Embracing God's Faithfulness: Our Journey in Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's unwavering faithfulness and His grand plans for each of us. Life is a blend of beauty and challenges, yet through it all, God remains steadfast. He promises never to leave or forsake us, and His love is constant, even when we falter. This assurance is a cornerstone of our faith journey, reminding us that God knows us intimately and desires a relationship with us.
We delved into the transformative power of God's Word, emphasizing that it is not merely about knowing of God but truly knowing Him. This relationship with God is not static; it is dynamic and life-changing. As we open our hearts to His Word, we are reminded of the incredible plans He has for us, plans that exceed our imagination and understanding. Ephesians 3:20 and 2:10 highlight that God has created us anew in Christ to fulfill the purposes He set for us long ago.
Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial. We are new creations, and with this new identity comes a set of spiritual non-negotiables—things we must pursue because of who we are in Christ. These are not mere preferences but essential aspects of our faith journey that impact not only our lives but also those around us. Our "I musts" guide us in living a life that reflects God's will and brings His blessings.
As we navigate life, we must be vigilant against distractions that can derail our spiritual walk. Opportunities that seem good can sometimes be distractions in disguise, pulling us away from our "I musts." We must have a biblical filtering system to discern what aligns with God's will and what does not. This discernment is vital to maintaining our faith and joy, ensuring that we do not lose our influence on those we love.
Ultimately, our journey is about knowing Jesus and making Him known. We are called to share the good news of salvation, understanding that our lives are testimonies to those around us. As we embrace our identity in Christ and pursue our spiritual non-negotiables, we become conduits of God's love and grace, impacting the world for His glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Faithfulness and Love: Despite life's challenges, God's faithfulness never wavers. He promises to never leave us, and His love is constant, even when we falter. This assurance is foundational to our faith journey, reminding us that God knows us intimately and desires a relationship with us. [31:30]
2. Transformative Power of God's Word: Knowing God goes beyond mere knowledge; it is about a transformative relationship. As we open our hearts to His Word, we discover His incredible plans for us, plans that exceed our imagination and understanding. [32:47]
3. Identity in Christ and Spiritual Non-Negotiables: Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial. We are new creations, and with this identity comes spiritual non-negotiables—essential aspects of our faith journey that impact our lives and those around us. [38:24]
4. Vigilance Against Distractions: We must be vigilant against distractions that can derail our spiritual walk. Opportunities that seem good can sometimes be distractions in disguise, pulling us away from our "I musts." A biblical filtering system helps us discern what aligns with God's will. [46:19]
5. Sharing the Good News: Our journey is about knowing Jesus and making Him known. As we embrace our identity in Christ and pursue our spiritual non-negotiables, we become conduits of God's love and grace, impacting the world for His glory. [01:02:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[31:30] - God's Faithfulness
[32:13] - Knowing God Personally
[32:47] - Transformative Power of the Word
[34:06] - God's Big Plans for You
[35:31] - Spiritual Non-Negotiables
[38:24] - New Creation in Christ
[42:07] - Entering 2025 with Purpose
[46:19] - Guarding Against Distractions
[47:45] - Spiritual Vigilance
[49:26] - Influence and Faith
[51:22] - Importance of Biblical Knowledge
[53:14] - Absolute Truth of God's Word
[54:52] - Balancing Worldly and Spiritual
[56:33] - Protecting Your Faith
[58:28] - Impact on Future Generations
[01:02:00] - Knowing Jesus and Sharing the Good News
[01:06:16] - Invitation to Faith
[01:07:34] - Welcome to the Family of God
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."
2. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 3:20 tell us about God's ability to exceed our expectations and plans? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about God's big plans for us? [34:06]
2. According to Ephesians 2:10, what are we created for in Christ Jesus? How does this align with the idea of spiritual non-negotiables mentioned in the sermon? [35:31]
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? How was this concept explained in the sermon? [38:24]
4. How did the pastor describe the importance of having a biblical filtering system to guard against distractions? [46:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our identity in Christ as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17 influence our daily decisions and actions? [38:24]
2. What are some examples of "spiritual non-negotiables" that the pastor mentioned, and why are they essential for our faith journey? [35:31]
3. How can the transformative power of God's Word, as discussed in the sermon, impact our relationship with God and others? [32:47]
4. What role does vigilance against distractions play in maintaining our spiritual walk, according to the sermon? [46:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in your life. How did it strengthen your faith, and how can you share this experience with others? [31:30]
2. Identify one "I must" in your spiritual journey. How can you prioritize this in your daily life to align with God's will? [35:31]
3. Are there any distractions in your life that might be pulling you away from your spiritual non-negotiables? What steps can you take to minimize these distractions this week? [46:19]
4. How can you actively pursue knowing Jesus more deeply and making Him known to others in your community? [01:02:00]
5. Think of a person in your life who might be struggling with their faith. How can you be a conduit of God's love and grace to them this week? [49:26]
6. What specific actions can you take to ensure that your life is a testimony of God's love and grace to those around you? [01:02:00]
7. How can you use the transformative power of God's Word to impact your family and friends positively? [32:47]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Unwavering Presence in Life's Journey
God's faithfulness is a constant in the ever-changing landscape of life. Despite the challenges and beauty that life presents, His promise to never leave or forsake us remains steadfast. This assurance is foundational to our faith journey, reminding us that God knows us intimately and desires a relationship with us. His love is not contingent on our actions; it is a constant, even when we falter. This understanding of God's unwavering presence provides a sense of security and peace, allowing us to navigate life's ups and downs with confidence. [31:30]
Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV): "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's unwavering presence? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness today?
Day 2: The Transformative Relationship with God's Word
Knowing God is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about cultivating a transformative relationship with Him. As we open our hearts to His Word, we discover the incredible plans He has for us, plans that exceed our imagination and understanding. This relationship is dynamic and life-changing, inviting us to experience God's love and guidance in profound ways. By engaging with His Word, we allow it to shape our lives, leading us to a deeper understanding of His purposes and desires for us. [32:47]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you make space in your daily routine to engage more deeply with God's Word? What changes might you see in your life as a result?
Day 3: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial to our spiritual journey. As new creations, we are called to embrace a set of spiritual non-negotiables—essential aspects of our faith that impact not only our lives but also those around us. These "I musts" guide us in living a life that reflects God's will and brings His blessings. By embracing our new identity, we align ourselves with God's purposes, allowing His love and grace to flow through us and impact the world. [38:24]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: What are some spiritual non-negotiables that you need to prioritize in your life? How can you begin to live out your new identity in Christ today?
Day 4: Discernment in the Face of Distractions
In our spiritual journey, vigilance against distractions is essential. Opportunities that seem good can sometimes be distractions in disguise, pulling us away from our "I musts." A biblical filtering system helps us discern what aligns with God's will and what does not. This discernment is vital to maintaining our faith and joy, ensuring that we do not lose our influence on those we love. By staying focused on God's purposes, we can navigate life's challenges with clarity and purpose. [46:19]
Proverbs 4:25-27 (ESV): "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Reflection: What distractions are currently pulling you away from your spiritual priorities? How can you develop a biblical filtering system to help you stay focused on God's will?
Day 5: Sharing the Good News Through Our Lives
Our journey is about knowing Jesus and making Him known. As we embrace our identity in Christ and pursue our spiritual non-negotiables, we become conduits of God's love and grace, impacting the world for His glory. Our lives are testimonies to those around us, and we are called to share the good news of salvation. By living out our faith authentically, we can influence others and bring them closer to God, fulfilling our purpose as His ambassadors. [01:02:00]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus? How can you be intentional about sharing your faith with them this week?
Quotes
"God's got big plans for you. He really does. You say, well, what gives you, how do you know that? Hey, check this out. Check this out. The Bible, somebody say the Bible. In Ephesians chapter three, verse 20, there's a Bible verse that the apostle Paul wrote and says, now what to him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think." [00:34:53] (20 seconds)
"According to the power that works inside of you, God says, hey, I got big plans. They're bigger than what you can even ask me to do. It's bigger than what you can imagine. Imagine I've got big plans for you. Ephesians chapter two, verse 10 in the New Testament, it says this, that in Christ, that God created us anew. This is what it means to be in the relationship, to be born again." [00:35:04] (21 seconds)
"To do the things that God has planned for us a long time ago. What's amazing is when we open up the word of God and we study God's word, we learn that God says so many incredible things about what it means to be in a relationship with him and how this relationship impacts us. So as we just said to the person next to us, God's got big plans for you." [00:35:31] (23 seconds)
"And what we said last week, we kicked off the series. This is kind of like part two to the introduction to the series was this, that God's plan for you is to be in a relationship that in 2025, we're going to chase after the I musts of the word of God. Because here's what we know. God's word is truth. Somebody say amen. If it's God's word, it's God's will." [00:36:32] (21 seconds)
"So as we enter into 2025, we said this, we said, we want to enter 2025, not with I hope I, I hope I get around to it, mentality, spiritually, or I would like to spiritually No, no, no, there will be things that we would like to do, but there are certain spiritual non -negotiables in the Bible that God says, because of who you are, whose you are, now that you're in Christ, there are some particular I musts on this side of eternity that we must run after." [00:42:49] (38 seconds)
"And so we've got to embrace these I musts. But here's the thing. As we go into 2025, there's some things we need to guard against. If we're going to run and chase after our I musts, our spiritual non -negotiables, we better have a filtering, a way to filter our likes. I like. I know. It's kind of like, what are you doing, man? I'm not trying to be cute. I'm not trying to be funny." [00:46:19] (28 seconds)
"But there's going to be a lot of I likes that come knocking on our door that will challenge your I musts. And they're not bad things. They're really some really cool opportunities. But we've got to understand that sometimes if we're not careful and we don't have a biblical filtering system, opportunities can become distractions in disguise." [00:46:45] (23 seconds)
"And Paul warns us against this in Colossians chapter 2, verse 8. Check out this. He says this. Don't let others what? And what? And your joy. Literally, read the context. Paul's like, hey, you've got to be careful, man. You've got to be careful because there's going to be all kinds of opportunities that people are going to be knocking on your door. People are going to try to get in your head space." [00:47:45] (26 seconds)
"That's why as followers of Christ, you need to be in the Bible. You need to study God's word. You need to know what does the Bible say? Where does the Bible say it in proper context, and what are you going to do? Remember last week, I told you, I meet people all the time say, well, I believe in God. That's awesome, man. How old are you? Oh, yeah, you know, I'm like 45. That's great. I know you believe in God." [00:51:22] (25 seconds)
"Here's what the Bible teaches us. The reason why Jesus Christ, God became a man, we just celebrated at Christmas, Jesus, it's because we need to be rescued because we're all sinners and sin separates us from God. This is what Romans chapter three, Romans chapter three, verse 10, Romans 3, 23, and a bazillion other verses say. The Bible says that we're lost because of our sin. We're outside of God's family. We need to be found." [01:02:11] (25 seconds)
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