Embracing Grace: The Power of Praise and Redemption
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the gift of God's righteousness to believers and the promise of no condemnation. He urges the congregation to reconcile with God and highlights the sacrifice Jesus made by becoming sin for our sake. The pastor also discusses the concept of grace, emphasizing that it is unmerited favor freely given by God, and that we could never earn it. He concludes this section by reminding the congregation that they were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for them to do.
The pastor then shifts focus to the importance of genuine praise and worship, encouraging the congregation to truly praise the Lord who has given them breath. He references Psalm 150, which states that every person with breath should praise the Lord. The pastor also calls for a moment of personal praise, encouraging the congregation to use their own breath to worship God. He concludes this section by expressing the need for God's presence and thanking Him for His goodness.
The pastor then addresses the idea that one cannot teach and have a stand, asserting that they can indeed do both. He focuses on the message from Paul, emphasizing that the audience was once dead in their transgressions and sins. The pastor highlights the influence of the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, who is at work in those who are disobedient. He emphasizes that all of them, including the audience, used to live in this manner, gratifying the cravings of the flesh and following its desires and thoughts. The pastor acknowledges that they were deserving of wrath by nature, but because of God's great love, they have been made alive with Christ.
The pastor then discusses the redemptive plan of God and the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made to atone for the sins of the world. He emphasizes that before surrendering to the Holy Spirit's urging, our spirits are dead to the things of God. He explains that those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God, as sin nature entered the world through Adam and Eve. The pastor acknowledges the spiritual battle that every person faces, emphasizing that it is not a joke or a cute cartoon, but a literal battle of life and death for the soul.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of living close to Jesus rather than trying to live as close to the world as possible. He warns the congregation that some may be led into things they never dreamed of if they are not careful. The pastor then focuses on the concept of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, also known as the prince. He shares a story from Matthew chapter nine where Jesus encounters a man who is demon possessed. The pastor affirms the reality of demon possession and highlights the power of Jesus to cast out demons. He explains that Satan is known as the prince of the demons and has influence over the unseen realm. The pastor concludes by urging the congregation not to underestimate Satan's power and influence.
Key Takeaways:
- God's righteousness is a gift to believers, and they will never face condemnation. This is a result of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made by becoming sin for our sake. Trusting God and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives is crucial, even though dying to our old selves can be challenging. [12:45]
- Genuine praise and worship are essential in our relationship with God. Every person with breath should praise the Lord, as stated in Psalm 150. Personal praise is encouraged, using our own breath to worship God. The need for God's presence and gratitude for His goodness are also emphasized. [24:30]
- The message from Paul highlights that we were once dead in our transgressions and sins. The influence of the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air is significant. However, because of God's great love, we have been made alive with Christ. This salvation is by grace and not by works, and it is a gift from God. [36:15]
- The redemptive plan of God and the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made to atone for the sins of the world are emphasized. Before surrendering to the Holy Spirit's urging, our spirits are dead to the things of God. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. The spiritual battle that every person faces is a literal battle of life and death for the soul. [48:20]
- Living close to Jesus rather than trying to live as close to the world as possible is crucial. The concept of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, also known as the prince, is discussed. The reality of demon possession and the power of Jesus to cast out demons are affirmed. Satan is known as the prince of the demons and has influence over the unseen realm. The congregation is urged not to underestimate Satan's power and influence. [59:10]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalms 150: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."
2. Genesis 2:7: "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
3. Romans 14:1-6: "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Psalm 150 say about who should praise the Lord and how?
2. In Genesis 2:7, what does it mean when it says that God breathed into man the breath of life?
3. In Romans 14:1-6, what does it mean to accept someone whose faith is weak? What does it say about judging others?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the act of God breathing life into man in Genesis 2:7 relate to the concept of every living being praising the Lord as stated in Psalm 150?
2. In Romans 14:1-6, how does the idea of accepting those with weak faith and not judging others relate to the concept of God's unmerited grace?
Application Questions:
1. How can you use your own breath to praise God in your daily life, as suggested in Psalm 150?
2. Reflecting on Genesis 2:7, how can you better acknowledge and appreciate the life that God has breathed into you?
3. Considering Romans 14:1-6, can you identify a situation where you may have judged someone else's faith? How can you show acceptance and refrain from judgment in the future?
4. What is one specific way you can demonstrate God's unmerited grace to someone this week?
5. How can you guard yourself against the influence of the ruler of the kingdom of the air in your daily life?
Devotional
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Day 1: Embracing God's Gift of Righteousness
God's righteousness is a gift freely given to believers, not something that can be earned. This gift is a result of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made by becoming sin for our sake. Trusting God and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives is crucial, even though dying to our old selves can be challenging. [12:45]
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: Reflect on the areas of your life where you are trying to earn God's favor. How can you better embrace the gift of His righteousness today?
Day 2: Cultivating Genuine Praise and Worship
Genuine praise and worship are essential in our relationship with God. Every person with breath should praise the Lord, as stated in Psalm 150. Personal praise is encouraged, using our own breath to worship God. The need for God's presence and gratitude for His goodness are also emphasized. [24:30]
Psalm 34:1 - "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a more genuine and personal form of praise and worship in your daily life?
Day 3: Recognizing Our Transformation in Christ
We were once dead in our transgressions and sins, influenced by the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air. However, because of God's great love, we have been made alive with Christ. This salvation is by grace and not by works, and it is a gift from God. [36:15]
Colossians 1:13-14 - "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Reflection: Reflect on your life before and after knowing Christ. How has God's grace transformed you?
Day 4: Understanding the Spiritual Battle
The redemptive plan of God and the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made to atone for the sins of the world are emphasized. Before surrendering to the Holy Spirit's urging, our spirits are dead to the things of God. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. The spiritual battle that every person faces is a literal battle of life and death for the soul. [48:20]
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: What are some ways you can equip yourself for the spiritual battle you face daily?
Day 5: Living Close to Jesus
Living close to Jesus rather than trying to live as close to the world as possible is crucial. The concept of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, also known as the prince, is discussed. The reality of demon possession and the power of Jesus to cast out demons are affirmed. Satan is known as the prince of the demons and has influence over the unseen realm. The congregation is urged not to underestimate Satan's power and influence. [59:10]
James 4:7-8 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Reflection: In what ways are you living close to the world? How can you draw nearer to Jesus today?
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Quotes
"He can't stop what the Spirit started in you. He can't reverse what God is doing in you. He has a counterfeit and a fake. Nothing he does is authentic. He can create nothing." #!!01:10:12!!#
"We have been saved by grace through faith. What does this mean? Grace is simply unmerited favor. We cannot earn it. It is freely given with no strings attached nor payment needed." #!!01:22:12!!#
"The Bible actually says in Psalms 150, every person that has breath, praise the Lord... And it tells me one thing that every single breath that I take, is borrowed breath from the Lord." #!!26:46!!#
"Works don't save us. But I want to work for him not out of religious duty but from a true heart of gratitude. I don't work so that he'll love me more. I work because I love him more." #!!01:24:12!!#
"There is an unseen spiritual world that is close to us today. It's what connects the spiritual to the natural. It's a spirit realm." #!!01:05:35!!#
"I don't just want to see how close I can get to the line, I want to see how close I can get to Jesus, okay?" #!!01:02:29!!#
"By the way, demon possession is 100% real. It's 100% something that God says that as followers of Jesus, we should cast out devils and demons." #!!01:03:09!!#
"You were part of this old way, a sinful nature in the realm of Satan. It wasn't good for you. Nothing good came of that. And the cross says, you don't have to stay in the old version of you. You don't have to go back there." #!!01:19:22!!#
"When you follow the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient, all of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts." #!!51:21!!#
"God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions. He did something before you did anything. It is by grace you have been saved." #!!52:09!!#
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