'all know I'm going to talk about it. I guarantee you. Some of y'all go, absolutely, we know it. If I know of a place that takes care of my car, I tell you about it. If I know of a place that I can go and I can whatever, if I have a good gym or whatever, we typically tell people about it somewhere along the way." [56:24](

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3. "I know that God loves you. He's empowered you. He wants to transform your life. And I'm not telling you he's asking you to hitchhike from Nashville to Waverly. I'm not even telling you you have to go to the Battle of Bands and kind of do like this. But I do know that a purpose-filled life when you experience that, you're experiencing the Holy Spirit leading you purposefully in every part of your life. And the question is, are you willing to say yes to it?" [01:21:21](

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4. "A purpose-filled life is where the Holy Spirit purposefully leads you throughout life. Throughout And says, listen, I've gifted you. I've graced you. I've called you. I've got plans for you. I've transformed you. I've empowered you. I've done all of these things. And I've done it so that you can experience life to the fullest. And know that there's a purpose in your life." [01:13:16](

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5. "So what, pastor? So what? What does this mean? What does that have to do with me? It means you get to decide whether you're willing to say yes to the Lord or not. That's what it means. It means that you have a decision. All of us have this decision whether we really want to, well, we sang the song, right? Abide. Do you really want to experience wholeness? Do you? Do you?" [01:16:12](

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### Quotes for Members

1. "In fact, last week we talked about the mighty acts of God. All of that stuff in the past, the mighty acts of God in the past remind you, they remind me, they remind us what God wants to do in our future. That's what we're beginning to look at, and beginning to discover, and beginning to hear as we move through the Book of Acts. The account of the birth of the church." [44:35](

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2. "But an angel of the Lord, and I'm going to come back to that in a moment, but you've got this angel of the Lord, this messenger, that's really what that means. This messenger came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out and he told them, go run away, get safe somewhere, we're going to protect you for a little bit. No, he didn't say that. There's that boldness thing again. Go to the temple and give an answer. Give the people this message of life." [49:14](

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3. "The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. Isn't that wild? Yes, I'm disgraced. Yes. How many people have ever used those words? They counted it worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day in the temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and they continued to preach this message. Jesus is the Messiah." [01:07:09](

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4. "And so often I think about him I'll pray for him. And I'll say, Lord, would you encourage my friend? Listen, I know that God loves you. He's empowered you. He wants to transform your life. And I'm not telling you he's asking you to hitchhike from Nashville to Waverly. I'm not even telling you you have to go to the Battle of Bands and kind of do like this. But I do know that a purpose-filled life when you experience that, you're experiencing the Holy Spirit leading you purposefully in every part of your life. And the question is, are you willing to say yes to it?" [01:21:21](

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5. "And so I'd go to the football games, and no one would talk to them. Go to the basketball games, and no one would talk to them. And they would try to invite them to church. Hey, I know you've been coming. You want to come? And they wouldn't hardly talk to them. I've seen this kind of stuff happen. And I'll be honest. You know, you can threaten me, but it hurts more when you hurt my kids. You know what I'm saying? And honestly, in that moment, honestly, in that moment, I didn't have much. I didn't have much to say to my kids, but keep pressing on. And that doesn't help middle schoolers. It hurts." [54:20](

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