Embracing Jesus' Love: A Call to Impact

Devotional

Day 1: Emulating Selfless Love

Jesus' love is characterized by selflessness, as He made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a servant. This profound act of humility challenges us to practice selfless love in our relationships, putting others before ourselves. In a world that often prioritizes self-interest, Jesus' example calls us to a higher standard of love that seeks the well-being of others above our own. By embracing this selfless love, we can transform our interactions and relationships, reflecting the heart of Christ in our daily lives. [54:11]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where you can practice selfless love today. What specific action can you take to prioritize the other person's needs above your own?

Day 2: Remaining Steadfast in Love

Jesus' love is steadfast, unwavering in its commitment to us, even to the point of death on the cross. This steadfastness calls us to remain faithful in our love for others, regardless of the circumstances. In a world where relationships can be fragile and conditional, Jesus' unwavering love serves as a model for us to emulate. By trusting in God's unwavering love for us, we can find the strength to remain committed and faithful in our relationships, even when faced with challenges and difficulties. [55:31]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a relationship or situation where you are struggling to remain steadfast. How can you draw on God's unwavering love to strengthen your commitment today?

Day 3: Serving with Humility

Jesus' love is serving, as demonstrated in John 13:14, where He washes the feet of His disciples. This act of service exemplifies the heart of humility and calls us to actively engage in serving others. In a culture that often values power and status, Jesus' example of humble service challenges us to rethink our priorities and embrace a life of service. By following Jesus' example, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of others, reflecting His love and humility in our actions. [01:00:18]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a way you can serve someone in your community this week. What specific act of service can you perform to demonstrate humility and love?

Day 4: Impact Through Faithfulness

The impact of our Harvest Church family is a testament to the power of collective faith and action. By supporting various ministries and organizations, we are making a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities, demonstrating the love of Jesus in tangible ways. This collective impact reminds us of the importance of faithfulness in our actions and commitments. By remaining faithful to our calling and supporting one another, we can create a ripple effect of positive change in the world around us. [01:03:30]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a ministry or organization you can support this month. How can you contribute your time, resources, or talents to make a positive impact?

Day 5: Surrendering to Transformative Love

The invitation to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus is a call to experience His transformative love and grace. By repenting and surrendering our lives to Him, we become new creations, walking in peace and purpose, and making an impact for Him in this world. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to align our lives with His will and purpose. By embracing this transformative love, we can experience true freedom and fulfillment, living out our faith in meaningful ways. [01:51:57]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

Welcome to Harvest, where today we celebrate Impact Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on the profound influence our community has had over the past year. This gathering is a testament to the power of collective faith and action, as we come together to make a difference in the lives of others. We are thrilled to have you here, whether you're a part of the Harvest family or visiting for the first time. Today, we delve into the essence of Jesus' love, which is selfless, steadfast, and serving. Jesus' love is a model for us to emulate, as it calls us to put others first, remain unwavering in our commitments, and serve with humility.

Philippians 2:5-7 reminds us of Jesus' selflessness, as He made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a servant. This profound act of humility challenges us to practice selfless love in our relationships, putting others before ourselves. Furthermore, Jesus' love is steadfast, unwavering in its commitment to us, even to the point of death on the cross. This steadfastness calls us to remain faithful in our love for others, regardless of the circumstances.

Lastly, Jesus' love is serving, as demonstrated in John 13:14, where He washes the feet of His disciples. This act of service exemplifies the heart of humility and calls us to actively engage in serving others. As we celebrate the impact of our Harvest Church family, we are reminded of the importance of following Jesus' example of love and humility.

Today, we also highlight the incredible work of various ministries and organizations that we support, such as Safe Harbor Mission, Trinity Health Center, Visible Music College, and many others. These ministries are making a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities, and we are honored to partner with them.

As we conclude, let us embrace Jesus' selfless, steadfast, and serving love. When we love like Jesus, we can change the world. Thank you for being a part of this impact and for celebrating with us all that God is doing in and through us.

Key Takeaways

1. Selfless Love: Jesus' love is selfless, as He made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a servant. This challenges us to practice selfless love in our relationships, putting others before ourselves and following His example of humility. [54:11]
2. Steadfast Commitment: Jesus' love is steadfast, unwavering in its commitment to us, even to the point of death on the cross. This steadfastness calls us to remain faithful in our love for others, regardless of the circumstances, and to trust in God's unwavering love for us. [55:31]
3. Serving Others: Jesus' love is serving, as demonstrated in John 13:14, where He washes the feet of His disciples. This act of service exemplifies the heart of humility and calls us to actively engage in serving others, following Jesus' example of love and humility. [60:18]
4. Impact Through Faithfulness: The impact of our Harvest Church family is a testament to the power of collective faith and action. By supporting various ministries and organizations, we are making a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities, demonstrating the love of Jesus in tangible ways. [63:30]
5. Invitation to Surrender: The invitation to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus is a call to experience His transformative love and grace. By repenting and surrendering our lives to Him, we become new creations, walking in peace and purpose, and making an impact for Him in this world. [111:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[43:38] - Introduction to Impact Sunday
[44:17] - Harvest Family and Guests
[46:27] - Connection Form and Prayer Needs
[54:11] - Jesus' Selfless Love
[55:31] - Jesus' Steadfast Love
[60:18] - Jesus' Serving Love
[61:28] - Safe Harbor Mission Report
[63:30] - Trinity Health Center Overview
[71:06] - Visible Music College Partnership
[79:13] - Light the Way Festival
[81:03] - Upcoming Concerts and Events
[97:06] - Global Ministries and Relief
[100:21] - Christ for the Nations Introduction
[102:07] - CFN Institute and Alumni Impact
[108:05] - Embracing Jesus' Love and Impact
[110:22] - Invitation to Surrender to Jesus
[111:57] - Prayer and Closing Remarks
[114:40] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

"Philippians 2 .5 says, Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation. How? By taking on the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men." [00:54:11] (19 seconds)

"How many of you can imagine God, Jesus Christ, equal with God, co-equal with God? How many of you recognize for him to become a human being to make this choice was like us making the choice to become an ant or a cockroach? He made himself of nothing. Isn't that what it says there? He made himself of no reputation." [00:55:00] (18 seconds)

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Guys, he made himself nothing. Taking on the nature of a servant. This is the example that we're talking about. Jesus leaves glory and humbles himself and comes and walks among us." [00:55:22] (30 seconds)

"Right. So Jesus' love is selfless. Jesus' love is steadfast. And thirdly, Jesus' love. His love is serving. It's the love of a servant. And so in John 13, verse 14, it says, If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you." [00:57:38] (19 seconds)

"It shows his heart of service to mankind, to humility. And his heart of service and humility to mankind. So we challenge you guys, as we go into this for Impact Sunday, to actively engage in serving others, following Jesus' example of love and humility. So we're going to jump right in." [00:58:06] (25 seconds)

"All right. We're going to start. Number one, we're starting at the local level. Firstly, Safe Harbor Mission, helping individuals transition from homelessness, addiction, and crime to lives of purpose. Many of you know our friends Brad and Rachel Bowie. They were here back in August for our 25th anniversary service." [01:00:47] (15 seconds)

"most of all, God, we pray that through the work that they're doing, as they're meeting physical needs within the lives of these indigenous Peruvian people, I just pray, God, that they would see your heart, that you would receive all the glory and the honor and the praise, that you would be the primary focus, that all the good works, we know, Lord, that it's your kindness that leads to repentance." [01:40:00] (20 seconds)

"as we talked about in the beginning, let's embrace Jesus's selfless, steadfast, and serving love. Guys, how many of you know, when we love like Jesus, we can change the world. We can do anything. So thank you for being a part of impact. Thank you for being a part of the impact, celebrating with us all that God is doing in us and through us and around us." [01:49:00] (23 seconds)

"This is the hands and feet of Jesus. This is all about Jesus at work. The Bible says we've all sinned and fallen short. What does that mean? It means if there was a loving, holy, righteous father, that he created you and he created me and he created you to be loved. He created you to be loved by him." [01:50:22] (17 seconds)

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