Embracing God's Love Through His Word

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of God's Love

God's love is not just a concept but a transformative force that calls for a heartfelt response. This love, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, is profound and sacrificial. It invites us into a deeper relationship with God, one that goes beyond the initial desire for salvation. Embracing this love is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a powerful force that can transform our lives. By reciprocating God's love, we open ourselves to a relationship that is rooted in understanding and trust. This relationship is not just about avoiding hell but about experiencing the fullness of life that God desires for us. [50:43]

1 John 4:9-11 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can show love to someone in your life today, reflecting the sacrificial love God has shown you.

Day 2: Scripture as the Foundation of Truth

The Bible is not merely a historical document but a living guide that anchors us in truth. It is the first, primary, and last resource for righteous living, offering answers to every problem we face. By reading it in context and without rationalization, we allow it to guide our lives and keep us tethered to Jesus, the ultimate truth. Scripture serves as the anchor that keeps us grounded, providing clarity and direction in a world full of sin and temptation. As we delve deeper into the scriptures, we are challenged to apply them to our lives, ensuring that our actions align with God's will. [57:55]

Psalm 119:105-106 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you need guidance. How can you seek answers from the Bible today?

Day 3: The Discipline of Righteous Living

Training in righteousness is a continuous process, much like an athlete who constantly hones their skills. This involves both preparing for challenges and guarding against temptations, ensuring that we are equipped to apply God's Word effectively in our lives. Just as athletes train to maintain and improve their skills, we must continually train in righteousness. This discipline helps us face life's challenges with the wisdom and guidance of God's Word, ensuring that we are not disqualified from His promises. By committing to this training, we open ourselves to God's blessings and protection. [01:01:11]

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can commit to this week to strengthen your walk with God?

Day 4: God's Word as the Ultimate Authority

While human wisdom and resources are valuable, God's Word should be our first and last point of reference. It serves as the final litmus test for our decisions, ensuring that they align with His will and truth. Consulting God's Word first and last in our decision-making process helps us stay aligned with His purposes. This practice not only guides us but also protects us from making choices that could lead us away from His path. By prioritizing God's Word, we ensure that our lives are anchored in His truth and wisdom. [01:17:32]

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: Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek God's guidance through His Word before making your choice?

Day 5: Living Out God's Word

To experience God's blessings and protection, we must live according to His Word. This involves not only knowing the scriptures but also applying them to our lives, ensuring that our actions align with His teachings and commands. Living according to God's Word is a daily commitment that requires intentionality and dedication. As we strive to align our lives with His teachings, we open ourselves to His blessings and protection. This commitment to living out God's Word ensures that we are not only hearers but doers, actively participating in His divine plan for our lives. [01:25:55]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one specific command from the Bible that you can focus on applying to your life today? How will you put it into practice?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we explored the profound love God has for us and the importance of reciprocating that love. While many of us may have initially turned to God to avoid hell, His plan for us extends far beyond salvation. He desires a deep, lasting relationship with us, one that is rooted in love and understanding. This love is not a sign of weakness or lack of masculinity; rather, it is a powerful force that led God to sacrifice His only Son for our salvation. We are encouraged to love God back with all our hearts, embracing His omnipotence and trusting Him with our lives.

As we embark on a new series titled "Have You Not Read?", we are reminded that the first, primary, and last resource for righteous living is God's Word. This series will challenge us, regardless of our spiritual maturity, to delve deeper into the scriptures and apply them to our lives. The Bible is not just a historical document; it is a living guide that provides answers to every problem we face. We must read it in context and without rationalization, allowing it to be the anchor that keeps us tethered to the truth, which is Jesus.

Training in righteousness is a continuous process, much like an athlete who constantly hones their skills. We must train both for and against various aspects of life, ensuring that we are prepared to face challenges with the wisdom and guidance of God's Word. The Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, offering clarity and direction in a world full of sin and temptation. As we strive to live according to God's Word, we open ourselves to His blessings and protection, ensuring that we are not disqualified from His promises.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Love and Our Response: God's love for us is profound and sacrificial, demonstrated through the gift of His Son. We are called to reciprocate this love wholeheartedly, recognizing that it is not a sign of weakness but a powerful force that transforms our lives. Embracing this love leads to a deeper relationship with God, beyond just seeking salvation. [50:43]
2. The Bible as Our Anchor: Scripture is the anchor that keeps us grounded in truth. It is the first, primary, and last resource for righteous living, providing answers to every problem we face. By reading it in context and without rationalization, we allow it to guide our lives and keep us tethered to Jesus, the ultimate truth. [57:55]
3. Continuous Training in Righteousness: Just as athletes train to maintain and improve their skills, we must continually train in righteousness. This involves both preparing for challenges and guarding against temptations, ensuring that we are equipped to apply God's Word effectively in our lives. [61:11]
4. Consulting God's Word First and Last: While human wisdom and resources are valuable, God's Word should be our first and last point of reference. It serves as the final litmus test for our decisions, ensuring that they align with His will and truth. [77:32]
5. Living According to God's Word: To experience God's blessings and protection, we must live according to His Word. This involves not only knowing the scriptures but also applying them to our lives, ensuring that our actions align with His teachings and commands. [01:25:55]
** [85:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[50:43] - Embracing God's Love
[51:59] - Trusting in God's Omnipotence
[54:04] - New Year Announcements
[55:28] - Upcoming Conferences
[57:55] - Introduction to New Series
[59:32] - Continuous Training in Righteousness
[61:11] - Training for and Against
[62:10] - Falling to Our Level of Training
[68:47] - Utilizing Technology for Scripture
[70:57] - The Power of God's Word
[77:32] - God's Word as the Final Authority
[78:47] - Memorizing and Applying Scripture
[80:06] - The Power of God's Word
[85:55] - Living According to God's Word
[91:37] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"The same love that God had for us that led him to send Jesus to pay for our salvation, he still has for us now, and he wants us to have a relationship with him. He wants to last. He wants to establish us with his love and us reaching out to him and knowing him, and whether it may just seem different to you or, you know, maybe you're a guy and you're thinking, well, that's not, you know, love and all that stuff. That's not very masculine. Man, that's dumb." [00:49:45] (44 seconds)

"God, I pray that you would prepare our hearts even now to receive you. To receive what your word has for us today. God, I pray that those who have made a consecrated decision to trust you with whatever they're going through, God, that they will leave here empowered and encouraged as they realize that you are indeed more than able to take care of every one of their needs." [00:51:34] (25 seconds)

"This series will challenge you. I don't care how many classes you've taught. I don't care how many people you have personally discipled. I don't care how anointed you are when you're using the gift that God gave you. This series will challenge you. As a matter of fact, I'll be so bold as to say this. If this series doesn't challenge you, and specifically if this statement doesn't challenge you, then you are living a lie." [00:58:51] (24 seconds)

"Every year, every off-season, he tried to add something, not just maintain the skill he had, but to add something new that when he stepped on the court the next time, he would be better than he was when he left. We never stop training. And there's lots of quotes. Some of them are attributed to any number of people. Many are unknown because they can't really say who said it for the first time. But I want to give you just two. One, I'll give you an author, and one that's unknown. By the way, these quotes work both spiritually and naturally. Whether you're talking about your walk with the Lord and discipleship and your growth with him, or if you're talking about some skill or something you're trying to accomplish in your life, these work both ways. The first one is an unknown author. He said this, you are always training. Either you're training for something or against something." [01:00:23] (48 seconds)

"Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion. You fall, you fall to your level of training. If you're not ready and things get tough, odds are you're gonna fall a little short of where you wish you were. Why? Because you didn't train to get there. And we've seen it. I mean, we've watched it. There've been these Cinderella stories of basketball started, the NCAAs, and they'll be the big dance eventually coming in March and all this, and we'll see some Cinderella story of some team who just plays out of their league one day, and then, man, these guys are gonna go all the way, and then they get beat by 40 points. Why? Because the pressure was on, and they fell to their level of training. They didn't have the skill set in place. Had nothing to do with talent, by the way. Had to do a training and practice." [01:02:10] (51 seconds)

"It's okay to consult human counsel, earthly wisdom. It's okay to consult resources. It's okay to consult psychology and philosophy and sociology. It's okay to study history. It's okay to break into that. It's okay to receive some counsel. It's okay to study history. It's okay to study counseling. It's okay to study and figure out how to better yourself in all these natural ways. That's all fantastic. I recommend you do it. Okay. But God's word is the primary source. It's the first. It's the primary." [01:16:01] (36 seconds)

"It's the last resource. We got to get there. We got to say that because I don't care how cool the advice you got was. If it doesn't line up with God's word, it's wrong. I don't care how, much sense it makes. If it doesn't line up with God's word, it's wrong. I don't care how easy it is. If it doesn't line up with God's word, it's wrong. It's not complicated. It's very simple. If God's word says do this and you choose not to do this, you are doing wrong." [01:17:03] (37 seconds)

"We, in essence, disqualify ourselves from his protection and his blessings when we go against his word. You got any biblical references? I got a million of them. I don't know. I didn't do math. I got a lot of them. Let me just give you two. This dude named Moses. Would you all agree that Moses is a pretty cool guy? Wrote a lot of the Old Testament. He's mentioned a lot. He's very, very instrumental. He's one of God's people, right? And Moses got disqualified from entering into the promised land just because he disobeyed God's word. He was even doing a good thing. God said, speak to the rock and it'll bring forth water. And last time he struck the rock and I guess he decided he didn't want to look silly or whatever. So he struck the rock again. And yeah, God brought forth water. But because Moses was disobedient, he got to see it from a distance on the mountaintop, but he didn't get to enter the promised land." [01:24:54] (51 seconds)

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