Embracing God's Love and Spiritual Gifts Together
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's presence and His desire for us to live in the fullness of His love and power. We began by acknowledging the supernatural gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians, emphasizing the importance of earnestly seeking these gifts to bless others. It's easy to fall into the routine of church services, but we must remember that God is with us, guiding us, and we should be open to His direction rather than relying solely on our plans.
We delved into the theme of insecurity, recognizing that many of us struggle with truly believing in God's love due to past experiences and wounds. This insecurity can lead us to strive for acceptance and love, forgetting that God's grace is a gift we cannot earn. We reflected on the transformative power of understanding God's love, which is not based on our earthly experiences but on His divine nature.
Ephesians 1:18 was a focal point, where Paul prays for the enlightenment of the eyes of our hearts. This enlightenment allows us to grasp the hope to which God has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe. We are reminded that we are God's inheritance, and He sees us as a beautiful bride, cleansed and made glorious through Jesus.
As we move forward, we are called to embrace our spiritual gifts and recognize the immeasurable power God has placed within us. This power is not for personal gain but to bless the body of Christ. We are entering a new season as a church, where we will explore and exercise our spiritual gifts, seeking to love and serve one another in a biblical manner. This journey requires us to be courageous and secure in God's love, resisting the enemy's attempts to divide us.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Presence and Guidance: We must remain open to God's presence and guidance, seeking His direction rather than relying solely on our plans. This openness allows us to experience the fullness of His love and power in our lives. [04:44]
2. Overcoming Insecurity: Many struggle with insecurity, doubting God's love due to past wounds. Understanding that God's grace is a gift we cannot earn helps us overcome this insecurity and embrace His unconditional love. [07:34]
3. Enlightenment of the Heart: Ephesians 1:18 teaches us to pray for the enlightenment of our hearts, enabling us to grasp the hope, inheritance, and power God has given us. This spiritual insight transforms our understanding of our identity in Christ. [15:59]
4. Embracing Spiritual Gifts: We are called to recognize and exercise our spiritual gifts, understanding that each believer has an indispensable role in the body of Christ. This requires humility and a willingness to serve others. [33:08]
5. Unity and Love in the Church: As we enter a new season, we must focus on unity and love, resisting the enemy's attempts to divide us. By embracing our spiritual gifts and loving one another, we can become a powerful and effective church. [44:23]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Seeking Spiritual Gifts
- [01:21] - Praying for Divine Guidance
- [02:50] - Unity in the Body of Christ
- [04:13] - God's Presence Among Us
- [05:28] - The Birthday Party Analogy
- [06:45] - Insecurity and God's Love
- [08:17] - The Process of Sanctification
- [11:41] - Overcoming Past Wounds
- [14:38] - Praying for Enlightenment
- [19:00] - The Miracle of Spiritual Sight
- [22:23] - Understanding Our Inheritance
- [28:58] - Immeasurable Power in Believers
- [33:08] - Embracing Our Spiritual Gifts
- [38:45] - Caution and Pursuit of Gifts
- [44:23] - Unity and Love in the Church
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
2. Ephesians 1:18-19
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the supernatural gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians, and why are we encouraged to seek them? [00:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the routine of church services, and what is the suggested approach to avoid falling into this routine? [04:30]
3. According to Ephesians 1:18, what does Paul pray for regarding the eyes of our hearts, and what are the three things he wants us to understand? [15:59]
4. What analogy does the pastor use to illustrate the importance of inviting God into our plans and gatherings? [05:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might past experiences and wounds contribute to our insecurity in believing God's love, as discussed in the sermon? [07:34]
2. In what ways does understanding God's grace as a gift challenge our natural inclinations to earn love and acceptance? [12:33]
3. How does the concept of being God's inheritance, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:18, change our perception of our identity in Christ? [24:46]
4. What does it mean to embrace our spiritual gifts with humility, and how can this impact the body of Christ? [33:08]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you relied solely on your plans rather than seeking God's guidance. How can you be more open to His direction in your daily life? [04:44]
2. Identify a past wound or experience that has caused insecurity in your relationship with God. What steps can you take to embrace His unconditional love more fully? [07:34]
3. How can you actively pray for the enlightenment of your heart, as Paul describes in Ephesians 1:18, to better understand your hope and inheritance in Christ? [15:59]
4. Consider the spiritual gifts you believe God has given you. How can you begin to exercise these gifts to bless others in your church community? [33:08]
5. In what ways can you contribute to unity and love within your church, resisting any attempts by the enemy to create division? [44:23]
6. Think of a specific person in your church who might feel insecure or unloved. How can you reach out to them this week to demonstrate God's love and acceptance? [07:34]
7. How can you cultivate a mindset of hope and expectation in God's promises, even when past experiences have led to disappointment? [21:52]
Devotional
Day 1: Openness to Divine Guidance
In our daily lives, it is easy to become consumed by our own plans and routines, often forgetting that God is actively present and desires to guide us. The sermon reminds us that we must remain open to God's presence and guidance, seeking His direction rather than relying solely on our plans. This openness allows us to experience the fullness of His love and power in our lives. By earnestly seeking the supernatural gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians, we can bless others and align ourselves with God's will. [04:44]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been relying on your own plans? How can you invite God to guide you in this area today?
Day 2: Embracing God's Unconditional Love
Many of us struggle with insecurity, doubting God's love due to past wounds and experiences. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding that God's grace is a gift we cannot earn, which helps us overcome this insecurity and embrace His unconditional love. By recognizing that God's love is not based on our earthly experiences but on His divine nature, we can find healing and acceptance. This understanding transforms our relationship with God and allows us to live in the fullness of His love. [07:34]
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
Reflection: Think of a past wound that has caused you to doubt God's love. How can you begin to release this to God and accept His unconditional love today?
Day 3: Enlightenment of the Heart
Ephesians 1:18 teaches us to pray for the enlightenment of our hearts, enabling us to grasp the hope, inheritance, and power God has given us. This spiritual insight transforms our understanding of our identity in Christ. The sermon emphasizes that we are God's inheritance, seen as a beautiful bride, cleansed and made glorious through Jesus. By praying for this enlightenment, we can better understand the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, and live out our calling with confidence and purpose. [15:59]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 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 pray for the enlightenment of your heart to better understand your identity in Christ and His calling for you?
Day 4: Recognizing and Exercising Spiritual Gifts
We are called to recognize and exercise our spiritual gifts, understanding that each believer has an indispensable role in the body of Christ. The sermon encourages us to embrace our spiritual gifts, not for personal gain, but to bless the body of Christ. This requires humility and a willingness to serve others. As we enter a new season as a church, we are invited to explore and exercise our spiritual gifts, seeking to love and serve one another in a biblical manner. [33:08]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What spiritual gift do you believe God has given you? How can you use this gift to serve others in your church community this week?
Day 5: Unity and Love in the Church
As we enter a new season, the sermon calls us to focus on unity and love, resisting the enemy's attempts to divide us. By embracing our spiritual gifts and loving one another, we can become a powerful and effective church. This journey requires us to be courageous and secure in God's love, working together to build a community that reflects Christ's love and grace. The sermon reminds us that unity and love are essential for the church to fulfill its mission and impact the world. [44:23]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity and love within your church community? What specific action can you take this week to promote peace and understanding among your fellow believers?
Quotes
We all read through 1st Corinthians a few weeks ago and the Bible talks about these supernatural gifts that he gives us and how we should earnestly seek them like go after them like God I want this I want this because I love these people and I want to bless them. [00:00:03]
I want you to think about God like being with us right now. We sang that song like we believe that we believe in his resurrection. That means it's not just us coming up and trying to figure things out with our mind but God Himself is with us. [00:04:09]
The word insecurity kept popping up that to some of you right now you may be accused by other people of being rebellious or not loving God or this or that when in reality it's not your rebellion so much as you're insecure. You're not totally sure that God loves you. [00:07:12]
Some of us come from like really messed-up backgrounds and we think man God you should change that overnight. You're God Almighty. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe you can change things overnight and yet some things God takes us in this process of sanctification. [00:08:05]
It's so hard because some of the things we experienced, you know, Sam say hey some of you you didn't have a great relationship with your dad. You didn't this and that and some of you you had no relationship with your dad. Man, I get that. [00:08:46]
It's actually an insult to God when you think that you need to earn it and that you can earn it because he wants to just hand you something you could never earn on your own. Then aren't there times in your life when you've just wanted to give a gift? [00:12:20]
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 18: having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. [00:14:23]
Paul prays he says here's what I want. I want the eyes of your heart enlightened. Did you know your heart has eyes? That's weird, right? But think about it. Think about like your physical eyes. [00:15:59]
I'm praying that you would know what this hope is that he's called you to like really know it. Like everything and he was like man, know what the future is like. I know this hope that he's called me to. [00:19:23]
The Bible says that everyone here who believes in Jesus Christ you are an indispensable part of the body. Okay, and I'll be honest with you I have not always believed that because my eyes of my heart were not enlightened to that. [00:33:08]
We are gonna enter into a new season as the church. I am so excited about this. And this is what we're gonna start doing in a couple weeks. Well, you can start now but every Tuesday in December, Tuesday nights we're gonna get together and explore this as a church. [00:35:52]
I want this to be this courageous, secure group of people that go you know what I'm loved by God, so you can call me what you want you can tell me this or that I can take a lot because I'm loved by God. [00:44:23]
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