Embracing Gratitude: The Power of the Cross
Summary
Taking a moment to reflect on the essence of our daily lives, I posed a question: What is the most important thing we need to accomplish today? While many tasks may seem pressing, the ultimate priority is to express gratitude to God for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This act of thanksgiving is not just a routine; it is a profound acknowledgment of the grace that has transformed our lives. When we genuinely thank God for the cross, we step out from under His wrath and into the embrace of His love, becoming His children.
Prayer is a vital part of this gratitude, and it requires a focused, sober-minded approach. The Bible encourages us to be alert and fully present when we pray, much like we would be for any significant task. This level of focus allows us to truly connect with God, moving beyond mere words to a heartfelt communion with the Creator. It is in these moments of deep connection that we realize the incomparable value of speaking to God, the Creator of the universe.
Reflecting on the story of Pilate and the crucifixion of Jesus, we see a man torn between his conscience and the pressure of the crowd. Pilate's struggle is a mirror for many of us who know the right path but are swayed by external voices and temptations. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to heed God's voice and not succumb to the pressures around us.
As Jesus walked to the cross, He warned the women of Jerusalem not to weep for Him but for themselves, highlighting the impending wrath of God. This warning is a reminder of the gravity of God's judgment and the salvation offered through Jesus. It is a call to recognize the seriousness of sin and the incredible gift of redemption.
In our time of worship, let us focus on the cross with undivided attention, clearing our minds of distractions and offering sincere thanks to God. For those who have not yet accepted this gift, consider the weight of God's wrath and the opportunity for salvation through Jesus. Let us not leave this place uncertain, but with hearts fully committed to the truth of the cross.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Priority of Gratitude: The most important task each day is to thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This act of gratitude is transformative, moving us from under God's wrath to becoming His beloved children. It is a daily reminder of the grace that defines our lives. [02:54]
2. Focused Prayer: Prayer requires a sober-minded, alert approach, free from distractions. This focus allows us to truly connect with God, moving beyond mere words to a heartfelt communion. It is in these moments that we realize the incomparable value of speaking to the Creator. [04:13]
3. Pilate's Dilemma: Pilate's struggle between his conscience and the crowd's pressure is a cautionary tale. It reminds us to heed God's voice and not succumb to external temptations, even when they are overwhelming. [16:27]
4. The Warning of Wrath: Jesus' warning to the women of Jerusalem highlights the seriousness of God's judgment. It is a call to recognize the gravity of sin and the incredible gift of redemption offered through Jesus. [22:29]
5. The Call to Worship: In worship, we are called to focus on the cross with undivided attention, offering sincere thanks to God. For those who have not accepted this gift, consider the weight of God's wrath and the opportunity for salvation through Jesus. [25:19]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - The Most Important Task
- [01:02] - Gratitude for the Cross
- [02:28] - Transformation Through Thanksgiving
- [03:17] - The Call to Focused Prayer
- [04:40] - Challenges in Prayer
- [05:18] - The Importance of Connection
- [06:22] - The Ceiling of Prayer
- [07:17] - The Perspective of Prayer
- [08:25] - Communicating with the Creator
- [09:16] - The Distraction of Earthly Concerns
- [10:37] - The Trial of Jesus
- [12:35] - Pilate's Struggle
- [14:12] - The Pressure of the Crowd
- [16:27] - The Warning of Wrath
- [21:21] - The Call to Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 23:13-26
2. 1 Peter 4:7
3. Ephesians 6:18
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 23:13-26, what was Pilate's initial judgment about Jesus, and how did the crowd's reaction influence his final decision? [11:58]
2. According to 1 Peter 4:7, what mindset should we have when we pray, and why is this important?
3. How does Ephesians 6:18 describe the attitude we should have in prayer, and what does it mean to be "alert"?
4. What was Jesus' message to the women of Jerusalem as He walked to the cross, and what does this reveal about His understanding of God's judgment? [18:57]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think expressing gratitude to God for the cross is considered the most important task each day, according to the sermon? [01:02]
2. How does Pilate's struggle between his conscience and the crowd's pressure serve as a cautionary tale for us today? [16:27]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of focused prayer, and how does this relate to the biblical instructions in 1 Peter 4:7 and Ephesians 6:18? [04:13]
4. How does Jesus' warning to the women of Jerusalem about the impending wrath of God challenge our understanding of sin and redemption? [22:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you prioritize expressing gratitude to God for the cross each day? What specific time or activity can you dedicate to this practice? [01:02]
2. Think about a time when you felt pressured by external voices or temptations. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Pilate's story to handle such situations differently in the future? [16:27]
3. Identify distractions that often hinder your prayer life. What practical steps can you take to ensure your prayer time is focused and alert, as described in 1 Peter 4:7 and Ephesians 6:18? [04:13]
4. Jesus warned the women of Jerusalem about God's judgment. How does this warning impact your view of sin and the need for redemption? How can this understanding influence your conversations with others about faith? [22:29]
5. During worship, how can you clear your mind of distractions and offer sincere thanks to God? What specific actions or thoughts help you maintain focus during worship? [25:19]
6. For those who have not yet accepted the gift of salvation, what steps can you take to explore this decision further? How can the group support you in this journey? [23:58]
7. Consider the weight of God's wrath and the opportunity for salvation through Jesus. How does this perspective shape your approach to sharing the gospel with others? [23:06]
Devotional
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Quotes
I believe the most important thing for me to do as a human being here on the earth, what's the most important thing I need to do today, and I believe it's this: I need to tell God how thankful I am for what he did on the cross. I believe the most important thing we as human beings can do each day is to somehow get alone with our creator. [00:01:01]
At that moment, the Bible says that's when you are no longer under the wrath of God. You no longer have to pay for everything you've done wrong, but you believe that God loved you so much that he sent his son to pay for it. I mean, at that moment, you come from under God's Wrath to becoming a child of God. [00:02:40]
The Bible, it talks about in First Peter, it uses the word when we pray that we should be sober-minded for the purpose of prayer. I think it's 1 Peter 4:7 to be sober-minded, and the word sober-minded means the opposite of drunk. It's literally not drunk is what the word is in the Greek, the opposite of drunk, which is just totally clear-minded. [00:03:19]
When you pray, man, it's work. It's work to get to that point because a lot of times we don't get there. We just say a bunch of words. Even this week, I had the intention a couple of times where I said, okay, I got to carve out some time, and I got to just get focused in prayer so I'm really connecting with God, not just throwing up a bunch of words. [00:04:34]
I think about myself here, you know, little California, this tiny Speck here, and how Isaiah 40 says that there's this God who sits above the Vault of the earth. I stop and think, gosh, who am I? I'm this little speck on that planet, and I'm about to speak to the God who sits above the Earth. [00:07:21]
What else in life compares to that? Seriously, what on this Earth can you do? Go, oh no, I think this is more important to do this. No, you're speaking to the God of the universe. You're thanking him for the most important thing in your life, the fact that you should be suffering right now, you should be punished for everything you did wrong, and he took that for you. [00:08:22]
Pilate's Wife, while Pilot's sitting there in the judge's seat, sends him a message, and the message is this: have nothing to do with that innocent man. I've been tormented in my dreams because of him. So now he gets a message from his wife that is saying that she supernaturally is hearing from God. It's even tormenting her, the fact that this is an innocent man. [00:14:36]
The story of Pilate, I believe, is a story of so many people I know where in your heart, and maybe even some of you in this room, you know the right thing to do. Supernaturally, God has shown you what you ought to be doing in your life, but you've got this mob of voices telling you to sin against God. [00:16:07]
Jesus turns and looks at all these women weeping. He goes, you know what, don't weep for me, weep for yourselves because do you know what's going to happen here in Jerusalem? Remember, Jesus prophesied, you know, a few weeks ago we talked about this when Jesus prophesied what was going to happen to the city of Jerusalem. [00:19:40]
God in heaven knew how awful his wrath was. We don't, and he didn't want us to go through it, and he says, I have to punish this crime, and so I'll have my son die for it and pour my wrath out on him so that you don't have to experience it. Jesus knew how awful the Wrath of the father was. [00:21:46]
Don't weep for Jesus. Weep for yourself because the truth is you have broken his commands, and I don't know what you picture when you think of God, that he's some little weakling up in heaven that would never punish anyone. That's not what he says about himself. That's not what Jesus is saying here. He says you don't know the wrath of my father. [00:23:14]
As we worship, man, do it with Focus. Be alert. Don't just, as God looks at the world and sees us here in SEI Valley at Cornerstone, may he see just a bunch of people that are totally focused on him, clearing our mind of everything else and just thanking him for the cross. [00:25:07]
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